Marblehead Girls Lacrosse, Volleyball Players Deliver Big Assist

MARBLEHEAD, MA — It has been more than one full year since the Marblehead High girls volleyball team last took the court for a competition together. It has been nearly 18 months since the Magicians girls lacrosse players last walked off the field following a hard-fought game.

While players in both programs await a hopeful return to working together in practices and contests over the next six months amid the coronavirus health crisis, those players found a way to work together for the greater good in recent weeks through the Marblehead-based nonprofit SPUR's sixth annual Holiday Cheer Drive.

The drive benefits children in need and the adult homeless in Marblehead, Salem, Swampscott and Lynn where those participating fill a "wish list" for one person and agree to get something that person wants, something that person needs, something that person can wear and something that person can read.

"The seniors were really excited once we heard about this opportunity to give back," Marblehead senior lacrosse player Abby Kalinowski told Patch. "After losing our season in the spring, it has kind of put a different perspective on things. We are really fortunate as a team and a community.

"This experience has really been really eye-opening and we are all really excited to get the chance to make a difference this holiday season."

Senior girls lacrosse player Fehr Gillett said Kalinowski organized the high school players’ participation, while she had the idea to get the youth lacrosse program involved. Gillett said there are between 20 and 30 high school players and 10 to 20 youth lacrosse families taking part.

"It's something that has really brought us together too," Gillett said. "We're supposed to go shopping later this week so it will be a nice team bonding thing. We didn't really get to do that this year so we thought this would be a nice thing to do."

"It is great to see youth lacrosse getting involved as well as we hope to be role models to them on and off the field," Kalinowski said. "The more people we have involved, the more of an impact we can make for a child this holiday."

Marblehead varsity girls lacrosse Annie Madden said she got the idea to see if her players wanted to participate after talking with girls volleyball coach Killeen Miller and learning how they were helping out.

"My kids couldn't play this fall season and really missed the game," Miller told Patch. "We are supposed to be playing in (the late February "Fall 2" season). But, as you can imagine, the girls are looking to reconnect with their teammates sooner, and when we saw SPUR was doing this fundraiser, we thought it would be a great way to not only do so, but give back."

Miller credited senior captains Anna Schluter, Samantha Oberlander, Emma Lawler and Abby Schwartz with coordinating that program's efforts.

"(They) are absolutely terrific kids who set an example on and off the court," Miller said. "I'm so proud of them for organizing Marblehead volleyball to help these kids in need. The student-athletes in our program are truly amazing kids who do so much for the community."

SPUR Community Relations Manager Kim Nothnagel said that as much as she is thrilled when any group wants to help out the campaign, she was especially impressed this year that it was two groups of student-athletes from the high school that took on the challenge.

"This is the reason why we do what we do," Nothnagel told Patch. "We want to empower people to make an impact. When we see young people wanting to do something good for our community, that really is why we do this every day.

"The other thing about athletics is it's all about teaching these athletes about leadership and confidence, and to see them take that off the field speaks volumes about what they've learned."

Nothnagel said that as of Friday there remained about 200 wish list candidates awaiting sponsors.

SPUR works with each individual child to find out what that child wants, needs, will wear and would read as a way to help sponsors get a sense of the child, shop easily and be sure to get gifts that are most appreciated and helpful.

Wish lists are available this week with shoppers asked to complete their purchases and deliver them to the SPUR office by Dec. 7.

"This holiday season, it just seemed right to give back and make a difference in others' lives," Madden told Patch. "Reflecting on the loss of the spring, you realize that lacrosse is more than just a game. When you can be a part of a special group of strong female athletes — that is the real gift.

"It was now our turn to pay it forward."

More Patch Coverage: Marblehead Nonprofit Looks To SPUR Donations This Season