NEWBURYPORT — The sense of community at Newburyport High has an old-school feel. And with its origin in 1831, that distinction has been earned as one of the nation’s oldest public high schools.
Henry Acton and his soccer teammates recently helped pick trash in the stands after a Friday night football game. “One of our [school] mottos is ‘Sweep the ship,’ ” said Acton, a two-sport captain and four-year varsity soccer player. “There’s a lot of support here.”
A Clipper ship, of course.
It’s almost become the norm for a Crimson & Gold athlete to run into an alum at a local shop in the historic North Shore city of 18,000-plus and be commended on how well they had played the previous night.
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“We’ll see people [in the stands], in their 50s, wearing lettermen jackets,” noted Kyle Hodsdon, in his eighth year as the school’s athletic director. “They care about how our teams do.”
Dave Clay, (Class of of 2003) who returned home to High Street after a coaching stop at Cape Ann rival Triton Regional for his dream job — boys’ basketball coach at Newburyport — will rearrange his practice schedule so his players can go support the boys’ or girls’ hockey teams on a chilly winter night.
Senior Hailey LaRosa, who paced the unbeaten girls’ cross-country team to a riveting victory over rival Pentucket at treasured Maudslay Park Wednesday afternoon, thoroughly enjoys helping her school, and being part of a winning team.
Her revered coach, Don Hennigar, now in year 37 with the program, mentions tradition, community, and pride.
Collectively, from city hall to the central school office, administrators to the athletic trainer, coaches to the athletes, and family members to the faithful alumni, everyone is all in with the Clippers. And the result is success that is savored, on the courts, fields, ice, and running trails.
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In the 2021-22 school year, Newburyport won 67.88 percent of its 302 varsity games in the regular season, nosing out Westwood (67.63) to repeat as the Globe’s Dalton Division 3 winner. An 85-35 run in the spring — headlined by state titles in girls’ tennis and boys’ track and the baseball team’s run to the Division 3 final — capped a 199-91-12 finish for the Clipper crew.
Newburyport was one of 10 divisional winners for the awards — now in their 50th year — in which schools are ranked based on their regular-season win percentage. Scores are compiled and updated daily during the season through the Globe’s database at https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/
The starting point is participation.
When Hodsdon arrived as AD in 2015, making his way up the sidewalk to the four white columns at the grand entrance of the mid-1930s brick structure (credit Mayor Gayden W. Morrill), 52 percent of a student body hovering around 800 competed in athletics. That number has soared to 76 percent, in part due to the addition of girls’ hockey and girls’ volleyball programs.
“We wanted to increase opportunities, especially for females,” said Hodsdon. “And give credit to our coaching staff for maintaining that level of participation. They keep getting into the younger groups, and our numbers keep going up.”
This fall, 406 students are competing in athletics, and that includes varsity, JV1 and JV2 girls’ volleyball teams under the direction of coach Lori Solazzo. The first varsity season, a one-win campaign in 2017, was a “rough go.” Two years later, the Clippers were in the tournament, buoyed by the addition of a star, Sydney Yim, the state’s player of the year in 2020-21, now on scholarship at Purdue.
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“We always have 50 players trying out,” said Solazzo, now in her 21st year as a math teacher at the school. “Now we have three teams. At the beginning, we had great support from the school and the community.
“I love the people I work with, and I love the people I coach with.”
Owen Tahnk, a senior three-sport captain who will pitch at Harvard, is the starting goalie for a Clipper boys’ soccer team off to a sterling 9-0 start after a 16-1-1 run (18-2-1 overall) last fall that ended in the Division 3 state quarterfinals vs. eventual champion Norwell.
“It takes a lot of dedication, practicing every day, but it means a lot to be part of this community,” he said.
With a nod to Hodsdon, and marketing the Newburyport brand with pride, Clay said the message is clear: “Carry ourselves with class, win or lose . . . respect our opponent, and respect your teammates.”
What is it like to coach at Newburyport? “It is the best, it is more than I can put into words,” Clay said, his voice crackling slightly.
Hodsdon said its starts at the top, with supportive city leaders and administrators, a tremendous group of coaches, and athletes who have literally taken the ball and run with it. He credits a commitment to the weight room, led by boys’ hockey coach Paul Yameen, the school’s strength and conditioning coordinator, for building confidence and preventative injuries, and athletic trainer Molly Hogan, “who gets our athletes back on the field as quickly and safely as possible. It’s rehab and physical therapy.” Assistant AD Kathy Cutter is a vital cog, heavily involved “in everything we do,” Hodsdon said.
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Hennigar recalls a visit to Newburyport in the 1970s when he was starting out as a coach at Cape Ann rival Ipswich.
