Endgame
The big wins were 'indescribable,' but what these athletes carry away from high school is memories of team 'families'
Pablo Maguire waited four years to graduate with his classmates at Lowell High. He knew he wouldn't miss the classes, the exams, or the homework. But he'll certainly miss competing as an athlete.
As a sophomore, Maguire hit the slopes with the ski team. A snowboarder since age 7, he joined the team because he needed something to do when the snow prevented him from skateboarding and riding his BMX bike.
What he wasn't counting on was becoming so attached to his teammates. The inside jokes. The stories. The memories. That spring, a number of those teammates, his friends, also tried out for the lacrosse team.
"I did it for the memories," said Maguire. "I'm not some star athlete, but I picked things up pretty quick when I did try out. I'm going to miss wearing the jersey, I loved being a part of a team. All my really good friends are the ones on my teams, so I'll miss that."
Maguire is one of many local athletes to play a final competitive game this spring. Each had his or her own motivation for joining a team. But the life lessons, friendships and positive experiences were often the same.
On Monday night, the Raiders hosted their annual awards night. A hobby woodworker, Maguire presented each of his teammates with a handmade wood plaque that he had designed and crafted. With the help of head coach Burke Walker, Maguire gathered the game nets from meaningful games over the course of the season and attached a piece to each plaque.
This season, Maguire was a starter for the first time on the lacrosse team. After moving from attack to midfield, he found his niche in the Raiders' offense; against rival Chelmsford, he scored the tying goal with four seconds left in regulation, setting the stage for Lowell to beat the Lions for the first time in program history.
"It was great, it's definitely my biggest and best moment," said Maguire. "I might try out for some sports next year, but who knows? I think I'll remember the two straight days I stayed up until like 2 a.m. making those plaques. When you get older, everyone has stories of when they played in high school, so I'm glad I can give up some of mine."
Maguire will attend Fitchburg State College, where he plans to study construction management.
BOB PIKE
Salem (N.H.) High tennis
His final tennis match meant more to him than he could have ever anticipated. Bob Pike joined the Salem High boys' tennis squad as a freshman and developed a strong relationship with then-head coach Bob Rhodes. Four days before the start of Pike's sophomore season, he lost his mentor to a sudden brain aneurysm.
Since then, Pike, along with his fellow graduating seniors, spent every prematch huddle reading a poem, which had been read at Rhodes' funeral.
"My favorite message from it is that he didn't want us to miss him and be sad, he wanted us to take what we learned from him and use it," said Pike, who helped Salem complete a perfect season with the Class L state championship last month.
"To win the state championship my last year was unbelievable. We wanted this title so badly for Rhodes, and it was so tough not winning my sophomore year.
"To win it on my way out was just indescribable."
This spring, playing out of the third singles slot, Pike went 16-0, in addition to posting an 11-4 mark in doubles with partner Mike Cohen. After losing in the semifinals the past two years, Salem entered the postseason as the state's top seed.
This fall, Pike will attend the University of New Hampshire to study communications.
"When I look back, obviously it's been an up and down four years on the tennis team," said Pike. "But if losing Rhodes had to happen, and if I had to write it any other way, I don't really know if I could've done it any differently."
KAITIE HOGAN
Shawsheen Tech softball
When Kaitie Hogan was growing up, she spent most of her time rushing from one practice or game to another. When it came time to enter high school, the Tewksbury resident chose Shawsheen Tech over Tewksbury High. Athletics, however, remained a part of her four-year career.
"I thought it was cool that I could go and learn a trade and be in a high school at the same time," said Hogan, who was named Shawsheen's Student-Athlete of the Year earlier this week. "I knew I'd play sports wherever I went, so there was no question about that."
Hogan played her final game when the Rams lost to Austin Prep, 6-3, in the Division 3 North softball semifinals. A four-year varsity first baseman, Hogan ended her final season with a .369 batting average, a .593 on-base percentage, and 17 RBIs.
Rams head coach Maureen Buckley called Hogan, "my most clutch player the last four years," referring to the many times Hogan would come up with a game-winning hit or game-tying RBI.
Hogan also played on the varsity basketball and volleyball teams the past two years. Last fall, the 5-foot-11 outside hitter helped the Rams volleyball team capture the Cape Ann title. This winter, with Hogan starting at center, Shawsheen girls' basketball fell a point shy of winning the league crown. On the softball diamond, the Rams won their second straight CAL title.
This fall, she will attend the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth to study elementary education. Though she will not compete as a college athlete, her high school experience leaves her with memories for a lifetime.
"There were all the games we had with CAL rivals. I'll miss those. I'll miss the teammates, the coaches, and the idea of knowing I was committed to something and that if I worked hard enough at it, good things would happen. I'm definitely glad I took advantage of playing sports while I was here, I'll take away a lot."
CHRIS CRUGNALE
Belmont High baseball
After two years playing in a reserve role, Chris Crugnale started at third base for Belmont High baseball coach Jim Brown this spring. Crugnale hit .300 and in the Tigers' three postseason games, he sizzled with a .550 average. Belmont fell in the semifinals of the Division 2 North tournament, losing to Danvers, 4-1.
"In the playoffs, he was rock solid," said Brown. "He didn't play very much before this year, and when we needed him, he delivered. He's a quiet kid, leads by example, but he's a great kid. He's very supportive of his younger teammates and does all kinds of community service."
A captain of the football team, Crugnale spent the offseason taking extra ground balls and hours in the batting cages to improve his game.
"I wasn't nervous about starting this year," said Crugnale. "Because I knew I would be in the lineup. But I really wanted to be able to come in and contribute. There were a lot of nonstarters in this year's lineup, so that made it easier too."
Crugnale also spent a great deal of time doing community work, volunteering at Brown's spring baseball clinics the past three years, working with Special Olympic athletes and various community organizations.
As he moves on to college, either at Bryant College or Saint Anselm University, what he'll miss, he said, are the moments off the field.
"Mainly, I'll miss the feeling of being on a team. My teammates were the ones who I was with all the time. They're the ones you see in the hallways and eat lunch with and talk about games with in class. It's sort of a family, I'll miss that."
Sapna Pathak can be reached at sportsgalsp@gmail.com. 