Over the past few weeks, MassLive has asked girls volleyball coaches and athletic directors to reflect on their teams—specifically, the unsung heroes who make their programs successful.
For some coaches, it’s the player who shows up early and stays late to practice. For others, it’s the player who supports her teammates even when she is sitting on the bench.
Please learn about the unsung heroes of the 2025 girls’ volleyball coaches’ season in their coaches’ words below.
Note: Some submissions have been lightly edited for clarity. To add a player to the list, girls’ volleyball coaches can email sports@masslive.com.
Isabella Tran, Needham, Senior – submitted by coach Kaileen Spaulding
(Tran) is our captain, but doesn’t have the stats to prove to be a top DS. She, however, is our most positive kid. Always the one setting up the net and staying after practice to help freshmen practice and coach.
Coco Cusick, Needham, Senior – submitted by coach Courtney Todesco
Coco is an unbelievable person and athlete. She was named a captain of our team this fall and was slated to be one of our top players and starters.
However, in our opening scrimmage, an opposing player came under the net, and Coco landed on her, rolling her ankle and ultimately fracturing it.
Coco was devastated.
This was supposed to be her big senior year as a captain and starter, and now she was out for a major injury.
However, Coco displayed incredible resilience. She picked herself up and showed up to every single practice, game, event, and helped in any way she could.
She took stats, kept score, led team huddles, and more. She found ways to be such a leader despite suffering such a significant injury and such sadness from it.
I am so proud of her and thank her so much for her contributions to the team. She ended up being able to return to play at the end of the season, and she was such a powerful presence for the team.
This should have been such a big season for Coco in terms of stats, playing time, etc., and it turned into something very different.
Again, I am so proud of her and believe she truly was an unsung hero in many ways.
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Over the past few weeks, MassLive has asked football coaches and athletic directors to reflect on their teams—specifically, the unsung heroes who contribute to their programs’ success.
For some teams, it’s the player who hustles on defense. For others, the player may not appear often on the stat sheet but inspires their teammates every time they step on the field.
Please learn about the unsung heroes of the 2025 football season in their coaches’ words below.
Note: Some submissions have been lightly edited for clarity. To add a player to the list, football coaches can email sports@masslive.com.
Lucas Lear, Needham, Junior – submitted by coach Doug Kopcso
Lucas has overcome challenging disabilities to become a vital part of our program. He is an exceptional teammate because, despite his own challenges, he pours himself into our football community.
His empathy is outstanding.
Since he has had to endure so much, he is always the first student-athlete to pull me aside in my role as his football coach and let me know that there is another player who is struggling. Furthermore, Lucas often takes it upon himself to try to emotionally buoy those around him.
Recently, when a teammate was dealing with a mental health issue, Lucas made sure to go talk to the individual, express our love and respect for him, and remind him that he could persevere and thrive.
Lucas also supports others through his participation in numerous student organizations. He was the point person for our first annual Inclusive Sports Night in September.
A member of Best Buddies, Lucas linked up with that group to help with this one-of-a-kind event. He brought together several teams, including our football squad, for a night of flag football and community.
He also shared his experiences at our school event, Own Your Peace, which meant discussing his challenges with the entire school. While many would shy away from this, Lucas wanted to continue to inspire others to shatter barriers as he has.
Additionally, he uses social media to promote both the program and NHS athletics, leveraging his following to elevate others. His efforts have even made him a member of SALT (Student Athlete Leadership Team) at the high school.
Lucas is a monumentally important part of the football team. He has participated in our offseason strength and conditioning program, Triple S, for several years.
During a few weeks in the offseason when only three players could participate, Lucas was there leading the charge. When he performs a drill, he cannot always physically express his understanding of the movement, but his exceptional effort always inspires his teammates. He has fallen, struggled with pain, and dealt with immense challenges that I have never witnessed in my 20-plus years as a coach.
He has also flourished, sprinted across the field, and participated in drills alongside his teammates. Undaunted, Lucas has persevered through every obstacle, pushed through every limit others have tried to impose, and become an integral part of our team.
On the football field, it is impossible to find a harder worker than Lucas. Off the field, he is a consummate teammate who lifts the program whenever he can. While Lucas has to be careful with some of the physical contact in football, he still practices with us and plays some for our JV team.
As a sophomore on the JV vs. Framingham, Lucas ran for an uncontested TD, a blazingly fast run that inspired my nickname for him, “Wheels.” And that has served as a tremendous example of what hard work, resilience, and character can bring someone.
Lucas Lear, Needham, Junior – submitted by Athletic Director Ryan Madden
Lucas Lear is everything right with high school sports. He has a physical disability that has prohibited him from participating fully on the field, but he has been every bit as part of this program as the other students.
He is constantly upbeat, cheering on his teammates. He has worked with me and the athletic department to promote the football team and other sports, creating the “Launch Pad with Lucas Lear,” where we post videos about the department.
He worked with a teacher to start an Inclusive Sports night, joining the football team and the Best Buddies Program for a flag football game this year.
Lucas may not have an impact on the field, but he has had a tremendous impact on the program. He is very deserving of this award.
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Over the past few weeks, MassLive has asked girls cross country coaches and athletic directors to reflect on their teams—specifically, the unsung heroes who make their programs successful.
From runners who inspire their teammates to ones who make sure the team is best set up to succeed, these athletes have made a massive impact on their team.
Note: Some submissions have been lightly edited for clarity. To add a player to the list, girls’ cross-country coaches can email sports@masslive.com.
Greta McGee, Milton, Junior – submitted by coach Claire Ritten
Greta is a bit quiet and reserved, but constantly shows up and does well for the team. She is not Milton’s top runner, but she has consistently been in our top nine runners this season.
And as the season has gone on, she has gotten faster and faster, coming in as our fifth runner in our divisional meet, which was huge for our team score. Her teammates can rely on her to help push them and maintain her pace even if they falter.
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