“I went to a Friday night football game,” he said. “Newburyport was one of the few schools that had lights. The stadium was built by the WPA. The team came out of the tunnel, and I felt as if I was at Notre Dame. I thought, ‘This would be an awesome place to teach and coach.’”
He later created his own legacy, as a physical education teacher (28 years) and coach on High Street. Others have followed, all soaking in the atmosphere that is always welcoming.
“It’s a good place to be on game night,” said Hodsdon.
![“We’ll see people [in the stands], in their 50s, wearing lettermen jackets. “They care about how our teams do.” KYLE HODSDON, Newburyport AD.](https://bostonglobe-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/7rCJLhL5_9AvKmYnXxnXnWn4DY4=/960x0/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bostonglobe/64UBDDPDGQ2WBZLB2B2F76KPUA.jpg)
About the awards
DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENTS
Dalton Division 1 is for schools with enrollments of 1,400 and up, Holmes Division 2 is 1,000-1,399, Dalton Division 3 is 700-999, and Ames Division 4 is 699 and under. Nason Division 1 is for Boston Public Schools, Nason Division 2 is for Catholic boys’ schools, and Nason Division 3 is for Catholic coed schools. The Singelais Division is for Catholic girls’ schools. The Markham Divisions are for vocational schools. The enrollment totals reflect students in Grades 9-12; enrollment figures are supplied by MIAA member schools.
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The names
LARRY AMES: Ames was assistant sports editor/schools at the Globe from 1979 to 1994.
ERNEST DALTON: Dalton was the Globe’s high school editor from 1938 to 1970. He died in 1971.
BOB HOLMES: Holmes was assistant sports editor/schools at the Globe from 1996-2016.
JERRY NASON: Nason was the former executive sports editor of the Globe. He died in 1986.
NEIL SINGELAIS: Singelais was the Globe’s high school sports editor from 1970 to 1979. He died in 2002.
WALTER MARKHAM: Born and educated in Lowell, Markham was president and treasurer of the American Vocational Association for four years and was responsible for initiating the concept of regional vocational and technical high schools in the state.
WEB ONLY
Past winners
DALTON
1973
Catholic Memorial
1974
Brockton
1975
Division 1 — Brockton
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Westwood
1976
Division 1 — Brockton
Division 2 — Concord-Carlisle
Division 3 — Westwood
1977
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Concord-Carlisle
Division 3 — Holliston
1978
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Andover
Division 3 — Westwood
1979
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Methuen
Division 3 — Westwood
1980
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Methuen
Division 3 — Westwood
1981
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Methuen
Division 3 — Duxbury
1982
Division 1 — Winchester
Division 2 — Acton-Boxboro
Division 3 — Duxbury
1983
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Beverly
Division 3 — Seekonk
1984
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Marblehead
Division 3 — Westwood
1985
Division 1— Chelmsford
Division 2 — Marblehead
Division 3 — Duxbury
1986
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Duxbury
1987
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Holliston
1988
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Duxbury
1989
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Acton-Boxboro
Division 3 — Holliston
1990
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Holliston
1991
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Weston
1992
Division 1 — Andover
Division 2 — Beverly
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Weston
1993
Division 1 — New Bedford
Division 2 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Norwell
1994
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Walpole
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Norwell
1995
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Burlington
Division 3 — Old Rochester
Division 4 — Norwell
1996
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Holliston
Division 3 — Scituate
Division 4 — Weston
1997
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Holliston
Division 3 — Medfield
Division 4 — Weston
1998
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Hanover
Division 4 — Weston
1999
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Norwell
Division 4 — Tyngsboro
2000
Division 1 — Andover
Division 2 — Dighton-Rehoboth
Division 3 — Medfield
Division 4 — Tyngsboro
2001
Division 1 — Lexington
Division 2 — Arlington
Division 3 — Duxbury
Division 4 — Harwich
2002
Division 1 — Peabody
Division 2 — Danvers
Division 3 — Dighton-Rehoboth
Division 4 — Abington
2003
Division 1 — Peabody
Division 3 — Hopkinton
2004
Division 1 — Peabody
Division 3 — Duxbury
2005
Division 1 — Andover
Division 3 — Duxbury
2006
Division 1 — Andover
Division 3 — Duxbury
2007
Division 1 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2008
Division 1 — Acton-Boxboro
Division 3 — Winchester
2009
Division 1 — Lexington
Division 3 — Duxbury
2010
Division 1 — North Andover
Division 3 — Medfield
2011
Division 1 — Mansfield
Division 3 — Medfield
2012
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Hopkinton
2013
Division 1 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Medfield
2014
Division 1 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Duxbury
2015
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2016
Division 1 — Needham
Division 3 — Marblehead
2017
Division 1 — Andover
Division 3 — Marblehead
2018
Division 1 — Wellesley
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2019
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2020
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Marblehead
2021
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Newburyport
2022
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Newburyport
AMES AWARD
2003
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 4 — Medfield
2004
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 4 — Medfield
2005
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — Cohasset
2006
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — Cohasset
2007
Division 2 — Reading
Division 4 — Norwell
