For over two decades as a teacher in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rob Bilsbury has dealt with just about every type of athlete and personality imaginable.

But every time the boys soccer coach took a drive around the coastal community, there was always one player you could count on finding. Possibly working on his craft, regardless of age.

That would be Sammy Bothwell, and the Manchester Essex senior has taken the Cape Ann League by storm this fall. The attacking midfielder is establishing himself as one of the top athletes on the North Shore.

“I would almost never drive past a soccer field without seeing him out there shooting,” said Bilsbury. “Getting touches in, maxing direct kicks, doing all this stuff early. You could see it in grammar school, all the way through. The amount of work he puts into his game is otherworldly. I’ve never seen anyone as dedicated to the sport, which gives him the tools he needs to be clutch.”

Bothwell has already buried 20 goals to go with eight assists in 2024, and has the Hornets off to a buzzing start at 11-3-1, good for the No. 8 spot in the MIAA’s Div. 4 boys soccer power rankings. The program has shut out nine opponents thus far, looking more dominant with each passing week. With the postseason on the near horizon, the Hornets are looking to take things to a new level in upcoming weeks.

“It’s been very exciting,” Bothwell said. “The team’s playing great, and it’s just so fun to be here.”

This is Bilsbury’s 24th season at the helm in Manchester Essex, and his staff knew they had a special player the instant Bothwell arrived.

“He was an impact player, couldn’t get him off the field as a freshman,” Bilsbury said. “I think he scored 10 goals. He is just, to describe him, a devastating finisher. He has skill for sure in really tight spaces, he has incredible control of the ball, can open little windows to finish. But I think his real strength is that you add that to the ability that he (already) has.”

Playing in one of their biggest clashes of the season Thursday on Senior Night, Bothwell and his teammates registered a 1-0 victory over Essex Tech. The star finished with a key assist on the clinching tally.

“There’s players that can score,” said Bilsbury. “But just in terms of overall (individual) load with the assists as well, that does not happen very often. … I don’t really want to think about what it will look like on our team when he is gone. He’s a player who makes everyone around him better.”

Bothwell’s recruiting list has begun to pick up steam, especially given recent performances. The attacking midfielder is keeping his options open.

“Sort of trying to keep it quiet until I’m fully committed,” Bothwell said. “But there’s a couple of schools locally that I’m looking at.”

Manchester Essex has three games left in its regular season slate. The Hornets close against Triton, Georgetown and Winthrop.

“I just love the team atmosphere here,” said Bothwell. “It’s always been fun. Coming in as a freshman was a great experience, the coaching here is great. It’s just been a great experience with the Manchester Essex soccer program. I want to take my soccer career as far as I can go. However far that is? I want to go.”