Terry Fortin entered Amesbury High School in the fall of 1978 and had an immediate impact on the AHS sports programs. She was not only extraordinarily bright and diligent, but she was a gifted athlete as well. Writer Tom Vartabedian stated “when one comes to discuss the merits of Terry Fortin, brains and brawn are uttered in the same breath. She remains in a charmed circle all her own.” This combination made Terry a coach’s dream. During her 4 years at AHS, she was a 10-letter winner and was celebrated with many outstanding awards.
Choosing to play field hockey in the fall Terry earned the starting midfield position in her sophomore year. Midfield play requires stamina, perseverance, dogged determination, and a great deal of skill. Coach Gail Kelleher quickly saw that from day one Terry was everything that a coach could want in a player. Terry’s level of intensity and ability to see the field and quickly read her opponents’ play was an enormous asset to the team. Her stick work, willpower, and leadership clearly allowed her to stand out in every game that she played. Terry was Co-captain of the 1981 championship team and was named a Cape Ann League All-league player in both her junior and senior years.
Winter brought basketball and as a freshmen Terry was a leader from the beginning. Jack Bowes, well known sports writer for the Amesbury Weekly, called Terry a triple threat. He spoke about Terry’s enormous talent when she was just a sophomore. In a game versus Lynnfield Terry scored 21 points, pulled down 9 rebounds, handed out 16 assists, and had 5 steals. For 4 years she was a starting point guard and according to her varsity coach, David Lahait, Terry did it all: she scored when needed, passed to open teammates, dribbled the ball up the court under pressure, played tenacious defense, and made the plays in the clutch. Coach Lahait called Terry one of the best student athletes that he has ever coached, and Coach Kelleher and Coach Ellie White would enthusiastically agree. Terry was chosen both Most Improved and Most Valuable Player of the team for her sophomore, junior and senior years and was chosen to Captain the team in her senior year. She also received CAL All-League recognition in her sophomore, junior and senior years. In addition, Terry was selected to play in the prestigious Harry Agganis All-Star Game her senior year. In 1982 this game featured the best 20 hoopsters in the state.
When basketball was over Terry picked up a softball and continued to lead the team in this game as well. Coach White admired Terry’s ability to focus on whatever sport she was playing. As one of the best pitchers in the Cape Ann League and an outfielder when she was not pitching, Terry earned 3 varsity letters. She was team MVP and also led the team in batting average. Terry even threw a no hitter which really did not come as any surprise to her coaches or teammates. And once again, Terry earned recognition as a CAL All-League player.
As a gifted scholar and a tremendous athlete, Terry went on to study and compete at Dartmouth College. Terry felt that her successful career at AHS allowed her to look at this highly esteemed college that she might not have been encouraged to attend. While at Dartmouth she was a 4-year player for both the field hockey and basketball teams. During the latter part of the field hockey season Terry was often required to attend two distinct practices in one day because the two sports that she was playing overlapped each other. In addition to many individual awards, Terry received the prestigious Agnes Kurtz Award for outstanding female athlete at Dartmouth College. She was also named to the 20 Years of Women at Dartmouth All-Time Field Hockey Team in 1996.
In looking back at her 4 years at Amesbury High School Terry stated that she always tried to put her best foot forward. “You do your best and hope for the best” was one of her mottos.
Terry Fortin had a tremendous impact on her classmates, her teammates, her teachers, and her coaches. Terry believes that her years as a player for Amesbury was the beginning of her passion that led to her study in the medical field of exercise physiology and later cardiology. She was truly one of the best scholar athletes in AHS history and is highly deserving of induction into the AHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Congratulations Terry Fortin, Class of 1982.