2008
Division 2 — Reading
Division 4 — Westport
2009
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — East Bridgewater
2010
Division 2 — Reading
Division 4 — Norwell
2011
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — Norwell
2012
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — East Bridgewater
2013
Division 2 — Beverly
Division 4 — West Bridgewater
2014
Division 2 — Wellesley
Division 4 — West Bridgewater
2015
Division 2 — Needham
Division 4 — Cohasset
2016
Division 2 — Wellesley
Division 4 — Hanover
2017
Division 2 — Wellesley
Division 4 — Old Rochester
2018
Division 2 — Hopkinton
Division 4 — West Bridgewater
2019
Division 4 — Norwell
2020
Division 4 — Norwell
2021
Division 4 — Dover-Sherborn
2021
Division 4 — Norwell
HOLMES AWARD
2019
Division 2 — Hingham
2020
Division 2 — Hingham
2021
Division 2 — Hingham
2022
Division 2 — Hingham
NASON AWARD
1981
Division 1 — Boston English
Division 2 — Matignon
1982
Division 1 — Boston Latin
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1983
Division 1 — No winner
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1984
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — Xaverian
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1985
Division 1 — Dorchester
Division 2 — Xaverian
Division 3 — Archbishop Williams
1986
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1987
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1988
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1989
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1990
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1991
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1992
Division 1 — South Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1993
Division 1 — West Roxbury
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1994
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1995
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1996
Division 1 — South Boston
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1997
Division 1 — South Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Fenwick
1998
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
1999
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2000
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2001
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2002
Division 1 — Charlestown
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2003
Division 1 — Madison Park
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2004
Division 1 — O’Bryant
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2005
Division 1 — Charlestown
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2006
Division 1 — O’Bryant
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2007
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2008
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2009
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2010
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2011
Division 1 — Madison Park
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2012
Division 1 — Brighton
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Cardinal Spellman
2013
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2014
Division 1 — New Mission
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2015
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2016
Division 1 — Fenway
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2017
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2018
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Austin Prep
2019
Division 1 — New Mission
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Austin Prep
2020
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Austin Prep
2021
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2022
Division 1 — O’Bryant
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
SINGELAIS AWARD
1988
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
1989
Notre Dame of Hingham
1990
Notre Dame of Hingham
1991
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
1992
Notre Dame of Hingham
1993
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
1994
Notre Dame of Hingham
1995
Notre Dame of Hingham
1996
Notre Dame of Hingham
1997
Notre Dame of Hingham
1998
Notre Dame of Hingham
1999
Notre Dame of Hingham
2000
Notre Dame of Hingham
2001
Notre Dame of Hingham
2002
Ursuline
2003
Notre Dame of Hingham
2004
Ursuline
2005
Mt. Alvernia
2006
Notre Dame of Hingham
2007
Notre Dame of Hingham
2008
Notre Dame of Hingham
2009
Notre Dame of Hingham
2010
Notre Dame of Hingham
2011
Notre Dame of Hingham
2012
Notre Dame of Hingham
2013
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
2014
Notre Dame of Hingham
2015
Notre Dame of Hingham
2016
Notre Dame of Hingham
2017
Notre Dame of Hingham
2018
Ursuline
2019
Ursuline
2020
Ursuline
2021
Notre Dame of Hingham
2022
Notre Dame of Hingham
MARKHAM AWARD
1997
Shawsheen
1998
Greater Lowell
1999
Greater Lowell
2000
Keefe Tech
2001
Keefe Tech
2002
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk
2003
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk
2004
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk
2005
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blue Hills
2006
Division 1 — Greater Lowell
Division 2 — Blue Hills
2007
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blackstone Valley
2008
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blackstone Valley
2009
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blackstone Valley
2010
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blue Hills
2011
Shawsheen
2012
Shawsheen
2013
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk Aggie
2014
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — McCann Tech
2015
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — McCann Tech
2016
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Essex Tech
2017
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Diman Voke
2018
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Old Colony
2019
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Essex Tech
2020
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Essex Tech
2021
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Diman
2022
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Essex Tech
Craig Larson can be reached at craig.larson@globe.com.