LYNN — For the first time, nine Agganis All-Star Games were played over the same weekend. The boys and girls basketball games tipped off at Lynn Classical High on Saturday, followed by seven more games and an awards ceremony at the Agganis Athletic Complex — Manning and Fraser fields — on Sunday.
The Games, serving as a fundraiser for the Agganis Foundation to award college scholarships, are played in memory of legendary Lynn athlete Harry Agganis, an All-American quarterback for Lynn Classical and Boston University.
This year’s scholarship recipients were Calli Allaire (St. Mary’s – Vanderbilt), Awan Awan (Lynn Tech – Cornell), Sydney Ball (Marblehead – Temple), Joseph Beato (KIPP Academy – Rice), Elizabeth Bettencourt (Peabody – Bates), Breydan Callahan (Marblehead – Johns Hopkins), Nico Croft (Swampscott – Michigan), Cameryn Dunn (St. Mary’s – Stonehill), Micah Hashikawa (St. Mary’s – Michigan), Madisen McHale (Lynn English – Salem State), Sam Phelps (St. Mary’s – Tufts), and Mia Silva (Salem – Amherst).
Major award winners were Peter Mikedis (Atty. Charles Demakis Heritage Award), Craig Stone (Dr. Elmo F. Benedetto Athletics Award), Hector Longo (David C. Weidner Media Award), Jim Foley (Harold O. Zimman Foundation Award), and Kevin Coppinger (Paul F. Cavanagh Community Award).
The Agganis Foundation announced the addition of Wellpoint, a health benefits company, as the principal sponsor of the Games and presenting sponsor of the football game. Wellpoint General Manager David Morales is a Lynn native who played in the 1993 football game after graduating from Lynn Classical.
“It’s wonderful to be here,” said Morales, who continued his football career at Bowdoin College. “It has a lot of special meaning and brings back really good memories.”
64th All-Star Football Game
Lynn English’s Shane Knowlton-Simard made his last high school game count, catching the winning 53-yard touchdown pass with 26 seconds remaining to give South a 12-10 win. In the first half, Knowlton-Simard returned an interception 46 yards for a score and earned MVP honors.
Also for South, KIPP Academy’s Joseph Beato compiled a pair of sacks, while Lynn Tech’s Colin McGough (INT) and Eddie Lewis, who broke up a pass with a diving deflection, shined defensively.
St. John’s Prep tight end Brody Gillingham, North’s MVP, caught four passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Drew Tisbert (Austin Prep) threw for 157 yards and a touchdown.
Wearing Agganis’ No. 33 were a pair of Lynn natives: South’s Sam Phelps (St. Mary’s) and North’s Geovanni Peña (Malden Catholic).
“It’s an honor to be able to wear this number,” said Peña, who forced a fumble with a sack during the second quarter.
30th All-Star Girls Soccer Game
Sophie Skabeikis (St. Mary’s) scored two goals for North and was named MVP in a 3-2 win. Harper Brooks (Manchester-Essex) scored the other North goal. Isabella Strong (Austin Prep) ripped a goal for South and took home MVP honors, while Lila Doucette (Danvers) also found the back of the net.
30th All-Star Boys Soccer Game
On familiar turf, MVP Jose Licardie (Lynn English) scored with six minutes remaining to give North a 1-0 victory. St. Mary’s keeper Nicholas Fusco played well and was South’s MVP.
27th All-Star Softball Game
North MVP Anna Gardner (Manchester-Essex) compiled two hits and an RBI, alongside solid pitching, in an 8-6 win. South was led by MVP Catherine Morgan (St. Mary’s), who batted 2-for-3 with four RBI.
27th All-Star Baseball Game
Fairhaven ace Ryan Pires, South’s MVP, pitched four hitless innings and struck out nine batters in a 2-1 win — a game in which all runs were scored in the first inning. Noah Meyer (Pentucket) laced an RBI double for North and was named MVP.
21st All-Star Girls Basketball Game
Olivia Gaynor (Peabody) led North with 12 points, while MVP Celia Neilson (Bishop Fenwick) netted eight in a 63-50 win. South MVP Jenna Mishou (Archbishop Williams) and Peyton DiBiasio (Saugus) scored 13 points apiece.
21st All-Star Boys Basketball Game
MVP Jimmy Farrell (Masconomet) scored all 13 of his points in the second half to lead North to an 83-59 win. Teammate Dawson English (Winchester) added 10 points. South was led by Angel Sanchez of North Andover (13 points) and MVP Shyheim Babb of Lynn Classical (12).
14th All-Star Girls Lacrosse Game
MVP Ava Nason (St. Mary’s) and Madeline LeBlanc (Beverly) each scored hat tricks as South roared back from a 7-3 halftime deficit to deliver a 13-8 win. Goalie Eleni Spack (Peabody) made 11 saves for North in an MVP performance. North’s Morgan Gallant (Pentucket) and Allie Wile (Ipswich) potted three goals apiece.
14th All-Star Boys Lacrosse Game
Long-stick midfielder Dylan Mestjian (Melrose) was a force on defense, earning MVP honors for North in an 8-7 win. Cooper Bellan (Blackstone Valley) scored two goals, including the game-winner with four minutes remaining. Jason Rothwell (Swampscott) and Ben Peshler (Blackstone Valley) scored two goals apiece for North, while MVP Finnian Wright (Ipswich) netted a hat trick for South.
