Three summers ago, an idea was hatched for a series that attempted to put a final bow on the athletic school years for our five Daily News area CAL schools. They would be long, school-specific articles going through each of the three seasons, reminiscing on the highlights, adding extra context if needed and quickly glancing ahead at — to our knowledge — who the top returners in each sport would be heading into next year.
Simultaneously closing one chapter, while jotting down the first few sentences of the next.
Thankfully, the series has been received positively.
So we’re back again.
And in keeping with “tradition,” this is Part 1 of a five-part series taking one last deep dive into the 2024-25 athletic years for our local CAL schools: Amesbury, Georgetown, Newburyport, Pentucket and Triton. We don’t pick favorites here, so we’re just going to go through this alphabetically.
Starting, of course, with Amesbury:
FALL: A Turkey Day comeback for the ages
It was a belief that never wavered.
A year after getting beat by archrival Newburyport in the historic 100th annual Thanksgiving Day game between the two, it didn’t appear as if the Amesbury football team was going to get its revenge. The Redhawks fumbled their first offensive play of this year’s holiday game, fell behind 14-0 in a blink, and still trailed by 10 as the fourth quarter opened and the rain started to fall harder at James T. Stehlin Field.
But losing, as it turns out, wasn’t going to be an option for Amesbury.
Junior QB Justin Dube converted a 6-yard touchdown with just under eight minutes left, then after recovering an onside kick, the Redhawks methodically drove down and got a DJ DiCarlo score with 1:45 on the clock to put them ahead for the first time all game, 42-38. Newburyport would drive down to the 20 yard line for a last-second prayer into the endzone, but the pass was tipped by Parker DeLong and intercepted by Ben Wood to seal Amesbury’s dramatic comeback victory in the 101st annual game.
“That was the craziest game I’ve ever played in my life,” said DiCarlo. “We just kept believing and we just knew what this team was capable of. We just believed in each other. We didn’t (expletive), we didn’t moan, we just kept fighting, and it was a battle out there. But it was the best game I’ve ever seen in my life.”
The memorable victory was the cap on another successful season for Amesbury (8-3), which made it to the Division 7 quarterfinals and won at least eight games for the fourth straight year. A run that appears likely to continue next year, with both Dube and Puleo slated to be back, along with nearly the entire starting offensive line in Marcus Colon, Stacy Peck Jr., Dylan Palen and Braden Delisle.
In cross country, the future is certainly looking bright for the boys. Josiah Fugate put together a Daily News All-Star sophomore year that saw him both break the Amesbury course record (16.46), as well as finish 9th at the CAL Open, 8th at the Division 3B Sectional (out of 206) and 28th at Division 3 All-States (out of 186). He should form a solid 1-2 duo next year alongside promising rising-sophomore Landon Mitchell. Then for the girls, Julia Parsons ended her fantastic career a three-time Daily News All-Star, capping it off by placing 35th out of 175 runners at Division 3 All-States. The Redhawks will miss both her and Lindsey Williamson, but rising-senior Abby Morin is set to take over the reigns as the program’s top runner.
Moving on to soccer, you figured it might be more of a rebuilding year when you saw only a combined six seniors between the boys and girls teams. But — and maybe this is pulling way out of left field — perhaps both program’s got some momentum heading into next year by winning their final games this past season. CAL All-Star Maddie Clark is in line to lead the girls next fall, while fellow CAL All-Star Maxx Rodrigues will lead the boys alongside fellow returning captain Chase Linsey.
Finally, the hard work being put in didn’t necessarily show up in the win column for both the field hockey and golf teams, but there are still plenty of building blocks for the future. Most notably in golf, where the Redhawks are in line to return both of their CAL All-Stars in Lincoln Kime and Jack Kusler. Then first-year field hockey coach Finn Caron brought plenty of prior playing experience to the table this year, and has the athletes to improve next fall with the likes of Gabi Peixoto, Hope Shanahan and Addison Cooper.
Key 2025 Returners
Boys Cross Country: Josiah Fugate, Jr.; Landon Mitchell, Soph.
Girls Cross Country: Abby Morin, Sr.
Field Hockey: Gabi Peixoto, Sr.; Connor Calderwood, Sr.; Hope Shanahan, Jr.; Addison Cooper, Jr.; Violet Powers, Jr.
Football: Ethan Kirby, Sr.; Justin Dube, Sr.; Parker DeLong, Sr.; Ollie Peters, Sr.; Marcus Colon, Sr.; Stacy Peck Jr., Sr.; Ben Wood, Sr.; Dylan Palen, Sr.; Joe Puleo, Jr.; Connor Scialdone, Jr.; Braden Delisle, Jr.
Golf: Lincoln Kime, Jr.; Danny Dalton, Jr.; Thomas McElaney, Jr.; Jack Kusler, Soph.
Boys Soccer: Maxx Rodrigues, Sr.; Noah Blouin, Sr.,; Chase Linsey, Sr.
Girls Soccer: Maddie Clark, Sr.; Maeve Snyder, Sr.; Lexi Desmond, Jr.
