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.
Daily Item Sports Editor Joey Barrett welcomes student-athletes, coaches, and families to the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award ceremony Tuesday evening.
Daily Item Sports Editor Joey Barrett welcomes student-athletes, coaches, and families to the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award ceremony Tuesday evening.
Lynn School Committee member and St. Mary’s track and field coach Tristan Smith brings a welcome from the city to the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award ceremony.
Lynn English’s Miguel Najarro smiles after receiving his Spring 2026 Item All-Star award for volleyball.
Daily Item sports reporter Anne Marie Tobin presents Lynn English volleyball coach Liz D’Amico with the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Coach of the Year award.
The Spring 2026 Item All-Stars for volleyball, from left, Elmer Duran (Lynn Tech), Solomon Srey (Lynn English), Miguel Najarro (Lynn English), Coach of the Year Liz D’Amico (Lynn English), and Matthew Nazzaro (St. John’s Prep).
Lynnfield’s Matt Tracy shakes hands with Daily Item Sports Editor Joey Barrett after receiving his Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award for baseball.
St. Mary’s Michael DeMaino shakes hands with Daily Item Sports Editor Joey Barrett after receiving the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Player of the Year award for baseball.
Swampscott baseball coach Joe Caponigro speaks after being named the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Coach of the Year for baseball.
The Spring 2026 Item All-Stars for baseball were, from left, Braeden Ohanessian (Lynn Classical), Matt Tracy (Lynnfield), Christian McCarthy (St. John’s Prep), Nathan Soroko (Saugus), Player of the Year Michael DeMaino (St. Mary’s) and Coach of the Year Joe Caponigro (Swampscott).
St. Mary’s Aliza Crean-Oviedo receives her Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award for softball from sports reporter Anne Marie Tobin.
Peabody’s Elizabeth Bettencourt smiles after being named the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Player of the Year for softball.
The Spring 2026 Item All-Stars for softball were, from left, Annika Johansson (Lynn English), Kaylee DiNicola (Peabody), Emma Esposito (Lynnfield), Sofia McCarrier (Saugus), Layla DeMonte (Saugus), Aliza Crean-Oviedo (St. Mary’s), and Player of the Year Elizabeth Bettencourt (Peabody).
Lynnfield’s Brendan Driscoll shakes hands with Daily Item Sports Editor Joey Barrett after receiving his Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award for boys lacrosse.
Jason Rothwell (Swampscott), and Brendan Driscoll (Lynnfield), were named Spring 2026 Item All-Stars for boys lacrosse.
Lynnfield’s Jordan Calichman smiles after being named a Spring 2026 Item All-Star for girls lacrosse.
Daily Item sports reporter Anne Marie Tobin presents Lynnfield’s Hayden Valiton with the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Player of the Year award for girls lacross.
St. Mary’s head girls lacrosse coach Jessica Gambale shakes hands with Daily Item Sports Editor Joey Barrett after being named the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Coach of the Year for girls lacrosse.
St. Mary’s head girls lacrosse coach Jessica Gambale speaks after being named the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Coach of the Year for girls lacrosse.
The Spring 2026 Item All-Stars for girls lacrosse were, from left, Ava Damiani (Lynnfield), Jordan Calichman (Lynnfield), Ava Nason (St. Mary’s), Shaye Denning (St. Mary’s), Zoe Dwyer (Marblehead), Aly Mabee (Saugus), Quinn Kelleher (Swampscott), Victoria Vaz (Peabody), Player of the Year Hayden Valiton (Lynnfield), and Coach of the Year Jessica Gambale (St. Mary’s).
Lynnfield’s Lily Alves shakes hands with sports reporter Anne Marie Tobin as she receives her Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award for girls tennis.
Swampscott’s Nikki Carr shakes hands with Item Sports Editor Joey Barrett after being named the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Player of the Year for girls tennis.
The Spring 2026 Item All-Stars for girls tennis, from left, Lily Alves (Lynnfield), Vicky McCrann (Lynnfield), and Player of the Year Nikki Carr (Swampscott).
Swampscott’s Anthony Colella smiles and shakes hands with sports reporter Anne Marie Tobin as he receives his Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award for boys track and field.
Bishop Fenwick’s Nondas Lagonakis shakes hands with Item Sports Editor Joey Barrett after receiving his Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award for boys track and field.
St. John’s Prep’s Mickey Kuleszka smiles after receiving his Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award for boys track and field.
Lynn Tech track and field coach John Hogan was named the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Coach of the Year for track and field.
The Spring 2026 Item All-Stars for boys track and field were, from left, Colin Hart (Marblehead), Osama Mishal (Peabody), Anthony Colella (Swampscott), Nondas Lagonakis (Bishop Fenwick), Mickey Kuleszka (St. John’s Prep), and Coach of the Year John Hogan (Lynn Tech).
Marblehead’s Marrietta O’Connell was named the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars Player of the Year for girls track and field.
Among the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars for girls track and field were, from left, Lucy Flynn (Marblehead), Marianna Kay (Bishop Fenwick), Madisen McHale (Lynn English), and Player of the Year Marrietta O’Connell (Marblehead).
Lynn School Committee member and St. Mary’s track and field coach Tristan Smith was given the Buzzy Barton Award at the conclusion of the Spring 2026 Item All-Stars award ceremony on Tuesday.
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