Bike ride for cancer research
Reid Sacco never got to fulfill his dream of attending Columbia University. The All-Scholastic swimmer from Lynnfield was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2003 and had to defer his enrollment. He died last year after a two-year battle with the cancer. Before Sacco died, he expressed another dream -- to one day ride in a charity bike-a-thon to fight cancers that affect adolescents and young adults. Last year, on what would have been Sacco's 21st birthday, the first Reid's Ride was held. The second will take place next Sunday .
Riders will bike 28 miles from Lynnfield High to Gloucester's Stage Fort Park. Sacco, who founded the Lynnfield-North Reading cooperative swim team in 1999, will be with them in spirit, said Meredith Greeno , Sacco's cousin and the public relations chairwoman for the event.
``He was six months older than me. We were very close. He was like a brother," said Greeno. ``As long as I can remember, Reid loved to go bike riding, but once he found out he had cancer, he wanted to get involved and ride for charity. It was a passion of his -- biking, not just biking, but biking for a cure to a disease he was battling."
Greeno rode last year and was the top fund-raiser, collecting more than $5,000 in pledges. Over all, 229 riders raised about $95,000 for cancer research last year. The Reid R. Sacco Memorial Foundation, which organizes Reid's Ride and other cancer fund-raisers, is hoping to top $100,000 this year.
``Riding last year on Reid's 21st birthday -- it was very powerful," said Greeno. ``Obviously, it was great for the family and his friends, but we want to go beyond [last year] and help find a cure for this."
Those interested in participating in the ride can go to www.reidsaccofoundation.org and click on bike-a-thon to download registration forms. There is a $50 registration fee, and riders are asked to collect a minimum of $125 in sponsors. Those participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge, which benefits the Jimmy Fund, only have to pay the $50 registration fee. Riders will be accepted right up until the ride begins at 7:30 a.m. next Sunday. Check-in and registration start at Lynnfield High at 6:30 a.m. Donations are also welcome from those who can't ride.
``It's just an awful disease affecting everyone, so we think that everyone will want to be involved," said Greeno.
Corresponding point values are assigned to each school based on its finish in each varsity sport in the NEC standings. First place in a sport nets 11 points, with a one-point decrease in point value for each subsequent place in the standings. If schools are tied, they split the points. Marblehead came in third with 171 points.
Olympic hockey coach replaced
Gloucester's Ben Smith , who led the US women's Olympic hockey team to a gold medal in the 1998 Nagano games, has been replaced as head coach. University of Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson , a member of the gold-medal-winning 1980 US Olympic men's hockey team, will coach the women's national team at the 2007 World Championships. USA Hockey announced the move on July 5.
Smith, who said he planned to step down after leading the US team to a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, will remain involved with USA Hockey in a talent evaluation role. ``Ben did an absolutely terrific job in taking us to three Olympic hockey medals, something no coach has ever done," said USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean in a prepared statement. ``It is time now, however, to give some other coaches an opportunity. We're extremely pleased that Ben has agreed to continue on our staff and help us in evaluating players on both the women's and men's side."
Senior stars head off to glory
Peter Giannikopoulos of Everett and Julie Sauchuk of Peabody were recognized as the top male and female scholar athletes, respectively, at Pope John High School. Giannikopoulos helped lead Everett-based Pope John to the Division 4 North boys' basketball sectional final this season and finished his hoops career with more than 1,200 points. He will play at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. Sauchuk, the Globe's Gymnast of the Year, won the girls' gymnastics individual state all-around title and will continue her tumbling career at Michigan State University.
Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com. 
