Wakefield students, marching band celebrated after Fenway appearance and sweep of regional competitions
Summary
Wakefield High School students, marching band and athletics staff recapped a fall marked by a Fenway Park appearance, a Thanksgiving Day win over Melrose and a string of NESBA and New England marching-band honors while previewing winter athletics and upcoming community performances.
Wakefield High School students and staff recapped a fall season highlighted by a visit to Fenway Park and strong results across athletics and the performing arts.
Athletics director Michael Murphy told the school committee the district’s football team, band, cheer and dance traveled to Fenway Park for the annual Wakefield–Melrose Thanksgiving game, saying, “we beat Melrose in our annual Thanksgiving Day contest.” Murphy said the event drew a large crowd — “we'll just say it was around 5,000 people” — and praised the work of staff and volunteers who coordinated transportation, halftime performances and pregame activities.
Murphy reviewed fall-team results: golf finished the season undefeated in league play; boys soccer qualified for the state tournament; girls and boys swimmers recorded top-half state finishes; and the volleyball team won the Middlesex League title. Murphy also previewed winter athletics, reporting roughly 310 winter athletes and a new girls-hockey co-op with Wilmington High School.
Band director Tom Bankert described a standout marching-band year, noting the ensemble performed at Fenway and with the touring band AJR and achieved an undefeated competition season. Bankert and others highlighted multiple NESBA caption awards and the highest New England championship score in Wakefield history. Students said the season forged leadership and community: one student noted personal growth, saying, “I have grown an incredible amount.”
Student leaders standing with the committee — Simone Millett (junior drum major), Catherine Slisky (senior trumpet section leader), Connor Slisky (senior baritone section leader), Liv Wall (senior sousaphone section leader) and Jonathan Zhang (senior saxophone section leader) — described the rehearsal schedule, captain training and the balance between performing arts and athletics.
The committee and a representative of the Wakefield state delegation presented citations recognizing the students’ accomplishments and arranged time for group photos with staff and honorees. Officials encouraged continued community support and pledged to highlight performing-arts spaces in the new high school when taxpayers can tour the facility.
The district said more details on upcoming performances, awards ceremonies and the winter season will be shared with families and the community.
