Stilt marathoner makes it 21 milesBy Joyce Erekson and Steve Krause / The Daily Item

BOSTON — Lynn English junior Danny Sullivan had planned to start walking the Boston Marathon route around 5 a.m. Monday, but the attention he drew by attempting the 26.2 miles on stilts delayed that start for more than an hour as he posed for pictures and answered reporters’ questions.
As it turned out, the late start put him at the 21-mile mark when the race was shut down because of the bombing at the finish line. Sullivan admits that at that point, he was struggling and it was getting tough to forge on.
“It was great up until about the halfway point,” Sullivan said about his experience.
It was at that point, eight hours in, that the blisters on his legs, his heel and toes were really getting bad.
“I’m really glad I made it as far as I did,” Sullivan said. “I just kept pushing along.”
The purpose of Sullivan’s walk was to raise money for Shriners Children’s Hospital Boston. In the weeks leading up to the walk, his classmates at English High had collected donations. The English High shirt he wore for the walk was signed by hundreds of well-wishers.
Sullivan said it was his father, who is a firefighter, who texted him and told he and his mother, who was walking the route with him, about the explosions. Sullivan said he started to see police cars and ambulances fly buy heading towards Boston. Meanwhile, his aunt, sister and grandmother were a block away from where the bombs went off waiting for the two to finish the walk.
“Luckily none of my family was there (near the explosions),” he said, while expressing sympathy for those who were affected by the blasts.
Sullivan said he plans to get back up on stilts, but not for a little while. Prior to attempting the walk, the furthest distance he had walked on stilts was about 15 miles. The stilts, which weigh about 10 pounds each, put him about four feet off the ground.

A True Patriot

Joe Andruzzi who visited Lynn English last week was a true "Patriot" during the Marathon explosions.  Shown here, he helps a women and her family to safety.

Photo:  Bill Greene/Globe Staff

Boston Globe Story

Lexington, Mass., April 9, 2013 – Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ: CBST), in partnership with The New England Patriots Radio Network, 98.5 The Sports Hub, today honored Lauren Mezzetti, a biology teacher at Lynn English High School in Lynn, MA, as the recipient of the 2012 Cubist Pharmaceuticals Science Education Leadership Award. As part of Ms. Mezzetti’s award, today Cubist’s Chief Scientific Officer Steven Gilman will present the Lynn English High School science department with a $5,000 check and former New England Patriot Joe Andruzzi is slated to address the students.

During the football season, twelve “Teachers of the Week” were recognized as innovative science teachers in middle and high schools throughout New England. From the group, Ms. Mezzetti was selected as the award recipient. Ms. Mezzetti has taught biology at Lynn English High School for eight years and, prior to that, at the local middle school. Ms. Mezzetti is responsible for creating an important online resource for students, teachers and parents called Bulldog Biology. The site includes curriculum, lesson plans, worksheets, animations and helpful links designed to better understand the themes and concepts of biology. Ms. Mezzetti also recently helped her science department secure a state grant to purchase new microscopes for her school.

Lynn Daily Item News Story

Itemlive Photo Gallery

Originally Published on Saturday, April 13, 2013 By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

LYNN — There are probably a million things that run through a marathoner's mind on race day. Did he train enough? Too much? Eat the right foods? Drink the proper amount of fluids? Wear the most comfortable clothes? Go with the right footwear? And then there are the X factors like temperature, wind, sun and rain that can make or break a runner.
Lynn English High junior Danny Sullivan will contend with all these things, and then some, when he tackles the 26-mile, 385-yard Boston Marathon route on Monday. On stilts.
Sullivan will pick up where his uncle, Dave "Hightower" Sullivan of Lynn, left off last year. The older Sullivan, a pharmacist, is also a professional clown and a Shriner. Last year he decided to make the Hopkinton to Boston trek on stilts to raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston.
"It was way too hot (the temperature hit the high 80s in some areas)," Sullivan said. "He had to stop at mile 15, but he raised a lot of money that went to the hospital."
View photos of Sullivan on stilts

Originally Published on Tuesday, April 09, 2013 By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

