NORTHBOROUGH – Algonquin Regional High School graduates Charles Hynes and Caroline Kelly have been friends since kindergarten.
Both received Midland Wachusett League awards for lacrosse, and they had almost the exact same GPA.
Most recently, they were named High School Scholar All-Americans for soccer, with mirrored scores. Kelly scored eight goals and made 12 assists, and Hynes scored 12 goals and made eight assists.
“I feel as though my hard work in school and soccer has paid off,” Kelly said.
Hynes and Kelly were honored to receive the title.
“It’s not only a recognition of what I have been able to do on the field, but also of the people that have helped me get to where I am today,” Hynes said.
The pair are two of five All-Americans from Massachusetts.
“I’m really proud of both Caroline and Charlie for being recognized as All-Americans. It’s really something to be proud of as a principal,” said Principal Sean Bevan.
When Hynes was a freshman, he said it was challenging to adjust to playing for a competitive team while balancing his academics.
“A lot of people around me have told me that being a student athlete means that student comes first,” he said. “I’ve always prioritized my academics over soccer and I have been able to perform well on the field as well as in the classroom.”
Now, both Hynes and Kelly are headed to Tufts University in the fall.
Hynes is deciding between studying psychology and entrepreneurship, but he is leaning towards psychology. Kelly is majoring in biomedical engineering.
“I have always thought he was a very talented soccer player and a great student,” Kelly said of Hynes. “I knew we shared some similarities because we did go to school together but learning he got this award as well and is going to Tufts showed that we both worked hard in school and in sports.”
The pair talked about their experience playing soccer for ARHS.
“I am very grateful for my time in the ARHS soccer program. Although we always were working hard in practice, we had lots of fun too,” Kelly said.
Throughout their careers, Hynes and Kelly have notched several honors.
Hynes is a league, Central Mass, and state all-star as well as the leading scorer for the team, and Kelly graduated high school as a league and a Central Mass All-Star, league MVP runner-up, an all-state all-star, and she was named an All-New England all-star by United Soccer Coaches.
ARHS coaches reacts to the honor
Retired ARHS girls soccer coach John Clifford said Kelly is one of the best players he has ever worked with.
She played as an attacking center midfielder on the varsity team for four years and served as one of the captains her senior year.
After Kelly’s recognition as an All-New England player and her academic excellence, Clifford nominated her for the High School Scholar All-American award.
“There’s a lot of depth to winning that award. It’s an exceptional kind of offer and CK is very deserving of it,” he said.
Athletic Director Mike Mocerino called Hynes and Kelly well-rounded kids and thanked them for being an example of what ARHS athletics represented.
“Charlie and Caroline are truly outstanding individuals in all respects. Their status as student-athletes here at Algonquin Regional High School was superb,” he said.
Mocerino said they helped shape a positive environment on their teams, and the camaraderie helped build something special.
“Their drive to achieve is unheralded and their competitive spirit was contagious amongst their teammates,” he said.
ARHS Boys Varsity Soccer Coach Kenneth Morin said Hynes was an “outstanding” example of the high standards the boys soccer team holds themselves to in the classroom and on the field.
“Charlie was a leader by example. He worked tirelessly during training and in matches. His teammates worked hard to match his effort and positive attitude which was a large factor in our success last season,” Morin said.
He added, “We are incredibly proud of Charlie and I hope that we can celebrate others in the future.”