Noone-Time Kickball Tournament

    By Lizzie Schwarze

Everyone who knew Mr. Noone knows that he loved sports. That, along with Pizza Fridays, music, his students, and his family. What better way to honor him than to have a kickball tournament welcoming players from all of the communities that he touched: Swampscott, Melrose, and Saint John’s Prep. 

While we are now over a month into school, there has not been a day that has passed by without MHS students thinking of Mr. Noone. When I pass by his classroom on the way to my psychology class or when rehearsing a song in Orchestra, I am suddenly reminded of him and the many great memories I made in his class the past two years. As soon as I heard about the Noone Time kickball tournament, I was so happy to know that there would be a day to look forward to that would be in celebration of Mr. Noone. An opportunity to raise money for a permanent scholarship in his name. A time to continue to commemorate the life of a man who touched so many and continues to be thought of each day. 

I am so glad to relay that the tournament was quite a success! Despite being postponed a week later due to weather, attendance was still very strong and the day was beautiful when the event was finally held. Instead of the original plan of having many different teams; one for each grade, the teachers, and his family, everyone combined to form two “mega-teams,” the students vs. everyone else. It made it so much more fun to completely fill the field and I loved being surrounded by all of the MHS kids. Everyone went all out, leaving no mercy for their opponents, and there was definitely a lot of laughs. I can safely say that people of all athletic abilities still had a great time. It was honestly difficult to pinpoint the score by the final inning, as the teachers conveniently left all of their little kids for the bottom of their line up, who racked up points just in time for the end. 

The first pitch was thrown out by none other than Mr. Noone’s son Michael Noone, or “baby Michael” as Mr. Noone would always call him, and it meant so much to everyone to all be gathered together to celebrate a man who touched so many. A huge thank you to Mr. Wein and Alana Fahey for putting the tournament together. Don’t be surprised if you see us current seniors back next year with an alumni team, because this is an event that is not to be missed! I am hopeful we will all continue to get together each year to play some kickball and commemorate one of the best teachers to ever walk through the MHS halls.