Haskell, Driscoll Named NEC Scholar-Athletes

Seniors Patrick Haskell and Olivia Driscoll have been named the recipients of the the Northeastern Conference Scholar Athlete Awards for Winthrop High School.

Both Patrick and Olivia have proven themselves on the playing field and in the classroom during their four years at Winthrop High School.

Haskell ranks fifth among the 129 members of the WHS Class of 2020 with a GPA of 4.70. Patrick excelled for all four years as a member of the Viking cross country and the indoor and outdoor track teams. He attained the honor of being named the captain for all three teams for his senior year.

Patrick qualified for the states in cross country in all four years and won the Lynn Invitational. He also qualified for the state meet in three events in track. 

In the academic arena, Haskell is a member of the National Honor Society and won the President’s Award for Academic Excellence (top five percent of the class) in all four of his years at WHS. He also received the Student of the Month Award 11 times over the course of his four-year high school career.

Haskell also participated actively in other extracurricular activities, including student government, in which he served on the committee that updated school regulations, and the drama society, in which he was a featured dancer in the production of Chicago.

“Patrick Haskell is a true leader,” said his cross-country coach, Mark D’Amico. “He was always helping out the younger athletes on the team. He led by example, worked hard, and never complained. 

“I remember in cross country when we where doing a significant amount of repeat 200s, around three miles worth, with only 60 seconds rest, and he was the only one who did every one of them, and in 30 seconds each, showing leadership and determination,” D’Amico added. “He was always looking for ways to better himself and help out the team. He always wanted knowledge on how to improve.  He would go the extra mile — literally — just to get better.

“I never had to worry when he was in charge,” D’Amico continued. “Patrick was very reliable and professional, giving out directions and rules given from the coach, helping the coach run practices. I remember one meet he ran 11.0 in the 100, which was the fastest time by a Winthrop boy since Derek Brugman in 2000. Then ran a 56.2 in the 400 and then triple-jumped a 36’-2”.” 

Haskell will be attending the University of Miami in the fall.

Olivia Driscoll is ranked 10th among the 129 WHS seniors with a GPA of 4.52. She is a member of the National Honor Society, serving as its secretary for two years, and received the President’s Award for Educational Excellence in all four of her high school years.

Olivia also has been elected as her class secretary and was a member of the Student Council Executive Board. In addition, she performed 50 hours of community service annually.

In the athletic realm, Olivia was a member of the WHS hockey team for four years, scoring 45 points in her career, and serving as a captain in her senior year; she was a member of the tennis team that ended an 18-year drought by qualifying for the state tournament; and she was a fall cheerleader, winning an NEC Grand Championship and qualifying for regionals and states each year.

“Olivia is everything that a coach could want in a player and a captain,” said her long-time youth and high school hockey coach, Anthony Martucci. “She is a great leader and an even better person. She brings ‘it’ every single day on the ice and in the classroom. She is a class act. 

“Olivia is a tremendous listener,” continued Martucci. “She always is looking to improve and she always puts the team first. She has been one of our best penalty killers for the last two years. She is so unselfish and helpful to others, especially the younger players. She is a leader, a role model, and a mentor. 

“Personally, I am really going to miss having her on my team,” Martucci added. “I have coached her since she was nine years old and she was always so much fun to be around. Her leadership and her effort will be sorely missed. I wish her nothing but the best in all her future endeavors. Clemson is getting one incredible tiger!”

Driscoll will be attending Clemson University in the fall.