Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Scott Carucci, 18 Stoneham High School graduate; attending Bridgton Academy in the fall Accomplishment: Carucci played in the Agganis All-Star Game representing Stoneham High School this summer. He was captain of the football team in the fall, and graduated in the spring. He qualified for the state meets in both indoor and outdoor track. He will attend Bridgton Academy in Maine in the fall. Key to Awesomeness: Carucci played every position on the defensive line for the Spartans last fall, as well as right guard while the team was on offense. During the …

Whiz Kid of the Week Tiffany Lopinsky, 18 Stoneham High School graduate, future Harvard University student Accomplishment: Lopinsky is interning as the Deputy Campaign Manager for State Rep. Jason Lewis. Lopinsky handles a variety of duties as Deputy Campaign Manager for Lewis. “Usually they include things like checking our email, keeping up-to-date on the local news and most importantly calling and canvassing,” Lopinsky said. “We try to contact as many constituents as possible either by calling them on the phone or knocking on their doors to see what issues are important to them. It may be …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Annie DeTeso, 20 Stoneham High School graduate; student at University of Massachusetts Accomplishment: DeTeso is an intern for the State Rep. Jason Lewis, who represents Stoneham and Winchester. Key to Awesomeness: DeTeso has always been interested in politics, but upon entering her first semester at the University of Massachusetts was when she really became involved in studying how politics work. “Being an opinionated person, I became increasingly interested in governmental debates and enjoyed articulating why a specific point of view or policy should …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Brad Fagan, 18 Stoneham High School graduate Accomplishment: Fagan was named Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year at the end of the school year awards banquet at Stoneham High. Key to Awesomeness: Fagan is a three-sport athlete (basketball, soccer and tennis) and received the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year award at the end of the year banquet in June.  “Receiving this award is very gratifying,” Fagan said. “After working so hard through my four years in high school to be awarded the outstanding male athlete is a great honor, especially with all of the…

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Kaylie O’Connell, 15 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: O’Connell won the Ruth Timpone Award for outstanding freshman female athlete for 2011-2012. Key to Awesomeness: When she was three years old, O’Connell started swimming lessons at the Melrose YMCA. At the age of 8, she joined the swim team at the Boys & Girls Club of Woburn. At 11 years old, she decided to take her swimming career to the next level by joining the Crimson Aquatics team in Andover where she currently swims. As an eighth grader, she swam on the girls' varsity swim team and broke four …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Chris Ford, 18 Stoneham High School Class of 2012 graduate Accomplishment: Ford won the Phil Riley Memorial Scholarship in honor of the late Mr. Riley, a beloved English teacher at Stoneham High. Key to Awesomeness: Ford graduated from Stoneham High recently and will begin the next chapter in his life at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, but one moment that he will never forget is when his name was announced as the winner of the Phil Riley Memorial Scholarship. “The scholarship is given to a student who has plans for helping the community in one way …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Catherine Connell, 17 Stoneham High School graduate Accomplishment: Connell won the William M. Nadeau Memorial Prize at Stoneham High School’s end-of-the-year awards ceremony. The award demonstrated the greatest degree of character, citizenship, concern for others and service to the school community. Key to Awesomeness: Connell attended the senior awards banquet just as every senior does before they graduate, but she didn't know she would win such a prestigious award. “I am honored to receive this award,” Connell said. “It was so unexpected and I really …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Anna Rudy, 8 Accomplishment: Rudy has earned more than $1,600 in the past six weeks raising money for her book called "The Stone Zoo." Key to Awesomeness: Rudy is an 8-year-old animal activist that has always wanted to help endangered animals. She has taken classes at Stone Zoo, aquarium and Audubon sanctuaries since she was five years, old according to her website. Rudy has written and published her own book to benefit the Stone Zoo, according to a press statement. She has been selling the book door-to-door for six weeks and has sold more than 350 books …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Sabato Ianniciello, 18 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Ianniciello won an Excellence Award on the National Latin Exam, receiving Magna Cum Laude. Key to Awesomeness: Ianniciello took the National Latin Exam last week and was shocked to learn he had received one of the highest honors on the exam. “When I found out that I had won this award, I was very surprised,” Ianniciello said. “When I took the exam, I wasn't sure if I had done well or not, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out how well I really did.” Ianniciello became interested in Latin …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Sarah Markiewicz, 18 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Markiewicz is the valedictorian for the class of 2012 at Stoneham High School. Key to Awesomeness: Markiewicz finished the year at the top of her class with a grade point average of 5.04. “To me, it means that my hard work throughout high school is being recognized,” Markiewicz said. “At times, the late nights and all the work has not seemed worth it, but this justifies all of my hard work and makes me realize how much I can achieve with hard work.” When Markiewicz found out she was valedictorian, …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Sean Bryan, 17 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Bryan runs the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x4. He is also on pace to break the school’s hurdle record by next spring. Key to Awesomeness: Bryan runs track in winter and spring for the Spartans and attributes all of his success to his two coaches Xavier and Jonathan Garcia as well as his teammates. “Coming into the season I didn’t know what to expect because it was my first spring season as a track athlete,” Bryan said. “I felt a little bit behind the rest of the team because I only had one winter track …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Joe Brown, 16 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Brown usually runs the 100m dash, 4x100 meter relay, 200m dash and participates in the triple jump. He has been improving each time out on his own personal records. Key to Awesomeness: Brown is close to achieving his goals that he set out at the beginning of the season that includes a 40-foot jump in the triple jump. “A couple of meets ago versus Burlington, I got 39 feet, 11.5 inches,” Brown said. “It was a bit of a disappointment, but I am continuing to strive for that goal and plan on beating it before …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Tiffany Lopinsky, 18 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Lopinsky will be graduating from Stoneham High at the end of May and has been accepted by Harvard University. Key to Awesomeness: Lopinsky was at a friend’s house working on a lab for her physics class when she received an email from Harvard that came to her phone with the subject line: “Your Application to Harvard University.” Lopinsky was quite nervous and turned to her friend and asked if she should open the link. “I read the first three words that said ‘I am delighted…’ and I just screamed and …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Stephanie Sweet, 18 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: In 2011, Sweet pitched her way to a 6-2 record and helped Stoneham earn a spot in the state tournament. While the team is off to a 2-5 start this season, Sweet is pitching consistently every time she takes the mound. Key to Awesomeness: The lady Spartans (2-5 overall; 1-2 division) may be off to a slow start this season, but Sweet is proving why she is one of the top pitchers in the Middlesex League Small Division. “I attribute my success to my many coaches, teammates and my parents,” Sweet said. “…

