Saugus High Sports Hall of Fame – Lacrosse Coach Rob Scuzzarella is among a dozen standout Sachem athletes to be inducted at Nov. 2 banquet

By Mark E. Vogler

During his playing days at Saugus High School, Sachems Lacrosse Coach Rob Scuzzarella wore Number 6 on his jersey proudly as a standout Sachems athlete in two sports. He captained the hockey and soccer teams where he won awards for his athletic skills and ranked among the top players in the Northeastern Conference in both sports. During his senior year in 2006, Scuzzarella, who is the son of Saugus Middle-High School Principal Carla Scuzzarella, received the Chief Drew Award – an honor that is given to the most outstanding all-around male and female SHS athlete of that year.

Scuzzarella is considered one of the Sachems’ finest all-around Saugus High athletes of his era and will be among dozen Sachem sports greats who will be inducted into the Saugus High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov. 2 during a special ceremony and banquet set for 6 p.m. at the Saugus-Everett Elks Lodge #642, at 401 Main St., Saugus. Sachems sports fans will have a chance to celebrate the athletes. Tickets are $50 a person. Anyone interested in tickets to attend the event please email Saugus High School Athletic Director Matt Serino at mserino@saugus.k12.ma.us

This is the first class of athletes who will be inducted since 2018. Previously, there have been 255 athletes inducted since the Hall of Fame’s inception (1987). The Hall’s first class included Arthur Spinney, a Saugus High football great who played for two NFL championship teams with the Baltimore Colts – in 1958 and 1959.

A Saugus High athlete has to be out of school for at least 10 years before he or she can be nominated. “The process is that a letter needs to be submitted to the Hall of Fame Committee with stats of the athlete,” according to Barbara Wall, one of the committee members.

“Once these letters come into the committee and then [are] put in nomination, we as a committee vote. The nominees in the Hall of Fame athletes are nominated usually by family members, friends, or former coaches,” Wall said.

Joining Wall on the Hall of Fame committee are Tom Raiche (who is the chair), Matt Serino, Donnie Trainor, John Hatch and Steve Boudreau.

Here’s a thumbnail sketch of each of the members of this year’s Hall of Fame Class.

• Marie Johnson Bridges: She is a 1995 Saugus High School graduate. She was a three-sport varsity athlete: Fall/Winter Cheerleading and Softball; two times NEC all-star softball; amassed over 160 strikeouts her junior year; played College softball at Rivier College.
• Lauren Cataldo: She is a 2002 Saugus High graduate, Diane Bena award winner; three-sport captain (soccer and indoor/outdoor track); Agganis All-Star Soccer – NEC Record (2000) 4×200 relay – Track state qualifier in LJ, HJ, 4×100 relay, 4×400 relay); played college soccer at Boston College.
• Rob Gannon: He is a 2005 Saugus High School graduate, a three-time Hockey NEC All-Star, two-time hockey state champ, two-time NEC Conference Champ; played football and ran outdoor track; played football and hockey at Hamilton College.
• Kayla Vitukevich Krieger: She is a 2007 Saugus High School graduate, four-year three-sport Varsity athlete (Soccer and Indoor/Outdoor Track); SHS Record holder in track (4×400 relay, 4×800 relay); Diane Bena Award, Girls Soccer; Agganis All-Star-2x NEC South Track and Field Champ
• Don Maccini: He is a 1987 Saugus High School graduate; fifth all-time leading scorer in SHS Hockey history, 133 points; NEC Hockey All-Star; HNIB All-Star sophomore year; HNIB All-Scholastic; played college hockey at AIC.
• Ashley Panzini Nichols: She is a 2004 Saugus High School graduate and the wife of fellow inductee Todd Nichols; NEC Field Hockey MVP; NEC All-Star Field Hockey; NEC All-Star softball, NEC Conference Champ softball; played basketball; played college field hockey at Bridgewater State
• Todd Nichols: He is a 2003 Saugus High School graduate and the husband of fellow inductee Ashley Panzini Nichols; NEC Hockey All-Star; two-time NEC Conference Champs; one-time Hockey State Champs; 12th all-time leading scorer in Hockey (105 points); played Golf (NEC Champ).
• Olisaemeka Obiefuna: He is a 2012 Saugus High School graduate who only participated in track during his four years as a Sachems athlete – in the winter and spring seasons. He earned All-American honors in the Triple Jump during his senior year. He has nine total state and division championships. He qualified for the state in the 55 meters, the 200 meters, the Triple Jump and the High Jump. He won seven NEC championships – twice in the 200 meter, three times in the Long Jump and twice in the Triple Jump. After graduating from Saugus High, he attended Angelo State University in Texas, where he won the conference championship and received All-America honors in the Triple Jump. He transferred to Wingate University in North Carolina, where he was a two-time All-American in the Triple Jump. He resides in North Carolina.
• Jeff Paolini: He is a 1988 Saugus High School graduate; two-time Hockey NEC All-Star; tied 11th all-time leading scorer in SHS hockey history, 108 points; played college hockey at AIC.
• Rob Scuzzarella: He is a 2006 Saugus High School graduate; Hockey NEC All-Star; one-time hockey state champ; all-time leading SHS lacrosse scorer, with 278 points (149 goals, 129 assists) and was Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2006. He was a two-time NEC all conference, NEC MVP, Mass. All-America Game Participant. He also played golf for two years and was a captain of the 2005 team as well as a Northeast Conference All-Star. Played college Lacrosse at Lynchburg University.
• Craig Serino: He is a 2005 Saugus High School graduate; Hockey NEC All-Star; two-time hockey state champ; fifth all-time leading defenseman; D3 National Championship Hockey at Norwich University; played cross-country and outdoor track.
• Melanie Wheeler: She is a 2003 Saugus High School graduate. She was a four-year, three sport athlete, excelling in tennis, basketball and softball. In tennis, she was Varsity doubles and singles player and a Captain during her junior and senior year and an MVP during her junior and senior years. In basketball, she was a four-year starting point guard. During her senior year, she was an MVP and leading scorer. In Softball, she was a captain in her senior year and an All-Star. She was a two-time NEC All-Star in 2002 (11th) and 2003 (12th). As a clean-up hitter, she led her team to NEC division champs in 2001 and 2003. She batted .356 in her senior year. In Tennis, she was captain of the team in her junior and senior years and also the MVP. After graduation, she coached and was a fundraiser for Saugus Little League baseball. She has also volunteered with Saugus Little League softball. During her senior year, she won the Chief Drew Award for best all-around female athlete.