The English High girls tennis team lost six of its seven varsity players from last year's 13-1 team, but the Bulldogs started the rebuilding process with a 3-2 win over Salem Monday at English.
Click here for a photo gallery.
"They got the job done," coach Lauren Mezzetti said.
Scarlet Santana won at first singles, 6-0, 6-1; Ashley Lon, second singles, 6-3, 6-4, and Emily Ma-Viktoryia Belina, second doubles, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
"Ashley Lon at second singles played great," Mezzetti said. "What a surprise this year. She's a junior and she's been practicing. All the girls have improved."
Mezzetti said she also has a good group of freshmen, making her optimistic for the future.
Beverly 5, Classical 0
At Beverly, the Panthers (1-0) got wins from Maggie Menzo, Jillian Morneau, and Beccah Kaplan in the singles matches. Kaplan was able to extend the match in the 2nd set after she dropped the opening set. Then Kaplan was able to capture the final set. The Panthers also swept the doubles matches.
Danvers 3, Saugus 2
At Saugus, the Sachems won both doubles matches with Julie Bellia and Deanna Velasquez winning 7-6 (6-2), 6-1, and Olivia Chaves-Samantha Delaney winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Peabody 5, Revere 0
At Peabody, the Tanners made it a clean sweep with wins from co-captains Rachael Gillis in first singles, 6-0, 6-0 and Winger Ma, second singles (6-1, 6-0); Dary Chhan, third singles, 6-1, 6-1; Anna Grimalyak-Kayla Hodas, first doubles, 6-0, 6-0, and Eleni Petromelis and Beverly Ejiofor at second doubles, 6-1, 6-1.

 

Lexington, Mass., April 9, 2013 – Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ: CBST), in partnership with The New England Patriots Radio Network, 98.5 The Sports Hub, today honored Lauren Mezzetti, a biology teacher at Lynn English High School in Lynn, MA, as the recipient of the 2012 Cubist Pharmaceuticals Science Education Leadership Award.

Lynn Daily Item News Story

Itemlive Photo Gallery

As part of Ms. Mezzetti’s award, today Cubist’s Chief Scientific Officer Steven Gilman will present the Lynn English High School science department with a $5,000 check and former New England Patriot Joe Andruzzi is slated to address the students.

During the football season, twelve “Teachers of the Week” were recognized as innovative science teachers in middle and high schools throughout New England. From the group, Ms. Mezzetti was selected as the award recipient. Ms. Mezzetti has taught biology at Lynn English High School for eight years and, prior to that, at the local middle school. Ms. Mezzetti is responsible for creating an important online resource for students, teachers and parents called Bulldog Biology. The site includes curriculum, lesson plans, worksheets, animations and helpful links designed to better understand the themes and concepts of biology. Ms. Mezzetti also recently helped her science department secure a state grant to purchase new microscopes for her school.

By Chris Stevens / The Daily Item

LYNN — Lynn English High School JROTC Drill Team member Joanna Medina absently slaps out rhythm on her thigh and then stops herself, suddenly self-conscious. "I do that a lot, and I don't even realize it," she says. The action, part of intricate routines she and her

(Item Photo / Angela Owens)

teammates perform in JROTC competitions and in demonstrations, has become second nature. Considering the time commitment she and the more than two dozen other competitors put in, it should be. Drill team members are in school by 6:15 a.m. five days a week, practicing routines that have been choreographed and handed down for generations. "Old Girls," those who have been to the Nationals in Florida, hand down routines to the "New Girls," anyone who has yet to go to Nationals, explains sophomore Cynthia Rendon. View a photo gallery "But each team adds their own personality," says senior Yessica Rodriguez-Rios. After school, cadets hit the JROTC study hall for an hour before practicing again, sometimes not heading home until 6:30 p.m. To read more...

Originally Published on Monday, April 01, 2013 By Chris Stevens / The Daily Item

LYNN — Joseph Skahan is taking a break from being a Lynn English High School science teacher and heading to sea for two weeks as a bona fide scientist

.“I’m hoping to see what it’s like to live the life of a scientist,” he said. “To
spend 10 days on a boat will really put it in a new reality.” [more]

English 4, Revere 1
At English, Scarlett Santana (6-0, 6-2) and Thanh Bui (6-1, 7-5) took victories in first and third singles while Daniella Krische lost a tough one at second, 7-6 (8-6), 6-0.
In doubles, it was Alise Rittershaus-Sarah Cowdell, 6-2, 6-4; and Jennie Cao-Kim Ma, 6-4, 6-0.

