Government

Committee Debates Victory Field’s Dual Role as Athletic Complex and Park

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Plans to rehabilitate and renovate the track area at Victory Field began to take shape Tuesday night, but members of the Committee making recommendations about the project had trouble agreeing on some aspects of the project. The Ad Hoc Committee on Victory Field Phase II is made up of town officials, neighbors of the site and representatives of groups who use the site – the Watertown Public Schools and Watertown youth sports. The disagreements rose from the balance of the how much the use of the track and court areas should be athletics vs. being a public park and recreation area. What arose as an area of contention was something not for track and field, but a net to protect people from balls thrown or kicked by teams using the grass area inside the track.

Government

School Subcommittee Recommends Adding Another Artificial Turf Field

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The demand for artificial turf field space has grown for Watertown High School’s athletic squads, and a School Committee subcommittee has recommended that the town install a second artificial turf field with lights somewhere in town. 

With football/baseball area of Victory Field covered in artificial turf it has allowed the area to be used for more hours and in more inclement weather, said WHS Athletic Director Michael Lahiff. However, there is a lot of demand for that space. In the fall, for instance, it is used by the football, field hockey, and boys soccer teams. However, the football team has priority because they cannot practice or play on the nearby Victory Field Track Oval because players would tear up the grass, Lahiff said. They are not the only team that wants to use the turf. “Field hockey wants to be on the turf, it’s a different game now (on artificial turf), and boys soccer prefers it,” Lahiff said.

Mascot

Committee Narrows Down Possible Mascots/Logos for Watertown High School

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Knights, Colonists, American Indians, foxes, bobcats, and many more – these are some of the choices that the Watertown High School Mascot Screening Committee has to choose from for the school’s new logo. 

The group of students, alumni, parents and school staff met Tuesday night to review the 17 submissions for the new WHS mascot/logo, and shortened the list for the graphic designer working with the group to have some ideas. The submissions came from students and others in town, said School Committee Vice Chair Kendra Foley, who is chairing the Mascot Screening Committee. One even came from a fifth grader. The group was asked what characteristics they wanted the mascot to have. One of the students on the committee, Abbie Peterson, said she wanted to show that Watertown is “a strong community, we don’t let anything hold us back and we strive to be the best.”

Sports

WHS Sports: Softball Battles to the End, Runners Compete in All-State Meet

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After a successful regular, Watertown High School’s softball team made the MIAA State Tournament for the first time since 2013 and almost pulled off a win in their game against Arlington. 

The Raiders fell behind 5-0 in the game at Arlington on Thursday, but like they have this season Watertown battled back. Destiny Santalucia hit a triple to drive in Caroline Costa and Cali McMahon. Lauren Burns got a hit to center an scored Santalucia to bring the game within two runs. In the fourth, the Spy Ponders added to their lead, but with the  bases loaded with two outs in the fifth Stella Papadopoulos got on base and sent Christine Zhu home to score. Costa got a hit to score Jacquie Furbish making the score 6-5 Arlington.

Government

Groups Seek More Time on Watertown Fields, But Space and Time is Limited

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Youth sports groups want more time on the town’s playing fields, adult sports groups want to make sure they don’t lose their space, but the answer appears to be something more elusive that time in Watertown – space. Last week, the Town Council’s Human Services subcommittee heard from many groups who use the town’s fields and tried to find a way to accommodate all of them. After the Watertown Schools (both physical education and athletic teams) the next two users that receive the most hours are Watertown Youth Baseball and Softball, and Watertown Youth Soccer. Bill Furtado, president or Youth Baseball and Softball said while his group gets a lot of hours, the have specialized fields – diamonds – that cannot really be used for other sports. Soccer, meanwhile, seeks to use the same fields as many other users.

Sports

WHS Sports: Girls Lacrosse Faces Medway, Softball Makes Tourney, Girls Tennis Players Post Wins in Tourney

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The Watertown girls’ lacrosse team played a close first half but fell in their first round State Tournament game on Tuesday night. 

The game with Medway was tied at halftime, but in the second half Medway pulled away to win 10-4 in the MIAA Div. 2 East Section first round game at Victory Field. The Raiders end the season with a record of 11-6. Softball Team Makes State Tournament

After posting one of the best records in years, the Watertown High School softball team was seeded 1oth in the MIAA Div. 2 North tournament.

Sports

Watertown Track Athletes Mentor Students with Disabilities

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Watertown High School’s track team recently teamed up with students with disabilities to show them about their sport. The four week Watertown High School Adaptive Track Program finished a successful firsst season. WHS athletes mentored students with disabilities in running, jumping, stretching and throwing. The participants were ages 7 to 16 and they received certificates and medals upon completion of the program. The program was started by the WHS Track Booster Club.

Sports

Raiders Run and Throw With the Best at the Div. 4 Track Championships

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Watertown’s top track and field athletes came up big on Memorial Day Weekend as they took on the top high school track athletes around Eastern Massachusetts on Sunday. 

The Raiders sent several athletes to the MIAA Div. 4 EMass Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Norwell High School, and showed they are among the best for schools of their size. After his indoor season was hampered by injury, sophomore sprinter Mange Camara has had a successful outdoor campaign. He came into Sunday’s meet with the second best time in the 200 meters and proved he belonged there. In the preliminaries he ran a 22.91, putting him third fastest in the finals, where he ran a 23.00 and finished second.