SAUGUS — The School Committee received good news about the school’s sports teams from its Athletic Subcommittee at its latest meeting.
“This afternoon the Athletic Subcommittee met for the first time for this school year, and I’m pretty proud and very happy to report on this committee,” School Committee and subcommittee member John Hatch said.
Hatch noted how three years ago, there were discussions of not having teams for certain levels at the high school.
“We even talked about looking at collaborative programs with other schools because the teams were getting so small,” he said.
Hatch said one of those teams was the football team, which would have been a tough loss for the school.
“We already for many reasons don’t have hockey, but I have to say in three short years what a turnaround. Our football team has upwards of 45 kids participating. We have three volleyball teams. Not one, three, that are actively participating,” he said.
Hatch continued that golf was another sport in jeopardy, and this year, 18 golfers.
“Girls soccer continues to be the successful program that it has been, and with many girls participating in their success,” he said. “The boys’ soccer team at one point was in jeopardy. This year, we had to turn kids away. There’s over 45 students participating.”
The school has added cross country for both boys and girls, which didn’t exist before, and the groups had their first test match last week.
“It’s a tremendously difficult sport. Our cheer program has exploded. We have competition cheerleaders as well as now traditional sideline cheerleaders participating in the sport. It’s pretty exciting,” he said.
Hatch also mentioned the band, which was four or five kids at one point, and now, upwards of 45 kids are involved.
“Our extracurricular programs have really turned around. Particularly the athletic program,” he said.
Hatch gave credit to the school’s new athletic director, Matt Serino, who “is present at every single event.” Hatch said Serino was spending more time recruiting with the youth sports, and his job has “turned into a seven-day-a-week, almost 24-hour-a-day job.”
“I think with the leadership of Dr. (Carla) Scuzzarella, the culture of that whole complex has just changed. Kudos to everybody. I’m super happy to report on this Athletic Subcommittee,” he said.
