LHS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Mia Muzio (at far left) and student-athletes, second from left, senior Matthew Tracy, senior Dan Lemieux, junior Maeve Wertz, junior Lauren Mattia, junior Isabella Ruocco and junior Charlie Cumming discussed the high school’s athletic programs and associated community service initiatives during the School Committee’s Sept. 25 meeting. (Lynnfield Media Studios Screenshot)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield High student-athletes are making a difference in sports and beyond, Athletic Director Mia Muzio said during the School Committee’s Sept. 25 meeting.
Muzio said 420 students or 74 percent of the LHS student body is participating in athletics, equaling a 74 percent participation rate. She said 169 students are playing one sport, 157 students are playing two sports and 98 students are playing three sports.
“Our participation numbers are fantastic,” said Muzio. “We are on the very high range of participation percentages across the North Shore and even beyond that, particularly in the CAL (Cape Ann League). We have a ton of kids who are multisport athletes, which is really great to see.”
Muzio said the Athletics Department Leadership Council was formed last year. She said captains of various sports teams serve on the council.
“We identified team leaders from our coaches last year to essentially put together a way to develop leadership skills, character, sportsmanship, service and school spirit,” said Muzio.
Muzio said the Leadership Council’s members and other LHS student-athletes are giving back to the community.
Senior Matthew Tracy, who is a captain of the baseball, basketball and football teams, said he visited Lynnfield Preschool at Summer Street in order to help introduce students to basketball and soccer.
“It was pretty fun,” said Matthew. “The younger kids really haven’t played basketball or soccer yet. It was a lot of fun and a good way to interact with the kids. It helped us learn how to be better teammates by helping them learn the games they maybe playing in the future.”
Senior Dan Lemieux, who plays on the football team, said he attended Project Adventure (PA) in Beverly, which provides adventure-based learning experiences, last year.
“Some of the things I learned there was communicating with your team and staying focused under pressure,” said Dan.
Junior Maeve Wertz, who is a captain of the girls’ cross-country and girls’ basketball teams, also worked with Lynnfield Preschool students on introductory basketball and soccer skills. She said working with preschool students taught her to be “understanding of people and help them out.” She also attended Project Adventure.
“I really think they both helped us work on communication and team-building,” said Maeve.
Muzio said the high school introduced a new unified basketball program as a varsity sport last year.
“It has been wonderful,” said Muzio.
Junior Isabella Ruocco said playing unified basketball is “one of the best things I have ever done.”
“It makes me feel good and makes everyone feel good,” said Isabella, who is also on the cheerleading team. “The team is so inclusive and everyone never feels left out. Everyone is so kind. I have never been part of a team where everyone makes sure everyone is being treated fairly. I think that is so beautiful and really amazing.”
Junior Charlie Cumming agreed.
“I really enjoy playing basketball this year and I enjoyed playing last year,” said Charlie. “We did good. It was fun helping people make shots.”
Junior Lauren Mattia, who plays on the field hockey, girls’ indoor track and girls’ outdoor track teams, brought Morgan’s Message to the high school last year.
“Morgan’s Message is a nonprofit organization that revolves around student-athlete mental health,” said Lauren. “Everything we do is aimed towards eliminating the stigma around mental health and student-athletes, and equalizing the treatment between physical and mental health and athletics. We have been really able to grow this program since we started it last year.”
Lauren informed the Villager that each team plays dedication games in order to support Morgan’s Message, which were made possible due to funding from A Healthy Lynnfield.
“Each team has a Morgan Message game and they get T-shirts, bracelets and stickers for helmets,” said Lauren.
Muzio said LHS student-athletes will be participating in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (MIAA) Student Ambassador program once again.
“It’s a program based on leadership and community service,” said Muzio. “Those student-athletes will be planning a community service project or two.”
Muzio said the Athletics Department started the Student-Athlete of the Month program a couple of years ago.
“It’s less about stats and scores,” said Muzio. “We are really looking to highlight our student-athletes who are doing the right thing, have strong character and focus on teamwork.”
Muzio said three student-athletes who were members of the LHS Class of 2025 had notable accomplishments last year. She said Paige Martino set a new girls’ tennis record with 73 career wins. Muzio said Alex Fleming concluded his boys’ basketball career with 1,046 points. She said baseball and football star Tyler Adamo was named as Moynihan Lumber’s North Shore Student-Athlete of the Year.
“Tyler is the first Lynnfield High School male recipient of this award in the 33 years that Moynihan Lumber has been presenting this award,” said Muzio.
