The board of trustees at St. Mary’s High School in Lynn approved a strategic realignment of the school’s interscholastic athletics program. As a result, the school will switch to independent status in most sports starting with the 2027-28 academic year. The school will remain a full-fledged member of the MIAA and continue to play some current Catholic Central League schools in various sports. 

The decision to go independent was presented to the board of trustees by Athletic Director Jeff Newhall and unanimously supported.

“We expect to continue to enjoy a positive, productive relationship with the CCL,” Newhall said. “This decision is designed to give us flexibility in scheduling and provide enhanced opportunities for our student-athletes and their families.”

Newhall said not being locked into a certain number of games, including some that involve significant travel, will allow St. Mary’s to schedule more contests against schools that are closer, as well as games that will be beneficial in the MIAA power rankings.

“This will not be a major change in some sports,” Newhall said. “Our football team played an independent schedule last year and of the total number of games our boys and girls basketball games played, including the state tournament, less than 30 percent were against CCL schools. Our boys hockey team played 14 of 20 games vs. non-league opponents.”

Head of School Dr. John F. Dolan said the move to independent status is accompanied by a board of trustees commitment to enhance resources and support for the athletic program, which will allow for teams to play games against out-of-state opponents. These travel and compete programs include an educational and cultural component for students. 

“The board could not have been more supportive of this move,” Dolan said. “We have an experienced athletic director and when he made the presentation, the feedback was 100-percent positive. We have the utmost confidence in him to lead the program forward as a North Shore independent institution that will compete locally, regionally, and, in some cases, nationally.”

Newhall said the added flexibility in scheduling will also result in increased opportunities for the St. Mary’s sub-varsity teams, since not all CCL schools participate at all three levels (varsity, JV and freshman).

“We are very fortunate in that 70 percent of our students participate in athletics, and we want to make sure we are giving them the best possible interscholastic sports experience,” he said. “We also want to make it as easy as possible for parents and families to get to the games.”

The St. Mary’s boys basketball team won the MIAA Div. 2 state championship this year, extending the streak of the school having at least one state title to 19 years. The Spartans played non-league games against Salem, the Div. 3 state champion, Xaverian, a Div. 1 quarterfinalist, and Masconomet, which it also played in the state final.

“Going fully independent removes any restrictions from how we can schedule,” Newhall said. “And we still have the option to play CCL teams. Bishop Feehan left the league last year and we are still playing them in almost every sport.”

St. Mary’s Board Chair Bill Mosakowski said trustees appreciate the role athletics plays in the overall vitality of the school and are committed to ensuring that not only continues, but also improves.

“Our school is thriving in all areas,” Mosakowski said. “The board is fully aware of the importance of the extracurricular experience, including athletics, and we want to provide whatever support is necessary to continue our commitment to excellence. Across the board the school has great momentum: academically, developing the faith life of our students, and creating opportunities for our student- athletes to compete at a high level. This decision maintains this momentum.”