It was quite the weekend for Peabody High track and field star Alessandra Forgione, who became an All-American at New Balance Nationals with a third-place nod in javelin. Her 144-1 heave was a school-record throw. "Alessandra's success at Nationals is a result of hard work and trust of Coach Jay Smith and her unconditional commitment to stay the course and finish strong as a senior," said Coach Fernando Braz. "Her journey and result is a standard for younger, dedicated athletes to model and a character reference for the throwing staff at the next phase of her career." (TannerCoach via X)
Joey Barrett is the Daily Item's sports editor. He reports on local high schools, colleges, and professional teams. Prior to his current position, he worked for UMass Athletics, the Cape Cod Baseball League, and Gannett Media, among others. Barrett was also sports editor at Endicott College and treasurer of Endicott's Society of Professional Journalists branch.