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week  Tyler Malone, 17 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Malone participates in triple jump, long jump, 4x400 relay and the mile. He hopes to become a Middlesex League All-Star in the triple jump for a second consecutive year. Key to Awesomeness: The Stoneham High School boys' track team is off to a 2-0 start to the 2012 season and Malone is right in the middle of the team's success. "I attribute my success to hard work and the training designed by my coaches Xavier and Jon Garcia," Malone said. "My success comes from showing up to practice ready to push …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Jeffrey Fagan, 15 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Fagan went 2-4 with a run batted in in the Spartans' first game of the season versus Medford. Key to Awesomeness: The spring season is underway and the Spartans are off to a 1-0 start after defeating Medford in their first game of the year. Fagan, who plays third base for Stoneham, got off to a strong start for the Spartans going 2-4 with a run batted in. “I attribute my success to all the years of baseball I have played and all of the coaches I have had who have been teaching me the game since I first …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Lauren Reed, 18 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Reed batted .350 for the Spartans last season leading them to an 11-9 record. Reed will be a captain during the 2012 season. Key to Awesomeness: Reed is penciled in to play the infield for the lady Spartans this spring either at second base or shortstop. As captain this season, Reed has set out a few targets she plans to hit before the season is over. “For the 2012 team, my goals are to continue to work hard to improve my game, play to my fullest potential and as captain, help lead our team to the …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week  Zachary Staude, 18 Landmark School Accomplishment: Staude won the Gold Key in the Boston Globe's Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition in early March. Key to Awesomeness: Staude attends the Beverly-based Landmark School, a boarding and day school for students with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia. In early March, Staude was recognized with one of the most prestigious awards for teen artists and writers in the United States: He won the Gold Key in the Boston Globe's Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition for his photo …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week Zachary Young, 17 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Young received All-Star honors for the hurdles and he was the Most Valuable Athlete Award-winner for the Spartans for earning the most points on the team. He also was one of five captains during the winter season. Key to Awesomeness: After an strong winter track season, Young is gearing up for spring track. He made it clear that his personal success was a direct result from the team's two new and wonderful coaches-the Garcia brothers, Jon and Xavier. “My personal success is from the direct coaching of …

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week David Coscia, 17 Stoneham High School Accomplishment: Coscia is the captain of the boys' track team. He participates in the shot put in the winter, and shot put and javelin in the spring. Key to Awesomeness: Coscia was pleased with the team's finish in the winter season, recording a 4-1 record which was a marked improvement over the team's 1-4 record last winter. Coscia stressed that his individual success is attributed to his new coaches Xavier and Jon Garcia. "They came in and changed the face of Stoneham boys' track and field," Coscia said. "We work like…