Citizen Spring Sports All Stars

Boys’ MVP

Pat Ward (Lacrosse)

Pat Ward

A superb athlete and a truly gifted scorer, Ward followed up his best-ever ice hockey season with a lacrosse season for the ages, racking up 67 goals and 10 assists while leading the Bulldogs to a program-best 18-2 record and an appearance in the Division 3 state semifinals. He came up big on countless occasions, including a five-goal performance in a double-overtime win over rival Foxboro. He was the runaway winner of the Hockomock League MVP award and was recently named the Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year by HockomockSports.com. A leader on and off the field, Ward will pursue his first love — ice hockey — at Kents Hill School in Maine in the fall.

Girls’ MVP

Meghan Lennon (Lacrosse)

Meghan Lennon

Already one of Canton High School’s most decorated female athletes, Lennon capped off a memorable four-year career with her finest season in a Bulldog uniform, amassing 72 goals, including several huge goals late in the year to help propel her team into the postseason. Along the way she managed to reach the 200-goal mark and finished with a whopping 216 for her career, earning All-Hockomock and Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic honors. She was a team captain and an all star in three different sports (soccer, hockey, lacrosse) and leaves Canton High with 12 varsity letters in 12 seasons.

Boys’ Lacrosse

JC Marcone

A senior attackman and captain, Marcone teamed with Pat Ward to form the most dangerous one-two combination in the Hockomock League. He was the Bulldogs’ second-leading scorer with 40 goals and led the team with 22 assists. A league all star, Marcone will continue his lacrosse career next year at Southern New Hampshire University.

Kurt Leavitt

A senior midfielder, Leavitt was the Bulldogs’ primary faceoff man and excelled in that role, winning nearly two-thirds of the 155 faceoffs he took. He also had several big goals and finished third on the team with 35 points (23 goals and 12 assists) to go along with 59 ground balls. A two-sport stud athlete, Leavitt closed out his career with all-league honors in both ice hockey and lacrosse.

Conor O’Brien

A senior captain, O’Brien anchored the Bulldogs’ league-leading defense and finished second on the team with 90 ground balls. A Hockomock League all-star selection, he was among the team’s most talented and consistent players, and he oversaw a unit that allowed double-digit goals just three times in 20 games. Earlier in the year, O’Brien made his presence felt as a star linebacker on the CHS football team.

Ben Lodge

A former attackman, Lodge converted to goalie in the preseason and never looked back, eventually earning All-Hockomock honors for his stellar debut season in the cage. Lodge tallied 189 saves — nearly 10 per game — including 19 in a huge win against Franklin early in the year.

Matt Lennon

One of the most underrated athletes in recent school history, Lennon excelled on offense and defense and did so with poise and class. He led the team with 92 ground balls and was fifth overall with 23 points — including 13 goals on just 23 shots. A three-sport athlete and a two-sport captain, Lennon epitomized what it means to be a leader by example, both on and off the field.

Girls’ Lacrosse

Amanda Crowley

A senior captain, Crowley was the Bulldogs’ top defensive player and one of the best in the league at that position, earning All-Hockomock honors. She was a rock for the team all season long, according to head coach Chris Murtagh, and her leadership was invaluable in a season in which the defense as a whole battled injuries and inexperience.

Isabelle Hegland

Called up from the JV squad as an injury replacement early in the season, Hegland took over as the Bulldogs’ primary goalie and made huge strides throughout the spring. She was particularly effective late in the year and produced arguably her finest performance in the postseason opener — a 9-8 road win over Archbishop Williams. Only a sophomore, Hegland will head into next season as the favorite to win the starting role.

Jackie Merrigan

Coming off a solid sophomore campaign, Merrigan took over as the starting center and emerged as one of the team’s most valuable players, dominating on the draws while racking up 55 goals in 20 games. An All-Hockomock honorable mention, Merrigan now has 93 goals for her career and will head into next season as a team captain and a potential MVP candidate.

Baseball

Steve Mullaney

A senior captain and the Bulldogs’ starting catcher, Mullaney played great defense behind the plate and also led the team in hits and RBIs. “Steve Mullaney is everything you want in a baseball player,” said head coach JP Scott. “He shows up on time, he sets high expectations for other players and leads by example. He was our most consistent player — played through injury and didn’t mind speaking his opinion, letting other players know how important it was to him.”

Softball

Angelina Salcedo

A senior captain and All-Hockomock honorable mention, Salcedo made the switch from first base to centerfield this season and thrived in her new role, making several spectacular catches and earning the praise of opposing coaches. She was also a key cog on offense, batting .381 with 10 RBIs. Salcedo will be attending Emerson College in the fall and plans to try out for the softball team.

Emily Lanci

Only a freshman, Lanci was the Bulldogs’ starting shortstop and also one of their top hitters, batting .317 from the leadoff spot while showing surprising power with two triples and two homeruns. Coach Ed Amico said her competitiveness and potential will be missed as she will be transferring to Lawrence Academy next year.

Boys’ Track

Ian Mills

An All-Hockomock honorable mention, Mills excelled as a runner and was among the team leaders in points, but he was also noted for his versatility. “His ability to run anything at an elite level from the 400 hurdles to the mile, or even throw the javelin, made him one of the most versatile athletes I have ever coached,” said head coach Dan Ashman.

Girls’ Track

Mellyn Costello

An All-Hockomock selection, Costello wrapped up an outstanding four-year athletic career with a memorable track season — highlighted by what Coach Ashman described as an “incredible” performance against Stoughton in the Bulldogs’ first win of the season. Costello won four events that day: 100-meter hurdles, 200, long jump and triple jump. She also qualified for the state meet in the latter two events and finished second in the long jump at the league championship meet.

Boys’ Tennis

Andrew Sulkala

Senior captain Andrew Sulkala led the boys’ tennis team in wins with a record of 11-5. Also on the hockey team, Sulkala had the skills and perseverance on the court to dig his way out of a hole for a win; off the court, he had the character that his teammates looked up to and respected.

Sam Riemer

A junior captain, Riemer held his own at first singles against stiff competition in the Hockomock League. A positive role model during a tough season, Riemer was critical in keeping spirits up and motivation high for the rest of his team. He rounds out the year as part of both the CHS golf and swim teams.

Girls’ Tennis

Erica Nannery

One of the region’s top talents, Nannery followed up an outstanding sophomore campaign with an even more impressive junior season, going undefeated in the regular season with 16 straight victories, including several shutouts. She also reached the semifinals of the south sectional individual tournament and was named MVP of the Hockomock League as well as a Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic.

Eleni Papadopoulos

A senior captain, Papadopoulos was a valuable contributor at second singles and helped lead the Bulldogs to a spot in the Division 2 south sectional tournament. She was the recipient of the team’s Most Improved Player award and was an honorable mention for the All-Hockomock team.

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