By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

SWAMPSCOTT — The English High baseball team came back once in Thursday's game against Swampscott, but the Big Blue put down the hammer in the seventh by gunning down the tying run at the plate to preserve a 5-4 win.
Click here for a photo gallery.
The hardy fans who braved the raw temperatures and gusty winds to take in the game saw a good one. Both pitchers, Swampscott's Sean O'Brien and English's Randale Lora, went the distance.

By Amber Parcher / The Daily Item

LYNN — Lynn English High School students strutted their style on the red carpet Thursday night for friends and family as part of the school’s first ever fashion show.

The show featured more than two dozen students who marched — hands on hips — down a red carpet laid out at the school’s library. The boys and girls showcased their everyday wear, spring styles and formal prom outfits as student announcers listed off fun facts about each model and music blared from speakers.

View a photo gallery of the event.

The show, orchestrated by Lynn English librarian Linda Barefield, is a fundraiser for the class of 2012, but it also provided students like Chabeli Hernandez an outlet to do something creative.

“I’m all about fashion,” the senior said before the show. “I love fashion, I live, breathe and eat it.”

l

English boys put one in the win columnBy Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

The English boys tennis team is 2-1 after defeating Salem, 4-1, Tuesday at Salem.

The Bulldogs had wins from Kerlay Der at second singles, 6-2, 6-2, and Joe Polonia, third singles, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2. In doubles play, Mike Gately-Shivam Patel won 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, and Sam Duong-Billy You won 7-6, 7-5.

Marblehead 4, Austin Prep 1

At Marblehead, the Magicians had a battle on their hands but got the job done with wins from Chris Wigglesworth at first singles, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0; Griffin Butterfield at second singles, 6-2, 7-6 (11-9); Austin Harshbarger-Miles Barry, first doubles, 7-5, 6-0, and Steven Goldman-Tyler Beck, second doubles, 6-1, 6-3.

By Staff Reports / The Daily Item

The Classical bats have been a bit sluggish in the early going the last few games, but that wasn't the case Tuesday in a 24-6 win over English at Keaney Park.

Click here for a photo gallery.

The Rams put one run on the board in the first inning courtesy of a Sam Earp solo home run to left field and after spotting the Bulldogs three runs in the bottom of the inning, they scored 17 second-inning runs for an 18-3 lead.

"They (English) have been playing great. They have a lot of young kids who are playing well," Classical coach Chris Warren said. "They played a Masco team real tough. Coming in we knew they were talented, but one of our goals was to get something going early, but that really blew me away."

Classical baseball solves EnglishBy Steve Krause / The Daily Item

LYNN — If Lynn Classical baseball coach Mike Zukowski ever wants to draw up a blueprint on how to play the perfect game, he could use Tuesday's as an example.

The Rams got good performances up and down the line, and their pitcher, Jorge Perez, was crafty enough to keep crosstown rival English off-balance all afternoon. The result was a 7-4 victory that had Zukowski smiling afterward.

Lynn combined lacrosse team tops Southeastern

By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

The combined English/Classical lacrosse team scored three unanswered goals down the stretch to pull out a hard-fought 7-4 win over Southeastern Thursday at South Easton.

Jarred Chen provided the offensive spark for Lynn by scoring the first four goals. Southeastern had taken leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but Lynn fought back to take a 3-2 lead. The game was tied again at 3-3 and 4-4 before Lynn pulled away for good on goals by Anthony Atwood, Sean Gately and Alex Amico.

"That's two wins," Lynn coach Peter Pappagianopoulos said. "We're going in the right direction."

Lynn also benefitted from solid play by Sean Gately, Anthony Uva, Jim Martinez, Chris Pinkham and Liam Andrews. Anthony Baia (8 saves) was in net.

Home runs launch English softball past Salem 23-7

By Jerry DiStefano / For the Item

The English High softball team had a power surge Thursday with four different players hitting home runs in a 23-7 win over Salem at English."My team played very well today on offense and defense. The offense was especially phenomenal today," English coach Alisa Fila said.Shanna Zeramby (3-run home run), Samantha Holey (2-run home run) and Brianna Maynard (2-run home run) all took Salem pitching deep in the bottom of the second inning. Taylor Newhall topped things off with a grand slam in the sixth inning.Zeramby had a strong all around game (3-3, triple, HR, 4 RBI). Brooke Holey made her varsity debut on the mound (6 1/3 innings, 2 walks, 6 hits, 6 strikeouts). English is now 3-1.

