NORTH SHORE (Podcast) The Novermber Moynihan Lumber Student Athletes of the Month are Lynn Classical’s Amanda Hughes (Volleyball) and Swampscott’s Lucas Bereaud (Soccer). One hits the ball over the net, while the other usually finds the back of it.
Amanda Hughes – Moynihan Lumber Student Athlete of the Month with Bill Newell
By Joey Barrett – Item Sports Editor
The Moynihan Lumber North Shore Student-Athlete award is a monthly honor given to one male
and one female for their excellence in the classroom and athletic competition.
Amanda Hughes a junior, began playing volleyball just two years ago.
“I fell in love when I started,” said the outside hitter. “They had an amazing team when I joined
as a freshman. They were all so amazing and I wanted to be like them.” That she did, joining the varsity team a year later. This fall, she was named Most Valuable Player of the Greater Boston League with 210 kills and a .204 hitting percentage, also adding 58 aces and 135 points on serve for the 18-4 Lady Rams.
“Amanda found a way to step up in the biggest matches of the season with her best efforts,” said
coach Chris LeBlanc. “She was also an amazing captain and leader, possessing all of the
qualities coaches look for.” LeBlanc noted her leadership in a state tournament win against Lynnfield, which happened to be Hughes’ favorite high school memory thus far. “100 percent,” said Hughes, who had 17 kills, 11 digs, three aces, and a block. “I never experienced that intensity before – it was a special one.” Hughes – who plays three to five days per week in the summer, including beach volleyball –
shines just as bright in the classroom.
Ranked second of 482 classmates with a GPA of 4.56, the junior class president has taken five
AP classes, is a member of National Honor Society, and takes pictures for Classical’s student
newspaper, The Emerald Editorial. “I just want to be super successful and want my parents (Kim and Bill) to be proud,” said Hughes, adding her two favorite classes are precalculus and AP literature. “I want to stay on top of things.” She does that by using the Reminders app on her phone, jotting down assignments and practice times among other to-do’s.It must work – that, and being a product of her environment. “I wouldn’t want to go to any other high school,” she said. “I think it’s the best. The coaches
want everything – that’s the best part. They actually care about you.” Hughes also thanked her teammates and sister, Ashley, for always driving her around.
As for what’s next, Hughes is interested in aerospace engineering at colleges including Tufts,
Wentworth, and MIT “if I can get there.”
