Pingree Athletics Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Please join us on Saturday, April 5 for Pingree’s Athletics Honor Society Induction Ceremony honoring Mary Gene Tuthill Clavin ‘83, Samantha “Sami” Taylor Sirmon ‘08, Harry “Buddy” Taft, and Allen “Len” Williamson ‘09. This special evening will include a cocktail reception and dinner, followed by presentations of the inductees. All are welcome to attend.

Mary Gene Tuthill Clavin ’83

During her time at Pingree, Mary Gene was a three-sport varsity athlete who played field hockey, volleyball, and lacrosse, and captained each team during her senior year. As a standout athlete, Mary Gene earned Beverly Times Field Hockey All Stars honorable mention as well as Salem News Field Hockey All Stars honorable mention. She was also recognized during her senior year as Most Valuable Player on her lacrosse team and earned Pingree’s Athletic Department Award at graduation. Following Pingree, she attended Boston College where she played lacrosse and field hockey.

Mary Gene later returned to Pingree to serve as the alumni director and coach from 1991 to 1993. After settling in Newburyport with her family, Mary Gene coached youth lacrosse and served as President of the City’s Youth Lacrosse League. Additionally, following a personal passion for creating access in sports, she co- founded the Newburyport Junior Clippers, the area’s inaugural Special Olympics team.

Samantha “Sami” Taylor Sirmon ’08

Sami was a three-sport varsity athlete in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, captaining each team her senior year. In addition to four EIL championships, Sami’s lacrosse accolades included: three-time New England Prep School All-Star; three-time Salem Evening News All-Star; two-time 1st team U.S. Lacrosse All-American; 2008 Under Armour All-American; 2008 EIL MVP; and 2008 Boston Globe All-Scholastic. Sami also twice earned EIL All League honors for soccer and 2007 EIL All League honors for basketball.

The 14th ranked recruit in her class by Inside Lacrosse, Sami went on to play lacrosse at Boston College where she was a four-year starter, a team captain her senior year, and a member of the first team to make it to the NCAA tournament in program history. Sami later returned to Pingree to work in admissions and advancement, while coaching JV girls soccer, varsity girls basketball, and serving as varsity girls lacrosse head coach, winning the 2013 EIL lacrosse championship. Sami continues to coach lacrosse and is a Director of the Laxachusetts club lacrosse program.

Harry “Buddy” Taft

Buddy joined Pingree in 1979 as a history teacher and coach, later serving as Dean of Students for over 20 years and coaching for 45 years across 12 different sports and levels. Buddy helped lay the foundation for Pingree athletics literally and figuratively. As a member of the Sod Squad, Buddy helped lay the sod on our fields, which Pingree teams still enjoy. He was also integral in the planning and construction of Pingree’s ice rink.

Under Buddy’s leadership, Pingree softball was six-time EIL champions and boys lacrosse won three New England Small School championships. Most notably, Buddy coached varsity boys hockey for 33 years, 29 years as head coach. His teams secured more than 400 wins establishing Pingree as a hockey program to watch, with the team qualifying for NEPSAC tournaments eight times from 1987 to 1999. Through Buddy’s mentorship, 20 students went on to play D1 hockey and dozens more played D3, including two of whom were named college All-Americans and won national championships. More important than any statistic, Buddy’s impact is best captured by his consummate sportsmanship and his belief that it’s the people who have always mattered most.

Allen “Len” Williamson ’09

Len was a two-sport varsity athlete for soccer and basketball, serving as captain of both teams his senior year. A two-time EIL Most Valuable Player, Len’s Pingree basketball career included three EIL championships, culminating in a NEPSAC championship in 2009 where he was named the NEPSAC Class D tournament MVP. Len’s additional accolades included two-time Boston Globe All-Scholastic; 2009 Salem News All Star; and 2007 EIL All League. At the conclusion of Len’s senior basketball season, he was Pingree’s all-time leading scorer with 2,096 total points.

Following Pingree, he attended Amherst College and played basketball for four years, winning two NESCAC conference championships his junior and senior year. As a team captain, he led Amherst to an NCAA Division III National Championship victory his senior year, earning the Final Four Most Outstanding Player Award. Len went on to play professional basketball for clubs in Luxemburg and Kuwait. Len later returned to Pingree, working in a variety of roles from 2014-2022, including as a coach of boys freshman soccer, boys JV basketball, and boys varsity basketball.