SAUGUS — Saturday evening at Saugus-Everett Elks Lodge, there was nothing but the best of the best.
Saugus High held its Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony. The 12 inductees were Lauren Cataldo (2002), Robert Gannon (2005), Marie Johnson (1995), Kayla Vitukevich Krieger (2007), Donald Maccini (1987), Todd Nichols (2003), Ashley Panzini Nichols (2004), Olisaemeka Obiefuna (2012), Jeff Paolini (1988), Rob Scuzzarella (2006), Craig Serino (2005), and Melanie Wheeler (2003).
Cataldo was a three-sport athlete in soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track. On the soccer field, the captain was named an Agganis All-Star. She competed in the 600m, high jump, and 4×400 relay in indoor track, and broke 10 school records in outdoor track.
A three-sport captain of the football, hockey, and track teams, Gannon quarterbacked the Sachems for two years. He was also Northeastern Conference champion in the 400m and a three-time NEC All-Star on the ice.
Johnson was a three-sport varsity athlete in fall and winter cheerleading, as well as softball. Twice she was a conference all-star on the diamond, amassing more than 160 strikeouts during her junior season before playing college softball at Rivier College.
Vitukevich played four varsity sports (basketball, soccer, indoor and outdoor track). The Agganis All-Star holds school records in the 4×400 and 4×800 relays. She has since taken part in four Boston Marathons.
On the ice, 133 points (5th all time in school history) will do the trick. Maccini was an NEC All-Star on the hockey team and played college puck at American International College.
One of Saugus’ finest in golf and hockey, Todd Nichols played a vital role on the 2002 golf team that captured the NEC title. As a captain (105 career points) on the hockey team, he helped lead the Sachems to an NEC title, a North Sectional title, and to the school’s second-ever state title.
Ashley Panzini Nichols was a conference MVP in field hockey, an NEC All-Star in softball who also won a conference championship, and took part in varsity basketball and indoor track, to boot.
Obiefuna participated in track during his four years as a Sachem. He has nine total state and division championships and qualified for the state championship in the 55m, 200m, triple jump, and high jump.
A two-time NEC All-Star on the ice, Paolini is 11th all-time in school history with 108 points. That was before he suited up for the Yellow Jackets at AIC.
When you hear Scuzzarella, you instantly think of Saugus lacrosse. He’s the program’s leading scorer (278 points: 149 goals, 129 assists), was named conference MVP in 2006, and has since coached the Sachems for 10 years. He also excelled in hockey and golf.
Serino was a varsity athlete in cross country and outdoor track, but left his mark as a stalwart on the blue line. The state championship winner also captured two NEC titles and three North Sectional titles.
Wheeler took part in three varsity sports (softball, tennis, basketball). She was an NEC All-Star on the tennis court, led the basketball team in scoring during her senior season (team MVP), and ended her senior year with a .356 batting average as Saugus’ cleanup hitter.
