Saluting the overachievers, the quiet leaders and the often overlooked athletes in local high school sports.
GEOFFREY GOSSELIN
Methuen Track
A Class Act
A talented actor, Gosselin brings that same professionalism to the track. The 6-3, 180-pound senior runs the 600 and 1,000 for the Rangers.
“Geoff has also been a great role model,” said Methuen coach Roger Fuller. “He’s very bright and an interesting young man to have conversations with. It can be about anything. He has a very bright future ahead of him in whatever profession he chooses to pursue.”
A member of the National Honor Society, Gosselin is ranked 20th overall in the senior class and scored an 1,830 on his SATs. He’s been accepted to UVM, UMass and UMass Lowell and is waiting on Northeastern and Quinnipiac. He plans to study neuroscience.
Gosselin is a member of his school’s Independent Theater Club. The favorite role he has ever played is the editor in “The High Schoolers Guide to the Galaxy”.
His brother, sophomore Andrew Gosselin, plays basketball and baseball at Whittier Tech.
DAN GOMEZ
Greater Lawrence Swimming
Sunny Attitude
“Every day he sets foot on the pool deck, there is a smile on his face. He makes our days a little bit brighter,” said Reggie coach Jen Dube.
The senior from Methuen was coaxed into swimming two years ago by tri-captain Coral Robinson.
“I was completely new to it,” said Gomez, who has proven to be a quick study in the breaststroke. “I love swimming and I love helping my teammates.”
The 5-foot-6 Gomez, who also plays soccer, is a member of the National Honor Society. The biotechnology student said his favorite project involved DNA fingerprinting. He hopes to study biology at UMass, UMass Lowell or Merrimack.
His favorites include the movie Cloud Atlas, the group No Doubt, the TV show Warehouse 13 and the app Instagram.
CHRIS GOMEZ
Greater Lawrence Swimming
Diving Right In
Like his fraternal twin brother Dan, Chris joined the team as a sophomore.
“He is able to swim any event well and is always willing to do what is best for the team,” said Reggie coach Jen Dube.
Chris, who is a co-captain in soccer, was convinced to swim by soccer/swimming teammate Carlos Colmenero.
His best event is diving. “No one else was doing it. I like to stand out. It looked fun to me,” explained Gomez.
He’s won the event several times and recently scored a career high. He’s cut almost a minute off his 500 freestyle personal best.
Gomez, whose favorite athlete is soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, would like to continue his education at UMass or UMass Lowell.
ZACH MALONE
Windham-Pelham hockey
Little Big Man
“Zach is a true leader on and off the ice,” said Wolfpack coach Dan Molinari. “He is 5-7, 160 but competes like he’s 6-2, 210.”
Zach’s season highlight was a wicked check against Kennett that fired up the team.
“I just keep my head up and stay strong on my feet,” he said.
Malone, a senior at Windham High, began skating at age 3 and playing hockey at age 4. His brother, Tristan Malone, played at Salem High.
Zach, who also plays lacrosse, enjoys snowboarding at Killington. His favorites include the movie The Patriot, the TV show Sons of Anarchy, the rapper Eminem and Bruins legend Bobby Orr.
Malone has worked as a welder and cooked at his mother Lynn Malone’s restaurant, the Chatter Box in Windham.
MIKE BAGLIERI
Methuen Hockey
No Fear
A concussion suffered against North Andover kept him out of the lineup for two weeks but he’s back and playing well. He had two goals in a win over Dracut.
The 5-10, 140-pound sophomore forward was buried on the fourth line early but now he’s made the jump to the top line.
“I’d put in a lot of work,” said Baglieri, who is Michael A. Baglieri III. “Coach told me to bring the intensity, so that’s what I do. I like getting the dirty goals.”
Coach Denny Egan said, “He sticks his nose right in there. He’s not afraid of anything.”
A fine three-sport athlete, Baglieri was the second-string varsity quarterback in the fall and is a catcher in baseball. The Sidney Crosby fan gets ready for games in all three sports by listening to Overtime Ace Hood.
Coaches or ADs should send nominations to Unsung Heroes writer Michael Muldoon at mmuldoon@eagletribune.com.
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