WINTER: Hockey turned on the playoff magic again, while girls basketball is back!
Two Cinderella runs in three years has to say something about a program.
Confidence. Resolve. Obviously some semblence of talent.
But according to Amesbury hockey coach Steve Costa, there’s also been a few other largely important factors.
“We have a great program with great support from our communities,” Costa said, after his team upset defending state champion Boston Latin in this year’s Division 2 Round of 16.
“We have kids that want to come and play here.”
Three years ago during the 2022-23 season, Amesbury went on an epic run to the Division 4 quarterfinals as the tournament’s No. 19 seed — earning upset wins over No. 14 Assabet Valley and No. 3 Winthrop along the way. The Redhawks may be up in Division 2 now, but this winter, that didn’t stop them from pulling off the exact same magic once again.
Coming in as the No. 26 seed this time around, Amesbury (10-11-2) stomped No. 7 Walpole in the first round, 4-1, before getting a goal with 1.5 seconds left in the second period from Bodie Marcotte to take down Boston Latin, 1-0, in the Sweet 16. That punched the team’s ticket to its second quarterfinal in three years, where this time, it was unfortunately second-seeded Woburn turning the clock to midnight for the Redhawks.
A senior captain, Marcotte scored 28 goals with 18 assists this year and was named our Daily News MVP — capping his epic four-year, four-time Daily News All-Star career with 73 goals and 65 assists. His loss will of course be felt, but Amesbury is in line to return the bulk of its roster next year, headlined by returning Daily News All-Star defensemen Lincoln Kime and Evan Murphy. The Redhawks should also see exciting rising-sophomore Grady Stickney (16g, 10a) back leading the top line, along with Wes Ackerman, Thomas McElaney and Thomas Puorro.
Up next, the girls basketball team appears to be fully back.
After winning the Division 4 State Championship during the 2021-22 season, the program graduated out an historic senior class, and went into a full rebuild with new coach Scott Brown at the helm. A new, young core was expected to take some lumps, and the end result was just five combined wins over the next two years.
But the seeds of that hard work started to bloom this year.
With senior captains Ellie Marden (9.3 ppg, 34 3s) and Sadie Bolth leading the way — holdovers from that championship roster — Amesbury (10-12) doubled its win total this year, made it back to the Division 4 playoffs and won a preliminary round game. And this certainly is only the beginning, as offensively the Redhawks were led by Daily News All-Star freshman Olivia McKay (12.6 ppg, 21 3s). Rising-juniors Ellison Talbot (9.5 ppg, 21 3s) and Celia Tavares will be fellow returning starters next year, rising-sophomores Delaney Sargent and Shelby Massey will provide solid depth, and the program is expected to welcome in three elite freshmen in Haley Dube, Maddy Rodrigues and Lexi Linsey.
That championship DNA could very well return to Highland Street.
Moving on, it looked like the boys basketball team was going to break its two-year playoff drought, starting off the winter a perfect 3-0 while sitting at 6-7 over halfway through. A rough end to the season, though, would see the Redhawks once again on the outside looking in to the Division 4 field. But the program’s Daily News All-Star backcourt of Parker DeLong (14.0 ppg, 27 3s) and Justin Dube (10.4 ppg, 18 3s) will be back next winter, along with promising pieces Joe Celia, Noah Snyder, Ollie Peters and Chase Linsey.
Finally, in track, the boys had a pair of Daily News All-Stars that helped the program go a perfect 4-0 and win its second straight CAL Baker title. Josiah Fugate carried his cross country distance success over to the winter season, while Noah Blouin was, by far, the best long jumper in our area who posted a personal-best of 20-3.50. Both should be back next year, along with shot putter Marcus Colon and high jumper Connor Scialdone. Then for the girls, a trio of seniors in Lindsey Williamson, Julia Parsons and Samya Clark all performed well at the Division 5 State Meet, while fellow seniors Julia Losee and Alexis LeBlanc joined them by also scoring at the CAL Open.
Key 2025-26 Returners
Boys Basketball: Parker DeLong, Sr.; Justin Dube, Sr.; Ollie Peters, Sr.; Joe Celia, Sr.
Girls Basketball: Ellison Talbot, Jr.; Celia Tavares, Jr.; Olivia McKay, Soph.; Delaney Sargent, Soph.; Shelby Massey, Soph.
Boys Hockey: Wes Ackerman, Sr.; Thomas McElaney, Sr.; Lincoln Kime, Jr.; Evan Murphy, Jr.; Grady Stickney, Soph.; Tommy Puorro, Soph.
Boys Indoor Track: Brodie Hall, Sr.; Marcus Colon, Sr.; Noah Blouin, Sr.; Josiah Fugate, Jr.; Connor Scialdone, Jr.
Girls Indoor Track: Lexi Desmond, Jr.; Hope Shanahan, Jr.
SPRING: Plenty of future ‘Hope’ for softball and baseball
There was a lot of change for the Amesbury softball program this year.