English softball powers past Revere

Originally Published on Tuesday, April 17, 2012

By Steve Krause / The Daily Item

After going the entire 2011 season without a victory, the English softball team has opened this spring's schedule with two of them in a row.The Bulldogs got the second one quite emphatically Monday with a 9-0 rout over Revere."I'm happy for the kids who were on last year's team," coach Alisa Fila said. "They worked hard last year and didn't quit, and it's paying off this year."Freshman Shanna Zerambi went the distance for the Dogs, giving up four hits, walking four, and striking out three."She's been a nice little find," Fila said.The Dogs also made all the plays in the field."I don't think we had any errors at all," Fila said. "Everything clocked with the bats and the gloves."Jessica Dellazoppa got things rolling in the first inning with a double, and scored English's first run. Taylor Newhall was 2-for-3 with two runs, Lauren Pohlmeyer was 2-for-3 with a run, Shannon Calnan had three RBI and Sam Holey was 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

Baseball: English's Burnham quiets Beverly bats

By Jerry DiStefano / For The Item

Bulldogs pitcher Matt Burnham kept the Panthers' bats under wraps all afternoon, as English defeated Beverly 6-1 at Fraser Field Wednesday.Burnham pitched seven innings, surrendered five hits, struck out 11, walked one and gave up one run. English (3-2) was down 1-0 going into the bottom for the third inning. The Bulldogs received an RBI single from Matt Merritt, and also scored three unearned runs off Beverly errors. The score was 4-1 after three innings. English added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning from an RBI single by Ben Bowden and an RBI double from Burnham. For Beverly, Cam Rogers led the way with two hits. Evan Derosby made his varsity debut on the mound (7 innings). Beverly is now 2-3.

Tennis: English girls sweep Winthrop in opener

Originally Published on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

The English High girls tennis team swept Winthrop, 5-0, in its season opener Monday at a blustery Keaney Park.
At first singles, Daniella Krische won a hard-fought first set, 7-6, and then took the second one, 6-1. The Bulldogs won the remaining four matches, 6-0, 6-0. Scarlett Santana won at second singles, Thanh Bui at third singles, Alisa Rittershaus-Sarah Cowdell at first doubles and Dina Robles-Kelly Santana at second doubles.
"My girls did well. They stuck with it," English coach Lauren Mezzetti said, adding that the wind was a factor.

Spring Sports

By Steve Krause / The Daily Item

MARBLEHEAD — Sometimes, when a pitcher does something truly historic, it's better to ask the other team's coach about it. After all, his players were the ones who had to hit against said pitcher.
That was the case Saturday after English's Ben Bowden pitched a perfect game -- striking out 14 -- as the Bulldogs defeated Marblehead, 5-0, in their season opener at Seaside Park.
Click here for a photo gallery.
"I've never been part of a perfect game," said Marblehead coach Jason Tarasuik. "The bottom line is he dominated us. He had full command of all his pitches. And we always seemed to be behind in the count."

"Coach talked to me before the game," said Bowden, a junior lefthander who had "potential" written all over him when he was a 13-year-old star for Lynn Babe Ruth. "He told me to go out there and throw strikes, and to just be me."
"Me," in this case, is a pitcher who can get the ball up there at about 88 miles per hour, but who also has a devastating curve and changeup to go along with it.

Lynn English High School is designated 'Mix It Up' Model School by the Southern Poverty Law Center

 MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance program has named Lynn English High School as a Mix It Up Model School for its exemplary efforts to foster respect and understanding among students and throughout campus during the 2011-12 school year.

"We are delighted to recognize each of these schools," said Teaching Tolerance Director Maureen Costello. "Mix It Up Model Schools have found innovative ways to create a school environment where respect and inclusiveness are core values. They serve as examples for other schools hoping to instill these values in their students, faculty and staff."

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINTER SPORTS ALL STARS:

Boy's Basketball:  Fred Hogan, Keandre Stanton

Girl's Basketball:  Taylor Newhall, Deidra Newson, Catherine Stinson and Diondra Woumn

Winter track:  Josh Batista, Chris Birotte and Alex Ortega

Swimming:  Mike Bruno, Matt Demirs, Brandi Holland