Editor's note: The Gloucester Daily Times is involved in a partnership with the Moynihan Lumber North Shore Student-Athlete Award, along with sister papers The Salem News and The Newburyport Daily News. Previous Gloucester High School winners are Tristan Colangelo (2000) and Jim Unis (2002).
PEABODY — Emily Lanois has been running cross country and track since the day she showed up at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School three years ago.
Meanwhile, Nate Brakeley of Marblehead played football at St. John's Prep but also gravitated to rugby, the sport he'll be playing at Dartmouth College next year.
Together, Lanois and Brakeley proved you don't have to be involved in the so-called glamor sports to capture the annual Moynihan Lumber North Shore Student-Athlete Award, which was presented to them yesterday at a luncheon held at Salem Country Club.
"We want (winners) who do it in the classroom and the playing field, but we want to treat all (high school) sports equally," said Gerard Moynihan, owner of Moynihan Lumber in Beverly. "No matter what sport they play, we want kids to know they have as much chance as anybody. Emily and Nate are perfect examples of what we're looking for."
Lanois and Brakeley brought impeccable credentials to the table.
Only a junior, Lanois carries a 4.35 grade point average on a scale of 4.0 because she takes honors and advanced placement courses. On the track, she's a supreme competitor, leader and record smasher.
Not that she's solely responsible, but Lanois has led the pack for Hamilton-Wenham's cross country team, which is 36-0 with three consecutive Cape Ann League titles since she joined the team. Individually, she holds five school records and set the league record in the 2-mile at the CAL outdoor meet this spring. She's also a two-time Division 4 state champion in the outdoor mile and has been recognized by The Salem News as its Runner of the Year a combined six times for cross country, indoor and outdoor track.
That's only a fraction of what she's all about. This summer, Emily and her sister Alison, who is a freshman at H-W, are headed to New Orleans with a mission organization to work in hurricane ravaged areas, helping people restore their lives as well as their homes.
"She's a total person, the complete package," longtime Hamilton-Wenham track coach Steve Sawyer. "She greets people with a smile and seems to be happy every day. She's full of integrity and is sensitive to people's needs.
"In athletics we like to say, 'What do you do when the coaches aren't around?' Well, Emily knows exactly what to do in terms of training and leading her teammates. She's on a path to greatness, and who knows what college she'll end up at? But we're really fortunate to have her for another year."
Lanois happened to be on the track a couple of weeks ago when she found out she'd be getting the Moynihan Student-Athlete Award. She wasn't having a particularly productive day by her standards, so it lifted her spirits to learn she'd won.
"I was having a bad day on the track and, I don't know, I probably had a bad day in school," Lanois said with a laugh. "So (the award) came at a perfect time. To be honored like this, just looking at the list of (previous) winners, it's really humbling."
The Hamilton-Wenham coaches and track athletes won't have to worry about Lanois slacking off her senior year. She's in the midst of a two-week break before she plans on getting right back into it, trying to get the most out of herself and her team. It's what makes her tick.
"The motivation and fun for me is in seeing how fantastic our team could be next season," said Lanois. "The winning never gets old. Individually, I try for personal records and that's always (challenging). But I know that my individual success correlates to the team's success, so I try to set that example."
Brakeley has clearly been a role model, too. He was a three-year starter in football, the Catholic Conference Lineman of the Year last season, and contributed to St. John's Prep's state championship in skiing last winter. He also found his niche in rugby, sticking with the sport for four years. He was a captain of the Eagles this spring when it won the New England title.
"Our choice was easy," said St. John's Prep football coach Jim O'Leary, referring to the process that resulted in the school nominating Brakeley for one of the Moynihan monthly awards, leading to yesterday's year-end honor. "Nate is a national merit scholar and he's done so many things that we like to call him all-world. I can honestly say that in 25 years of (head) coaching, I've never had a more humble, more hard working kid than Nate Brakeley."
St. John's Prep rugby coach Maureen McAleer said the 18-year-old Brakeley's unassuming nature was deceptive in some respects. It didn't prevent him from taking charge and putting his stamp on the game.
"Yes, he's naturally quiet, but he could still be a loud leader," said McAleer, who is thrilled that Brakeley is going to Dartmouth, where she played rugby. "He's an exceptional athlete and his intensity was contagious. He distinguished himself as an elite player. We're going to miss his leadership and everything else about him."
Brakeley, who is a sturdy 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, didn't show up at St. John's Prep intending to play rugby. St. John's is the only school on the North Shore that has rugby and Brakeley took full advantage of it, adding to his portfolio of experiences with the Eagles.
"You look at all the sports and all the opportunities we have at the Prep," said Brakeley. "I played football (but then got involved in the lesser-known sports). It speaks to the diversity of the school and everything it has to offer."
In other presentations yesterday, Danvers High baseball coach Roger Day and veteran broadcaster Bill Newell each received the Lifetime Commitment Awards, and Marblehead's colorful Esso Haines got the Fan Award. Beverly High took home the Participation Award for consistently nominating student-athletes to the Moynihan monthly program.
Former Lynnfield High basketball standout Shae Fitzpatrick, a sophomore at Brown University who'll be going to New Delhi, India on a fellowship later this month, was both articulate and thoughtful as the guest speaker.
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