Saluting the overachievers, the quiet leaders and the often overlooked athletes in local high school sports.
Kristine McLarney
Central Catholic Cross Country
Love of Running
The former gymnast gave up that sport after her freshman year and took up distance running. Now she’s a year-round runner.
McLarney said, “I got injured (hip stress fracture) sophomore year indoors. Then I hated when I didn’t do it. When I started back junior year, I was really excited to be back.”
Cross country coach Colette Madore said of her tri-captain: “She’s a quiet presence. She’s really worked with some of the younger runners. She’s a super, super nice kid.”
McLarney hopes to run and study psychology at UMass, UMass Lowell, St. Michael’s or Endicott.
The Methuen resident, who friends call “Stime Beam,” said her career highlight was a career best performance (22:35, 3.1 miles) last fall at the EMass. Division 2 meet.
Jenna Raimondi
Pentucket Field Hockey
On The Defensive
A former reserve forward, the senior from Groveland moved to defense and earned a starting position for the Sachems, who made the state tourney.
“I really adapted to it and I love it,” said Raimondi. “No more offense for me!”
Coach Ruth Beaton said, “She’s been unflappable. She’s the most improved player on the team and does it humbly. She works hard every game.”
Jenna’s brother, Joe, plays freshman football for the Sachems.
A National Honor Society student, Raimondi hopes to attend Westfield State. She’s also considering UNH, UVM, Johnson and Wales and Plymouth State.
She loves to shop at American Eagle and has a passion for scarves. The movie buff’s favorite movies are “Mean Girls” and “Titanic.”
Anna Carbone
Haverhill Swimming
Managing Fine
The former swimmer stopped swimming competitively but still loves the sport. She’s the manager of the girls team in the fall and the boys team in the winter.
She takes her duties seriously, earning her the nickname “mom-ager.”
“She’s almost like a coach,” said Hillie assistant coach Greg Steinberg.
Carbone’s best friend, Adelise Roberts, is also a manager. Her brother, Mike Carbone, captained the 2009 Hillie squad and her brother, Tim, is a freshman swimmer.
A member of the National Honor Society, Anna is ranked in the top 15 percent of the class. She plays the piano and is a swim teacher with Solo Aquatics.
She hopes to become a teacher, following in the footsteps of her mother, Sacred Hearts preschool teacher Joan Carbone.
Erin Berube
Central Catholic Soccer
Busy Raider
Berube is a defensive mainstay for a team giving up just 0.46 goals a game.
The junior also has a rugged course load including AP history and English and honors pre-calculus and physics. She won her class’ silver medal in religion.
The Wilmington resident also plays saxophone in the school band, is a member of the stage crew for the drama club and is a student ambassador and a Marist mentor.
Her older brother, Sean, plays soccer at St. John’s Prep.
Berube, who is a talented artist, made the big leap from JV player last year to varsity starter.
“She runs through balls when she needs to but she also is very composed when we need composure,” said Central coach Casey Grange.
Laura DelleChiaie
North Andover Cross Country
Running Family
The tough to pronounce and spell name should be familiar in the running community as Laura’s father, Rick, is the long time North Andover cross country/track coach.
“I really do like it,” Laura said of running for her father.
Rick said, “I was understandably reluctant to nominate my own daughter, but she deserves it.”
DelleChiaie had been battling health issues most of the season but came through like a champion against Dracut. The sophomore placed eighth overall, her first top 10 finish of the year.
The three-season runner’s favorites include “Modern Family,” KISS 108 and actors Morgan Freeman and Adam Sandler.
Coaches or ADs should send nominations to Unsung Heroes writer Michael Muldoon at mmuldoon@eagletribune.com.
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