Middlesex League
| Founded | 1903 |
|---|---|
| No. of teams | 12 |
The Middlesex League is a high school athletic conference in District 4 of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.
The conference consists only of schools from the Middlesex County, hence the name.
The league was founded in 1903 for baseball, by schools Andover High School, Reading Memorial High School, Saugus High School, Stoneham High School, and Woburn Memorial High School.[1][2]
History
[edit]Peabody Veterans Memorial High School joined in 1906,[3] with Andover and Reading leaving the following year. In 1912, Wakefield High School joined, replacing the recently departed Saugus.[4] In 1914, Reading returned to the league.[5]
Following the 1914 season, Woburn would sue the Middlesex league after a controversy following their final game against Stoneham at home. Woburn won the game, and therefore won the league, but the following day, the Stoneham players returned to the diamond and measured the distance from home plate to the mound, deeming it 6–8 feet greater than what the rules stated. However, both the batter and pitcher's plates were not in the ground at the time, and they used spike holes to determine where they would be located. Ignoring the bylaw that "any protest to be valid shall be made in writing and duly signed during the progress of the game," the league voted that the game be played again. Woburn obviously declined, and in October when the committee met in preparation of the 1915 season, they purposely left out Woburn.[6]
The 20's had a lot of movement from teams leaving and joining the league. Arlington High School joined in 1920, but would be gone the following year[7] In 1921, Belmont and Lexington joined, replacing Wakefiled and Peabody[8][9] The Middlesex League began sponsoring basketball in 1925. Winchester joined the same year, leaving the Suburban League. However it would only play basketball in the Middlesex, and would continue with other sports in the Mystic Valley league.[10] Wakefield rejoined as a basketball only member in 1928.[11]
In 1931, the league began sponsoring football, welcoming newcomers Concord High School and Maynard High School. They joined Belmont, Lexington, Reading, Stoneham, and Winchester (who completely left the Mystic Valley), with Reading being the only school not to play football. Concord and Maynard would not participate in Basketball.[12][13]
The 1940 season became the final season for football in the league as Concord withdrew.[14] Maynard left after 1943, deciding to only participate in the Midland League, and Concord found themselves returning to replace Maynard.[15]
Melrose High School became the newest member in almost 15 years when they joined at the beginning of 1945 as a basketball-only member.[16] However, a year later the league would open up baseball to both them and Wakefield, bringing the league to eight full members.[17] Football in the Middlesex league returned in 1956, with all eight teams participating.[18]
Woburn returned to the conference after over fifty years, leaving the Northeastern Conference at the end of 1968.[19] Watertown High School would join a year later in 1970.[20] In 1972 Concord-Carlisle left for the Dual County League, coincidentally, Maynard joined the DCL the same year, leaving the Midland League.[21] Replacing Concord would be Burlington High School, leaving the Merrimack Valley Conference.[22]
In 2009, the league split into a large and small divisions, following Watertown's choice to be independent for a couple seasons.[23] Finally in 2011, Wilmington High School left the Cape Ann League, and Arlington left the Dual County, joining the Middlesex League starting in the fall.[24]
Member Schools
[edit]| School | Location | Mascot | Colors | Joined League | Year Founded | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington High School | Arlington, Massachusetts | Spy Ponders | Maroon, Gray, & White | 2011 | 1922 | 1,757 |
| Belmont High School | Belmont, Massachusetts | Marauders | Maroon & Blue | 1921 | 1865 | 1,498 |
| Burlington High School | Burlington, Massachusetts | Red Devils | Red, White, & Blue | 1972 | 1939 | 1,000 |
| Lexington High School | Lexington, Massachusetts | Minutemen | Blue & Gold | 1921 | 1854 | 2,348 |
| Melrose High School | Melrose, Massachusetts | Red Hawk | Red & White | 1921 | 1868 | 1,004 |
| Reading Memorial High School | Reading, Massachusetts | Rockets | Red & Black | 1903-1907, 1914-present | 1954 | 1,066 |
| Stoneham High School | Stoneham, Massachusetts | Spartans | Blue & White | 1903 | 598 | |
| Wakefield Memorial High School | Wakefield, Massachusetts | Warriors | Red, White, & Silver | 1912-1921, 1928-present | 871 | |
| Watertown High School | Watertown, Massachusetts | Raiders | Red & Black | 1970 | 1925 | 728 |
| Wilmington High School | Wilmington, Massachusetts | Wildcats | Blue & White | 2011 | 633 | |
| Winchester High School | Winchester, Massachusetts | Red & Black | Red & Black | 1925 | 1850 | 1,418 |
| Woburn Memorial High School | Woburn, Massachusetts | Bulls | Black & Orange | 1903-1914, 1969-present | 1852 | 1,203 |
Former Members
[edit]| School | Location | Mascot | Colors | Years in League | Current League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andover High School | Andover, Massachusetts | Golden Warriors | Navy Blue & Gold | 1903-1907 | Merrimack Valley Conference |
| Concord-Carlisle High School | Concord, Massachusetts | Patriots | Maroon & White | 1931-1940, 1943-1972 | Dual County League |
| Maynard High School | Maynard, Massachusetts | Tiger | Orange & Black | 1931-1943 | Midland Wachusett League |
| Peabody Veterans Memorial High School | Peabody, Massachusetts | Tanners | Blue & White | 1906-1921 | Northeastern Conference |
| Saugus Middle-High School | Saugus, Massachusetts | Sachems | Red & White | 1903-1912 | Northeastern Conference |
State Championships
[edit]This is a list of state championships won by schools while a part of the Middlesex League
Football
[edit]Source:[25]
Note: From 1972 to 2012, football state championships were separated by region, so there would be multiple champions from each division. From 1972 to 1977 and from 1997 to 2008, it was split between Eastern Mass and Central/Western Mass and there would be two champions in each division. From 1978 to 1996 and from 2009 to 2012 Central and Western Mass split so there would be three champions in each division. In 2013 everything was combined and therefore only allowed one state champion per division.
