http://www.salemnews.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:03:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094456.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094456.html NATE BRAKELEY, St. John's Nate Brakeley's performance in the classroom and on the playing fields of St. John's Prep could be measured by his highly impressive test scores and statistics, but that isn't a true reflection of a shining star of the Class of 2008. The coaches, teachers and administrators that speak of Brakeley tell the story of a young man who cares more about the journey than the destination. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:53:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093145350.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093145350.html Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:46:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094603.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094603.html MICHAEL BOCHES, Beverly Michael Boches' election as captain of three sports teams in his senior year is a testament to both his leadership and the respect he commands from his teammates and coaches. The story remains the same for Boches in the classroom, the Beverly High hallways, and the community. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:45:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094519.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094519.html COURTNEY COLANTUNO, Marblehead In her academic resume Courtney Colantuno writes that balancing school work and athletics is an ongoing challenge, something she has worked on since her days in junior high. The three-sport captain (field hockey, ice hockey, softball) makes no mention of how she fits volunteer work into that equation, however. Yet her list of extracurricular activities includes a Best Buddies Program for students with special needs, a Thanksgiving Food Drive at the Marblehead Food Pantry, a DVD drive for soldiers in Iraq and a Marblehead High School Peer Mentoring Program. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:44:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094433.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094433.html KRISTINA DAVIS, North Shore Tech Playing on a varsity team as a freshman can be an intimidating challenge. The intimidation factor grows exponentially when that varsity team is primarily made up of the opposite gender. Kristina Davis has lived with that challenge for the past four years playing for the boys soccer team at North Shore Tech. Instead of surrendering to the pressure, Davis embraced the opportunity to not only prove that she belonged on the team, but that she could thrive under the circumstances. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:44:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094411.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094411.html LEXI CULKEEN, Bishop Fenwick Lexi Culkeen entered Bishop Fenwick with no track experience, never mind having any familiarity with the shot put. But by the time she graduates this spring, Culkeen could be the best the school has ever had in that event. Also a standout in field hockey, Culkeen has a full scholarship to College of the Holy Cross, where the track team's throwing program will be built around her. She will be a pre-med major. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:44:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094342.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094342.html JULIA CROYLE, Hamilton-Wenham Julia Croyle really enjoys a challenge. That's why when she was asked to fill in for the injured catcher on the varsity softball team as a freshman, she performed so well that she won the starting job. It's also the reason why she went from a first-year field hockey player as a junior to a league all-star as a senior. The same attitude translates to the classroom, where Julia attacks a difficult course load with the same enthusiasm and vigor she exudes in her athletic endeavors. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:43:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094318.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094318.html KATELYN HARTNETT, Danvers Katelyn Hartnett is pretty familiar with the letters M-V-P. Hartnett was the Northeastern Conference's girls soccer Most Valuable Player as a junior and also collected team MVP awards for the Falcons' winter track team during her sophomore year and for spring track in her junior year. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:43:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094253.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094253.html KELLY GIBSON, Masconomet Masconomet teachers who have had the pleasure of having Kelly Gibson in one or more of their classes have found out that the 10th-ranked student in a class of 321 goes the distance with every academic project she encounters. Whether it is increasing her study time away from the classroom for a new and difficult subject or making contact with scientists on her own time to help her understanding for a science project, Gibson will do whatever it takes to excel. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:42:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094201.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094201.html REBECCA FANNING, Ipswich The work Rebecca Fanning does inside the walls of Ipswich High School far exceeds what anyone would ask of a student-athlete. Fanning's intelligence shows through in her 3.8 GPA and her SAT scores (730 critical reading, 680 math, 680 writing). Her athleticism shines on the track, on the lacrosse field and the soccer pitch. But the additional value Fanning brings is that she is not simply satisfied by keeping things status quo. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:42:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094137.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094137.html MOLLY OSBORNE, Manchester Essex First impressions might lead people to believe that Molly Osborne is quiet and shy. But after time, it becomes obvious that Osborne possesses a quiet confidence that enables her to be a leader by example both in the classroom, on the athletic fields and in the community. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:41:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094115.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094115.html PETER KINCHLEY, Swampscott When Swampscott High School teachers, coaches and administrators think of Peter Kinchley, the words and quot;determination and quot; and and quot;discipline and quot; instantly rise to the surface. Athletic Director Frank Kowalski has not known him very long, but he quickly learned about Kinchley's approach to schoolwork during a chance meeting in the school's weight room earlier this year. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:41:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094050.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094050.html KRISTYN KELLEY, Peabody It would be hard to find a more well-rounded student-athlete than Kristyn Kelley. A long list of academic achievements is matched by both sports excellence and a list of community service projects. While Kelley doesn't consider herself an excellent athlete, it's a testament to her dedication and work ethic that she became a standout volleyball and tennis player at Peabody High. She was named a Salem News all-star in volleyball as a defensive specialist and was selected as a Greater Boston League all-star in tennis. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:40:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094005.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093094005.html KRISTIN WYKE, Salem Salem High Athletic Director Kim Kochanek considers Kristin Wyke's position as an all-star soccer goalie to be a reflection of her personality. and quot;In the face of the financial difficulties occurring in Salem, Kristin is, instead, what we hope Salem is remembered for: its incredible students who put others and mdash; the team, their classmates, the community and mdash; before themselves, to create a vision of a selfless world of which we all desire, one day, to be a part of, and quot; Kochanek said. and quot;She is the kind of student-athlete to whom teachers, coaches, other students and administrators turn when they need a proverbial 'save'. and quot; Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:31:00 +0000 http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093093114.html http://www.salemnews.com/essallstars/local_story_093093114.html DILLON VASSALLO, Pingree Dillon Vassallo isn't afraid of avoiding the conformity that haunts high school hallways and classrooms. Peer pressure and the need to fit in by following what is considered acceptable has not controlled Vassallo's time at Pingree.