Sports

Watertown Track Athlete Named to All-Scholastic Teams

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Watertown senior Mange Camara made the Boston Globe’s and Boston Herald’s All-Scholastic indoor track teams.

Boston’s major newspapers named Watertown High School runner Mange Camara to their All-Scholastic teams.

Camara completed one of the most historic indoor track seasons for a WHS athlete by taking fifth place at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in the 400 meters and being named an All-American. The Boston Globe writeup, stated, “Camara completely owned the 300-meter dash this season.” The senior went undefeated in the event this year, winning — among other competitions — the New England Championships, the All-State Meet and the Div. 5 Meet. He set the school record, the All-State meet record, and posted the second fastest time in the nation for a high schooler in the event 300, finishing in 34.22 seconds.

Schools

Watertown Track Coach, Teacher Retires After 47 Years

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Watertown cross country runners senior pose with Longtime Watertown High School track and cross country Coach Tom Wittenhagen retired in March after 47 years in the district. Here he is with James Piccirilli and Emily Koufos after the 2016 All-State Cross Country Meet. Tom Wittenhagen reached the finish line of his coaching career in March, after coaching and teaching for 47 years in the Watertown Public Schools. The longtime boys track and field coach hung up his stopwatch after serving as head coach for the Raiders indoor and outdoor track, and cross country for the last 12 years

“I had 47 years teaching and coaching,” Wittenhagen said. “I was in and out of Watertown about 9,000 times over that time.”

Around Town

Paddle Down the Charles River in the Annual Run of the Charles River

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The 37th annual Run of the Charles paddle race will take place on April 28. The following information was provided by the Charles River Watershed Association:

Paddlers from across New England have registered for the 37th Annual Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race, taking place on Sunday, April 28, 2019. Kicking off the paddling season, the event is the largest flat-bottom boat race in New England and draws over a thousand racers and spectators each year with the help of nearly 150 volunteers. Run of the Charles is the signature event of Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), the leading science and advocacy organization for the Charles River and its watershed. The work accomplished by CRWA over the past 50 years has significantly improved the health of the 80-mile long Charles River.

Schools

Watertown Youth Sports Groups Concerned About Being Charged to Use School Gyms

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The School Committee is examining its policy for charging groups to use school facilities, such as the gyms. Watertown youth sports groups oppose any fees, saying it could prevent some kids from participating in their programs.

A proposal to charge town youth groups to use the gyms at the Watertown Public Schools has parents and youth sports groups concerned. The subject came up last year because School officials had heard that Watertown youth groups were getting squeezed out of the gyms by for-profit renters. A policy was created to create a priority list for users of the school facilities, and fees were examined and increased on for-profit users. At a joint meeting of the School Committee’s Budget & Finance and Buildings & Grounds subcommittees, School officials found that the fees had not always been charged. “As the fees were implemented, it became clear that past practice had not followed the past fee policy and there were significant inconsistencies regarding who was charged and at what level,” said School Committee Vice Chair Kendra Foley.

Around Town

Watertown Runner Turns in All-American Performance, High Jumper Places

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Watertown senior Mange Camara placed fifth in the 400 in the New Balance Nationals Indoor Track championships in New York over the weekend. Here he runs the 55 meter dash at the MIAA Div. 5 Meet. Watertown sprinter Mange Camara wrapped up the indoor track season by showing he is among the best high school runners in the United States. The senior competed at the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet at the Armory in New York City.

Sports

Two Watertown Track Athletes Among New England’s Best

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Watertown senior Mange Camara won the 300 meters at the New England Indoor Championships. Two Watertown High School students showed they are among the top track and field athletes in region with top five finishes at the New England Indoor Championships, including a first place finish. On Saturday, WHS senior Mange Camara competed in two events — the 55 dash and the 300 meters at the meet held at Boston’s Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center, and senior Abbi Peterson took on the best high jumpers from around New England. Mange Camara of @WatertownSports remains undefeated in the boys 300 this season taking #NewEnglandChamps title in 34.47! https://t.co/yZFPRQ4XJg pic.twitter.com/AI528Fl3lD— MileSplitMass (@MileSplitMass) March 3, 2019

Camara took first place in the 300 meters, with a time of 34.47 — which was 0.4 seconds ahead of the second place finisher.

Sports

Watertown Boys Hockey, Dracut/Tyngsboro Fight to the Final Buzzer in the North Quarterfinal

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The Raiders celebrate after senior Brett Sutherland tied the score in the first period of the Div. 3 North quarterfinal on Saturday. Watertown fell 3-2 to Dracut/Tyngsboro. BILLERICA — The Raiders battled to the final buzzer, but the Watertown High School boys hockey team could not find the back of the net for a third time, Saturday, and fell 3-2 to Dracut/Tyngsboro in the MIAA Div. 3 North quarterfinal.

Sports

Season Ends for Watertown Girls Basketball, But Coach Still Pleased by Team’s Effort

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The loss to St. Mary’s on Friday ended the Raiders’ season, but the team has shown progress in 2018-19. Here Watertown’s Ellie Monahan drives to the hoop against South Boston earlier this season. The season may have ended for the Watertown High School girls basketball team on Friday night, but their coach was proud of how far the team has progressed. Last season, Raiders only won one game and missed the State Tournament for the first time in several years.