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Student-athletes and coaches took center stage at the Lynn Museum for Tuesday’s Daily Item All-Star awards ceremony, which recognized athletic achievements during the spring sports season. The evening concluded with the presentation of the Buzzy Barton Award, given to a consummate team player and leader. (Spenser Hasak) Purchase this photo

All-Stars come together at Lynn Museum

Joey Barrett

by

LYNN — After months of hard work — in competition and behind the scenes — the best of the best gathered at Lynn Museum for Tuesday’s Daily Item All-Star awards ceremony.

Hosted by The Item’s sports department, the event highlighted the athletic achievements of student-athletes and coaches from the spring sports season. Recognized sports were volleyball, baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls tennis, as well as boys and girls track and field.

After a greeting from Lynn School Committee member and St. Mary’s track and field coach Tristan Smith, on behalf of the City of Lynn, the All-Stars took center stage. Student-athletes received custom plaques, Players of the Year were announced across each sport, and Coaches of the Year spoke about determination, camaraderie, and again — hard work.

Players of the Year: Lynn Classical’s Long Pham (volleyball), St. Mary’s Michael DeMaino (baseball), Peabody’s Elizabeth Bettencourt (softball), St. Mary’s Sal Brogna (boys lacrosse), Lynnfield’s Hayden Valiton (girls lacrosse), Marblehead’s Ty Cooper (boys tennis), Swampscott’s Nikki Carr (girls tennis), Lynnfield’s Nick Kelter (boys track and field), and Marblehead’s Marrietta O’Connell (girls track and field).

Coaches of the Year: Lynn English’s Liz D’Amico (volleyball), Swampscott’s Joe Caponigro (baseball), St. Mary’s Colleen Newbury (softball), Marblehead’s John Wilkens (boys lacrosse), St. Mary’s Jessica Gambale (girls lacrosse), Marblehead’s Karl Tenenholtz (boys tennis), Swampscott’s Emily Cilley (girls tennis), Lynn Tech’s John Hogan (boys track and field), and Lynn Tech’s James Runner (boys track and field).

The evening concluded with the presentation of the Buzzy Barton Award, which is given every season and recognizes a consummate team player and leader. Barton was a former Lynn firefighter, city councilor, student-athlete, and basketball coach who died in April of 2023.

Receiving the award was Smith. Not only is he a three-sport coach at St. Mary’s (winter and spring track and field, cross country), but he’s involved with running events across Lynn and helped establish All-Lynn Track and Field, a non-profit benefiting runners in the City.

Smith spoke heavily about perseverance. His younger sister, Chloe Christina Smith, died in June.

“Keep going,” Smith said to attendees from the podium.

After a group photo of the All-Stars, goodbye hugs, and some desserts, it was a wrap on another high school sports season.

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