MIKE MURPHY
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Six members of the Lynnfield High boys’ indoor track and field team received awards at the team’s end-of-season banquet held at the high school recently.
The MVP Award went to senior Eli Mendese, who was a second-year Cape Ann League All-Star in the high jump and long jump this winter.
The Coaches Award went to fellow 12th-grader Mike Murphy. Murphy, a captain, also made the CAL All-Star team in the high jump.
Brendan Reilly, a sophomore, received the Rookie of the Year Award.
Senior captains, Charlie Morgan and Brian DiGangi, both took home the LAA Captains Award.
Senior Shea McCarthy, got the final award as the distance runner received the Sportsmanship Award.
The captains were also selected for next winter and they will be junior Joe Tammaro and sophomores, Joel Attubatto and Reilly.
This season was a successful one for the team as the Pioneers came in second place to Amesbury in the CAL Baker Division going 3-1.
In the MIAA Division 5 Indoor Track and Field Championships, the Pioneers captured 12th place out of over 40 schools overall, participating.
“The kids went beyond my expectations,” stated head coach Christine Smith, who just finished her 8th-year at the helm. “They made me extremely proud. We had 41 members to start and finished with all 41 of them.”
The Pioneers will lose 11 seniors to gradation. Along with Mendese, Murphy, Morgan, DiGangi and McCarthy, they will also lose Dylan Reilly, Jessie Dorman, Jack Kouyoumdjian, Max Nastarius, Nick Groussis and Walter Radulski.
“It was an impressive class,” said Smith who will coach the Pioneers girls’ outdoor team this spring. “They showed a lot of spirit and rose to the occasion. I will miss them tremendously.”
Lynnfield is slated to return 30 veterans next winter.
“We should be very solid next year,” said Smith.