Newest Athletic Hall of Fame class ready for induction

A look at some of the 2019 MHS inductees

Published September 6, 2019

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The 2019 Melrose Athletic Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. This is the 17th HOF class and they join hundreds of inducted Melrose High School athletes who represent the finest achievers MHS sports.

The event will take place beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Melrose High School Learning Commons and the induction ceremony and dinner will take place at Memorial Hall at 6:00 p.m. The event at the Learning Commons is free to the public. Tickets are now on sale for $40 at Tarpey Insurance at 109 West Foster Street in Melrose.

The honorees for the 2019 banquet and induction ceremony are:

The 1923, 1941 & 1942 hockey teams (state, New England and North American champions)

The 2012 volleyball team (state champions)

Jim McSweeney (class of 1989)

Jim Slattery (class of 1990)

Peter Christopher (class of 1992)

Henry Turner (class of 1996)

Steve Mulvihill (class of 1997)

Joe Musselman (class of 2003)

Olivia Downey (class of 2013)

Zeke Vainer (class of 2013)

John Titus (class of 1950)

Annalisa DeBari (class of 2014)

“Our inductees were picked out of one of the deepest group of nominees we’ve ever had,” says Hall of Fame President Nick Scofield. “This was a very difficult process since everyone was more than qualified for induction. Our 2019 class exemplifies sportsmanship, teamwork, time management, dedication and academic excellence on top of their athletic achievements. I’m very proud of our selection committee for their efforts in selecting a great induction class.”

This week, the Melrose Weekly News will begin a two-part profile on the honorees, starting alphabetically. 

Peter Christopher (Class of 1992) 

Christopher was a 3-year letterman for the Melrose High Red Raider football team. In his tenure he earned All Scholastic honors in 1991 from both The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald. He was selected to represent Melrose at the Shriners Classic his senior year. He graduated in 1996 from the University of New Hampshire, where he started as a redshirted freshman on the Div. 1 Wildcat football team. While there, he earned All-Yankee Conference honors as a linebacker. He was awarded the 1996 Unsung Hero award before graduating.

Christopher has said of the honor: “I will always respect what the game of football instills in young men. One of the qualities football teaches is to sacrifice for the greater goal of the team.”

Annalisa DeBari (Class of 2014) 

Widely regarded as the most decorated MHS female of all time, DeBari holds the rare distinction of being a three-time state champion in three different sports at Melrose High, an almost unheard-of feat. She was the Massachusetts State All Around Gymnastic Champion in 2014, and in that sport earned All Scholastic honors, three Middlesex League titles and numerous All Star Honors. 

In outdoor track at Melrose High, she became a Div. 3 State Champ in the triple jump in 2013 and was a league champion in the 100m hurdles in 2013 and 2014. 

She hit her trifecta in volleyball as member of the Div. 2 State Championship Melrose High volleyball team, who became the first Melrose High team to win a state title in over 40 years. On that squad she earned Unsung Hero and earned All Star honors. 

Her collegiate career was all track. And huge. She graduated from Tufts University in 2018 and was an All American in the 60 meter hurdles in both 2017 and 2018. She was awarded NESCAC Most Outstanding Female Performer, the NESCAC Champion in the 100 hurdles and MVP honors in 2018. 

Joining DeBari in induction is her high school volleyball team, also in the 2019 class.

Debari recently commented on the honor. “A special thank you to all my coaches, trainers and teammates. I had a very fulfilling career that would not have been possible without your encouragement. Also an incredible thank you to my family. I cannot thank you enough for your sacrifices and I am forever grateful for your unwavering support.” 

Olivia Downey (Class of 2013) 

Downey was renowned for her speed, which made her a threat in indoor and outdoor track and girls’ soccer. She is a two-time state champ in the 600 meter, which she accomplished during her junior and senior years in indoor track. She was the Middlesex League champion in the 600 and league MVP. The team’s 2 year captain was also an All State high jumper. The four year letterman transferred her indoor track efforts to spring track where she medaled in All States in the 400m and high jump. She was the Middlesex League MVP and Middlesex League champion. She also became the Heptathlon champion in 2013. 

As a Melrose High soccer star, she was a three year letterman, captain, Middlesex League All Star and the team’s leading scorer her senior season. 

Downey had an even more prolific college career at Merrimack College, where she competed and broke records in indoor and outdoor track. She was a four year letterman in both sports and competed for three years in soccer. She earned Rookie of the Year honors her freshmen year. Downey was a four-time Top 5 NE10 finished in the 500m, high jump and 4×400 relay. She broke the school record in the 500m, high jump and 4×400 relay. In outdoor track she broke the school record in the 400 hurdles, high jump and 4×400 relay. Downey served as captain and was a 4-year letterman. She was a two time Top 5 NE-10 finisher in the 400, 400 hurdles and heptathlon, and a four-time Top 5 NE-10 finisher in the high jump and 4×400 relay. 

Downey is grateful for her family and coaches support. “These accomplishments could not have happened without amazing coaches, teammates and ever supportive family. Thank you for pushing me to be the best version of myself.” 

Jim McSweeney (Class of 1989)

McSweeney enjoyed a long wrestling career, beginning with his time at Melrose High School. During his senior year McSweeney became a state champion in wrestling as a member of the Melrose Red Raider team. In 2012 he became a US Veteran Folkstyle All American. 

In college, was a wrestler for the University of Lowell from 1989 to 1991. A mixed martial artist, the family man, farmer and traveler is now a Presidential candidate in 2020 representing the Rural Independent Party.  

2012 Melrose High Girl’s Volleyball Team 

Melrose head coach Scott Celli, assistant coach Scott Wall and 2012 team members will be inducted for the rare feat of earning a Div. 2 State title in 2012, the first MHS team to clinch a championship in almost 40 years. Team members include Ali Nolan, Annalisa Debari, Maeve Moriarty, Jill MacInnes, Alyssa Abbott, Cassidy Barbaro, Ashley Harding, Stephanie Crovo, Meri Lessing, Brooke Bell, Jen Cain, Rachel Johnson, Kayla Wyland, Sarah McGowan, Sydney Doherty and Amanda Commito. 

Their 2012 season was a pure joyride. Melrose finished their season 26-1, rolling over opponents in a 21 game undefeated streak in September and October, not losing a set until the final regular season game of the year against Div. 1 powerhouse Newton North. Teams like Bishop Fenwick, Reading and Arlington Catholic had no answer to this senior-heavy squad, who went on to sweep Winchester, Burlington, Arlington Catholic and Canton in Sectionals before taking out Longmeadow at the Div. 2 State Finals in Algonquin. Melrose dominated in the match and became history makers in a 3-1 victory.  

Next week we take a look at the rest of the Class of 2019: Steve Mulvihill, Joe Mussleman, Jim Slattery, John Titus, Henry Turner, Zeke Vainer and the MHS hockey teams of 1923, 1941 and 1942.