Sports

Watertown Boxer Expects Tough Competition in 3rd Pro Fight, Also Expecting First Child

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Emily Harney PhotographyWatertown’s Rico DePaolis won his second professional fight in May, and is preparing for his next bout on July 23. On Friday, July 23, Watertown’s Rico DePaolis returns to the ring for his third professional fight, and this time the atmosphere will be a bit different. “To fight in front of a crowd at any level is great, but this is my first time as a pro,” DePaolis said. After making his professional debut in March — a first round technical knock out loss — DePaolis scored his first win as a pro in May with a first round TKO. Both events were limited to just the boxers and their trainers.

College Sports

Watertown Soccer Player Will Continue His Athletic Career in College

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Watertown High School AthleticsWatertown’s Nick DiPace signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Emmanuel College. Recent Watertown High School graduate Nick DiPace had a small celebration before graduation where he signed a letter of intent to play soccer in college. Next year, DiPace will play on the Emmanuel College soccer team. “It’s amazing that I get to continue playing soccer in college,” he said. “Soccer has really opened up a lot of opportunities for me, for example getting to meet new people who also love the game of soccer.”

Baseball

Watertown Baseball Team’s Tournament Run Ends, Lacrosse & Track Also in Postseason

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The Watertown High School baseball team made the most of the return of the MIAA tournaments, winning twice before losing in the North Div. 3 quarterfinals. On Wednesday, the Raiders playoff run ended with an 11-0 loss to Bishop Fenwick. The 23rd seeded Watertown got there by beating 10th seed Charlestown 7-3 on June 18, and then shutting down Northeast Metro, the seventh seed, 2-0 on Monday. The Raiders finished the season with a record of 5-10.

Field Hockey

Former Watertown High Field Hockey Player Wins Awards for Performance on Field, in Classroom

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John Quackenbos / Boston College AthleticsBoston College junior Jonna Kennedy, a Watertown High grad, has earned multiple awards this season. Watertown’s Jonna Kennedy recently garnered end-of-season awards at the conference, regional and national levels for her play with the Boston College field hockey team. She also received recognition for her work in the classroom. The Watertown High School graduate was named to the the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American Third Team, the Boston College Athletic Department announced. For her success on the field, the NFHCA named Kennedy the Northeast Region Player of the Year, as well as making the NFHCA All-Northeast Region First Team, BC Athletics announced.

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.

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.

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.

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.