Honors Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA
On the evening of May 17th, the MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard honored the #1 team in Massachusetts and the 17th ranked team nationwide, Central Catholic boys basketball team at their Team Dinner banquet in front of family, friends, media, boosters and faculty. Central Catholic high school is a co-ed school with approximately 1,400 students.
The ceremony took place along the Merrimack River in northern Massachusetts (here's a hint to all those fisherman out there - if you're interested in catching stripers head to Water Street in Lawrence MA for the month of May and June - they're biting). The ceremony was held in Lawrence at the largest Boys & Girls Club in the country, and probably the most beautiful Boys & Girls Club facility as well. The facility was equipped with a massive game room and a beautiful gymnasium with 2 full-courts and much more. Congratulations to the local community on this awesome facility, well done.
Upon arrival, we met local hero and Head Coach Richard Nault. Coach Nault played for Central Catholic back in the day and is currently living out his dream - coaching his alma mater to a state championship and its highest national ranking ever. Keep it up, Coach.
Steve Spiewak from MaxPreps and SFC Shawn Kelly of the Massachusetts Army National Guard were on hand to do the honors. Steve was introduced first by Coach Nault, who thanked everyone in the gym - his wife, parents, boosters, etc. Steve Spiewak, a Tour veteran, congratulated the players on a fantastic season and victories in the tournament and over BC High, as well as the facility - which acts as a feeder for the Central Catholic boys and girls teams. Steve introduced SFC Kelly who talked about the character needed to be a successful team that gels. He then presented to Coach the National Ranking trophy, #17 overall out of 20,000 teams nationwide. Coach was very appreciative of the honor, as were his players who snapped photos of each other with the trophy. Formal team pictures were taken afterwards as the players put on their commemorative Tour of Champions t-shirts! All in all it was a very good ending to a great season!