Muzio said the LHS Athletics Department partnered with Connor’s Kindness Project that entailed having the spring sports teams assemble Kindness Kits in the cafeteria that were donated to Boston Children’s Hospital in Peabody.
“That was a great experience for all of our kids,” said Muzio.
Muzio said a group of student-athletes and A Healthy Lynnfield Youth Council members attended the Nan Project’s second annual Youth Voices Summit in order to learn more about reducing the stigma around mental health.
The Athletics Department has also updated its captain application, said Muzio.
“It will be looked at as more of an opportunity where student-athletes need to apply and put themselves in a position to learn life skills about what it means to be a leader,” said Muzio.
SC praises athletes
School Committee Chair Kristen Grieco Elworthy thanked Muzio and the student-athletes for giving the presentation.
“It was wonderful to hear,” said Elworthy.
School Committee member Kim Baker Donahue agreed.
“This is fantastic, especially the Morgan’s Message project,” said Baker Donahue. “Thank you for doing that. I want to thank you for being willing to reach out and connect with the younger kids.”
Baker Donahue also thanked Muzio for bringing the “amazing” unified basketball program to LHS. She asked if more unified sports programs could be brought to LHS.
Muzio said unified bocce and unified strength and conditioning could be added to the LHS Athletics Department’s sport offerings.
While Baker Donahue noted that student-athletes have very busy schedules, she asked whether it would be possible to have more student-athletes work with younger students in order to teach them about “core values as they are growing and learning.”
“We have a lot of town sports and the kids look up to all of you,” said Baker Donahue.
Muzio expressed her support for Baker Donahue’s suggestion.
“I think that would be a great project for the Leadership Council,” said Muzio. “Ultimately, our goal is to put these wonderful student-athletes in front of our younger kids to not only show them the game, but what it takes to be a student-athlete and what those values are.”
School Committee member Jamie Hayman said he was “really impressed” with all of the student-athletes.
“Lauren, I am really pleased with the stuff you are focused on around mental health,” said Hayman. “I am very pleasantly surprised at this generation’s willingness to talk openly about destigmatizing mental health. This work continues that.”
Hayman also commended Charlie and Isabella’s involvement with the unified basketball team.
“I love the inclusiveness of that,” said Hayman.
In response to a question from Hayman, Maeve and Lauren both said balancing schoolwork and sports is the biggest challenge student-athletes are facing at LHS.
School Committee member Kate DePrizio said a number of LHS sophomores have undertaken Civics Action Projects about mental health in the past. She complimented Lauren on bringing Morgan’s Message to LHS.
“We hear it year-after-year,” said DePrizio. “There is still so much work that has to be done. Thank you for doing that because it is such an example for your peers and everyone around you, but clearly, there is a need there we are not quite fulfilling.”
Muzio said 80 percent of LHS coaches have received Teen Mental Health First Aid training and Signs of Suicide (SOS) prevention training. She also said coaches have received training from the Nan Project.
Elworthy said she and Superintendent Tom Geary have talked about the importance of having “as many kids as possible” participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities. She asked why the LHS Athletics Department’s participation rate is so high and why a large number of students are playing multiple sports.
Muzio attributed the high participation rate to LHS coaches.
“We have a lot of longtime coaches who have done a really fantastic job,” said Muzio. “They are really dedicated and care about our kids. The kids do anonymous surveys at the end of every season and, for the most part, they are always positive. All of our teams typically go very deep into the tournament.”
Elworthy said it was “great to hear” that the student-athletes have given LHS coaches’ positive reviews.
Hayman said the high participation rate at LHS is also “a tribute to youth sports.”
“We have high participation and good coaches there,” said Hayman. “Continuing that love into high school is what you want to see.”
Geary thanked the student-athletes for giving the presentation.
“I think another reason why the programs are so successful and participation is so high is because of people like you,” said Geary. “Leadership on the teams makes freshmen and sophomores want to play. We have all been on teams in the past where it hasn’t been as enjoyable. The culture you set trickles down to the rest of the team.”
Geary also encouraged the community to attend a unified basketball game.
“It’s an amazing, amazing experience,” said Geary. “The whole school comes out for it. It really is a great time.”
School Committee Vice Chair Jim Dillon also thanked the student-athletes for giving the presentation.
“There are life lessons learned from athletics that you will take with you through the rest of your life,” said Dillon. “It is a great thing to be involved in.”