May 08, 2008 11:44 pm Bill Kipouras Join the Navy, as the old saying goes, and see the world. If you want to become a Peabody police officer, though, your chances are probably better if you played football at Peabody High. The newly elected high school football coach, Scott Wlasuk, is proud to serve as a Lieutenant on a Peabody police force that includes seven full-timers and two newly-sworn in reserve officers, Jim Festa and Van Tsoulas, who played either with or for him on the Tanners. Mark Bettencourt, Brandon O'Brien, Dave Bonfanti, Steve Zamipitella and James Harkins, along with Festa and Tsoulas, all played for Peabody High teams where Wlasuk served as an assistant coach. Two other full-time Peabody cops, Buddy Yeo and Tim Moroney, were Wlasuk's teammates in high school. Moroney's son Joe was Peabody's best lineman last season. Yeo was two years ahead of Wlasuk, who inherited Yeo's No. 24 jersey. Wlasuk, who was hired to replace former coach Dick Woodbury earlier this week, said the chance to serve "a great community in a leadership capacity" and have an adventurous career was what led him to police work. "The police and coaching (20 years here) have been rewarding experiences for me, a blend of meeting good people," he said. "I didn't put in for the (head coaching) job before, but my heart told me to apply this time for the kids. I was inspired by the attitude of the kids. They were positive through all the adversity (of last year's 1-9 season)." The late Bob Wlasuk was one of Peabody's most ardent football fans. He introduced his young son Scotty to Tanners' football at the old Buckley Stadium. One of Mr. Wlasuk's companions at those Buckley games was Charlie Hiou, grandfather of one of the 2008 tri-captains, Nick Hiou, a two-way back. "I feel I've been on a football field all my life," Scott Wlasuk said. "My father was my biggest fan. Because of his love for football and all he did for me, I was thinking of him the day I was named. It was kind of emotional." That 10 football people would grace his organizational staff of 90 policemen is a pretty good percentage, Chief Bob Champagne conceded. "What's next for Scotty, USC?" Champagne asked, tongue in cheek. "Just one more football guy and we'd have a starting lineup." Champagne said that it bodes well in their character and personalities that Bettencourt (baseball) and Wlasuk (football) head two of the major varsity sports at Peabody High. They'll be working together in a bid to restore the pride in Peabody football, with Bettencourt serving as one of Wlasuk's assistants. The chief (PHS Class of 1966) recalled when one of the teachers, Doc Cronin, would say, "A lot of our former gladiators in football seem to become policemen and firemen." Champagne thought about Cronin when the issue of all the current football stock was raised. "Scotty has a nice level of leadership. He works the midnight shift and is in charge of the whole city," said Champagne. "You've heard that old police refrain, 'People sleep safely in their beds because strong, determined men watch you?' Scotty brings the level of talent and ability along with his enthusiasm to the people who work for him. He's their leader." The chief said Wlasuk has an innate ability to see the big picture. "I give him a lot of credit. He has incredible energy," Champagne said. "I'm sure he carries his (spirited) enthusiasm over to the field." So what does the Peabody PD have to attract all the gridiron athletes? "I can't speak for them," Champagne said, "but it's an action-packed business that we're in. It's not like we're chasing fireflies every night. It requires certain physical, mental and emotional demands, all the things you learn from athletics. "Nobody can get it done by himself; it requires teamwork. No two days are the same. It's like a play on the field; no two plays are the same.". nnn Danvers' Danielle Sherry, one of the school's most prolific basketball scorers, has chosen Suffolk University over Salem State after weighing a heavy decision. "It was hard. I'm glad it's over," said Sherry. "It's a weight off my shoulders." The flashy 18-year-old senior scoring star was only the second female 1,000 point scorer in Falcons' annals. She is the niece of Dana Skinner of Danvers, who went on to become an All-America at Merrimack College and a Celtics' draft pick. He finished with 1,996 points in high school. "I'm glad someone from the family reached the milestone," Skinner said. He's now the director of athletics and UMass Lowell. Sherry was a high profile recruit who seemed headed for Salem State. It seemed to aggravate her that so many Salem State questions came her way. "Why can't I go where I want to go?" Sherry would respond. "Danielle loved Tim Shea (the Salem State coach), but this wasn't about coaches or basketball. This was about schools," Darlene Sherry, Danielle's mother, said. Suffolk rewarded her with the ultimate package, leaving only housing for her expenses. She benefitted in this area, too. She will be residing in Boston with a family friend at a great saving. Sherry averaged 20.5 ppg, scored 429 points this past season and 1,202 for her career. She had 33 against Swampscott in the opening game of her senior year (a career high) and later poured in 32 vs. Salem. She credited her father Paul for teaching her the game, as well as coach Pat Veilleux. "I wanted to get away for school, try something different," she said. "Boston will be a whole experience. I did call Mr. Shea. He's a nice guy and quite a coach. I liked the school, but I liked Suffolk a little more as a school. "It'll be a new experience. Some people think I made a mistake," Sherry said, "but it's what I want and if it is a mistake, I'll decide that for myself." Bill Kipouras is a staff writer at The Salem News. He can be reached at 978-338-2615 or by e-mail: bkipouras@salemnews.com.
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