Lynn Tech athletic director Joe Skeadas wondered why there was no All-Sports Award Night held at the school.
There had been individual Tech team sports banquets but Skeadas wanted to take it to the next level and bring all the student-athletes and coaches together for a night of recognition.
Let’s just say Skeadas’s idea was a touchdown, a home run, and a slam dunk, because the successful event drew a capacity crowd to the Tiger’s Den where the guests enjoyed a delicious meal prepared and catered by Skeadas’s own culinary arts students.
But more importantly, the coaches enthusiastically embraced Skeadas’s idea and turned out in full force to recognize the athletes who played for their teams this season.
And it was heartwarming to hear Rick Ford, a pitcher who led the baseball team to the 1973 state champion, tell the gathering about the glory days of Lynn Tech sports in the 1970s and how much he enjoyed being a Tech student and now a proud alumnus. Ford went on to play professional baseball. He now serves on the Lynn City Council and runs the popular Little River Inn on Boston Street.
The presence of Tech Principal Diane Paradis and Alumni Association President Jim Ward also helped make it a special night for the honorees and athletes.
Tech has enjoyed athletic success over the past decade, notably in boys basketball where Marvin Avery has led the Tigers to the state championship and produced Division 1 college basketball players and an NBA player in Antonio Anderson. He is regarded as one of the state’s best high school basketball and AAU coaches. Gary Sverker fielded a highly competitive football team before handing reins over to James Runner III who is also a fine coach. Sverker continues his dedicated service in the school’s track program. Legendary swim coach Brad Tilley has built one of the state’s best vocational school programs and his teams have enjoyed much success in the Lynn City Swim Meet. Fred Gallo has taken the boys soccer team to a higher level of play while Kevin McDormand is trying to rebuild the girls basketball program and has taken steps in a positive direction.
Joe Skeadas has been a part of the Lynn Tech family since 1989 and has excelled in the position of director of athletics since succeeding former AD Edward Shadoff.
Skeadas took an idea he had and ran with it. And we have a feeling there will be more “All-Sports Awards Nights” in the future at Lynn Tech.
Congratulations, AD Skeadas for making it happen for the benefit of all Tech athletes.
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