LYNN — Above and beyond. The best of the best. Whatever you’d like to say, these student-athletes and coaches are exactly that.

The Item held its winter sports All-Star ceremony inside of the Lynn City Hall Auditorium Thursday night, recognizing local student-athletes and coaches for their success during the winter sports season.

After Item sports reporter Mark Aboyoun kicked things off with a greeting, he welcomed Massachusetts State Sen. Brendan Crighton up to the podium for a few remarks.

Crighton attended Lynn Classical High School and currently serves the City of Lynn and Towns of Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Saugus and Swampscott. He recognized those in the room for their success in competition, the classroom, and within the community.

Nine sports (boys basketball, girls basketball, boys hockey, girls hockey, wrestling, boys track and field, girls track and field, boys swimming and diving, girls swimming and diving) were recognized, featuring Coach and Player of the Year awards across each.

Coaches of the Year – all of whom said a few words to the audience – were Peabody’s Thad Broughton (boys basketball), Bishop Fenwick’s Adam DeBaggis (girls basketball), Marblehead’s Mark Marfione (boys hockey), St. Mary’s Frank Pagliuca (girls hockey), St. John’s Prep’s Manny Costa (wrestling), Peabody’s Fernando Braz (boys track), Marblehead’s Nolan Raimo (girls track), St. John’s Prep’s Jeff Fiore (boys swimming), and Marblehead’s Susan Guertin (girls swimming).

Player of the Year recipients were Lynn Tech’s Ederick Gonzalez (boys basketball), Bishop Fenwick’s Cecilia Kay (girls basketball), St. John’s Prep’s Jake Vana (boys hockey), St. Mary’s Bella Freitas (girls hockey), St. John’s Prep’s Jayden D’Ambrosio (wrestling), Peabody’s Alex Jackson (boys track), Marblehead’s Le’Daisha Williams (girls track), St. John’s Prep’s Matthew Church (boys swimming), and Swampscott’s Claire Slomski (girls swimming).

Last, but certainly not least, came the Buzzy Barton Award, recognizing one student-athlete in the room for being a consummate team player and leader. Barton, a former Lynn firefighter, city councilor, student-athlete, and basketball coach, died in April of 2023, but what he stood for was kept alive Thursday night.

Lynn’s James Meklis of Bishop Fenwick High School received the honor.

“He personifies what a student-athlete should be,” said Fenwick boys basketball coach Kevin Moran. “He continuously displays qualities such as class, sportsmanship, leadership, dedication, commitment, responsibility, and dependability.”

With members of the audience grabbing a cookie to go, the evening was capped off with a group photo featuring all student-athletes. 

• Thank you to Community Development Executive Director Jamie Marsh and his team for preparing the Lynn Auditorium to perfection. It was more than appreciated.

• Congratulations to St. John’s Prep’s Manny Costa, who received Coach of the Year in wrestling. Costa – who coached 39 Division 1 state champions, among other achievements – recently announced his retirement from coaching after 34 years.