Lynnfield 3-15

MARCH 15, 2018 WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 9
Weidman: The time was right to step down
By Steve Krause
and Anne Marie Tobin
LYNNFIELD — When Neal
Weidman announced his resignation
as Lynnfield High football coach
last week, many wondered why this
wildly successful coach, who made
the Pioneers into one of the consistently
successful teams on the North
Shore, was stepping down.
Weidman says he just felt the
time was right but he also said he
wouldn’t be surprised if he second
guesses his decision in the future.
“I felt I was at a crossroads and
I have been trying to figure things
out for for a while, but honestly, I’m
still not 100 percent sure,” he said.
“There were several things that factored
into it, but I know that next fall
I will probably regret it and I know
it’s going to be painful. But it comes
down to, among other things that it
is a very time-consuming thing as
you have to be all in all the time.
Two hours after a good win when
you should be enjoying it, you are
already on
to figuring
Neal Weidman
out next
week’s game
with a huge
knot in your
stomach.
“I can say
that this is the
most difficult
thing I have ever done professionally
as my experience in Lynnfield
has been just awesome. It was a
ton of fun with the kids and coaches
who all worked very hard, but this
is just one of the times in a person’s
life that when you get to that point
and you have to walk away.”
Weidman made the announcement
in an email to the Lynnfield
football community March 6.
“I have taken great consideration
and care in making this decision,
and it was a difficult one because of
the value I place on being part of the
Lynnfield football community,” he
wrote in the email.
“Leading the Lynnfield Pioneers
for the past 10 seasons has been
among the most fulfilling things I
have done,” he said.
Lynnfield’s best season was in
2012, when the Pioneers won the
Baker Division of the Cape Ann
League (the first of six straight division
titles, including last fall as
well), and went to the Division 3A
Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium,
losing 21-7 to Bishop Feehan.
Weidman’s 10-year record at
Lynnfield was 78-34, for a .696
winning percentage -- the best in the
history of the town. He amassed 78
wins during that time, second only
to Bill Rodan (101).
Lynnfield also won seven CAL
Baker titles in Weidman’s 10 years.
Lynnfield came close to going to
another Super Bowl in 2014, going
11-1, defeating Winthrop, 35-14 in
the North final before bowing out to
Holliston in the state semifinal.
Pioneer teams under Weidman
were noted for their offenses. Last
year, the Pioneers scored 337 points,
fifth all-time in the school’s history.
Seven of the top 10 teams with the
most points were Weidman’s.
Last year was the 16th time
Lynnfield had eight or more wins in
a season, and six of those were in the
last 10 years under Weidman.
Weidman said, however, that the
game is more than wins and losses.
“Football extends far beyond the
game itself, and I will truly miss
coaching these great young men,”
he said. “I remain committed to
helping them in any way that I am
able.”
While Weidman said his most
cherished Lynnfield on field football
memory was the 2012 Super Bowl
game, he also had a few memories
he would rather forget.
“Playing at Gillette was incredible
and none of us will ever forget
what that was like, but of all the bad
experiences, the worst one was the
Austin Prep loss over at Reading in
2009,” he said. “That was painful
I think because a trip to the Super
Bowl was on the line and it was
only my second season, so that one
hurt, especially losing it in overtime.
We had the game, and then all of a
sudden, it was gone.
“But what I will remember most
about coaching in Lynnfield (is)
having a kid come up to me and
express their genuine appreciation,
that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
Weidman said he has not yet been
approached by anyone looking for
a coach, and that he is not looking
for any coaching opportunities right
now.
Youth hockey champs
Windows
COURTESY PHOTO
The Lynnfield-Saugus Youth Hockey Mite 4 team clinched the
2018 Mite A-White Valley Hockey League tournament title Sunday
in Haverhill with a 10-6 win over Winthrop Mite 2, coming from
an early 2-0 deficit. The team finishes the season at 9-2. The team
consists of, front, from left, Cole Alexander, Michael Barrett, Max
Gromko, Emmerson Keefe, Domenic Magliozzi, Jack Mueller, Trey
Riley; rear, Sean Alexander, Scott Gromko, Marc Magliozzi. Missing
from picture, Massimo Ferullo, Riley Gardner, Sophia Morgese.
Coaches are Sean Alexander, Scott Gromko and Marc Magliozzi
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