NORTH SHORE – Peabody boys basketball star Matt D’Amato and Lynn Classical girls hoops star Paris Wilkey kicked off 2017 in style, as they were recently named the Moynihan Student-Athletes of the Month for January.
Paris Wilkey Moynihan Female Student Athlete of the Month with Bill Newell and Coach Tom Sawyer
It is the first selection for each of these model high schoolers, and for Paris, the announcement came as a pleasant surprise.
“I really wasn’t sure what (the award) even was until my coach explained it to me, so to be nominated and then win it is a great feeling,” said Paris, a junior who is averaging over 18 points and seven rebounds per game for the streaking lady Rams.
With her strong play on the court, Paris — who regularly draws double teams — has helped Lynn Classical to a 17-5 record and a second place finish in the Northeastern Conference. It’s the first time the Rams have had a regular season win percentage that high in over a decade, and Paris is a huge reason why.
“Since my freshman year we’ve been underestimated because of our size. I’m 5-foot-9 and I’m the tallest girl on our team whereas other teams have at least one 6-footer or a big girl,” said Paris. “So to be 17-5 and have the best record in 13 years … I’m really proud of that and how we have stepped it up. We just click a lot more as a team this year than the past two years and it’s all come together for us.”
Paris and her Rams squad will find out their first opponent in the Division 1 North state tournament on Friday, but in the meantime you can bet she’ll be studying in order to maintain her 3.75 GPA. Paris has always put her academics first and knows that it’s her work in the classroom that will allow her to be successful in life.
“My grades are very important to me,” said Paris, who is currently ranked No. 56 in her class of 381 students. She also takes honors and AP courses despite being a junior.
“My dad always tells me that grades come first and without good grades there’d be no basketball. To get into a good school the grades come first too, so I always put the classroom first and that’s always been a big deal to me.”
Paris has also donated much of her time to volunteer with Lynn Classical girls basketball clinics for younger, aspiring athletes, and was involved with the Special Olympics through her basketball team as well.
“I love kids and giving back in any way I can and being in such a great environment like that feels really good,” Paris said of her work with both clinics. “This is our first year doing the free basketball clinic and it’s literally the best part of my day, whether we do it after practice or before practice on Saturdays. I love seeing the kids happy and helping out and I’m really glad our coaches put that together.”
Paris has already looked ahead to life after high school, and she plans to study physical therapy in college.
