BC High gets boost from heavy-hitting Cleary brothers
At the start of the delayed 2021 spring season, Bc High boys’ volleyball coach James chen had concerns about a relaunch following the lost season of 2020 due to the pandemic.
By the end of the first tryout, chen was ready to dub Mason cleary, then an incoming freshman, as the team’s “next big thing.”
Not only has the 6-foot-5-inch cleary emerged as the top option and helped lead the sixth-ranked Eagles to a 13-2 record, but he is putting his brother, ben ,onan even higher trajectory as the duo provides a 1-2 punch by the pins in cadigan gym.
mason and Ben started playing volleyball three years ago, inspired by older sister breann, who led Boston Latin to the state semifinals in 2019. Both played the middle, mason as a freshman at Bc High and Ben as a seventh-grader on Boston Latin’s junior varsity.
Now headlining a senior class of nine, mason leads the Eagles in kills (198, hitting .296), digs (188), aces (28), and passing (2.26/3, covering most of the court), adding 42 blocks. He molded his game by playing at every opportunity, including clubs like smAsH.
chen’s 2022 gambit of putting his sophomore core at their future positions to add early experience is paying off as well. The team went 7-10 with mason sliding to the outside, James shriver switching from opposite to outside, and grayson kamadeu moving from middle to opposite.
“I went all in. Three sophomores starting on the pins,” said chen. “It’s going to be a learning year, a season of growing pains, but bite the bullet now and hope for the junior and senior year.”
The ensuing season, cleary, shriver, and Kamadeau became captains. It was evident how much they had improved, leading the Eagles to a 13-7 season and a firstround tournament victory for the first time in program history.
It was also the first time Ben, who had transferred in as a freshman, got a taste of what his brother was capable of doing when he wasn’t facing the other top players in the state.
“seeing him play against high school players, many of them don’t play club,” Ben said. “Wow he’s really good. He crushed the ball down the line or on a hard cross, it’s like ‘Wow.’ ”
Though Bc High was swept in its 2023 season opener at North Quincy, it was a match that solidified Ben’s decision to join his big brother.
“It was my first ever high school game in front of 300 fans,” Ben said. “[mason] was constantly telling me ‘Keep on going,’ encouraged me all the way. That game really set the tone for how my high school would go.”
A 6-1 sophomore, Ben is the
No. 2 outside option for the Eagles with 125 kills, adding 134 digs and 20 blocks. His advantage: mason, a globe All-scholastic, is always there to push him and teach him all the things mason wished he had learned sooner. A quick study, Ben always does his part by eagerly watching film with his brother.
“I can definitely [hold] him to higher standards,” mason said of Ben. “Not just because he started early, but as his brother I’m allowed to push him.”
Ben’s emergence as another prolific hitter has been crucial for the Eagles, especially when opponents key on mason. Their presence on the court together often helps open a lane for the other.
“Ben’s able to elevate his game, trying to follow in his brother’s footsteps,” chen said. “mason is always helping him out, teaching him things that he had to figure out on his own. I think it’s elevating Ben’s game faster.”
mason has worked on being able to crush an accurate spike as often as possible. But with his brother getting creative on those times when he faces a block, mason is also learning from Ben.
“He likes to use his hands and throw it over the net. can’t say I can do it very effectively,” mason said. “I’ve tried some of the stuff he does, throw it to the corners. corners are always open on defense. court vision is one of the things
I’ve learned from him.”
With wins over ranked teams like No. 7 milford and No. 9 Wayland, and the program’s second-ever conference title (and first in the catholic conference since its inceptions in 2019) in hand, the Eagles believe the tournament semifinals are within reach.
“It’s very gratifying, all our hard work is paying off,” shriver said. “We have played and competed with strong teams. It gives everyone the expectation we can do well in the playoffs this year.”
Added mason: “We can really do this, we can go 18-2. Everyone’s believing in it. We want to go far.”
set points
R At Wednesday’s volleyball committee meeting, members expect the mIAA will adopt new national federation rules. Among them: there is no longer a penalty for changing jersey numbers when a uniform is damaged, and the ability to substitute a libero replacement during an injury timeout.
R Last week, Latin Academy reached its highest ever mIAA power ranking at No. 11. The future is even brighter on Townsend street, with the crew that entered Friday 9-5 led by a young core.
sophomore hitter Teddy stylianopoulos is already a threeyear starter after playing JV in seventh grade. He and freshman libero Tri Duong lead a strong passing system that allows the team to make the most of its offense.
“We had 45 kids try out. A lot of it is frankly due to Teddy,” said Latin Academy coach Nick Mone .“He has recruited kids to play volleyball, he set a good tone in our program, both with his leadership on and off the court.”