Saluting the overachievers, the quiet leaders and the often overlooked athletes in local high school sports.
KELSEY PERRAULT
Salem Basketball
Mother Hen
Salem coach Anne Alosa said of the senior, “She is the mother hen, holding her teammates to the highest of standards.”
The mother hen description is apt. Perrault is always helping others. She’s a co-captain in basketball and tennis, a student council representative and works as a nanny in the summer.
Perrault, who plays No. 3 singles and doubles in tennis, plans to attend Keene State to become an elementary school teacher. Her brother, Eric, is a senior pitcher for the Keene baseball team. Their father, Ted Perrault, played basketball at Salem.
Kelsey is a huge Kenny Chesney fan whose other favorites include The Notebook, Katherine Heigl and Maria Sharapova. When she makes her first million, she’ll be shopping for a white BMW.
JACOB PETTIS
Haverhill Track
Hillie Family
The Pettis family bleeds Haverhill Brown and Gold.
Jacob’s brother, Brett, was a football and volleyball star, earning Eagle-Tribune MVP honors in the latter. Their sister Victoria, father Vincent and mother Shannon all teach at Haverhill High and Vincent is the offensive coordinator in football. Victoria is a volleyball coach.
“Jacob found his niche in running,” said Hillie coach Mike Maguire. “He was a co-captain in cross country and has lowered his mile time from 5:14 to 5:02 and two-mile time from 11:12 to 10:55.”
Jacob, a 5-7, 125-pound senior, lists his career highlight scoring in a meet for the first time this winter. Pettis will be giving up volleyball to run track this spring.
The Beatles fanatic wants to continue the family tradition and become a history teacher. His favorite TV channel? The History Channel.
ASHLEE BYRON
Methuen Basketball
Flying High
Byron, who plans to enlist in the Army to embark on a career in aviation, is the Methuen team manager.
“She was cut her junior year. ... Instead of being bitter, Ashlee rose to the occasion to help the team,” said Ranger coach Karen McLaughlin.
Byron took a brief timeout from her duties to attend the presidential inauguration.
“It was crazy. Just how many people were there. The whole mall was filled,” said Byron.
Byron has been a youth basketball coach and is a talented musician. She’s a member of Methuen’s marching band and has played the alta saxaphone since fourth grade.
Ashlee works at Checkered Flag Go-Karts and throws the javelin for the spring track team. The Danica Patrick fan’s dream car is a red Chrysler Crossfire.
ZACH BROWN
Haverhill Swimming
Personal Best
The senior gives his best in and out of the pool. His hard work paid off recently when he realized his long-held goal to go under 1:20 in the 100 breaststroke.
“Coach (George Nigro) wanted me to do it and I finally got it done,” said Brown, who touched the wall in 1:19.5. “I was so glad. So relieved.”
Brown is ranked in the top 7 percent of his class and has been accepted to Providence and St. Michael’s. He’s waiting on Bowdoin and Holy Cross. Brown, who was a skier his freshman year, plans to study international relations.
Zach, whose freshman brother Danny also swims for the Hillies, throws the javelin in spring track.
Brown is an Eagle Scout and a den leader for Cub Scout Pack 27. This summer he’ll be working at Crescent Farms ice cream stand in Haverhill.
MEAGHAN BELTON
Lawrence Basketball
Coaches Dream
“Meaghan will not be outworked by anybody,” said Lancer coach Dan Blouin. “She has come a long way in four years. She has been around through state tourney wins and 1-19 seasons and she has never missed a day. She is just an all-around great kid.”
The 5-6 Belton also runs cross country and was a softball player. This spring she plans to run track.
Belton has been accepted to Anna Maria and Nichols and is still waiting on Worcester State. She plans on studying psychology. She mentors freshmen and for the last two years has been Lawrence’s student ambassador to the MIAA.
She’s skilled in ceramics and a talented musician. Belton sang “Angels Divine” as a solo for the Girls Ensemble Christmas concert.
Coaches or ADs should send nominations to Unsung Heroes writer Michael Muldoon at mmuldoon@eagletribune.com.
Should the Sixers draft Cody Zeller?
Is Utley on the verge of going on the DL?
DeSean Jackson on Chip Kelly's new system
South Jersey native Frank Vogel is ready to face the Heat
Luukko: 'Bryz certainly wasn't the reason we had a disappointing season'
Blame shouldn't all fall on Manuel
Amaro 'not concerned' with Hamels not talking to media
Jawarski and if Chip Kelly's system can work in the NFL
Why was DeSean Jackson tweeting about pot?
Did the NCAA violate antitrust laws with PSU sanctions?
NBA Draft: Top 5 Prospects
Athletes come to aid of Oklahoma tornado victims
NFL Player Posts Photo of Himself Appearing to Pee on IRS Building
Are Sixers targeting Kelvin Sampson?
Recipe for Success: Phillies draft picks
Recipe for Success: Phillies at the trade deadline
Recipe for success: Ryan Howard
Phillies talks about struggling to win games
Utley on Halladay going on the DL
Is the bullpen in trouble without Mike Adams?
Sportsnet Central: Rangers state of mind
Felger & Mazz: Is it reasonable to start worrying about WIll Middlebrooks?
Felger & Mazz: Caller challenges Felger & Mazz
Sportsnet Central: Tedy Bruschi selected for Patriots Hall of Fame
Rask: 4th line deserved GW goal
Paille on GW goal: 'I had a perfect view on it'
Bruins' defenseman Wade Redden On Potential Return
Globe 10.0: Can the Bruins young defensemen keep playing well?
Kevin Dupont discusses Bruins-Rangers Game 2
Globe 10.0: Is Lundqvist the key to the series?
Blakely: Rivers to return to Celtics next season
Globe 10.0: Do the Sox rely too much on Lester and Buchholz?
Bruins Talk About Rangers Blocking Shots
Bruins' Patrice Bergeron On Selke Award, Matchup With Rangers
Julien: 'I'm a tired coach'
Seguin: Thornton said he expected something from me in OT
Rask: 'It's really disappointing'
Julien: 'We've been a Jekyll and Hyde hockey club'
