LYNNFIELD — Another Lynnfield High student-athlete is taking his talents to Trinity College.
Nick Kelter will sign a letter of intent to run track and field for the Bantams on Feb. 25, joining former Lynnfield High track and football standout Joey Cucciniello, as well as soccer standouts Emma Rose and Dillon Reilly.
Kelter set a school record in triple jump (46-03) during the 2025 MIAA Meet of Champions. His personal best in the long jump is 20-03 and he also runs the 4x400m relay.
Kelter said he’s looking forward to being reunited with Cucciniello, who currently serves as the Bantams’ track and field team manager. Kelter credits Cucciniello for inspiring him to start jumping.
“Joey was a big mentor of mine when I was an underclassman,” Kelter said. “He was a great triple jumper and taught me all I had to know about jumping. After that, I fell in love with the process. I take value in being on the runway every chance I get to jump and know that my results were purely from the hard work I put in.”
Lynnfield track and field coach Bill Wallace said he’s impressed with Kelter’s work ethic.
“He is a quiet kid who works hard at his events and is always breaking down his technique to try and perfect it,” Wallace said. “You usually don’t see something like that in a high school kid. I’m excited to see what he can do this spring and the next four years at Trinity.”
Kelter also considered the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Bates, but fell in love with Trinity after visiting the Hartford campus.
“When I got there for the first time, I just really loved the campus and facilities and the people were really nice,” he said. “I really liked the community and knew that some of the Lynnfield High graduates really loved it. I spent a couple of nights down there and loved what the school has to offer in both academics and athletics. It’s a prestigious academic school and I knew that going there would offer so many great connections, so it all just came together for me.”
Kelter has not yet decided on a major, but is leaning toward public policy and law — perhaps economics. He carries a challenging course load at Lynnfield High with advanced placement economics and psychology, as well as honors physics and Spanish 5.
“I love to challenge myself,” he said. ” I’m a hard-working student and take my studies seriously. A big thing for me is I respect my teachers and strive to build good relationships with them and always ask for extra help.”
Kelter, who played on the Pioneers’ football team as a freshman and sophomore, is a captain on the boys hockey team. He ranks third in scoring with six goals and nine assists, also serving as an assistant captain his junior season. The Pioneers finished the regular season 8-9-3 and await Saturday’s Division 3 bracket release.
“Our hope for the postseason is all locked in on one goal: Make it to The Garden and bring home a second state hockey championship,” Kelter said. “I’m a four-year guy and know what it takes to win games. I know we can play with anyone in the top 10. We proved that this year.”
While Kelter’s immediate focus is on hockey, he’s excited to get back to work with the Pioneers’ track and field team next month as a senior captain.
“I try to improve every day, which is something I’ve tried to do the last few years,” he said. “I believe you have to keep pushing yourself to improve and pride myself on doing just that. The goal is to stick to my training, stay healthy, and maybe get a bigger school record.”
Wallace said Kelter “has set the standard pretty high” for future jumpers.
“Whatever the new triple jump record ends up being, it will be really difficult for someone else to come along and break it,” Wallace said. “I’m really looking forward to how Nick’s senior season goes this spring.”
Kelter has a couple of goals in mind.
“I want to set the bar high right away,” he said. “I want to try to break the school record (48-03.5) and become an All-American. I believe if I continue to work hard, both goals are attainable.”
