LYNN– The Agganis All-Star Classics are special for a number of reasons. Recent high school graduates get a final chance to compete in front of their hometown fans and represent their schools. For some student athletes, it’s a final chance to play alongside their high school teammates.
That’s a small part of what makes Agganis week full of rich tradition. But thanks to Danvers’ Nick Raimo and Masconomet’s Marissa Karras, this year’s Agganis week is believed to be the first that carries two student-athletes with family ties to Harry Agganis.
Raimo, a Danvers baseball catcher/first baseman, and Karras, who played goalie for Masconomet’s girls lacrosse team, are distant cousins. Raimo will represent the Falcons in the 24th Agganis baseball all-star game at Fraser Field on Sunday starting at 2 p.m. Karras will represent the Chieftains in the seventh girls lacrosse all-star game at Manning Field on Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m.
Raimo’s connection to Agganis was through his grandmother, Agganis’ sister, making Agganis Raimo’s great-uncle.
“He (Agganis) was a very good person as well as a great athlete,” Raimo said. “He was signed by the Red Sox and drafted to play football in the NFL. He passed away over 60 years ago and it’s crazy to think people still know who he is today. I take a lot of pride in that.”
Karras also has ties to Agganis through her grandmother, Elaine Copelas. Agganis was Elaine’s uncle.
“He (Agganis) was an amazing athlete,” Karras said. “My grandmother used to sit down and have breakfast with the Red Sox players when she was young. She used to think it was the coolest thing. At the time she didn’t really know them too well but as she got older she recognized how neat it was.”
Raimo was a four-year varsity player at Danvers for Falcons baseball coach Roger Day. During his four seasons as a Falcon, Danvers made three trips to the Eastern Mass. Division 2 state final and four trips to the Division 2 North state tournament.
“Playing at Danvers has been pretty big for me,” Raimo said. “I’ve learned a lot about playing baseball but I also learned about myself as a person. I learned what my strengths are and what I’ve needed to improve.”
When thinking about his baseball career at the collegiate level, Raimo chose a path similar to his great-uncle’s. Agganis, born in 1929 and raised in Lynn, was a football and baseball star at Classical. Â
Agganis decided to play baseball and football at Boston University, and signed with the Red Sox, to stay close to his mother.
Raimo will attend Gordon College in Wenham this upcoming fall, where he’ll play baseball for the Division III Fighting Scots. He plans to study political science and pre-law with hopes of pursuing a career as a lawyer.
“(Gordon) coach Rob Mansfield is a really good guy and a really good coach. It’s an honor for me to play at Gordon,” Raimo said. “I chose Gordon because the school’s close to home. My (great-)uncle chose to attend Boston University to stay close to his mother. That’s a big reason why I chose Gordon.”
The chance to play in an all-star game dedicated to his great-uncle’s legacy is one Raimo appreciates.
“It means so much to me, more than I could ever imagine,” Raimo said. “I never imagined myself playing in the game. I feel I had a pretty good season this year. Seeing them host the All-Star Games at Fraser Field, at the Agganis Complex named after my (great-)uncle, this means a lot me being his great-nephew.”
Karras was a three-year varsity player for the Chieftains at goalie. After strong freshman and sophomore seasons, Karras was sidelined for her junior campaign with an ACL injury. She bounced back this past spring as a senior and helped lead Masconomet to the Division 1 North state tournament.
“My career at Masconomet went well,” Karras, a Middleton resident, said. “My freshman and sophomore years were my best years. Junior year I had ACL surgery and missed the season. Senior year was sort of my ‘comeback’ year. Overall, I think things went well.
“We had a young defense this past season but we really molded together toward the end of the year and it showed,” Karras added. “I think the team will definitely do well in upcoming years.”
She’ll continue her career as a student-athlete at Division III Endicott College in Beverly, where she’ll play for the school’s women’s lacrosse team. Karras expects an elevated level of competition when she joins the Gulls but welcomes the upcoming challenges.
“I loved coach (Maureen) Spellman and the program they have at Endicott,” Karras said. “I’m definitely excited to play in college. It’s going to be different than it was playing in high school but I’m looking forward to it.”
Both Karras and Raimo are looking forward to one final game as high school athletes.
“I just want to play my best,” Karras said. “It’s my last game playing with (Masconomet co-captain) Jordyn Tveter. I’d like to make that a memorable experience. We grew up playing together. I want to make it a great game.”
“Besides taking it in and having fun as my last high school game, I’d like to give it my all one last time,” Raimo said. “It’s also a game for my great-uncle. It means a lot to me, not just because I’m an all-star but because I’m playing for him.”
Agganis Week kicks off with the annual awards ceremony Sunday (10 a.m.) at Fraser, followed by the 21st softball (12 p.m.) and 24th baseball (2 p.m.) games. The 14th girls (6 p.m.) and boys (7:15 p.m.) basketball games tip-off Monday at St. Mary’s. Tuesday brings the 23rd boys (5:30 p.m.) and girls (7 p.m.) soccer games at Manning. Lacrosse takes center stage Wednesday with seventh girls (5:30 p.m.) and boys (7 p.m.) games at Manning. The week concludes with the 57th football game Thursday (7 p.m.) at Manning.
New Balance has created a team store with Agganis All-Star apparel and is donating a portion of its proceeds from sales to the Agganis Foundation. Apparel can be purchased by visiting newbalanceteam.com/team/member/order?orderId=53468.
Tickets for the Agganis All-Star Games can be purchased online at agganisfoundation.com.