From welcoming in a new coach to the dugout in proud alum Nicole Gadsby, to ushering in the next era of pitcher following years of dominance coming from Liv DeLong, Alana DeLisle and Izzy Levasseur in the circle. And sure, because of all of that change, the Redhawks weren’t their normal, state superpower-self — and they even reliquinished their stranglehold atop the CAL Baker standings to Georgetown.
But that doesn’t mean it still wasn’t a successful season.
Senior co-captain Alex Donnell took over as the team’s primary pitcher, and was named a Daily News All-Star after also hitting .369 (24-for-65) with 21 RBI in leading Amesbury (9-11) back to the Division 4 playoffs. Sophia Le may end up being the leading candidate to take over in the circle next year, and she’s also a member of a loaded rising-junior class that also includes Hope Shanahan (.452), Celia Tavares (.322), Ana Gordon (.318), Addy Cooper and Harper Walker.
So make no mistake, the CAL better prepare for Amesbury softball next year.
Then in baseball, there’s also plenty of promise when looking at the future.
Up until the final hour, it looked as if a young Amesbury squad had no chance of making it to the Division 4 playoffs. But even after losing both of their games in the Bert Spofford Tournament, the Redhawks (5-17) somehow jumped up a couple of spots in the final power rankings and snuck into the field as the No. 31 seed. A gift they made sure to take advantage of, earning a comeback win over St. Mary’s (Westfield) in the preliminary round, before pushing CAL foe and No. 2 seed Lynnfield in the first round.
Again, two big-game experiences that will prove massive for this young core.
Amesbury does say goodbye to senior captain DJ DiCarlo, but should return the bulk of its roster come next spring. That includes Daily News All-Star rising-senior Josh Roberts, who hit .406 (28-for-69) with 10 RBI while also posting a 3.12 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched on the mound. Ethan Kirby will provide a solid 1-2 pitching punch alongside him, and Thomas McElaney, Connor Scialdone, Logan Genualdo, Tommy Puorro and Joe Celia will help to round out what should be a potent lineup.
Switching over from the diamond, what’s happened to the boys lacrosse program has been nothing short of cruel.
For a remarkable third year in a row this spring, Amesbury (4-14) finished as the first team out of the Division 4 playoff field at No. 33 in the final power rankings. Despite that ultimate heartbreak, there were still plenty of highlights from the season, like when Max White scored with 10 seconds left to lift the team to an 11-10 victory over Gloucester on Senior night. A three-time Daily News All-Star, White finished his high school career with 146 goals and 50 assist, and will now continue playing at UMass Boston. His loss will be felt, but look for names like Chase Linsey, Ben Berg and Evan Murphy to step up next season.
In tennis, Amesbury’s best highlight certainly came from the girls team, which — as the No. 22 seed in the Division 4 tournament — upset No. 11 Mashpee in the first round, 3-2. What made it so unexpected was that the Redhawks didn’t have lineup stalwarts Addy Upson, Annah Belisle or Ashley Wilson available due to the school’s Senior Night Dance being on the same night. But junior Katie Welch provided the match-clinching victory at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), to send the Redhawks off to the Round of 16, where CAL foe Manchester Essex ended any Cinderella run. Then for the boys, junior Noah Blouin wrapped up a rather stellar calendar year athletically, which saw him star in soccer, track and tennis.
Finally in outdoor track, the proud history of the throwing program on the boys side continued thanks to Marcus Colon and Dylan Palen. Colon in particular was a Daily News All-Star, who helped the Redhawks win their fifth straight CAL Baker title while also placing third in the shot put at the Division 6 State Meet (49-2.25). Then between Dane Hall, Brodie Hall, Josiah Fugate and Harrison Sullivan, the Redhawks should be a force in the distance events come next year. And for the girls, senior Katherine Ishihara placed seventh at Div. 6 States in the 400 (1:01.52), and both Julia Losee in the discus (8th, 91-9) and Violet Davis in the 2-Mile (8th, 11:48.89) reached the podium as well.
Key 2026 Returners
Baseball: Josh Roberts, Sr.; Thomas McElaney, Sr.; Ethan Kirby, Sr.; Connor Scialdone, Jr.; Logan Genualdo, Jr.; Tommy Puorro, Jr.
Boys Lacrosse: Chase Linsey, Sr.; Benjamin Berg, Sr.; Evan Murphy, Jr.; Braden Delisle, Jr.; Nicky Creps, Jr.
Softball: Celia Tavares, Jr.; Ana Gordon, Jr.; Hope Shanahan, Jr.; Addy Cooper, Jr.; Harper Walker, Jr.; Sophia Le, Jr.; Katelyn Cronin, Soph.
Boys Tennis: Noah Blouin, Sr.
Girls Tennis: Katie Welch, Sr.
Boys Track: Marcus Colon, Sr.; Dylan Palen, Sr.; Dane Hall, Sr.; Brodie Hall, Sr.; Josiah Fugate, Jr.; Harrison Sullivan, Soph.
Girls Track: Violet Davis, Soph.