Duxbury High School's athletic department has been recognized for its outstanding performance during the 2024-25 academic year, securing the prestigious Division 2 Holmes Award. The school's teams achieved a collective winning percentage of 74.1%, marking a period of significant success across multiple sports.
Key Takeaways
- Duxbury High School won the Globe's Division 2 Holmes Award for the 2024-25 school year.
- The school's teams posted a combined regular-season record of 284-97-7, a 74.1% winning percentage.
- This is Duxbury's first major Globe Scholastic award since 2001.
- Athletic director Jeff Maidment credits strong community support and a positive culture for the success.
A Season of Dominance
The Duxbury Dragons demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the school year. Their 74.1% win rate was the third-highest among all schools in Eastern Massachusetts, trailing only perennial powerhouses St. John’s Prep (76.7%) and Bishop Feehan (75.3%). In their own division, they finished ahead of their Patriot League rival, Hingham, which secured second place with a 68.6% winning percentage.
This achievement represents a significant milestone for the school, which has a student population of 846. It is the first time Duxbury has received a Globe trophy since it was honored in Division 3 back in 2001.
By the Numbers
- Overall Record: 284 wins, 97 losses, 7 ties
- Winning Percentage: 74.1%
- League Championships: 12
- High School Enrollment: 846 students
The Foundation of Success
School officials and coaches attribute the program's success to a deeply ingrained sports culture within the Duxbury community. Athletic Director Jeff Maidment emphasized the town's connection to its school teams.
"I’m most proud of the embrace that this community has for athletics," said Maidment. "It’s such an important role and identity. It’s what I’ve always believed in."
This community involvement begins at a young age. Coaches point to the town's robust youth sports programs as a critical pipeline for developing talent and passion. Senior Cole Martin, a captain for both the hockey and lacrosse teams, recalled growing up watching the high school teams and aspiring to one day wear the same jersey.
Addie Slimbaugh, a senior captain in cross-country, track, and lacrosse, agreed that this continuity from youth leagues to high school varsity teams is a major factor in their consistent performance.
Creating Role Models and a Winning Culture
Inspiring the Next Generation
The impact of current student-athletes extends beyond the high school. They are seen as role models for younger children in the community. Colby Bartro, the girls’ lacrosse coach, shared how her young daughters, Nell (8) and Cece (5), are captivated by the high school players.
"Seeing our high-school athletes as role models really sets the tone for the younger kids," Bartro said. "I know in the back of Nell’s mind, she’ll always think, ‘I want to be the next Lili Fisher or Maggie Slimbaugh.’"
This connection creates a cycle of aspiration, where younger athletes are motivated to continue the tradition of excellence they see on the field.
Internal Drive and Collaboration
A sense of friendly competition among the different sports teams at Duxbury also fuels their collective drive. According to track coach and lacrosse assistant Tony Fisher, when one team achieves a significant milestone, other teams are motivated to match that success.
Hailey Flynn, a captain for both the basketball and golf teams, explained this mindset. "The team doesn’t want to be the first team to lose," she stated. "Everyone wants to win, everyone wants to succeed, and we all want to be to the Duxbury standard, which is winning."
This collaborative spirit extends to the coaching staff. Dan Najarian, the girls' hockey coach, noted that coaches from different sports frequently share ideas and support one another. He often texts with football coach Matt Landolfi, whose daughter played on the hockey team. "It pushes us in the same direction to make it the best you can for the kids," Najarian said.
Understanding the Globe Scholastic Awards
The Globe Scholastic awards have been recognizing high school athletic excellence for 53 years. Schools are ranked based on their regular-season winning percentage across all varsity sports. The divisions are determined by school enrollment:
- Dalton Division 1: Enrollments of 1,400+
- Holmes Division 2: Enrollments of 1,000-1,399
- Dalton Division 3: Enrollments of 700-999
- Ames Division 4: Enrollments of 699 and under
Additional awards exist for specific school categories, such as the Nason, Singelais, and Markham Divisions.
A Banner Year for Duxbury Teams
The 2024-25 school year saw a remarkable number of Duxbury teams claim league titles. In total, 12 different programs finished at the top of their respective leagues. This widespread success highlights the depth and quality of the entire athletic department.
The league champion teams included:
- Girls’ Soccer
- Girls’ Volleyball
- Girls’ Golf
- Field Hockey
- Girls’ Crew
- Boys’ Crew
- Boys’ Swimming/Diving
- Wrestling
- Girls’ Indoor Track
- Boys’ Tennis
- Boys’ Golf
- Girls’ Lacrosse
Longtime boys' tennis coach John Bunar, whose team also won a Division 2 state championship, believes the success comes from the student-athletes themselves. "We get kids that are driven to be there, driven to succeed in school, how they treat other people, and on the athletic field," Bunar said. "As coaches, we benefit from that."
For Athletic Director Jeff Maidment, the formula is straightforward: build a positive environment. He believes that when athletes feel welcome and empowered to make mistakes without fear, they are better able to collaborate and compete at a high level. "It’s really about allowing the kids to be kids," he concluded.