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Student-athletes and coaches were the stars of the show Thursday at Lynn Museum for The Item’s All-Star awards ceremony, which recognized achievements during the fall high school season. The evening concluded with the Buzzy Barton Award, given to a consummate team player and leader. (Spenser Hasak) Purchase this photo

Best of the best honored at All-Star ceremony

Joey Barrett

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LYNN — Laughs, iPhone camera clicks, and a boatload of athletic talent spread throughout Lynn Museum Thursday evening as The Item held its All-Star awards ceremony, which recognized achievements during the fall high school season.

Eight sports (football, boys and girls soccer, field hockey, volleyball, golf, boys and girls cross country) were recognized with recipients representing 12 local high schools. Nearly 100 student-athletes and coaches were honored with Player and Coach of the Year awards distributed across each sport.

Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson kicked off the event with opening remarks. The former Princeton University wrestler spoke about community impact, teamwork, family support, and the hard work needed to be a high school athlete.

From there, it was time for the All-Stars.

Sport by sport, student-athletes received custom plaques and gathered for group photos. All eight Coach of the Year recipients delivered speeches.

Player of the Year recipients: Lynn English’s Shane Knowlton-Simard (football), St. John’s Prep’s Garrison Murphy (boys soccer), St. Mary’s Sophie Skabeikis (girls soccer), St. Mary’s Tabby Lopes (field hockey), Lynn Classical’s Brooke Braswell (volleyball), St. John’s Prep’s Seamus O’Holleran (golf), St. John’s Prep’s Jack McIntosh (boys cross country), and St. Mary’s Kelsey Kwiatek (girls cross country).

Coach of the Year recipients: Lynn English’s Tyllor McDonald (football), St. John’s Prep’s Dave Crowell (boys soccer), Bishop Fenwick’s Candice Dangora (girls soccer), Lynnfield’s Kerri Doherty (field hockey), Marblehead’s Killeen Miller (volleyball), Marblehead’s Bob Green (golf), Peabody’s Fernando Braz (boys cross country), and Marblehead’s Will Herlihy (girls cross country).

Concluding the ceremony was the Buzzy Barton Award, given to a consummate team player and leader. Barton was a Lynn firefighter, city councilor, student-athlete, and basketball coach who died in 2023.

Receiving the award was Lynnfield football player Ben Gazit, who missed several weeks of his senior season due to shoulder surgery. Despite being sidelined, Gazit remained a vocal leader, teacher, and No. 1 fan for his Pioneer teammates.

After a group photo featuring all winners, it was a wrap on another high school sports season.

  • Joey Barrett is the Daily Item's Sports Editor. He reports on local high schools, colleges, and professional teams. Prior to his current position, he worked for UMass Athletics, the Cape Cod Baseball League, and Gannett Media, among others. Barrett was also Sports Editor at Endicott College and treasurer of Endicott's Society of Professional Journalists branch.

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