Watson to All-Scholastics: enjoy ride
QUNICY - Recognizing athletes from throughout the region, The Boston Globe yesterday honored its All-Scholastics, scholar-athlete award winners, and NEPSAC players of the year at the annual All-Scholastic awards ceremony at the Quincy Marriott.
The ceremony included speeches from Williams College football standout Brian Morrissey, Northwestern lacrosse star Meredith Frank, and New England Patriots tight end Ben Watson.
Watson, the keynote speaker, talked about the importance of academics, humility, leadership, and teamwork.
"There are so many parallels between sports and life," said Watson, who played high school football in South Carolina and was a member of the National Honor Society.
"You have to always have a goal, always have something that you can reach to."
After stressing the importance of academics, Watson shared stories ranging from Tom Brady's early morning workouts following red-eye flights to coach Bill Belichick's messages on leadership, teamwork, and understanding how to become a better player.
"You need to be a leader," Watson said. "Get out of your comfort zone, be responsible. Become men and women that people want to look up to."
Though the tight end peppered his speech with jokes, he was most serious about one of his last points.
"Enjoy the ride, believe me," he said.
Morrissey, a former three-sport star at Governor's Academy, told students to work hard preparing for college, emphasizing the importance of making the right decisions and realizing the opportunity a college education provides.
"They don't call it the best four years of your life for nothing," he said. "Enjoy it."
Frank, a former Westwood High star who has helped Northwestern win the national title in each of her three seasons, spoke of the lessons she learned about perseverance while recovering from an Achilles' tendon injury and urged the athletes to realize and take advantage of opportunities.
Other speakers included Joe Sullivan, the Globe's assistant managing editor/sports; Bob Holmes, the newspaper's school sports editor; and Richard Phelps, the founder of Phelps Industries, a partner in the Scholar-Athlete program.
The Boston Globe/Will McDonough Athlete of the Year awards went to Chelmsford's Tim Rich and Framingham's Melanie Baskind.
Rich, a standout in football, wrestling, and tennis, will attend Northfield Mount Hermon. Baskind, a repeat winner, starred in soccer and lacrosse and was class valedictorian. She will attend Harvard.
The NEPSAC male athlete of the year was Chris Dwyer, who played football and baseball at the Salisbury School and was recently drafted by the New York Yankees. The female award went to lacrosse, basketball, and field hockey standout Sarah Plumb of Noble and Greenough.
