LYNN — Seventy-plus recipients. Nine sports. One memorable evening.
An estimated 135 people gathered in Lynn Museum for Thursday’s Item All-Star ceremony to celebrate the top student-athletes and coaches from the winter sports season.
Nine sports (boys basketball, girls basketball, boys hockey, girls hockey, wrestling, boys track and field, girls track and field, boys swimming and diving, girls swimming and diving) were recognized.
St. Mary’s was well-represented on the hardwood. Jeff Newhall received Coach of the Year in girls basketball after leading his Spartans to another state championship – the sixth of his head coaching career. JJ Martinez and Bella Owumi received Player of the Year nods across boys and girls basketball, respectively. Martinez averaged 18 points per game, while Owumi led St. Mary’s to a state title. Both players reached the 1,000-point mark this winter.
The Coach of the Year in boys basketball was Lynn Classical’s Marvin Avery. All he did was lead the 16-4 Rams to the Greater Boston League title and a deep tournament run in Division 3.
To the ice, Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading’s Michelle Roach took home Coach of the Year in girls hockey. Her three-school co-op won 15 games and advanced deep into the Division 1 tournament. Roach’s goalie, Alyse Mutti, was named Player of the Year after recording 11 shutouts and allowing just 16 total goals.
A father-son duo from St. Mary’s, Matthew Smith and Matthew Jr., stole the boys hockey show. Smith was named Coach of the Year after leading the Spartans to 14 wins and a tournament berth in just his second season, while his son and goalie, Matthew Jr., was named Catholic Central League MVP with a 94 save percentage.
On the wrestling mats, Lynnfield-North Reading’s James Fodera was named Player of the Year after his 54-5 season, while Saugus-Peabody Coach Wayne Moda snagged Coach of the Year honors after his co-op went 23-1 with a conference tournament championship.
A pair of Peabody Tanners, thrower Alex Jackson and Coach Fernando Braz, received the honors in boys track and field. Jackson is a school record-holder and All-America, while Braz’s group captured the Northeastern Conference Dunn Division title.
On the girls’ side, Marblehead’s Paige Tredwell, the NEC’s high jump champion, was named Player of the Year, while her coach, Nolan Raimo, was named Coach of the Year after leading his Lady Magicians to a first-place finish in the Dunn Division with three girls winning championship events.
Diving into the pool, the Athlete of the Year in boys swimming and diving went to Marblehead’s Nate Rosen, who placed in two events (200 and 500 free) during the state championship. Coach of the Year went to St. John’s Prep’s Jeff Fiore, whose Eagles flew to another Division 1 title.
Lynn’s only representative in the state meet, Isabella Morillo of St. Mary’s, was named Player of the Year for the girls, while Marblehead’s Susan Guertin took home Coach of the Year. Her team went 6-0 in the regular season and won the NEC regular season championship.
After some handshakes, hugs, dessert, and a group photo, that was all she wrote on another winter sports season.
