Watertown Lacrosse

Alumni

Watertown Lacrosse didn't start on a field, and it didn't start in a gym. It started in a dining room with a small group of parents and an idea. In 2007 some of Watertown's native sons were playing the sport, but in neighboring towns only.
That fall, the group approached school committee member Kip Beach, and new WHS athletic director, Mike Lahiff, and asked them to start a lacrosse program at the school. After several productive meetings, it was clear that the best way to begin a program at the high school was to start a youth feeder program in town. So the group asked themselves: "why do our kids have to go elsewhere to play?" and the simple answer was: "from now on they don't." Thus, the birth of Watertown Lacrosse. The parents had nothing, and knew less, but that was no deterrence. They found out that the lacrosse community is unlike any they had ever encountered. First up was a free clinic in June 2008, coached by Nate Evans, Jack Piatelli, and Eddie Villafane. All three including Evans, a member of the Boston Cannons at the time, donated their time and a truckload of equipment to host close to 100 young student athletes on a steamy Saturday.

Next was a small camp in August 2008 hosted by Evans that was attended by 30 boy and girl student-athletes.
The nets were donated by the MBYLL. Over the next several months Brian Leneghan and Jim Muldoon, both Watertown High graduates, mentored the parents how to get things off the ground. Leneghan offered his expertise on the Massachusetts lacrosse scene, and instantly put Watertown Youth Lacrosse on everybody's watch list. While overseas, Muldoon originally read on-line about the success of the clinic and camp, and from Zurich e-mailed parents offering his assistance. A former coach from the mid-Atlantic area, his expertise was inspiring.
Sign ups took place in February of '09, when three boys teams and two girls teams were formed. It took about 2 years, but in the spring of '09 the 1st games were finally played. The goal from there was to form a team at WHS in the spring of 2011. But the success of the program, both in numbers and wins and losses, moved Lahiff's timetable up by one year. After and extensive and exhaustive search for a uniquely qualified coach, Chris Burns was hired. March 15, 2010 twenty three freshmen, sophomore, and junior student athletes took the field to form the 1st lacrosse squad in the history of WHS.


Thanks also go out to:
The volunteer coaches and Board Members
The Miller-Tracy Foundation
Tom Spangenberg and the MBYLL