Watertown field hockey and ice hockey standout Sara York will be inducted into the Watertown High School Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017.
Sara York, WHS class of 2002, was almost NOT Sara York, WHS class of 2002.
Truth be told, while in eighth grade at the Middle School York seriously contemplated leaving the Watertown school system as a ninth grader to attend Prep school and continue her illustrious ice hockey career.
The WHS Athletic Hall of Fame submitted the following profile:
She began skating at the age of 3 at the John A. Ryan Arena (JAR), and soon found herself competing at the highest level throughout the state. She was definitely a highly sought after talent. But the tradition and the success of the storied Red Raider field hockey program convinced her to stay in town, and over the next 4 years York proceeded to write her name in just about every record book of the sports played at Victory Field and the JAR.
In field hockey, Sara was a two-time USFHA All-American. Twice she was the State’s leading scorer, finishing her career with 93 goals and 58 assists. She was a three-time Middlesex League All-Star, and was named the League MVP as a Junior. She was also a two-time Boston Globe All-Scholastic, including her Senior year when she set a Massachusetts tournament scoring record with nine goals and four assists in just five games while leading the Girls of Autumn to their eighth State Championship. Even with all those goals, Hall of Fame Field Hockey Coach Eileen Donahue was just as impressed with her overall leadership skills, telling us “for Sara, it wasn’t about who scored how many goals. She took advantage of that because there were a lot of times where she picked up assists when she could have shot the ball.” York concluded her field hockey career in grand fashion in the State Title game, scoring all three goals, including the game winner in overtime in the thrilling win over Nipmuc Regional.
On the ice, York’s accomplishments are simply mind-boggling. She was a 4-time
Globe All-Scholastic. At the time of her graduation she owned the Massachusetts all-time scoring record with 203 career goals. Currently she is only one of two female hockey players in the State with over 200. She added 95 assists for a total of 298 points. Is it any wonder Coach Eileen Donahue told us “she used her ice hockey skills to her benefit, and she had a keen eye for the net?” To top it all off, as a senior she was awarded the WHS senior Athlete of the Year, and the Headmaster’s Award.
After graduation, York headed south to the University of Virginia to play field
hockey, then after one year transferred to Boston College as a sophomore to be closer to home, although it is possible her uncle Jerry York had something to do with it, he of course being the Eagles’ ice hockey coach. At BC, York made an immediate impact and continued her success of the field hockey team, starting all 22 games her first season, and leading the team in scoring with 24 goals and 48 points, currently third all-time in school history for single season points. By the time she was finished, BC had appeared in three straight NCAA Tournaments and won a Big East title.
Sara was a two-time Northeast Regional All-American, was twice named to the All-Conference team, and ranks eighth all-time in career goals, having played only three seasons at the Heights. As a senior she was not only an assistant captain, but also the Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A six-time All-Scholastic, Sara York was a true performer on and off the field, and is a welcome addition to the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Tickets are now available for the Watertown High School Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet to be held at the St. James Armenian Church Hall on Saturday, October 21st. For more info contact Mike Venezia at 617-359-2788, or mikevenezia@gmail.com