Field Hockey

Three Watertown Grads Earn College Field Hockey Honors, One Defensive Player of the Year

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John Quackenbos / Boston College AthleticsBoston College junior Jonna Kennedy, a Watertown High grad, was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year. A trio of former Watertown Raider field hockey players were named among the best in their respective conferences this spring. Boston College goalie Jonna Kennedy received the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year award, and was also named to the All-ACC First Team. Kennedy had a record of 7-5 this year, including 7-2 in the spring season and had three shutouts. She also was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week twice during the spring season.

Around Town

Watertown Youth Hockey Wins Two Conference Championships

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The Watertown Youth Hockey Peewees won the Valley Hockey League Championship over the weekend. Watertown Youth Hockey won two championships over the weekend, and another team played in the final. The teams played in the Valley Hockey League championship games in the Peewee, Squirt and Mite divisions. The Watertown Peewees and the Watertown Squirts A teams both won the division and conference championships, while the Watertown Mite As lost in the final. The Squirts came back after being down 3-0 in the first period to defeat Concord-Carlisle 6-3 in the division championship game on Saturday.

All-Stars

See Which Watertown Players Made the Middlesex League All-Stars

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Watertown High School athletes made an impression during the COVID-19 shortened winter season, with eight players being named to the Middlesex League All-Stars. Included among the League’s best were boys basketball player Gabe Spinelli, who also earned Most Valuable Player for the Middlesex Freedom Division and made the Boston Globe’s All-Scholastic team. Also, girls basketball player Taylor Lambo made the Globe’s Honorable Mention All-Scholastic list. Winter 2021 Middlesex All-Stars

Girls Basketball: Lily Lambo, Taylor Lambo

Boys Basketball: Matthew Oliveria, Adam Patterson, Gabe Spinelli (MVP)

Girls Hockey: Toni Erickson, Lizzie Loftus

Boys Hockey: Jack Dickie

Watertown Boys Basketball Player Named All-Scholastic, Girls Player Makes Honorable Mention List

Basketball

Watertown Boys Basketball Player Named All-Scholastic, Girls Player Makes Honorable Mention List

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Watertown senior Gabe Spinelli scored 39 points in the Raiders’ win over Lexington in the Middlesex League Tournament. Watertown senior basketball player Gabe Spinelli made the Boston Globe’s All-Scholastic team, and junior Taylor Lambo made the paper’s honorable mention All-Scholastic list. Spinelli returned to Watertown after a year at Beaver Country Day and helped the Raiders go 13-1. As point guard, he helped the Raiders win the Middlesex League Freedom Division regular season and then emerge as champions of the first ever Middlesex League Tournament. The MIAA did not run state tournaments, so the league held its own knock-out competition.

Basketball

Local Company Sponsoring Watertown Kids So They Can Compete in 3-on-3 Basketball League

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Beast Basketball Training will sponsor five players to participate in the Watertown 3-on-3 league which will be taking place at Fillipello Park. They will also sponsor five players in the league taking place in Winchester. Beast Basketball Training decided to sponsor the kids after being inspired by Peter Tzannos of Realty Executives who also sponsored 10 players, according to Raffi Boyadjian. Find out more and register by going to beastbasketballtraining.com

COVID-19

Watertown Football Team Excited to Kick Off Season After Being Delayed by Pandemic

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Watertown running back David Manoukian and the Raiders kick off the football season on March 20 after being delayed several months by COVID-19. March traditionally is primetime for basketball, but during the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts it is also time for some high school football. The MIAA delayed the football season from the fall to March, in what has been dubbed “Fall II.” Watertown High School will kick off its season Saturday, March 20 at 11 a.m. against Wakefield at Watertown’s Victory Field. “After 12 months of not having a lot to do, this is a real treat for us and I believe everybody in our program understands that and is treating it as if it’s something special,” said WHS Head Coach John Cacace.

Charity

Youth Sports League Grants Available to Make Sure All Watertown Children Can Play

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

With the announcement of The Watertown Community Foundation’s (WCF) Youth Sports League Grant Program, WCF aims to serve Watertown youth from pre-k through high school, their families, and the volunteer coaches who run the leagues. Many children cannot participate in organized sports due to the cost and many coaches assume the added burden of paying players’ fees themselves. The goal is to allow greater participation in team sports of all kinds for all youth regardless of their ability to pay. “WCF is committed to helping every Watertown child that is interested have the experience of playing a team sport” said WCF board member Bob Airasian, the driving force behind the program. “The Youth Sports League Grant Program will provide financial support to youth sports leagues to reduce costs as barriers to participation. We couldn’t have done this on our own and are incredibly thankful for the support from The Bilezikian Family Foundation and NESN.”

“Youth sports leagues teach children athletic and social skills, foster community among families, and attract and retain families in Watertown.

Around Town

Watertown Boxer Faces First Pro Fight, Looking to Become Firefighter

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Watertown’s Rico DePaolis, center, will make his professional boxing debut on March 13. He is shown here with Matt and Mark Nolan, who own the gym where he trains. For several years, Rico DePaolis pursued a career in college basketball coaching, but now the 30-year-old has set his athletic sights on the boxing ring while he looks to start a career in firefighting. The Watertown native will make is professional boxing debut on March 13 in Windham, N.H. DePaolis has a 3-1 record as an amateur, with three victories by stoppage. “I am fighting a gentleman from New York who has a lot of experience in boxing and MMA,” DePaolis said.