On Sunday March 10 the Wayland/Weston girls hockey team celebrated their championship season at an awards dinner at JJ McKay’s in Wayland.  The event recognized the
accomplishments of the team, its players and Coach Bill MacDonald.

Coach Bill MacDonald started the celebration and reviewed
the season highlights with the team.  After a slow start in which the Warcats were 2-6-2 in the middle of January, the team had to meet some major milestones if they were going to qualify for the post-season tournament.   Taking Coach MacDonald’s advice to heart, they played the remaining games “one at a time” and finished the season with a strong 6-1-2 to qualify for the post season tournament and tie Lincoln Sudbury for the Merrimack Valley Conference/Dual County League (DCL) Small division title.  This is the first division title
in the team’s history.

In addition, the team had seven DCL All Stars which included three all conference players.  Coach MacDonald
was selected to coach the DCL Small division at the annual all-star game.

Senior captain Cara Lembo was the recipient of the Hobey
Baker High School Character Award.   Started in 2003 and supported by high school coaches, this award is presented to the player on each High School team that most exemplifies the values and traits of Hobey Baker himself - Character, Commitment, Teamwork, Persistence, Selflessness, Academic Excellence and Sportsmanship. “The Team before me.”   Cara has been a leader, a mentor and influential in keeping the Wayland/Weston hockey program strong.

After the season highlights, seniors Jane Haffey, Sara
Coburn, Cara Lembo and Clara Kim unrolled the Wayland/Weston championship banner
and presented it to the team.

After ten years, Bill MacDonald will retire as head coach of
the Wayland/Weston girl’s hockey team.  Bill has been an advocate as coach and promoter of woman’s hockey since he started as an assistant coach for the Harvard Woman’s hockey team in the late 1970’s.   His dedication and passion for hockey led him to start the girl’s hockey program for the Natick Comets and was instrumental in starting the Wayland/Weston girl’s hockey program.  Bill’s Wayland/Weston coaching duties extended to weekends where he would coach girls K-8 and teach skating and
hockey skills.  His passion, vision and leadership will be missed.

Kevin Cleary, who joined the staff this year, will assume head coaching responsibilities next season.