- Melrose - 2017, 2019 D4
- Reading Memorial - 1994, 1996, 1998 D2A Eastern; 2000 D2C Eastern; 2009, 2012 D2 Eastern
- Stoneham - 2018 D6
- Wakefield Memorial - 1999 D2B Eastern; 2022 D3
- Winchester - 1986 D1 Eastern; 1990 D2 Eastern
- Woburn Memorial - 1975, 1979 D1 Eastern; 2005 D1A Eastern
Cross Country
[edit]Source:[26]
Boys
[edit]- Wakefield Memorial - 1972 D1; 2021, 2022 D2
Girls
[edit]- Lexington - 2001, 2016, 2025 D1
- Wakefield Memorial - 2023 D2
Field Hockey
[edit]Source:[27]
- Reading Memorial - 2023 D2
- Watertown - 1986, 1988-1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2990-2017 D1; 2021-2024 D3
Fall Volleyball
[edit]Source:[28]
- Melrose - 2012 D2
Soccer
[edit]Source:[29]
Boys
[edit]- Lexington - 2016 D1
- Stoneham - 2004 D3; 2005 D2
- Wakefield Memorial - 1989 D1; 1997 D2
- Winchester - 1986, 1987, 2019 D2
- Woburn Memorial - 2000 D2
Girls
[edit]- Belmont - 1984 D2
- Winchester - 1983, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1998 (Co-Champs with Springfield Cathedral High School), 2002 D1; 2018 D2
Fall Golf
[edit]Source:[30]
- Winchester - 2019 D2
- Woburn Memorial - 1999, 2000, 2002 D2
Fall Swim & Dive
[edit]Source:[31]
Girls
[edit]- Reading Memorial - 2010, 2016-2018 D2
Basketball
[edit]Source:[32]
Boys
[edit]- Belmont - 1948, 1958 Class B; 1993 D2
- Concord-Carlisle - 1964 Class B
- Lexington - 1943, 1971 Class B; 1972, 1978 D1
- Melrose - 1966, 1967 Class B
- Wakefield Memorial - 1965 Class B; 1997 D2
- Watertown - 2007, 2009, 2010 D3
- Winchester - 1952, 1954, 1955 Class B
Girls
[edit]- Reading Memorial - 2012 D2
- Wakefield Memorial - 1988, 1997 D2
Indoor Track & Field
[edit]Source:[26]
Boys
[edit]- Belmont - 1955, 1993 Class C; 1959-1961, 1963 Class B
- Concord-Carlisle - 1948, 1951-1954, 1956-1960 Class D
- Lexington - 1970, 1976 Class A; 2006, 2007, 2015, 2016 D1
- Melrose - 1966, 1968, 1969 Class B
- Reading Memorial - 1975, 1987-1981, 1993, 1996, 1997 Class B; 1981, 1982 Class C; 2003, 2013 D2; 2026 D3
- Stoneham - 1971, 1992, 1994 Class C
- Wakefield Memorial - 1967 Class B; 2024, 2026 D4
- Winchester - 1984 Class C
- Woburn Memorial - 1999 Class B; 2008 D2
Girls
[edit]- Burlington - 2022 D3
- Lexington - 1986, 1989-1991 Class A; 2026 D1
- Reading Memorial - 1983, 1995-1997, 2000, 2001 Class B; 2013 D2
- Stoneham - 2007 D3
- Woburn Memorial - 1987 Class A
Ice Hockey
[edit]Source:[33]
Boys
[edit]- Burlington - 2012, 2013 D1
- Melrose - 1950, 1962 All-State
- Reading Memorial - 2008 D1A; 2014 D1
- Watertown - 2015 D3
- Wilmington - 2012, 2013 D2
- Winchester - 1955 All-State; 1998, 2000 D1
Girls
[edit]- Reading Memorial - 2015 D1
- Winchester - 2010 D2
- Woburn Memorial - 2003 D2; 2004, 2006, 2017, 2018 D1
Wrestling
[edit]Source:[34]
Boys
[edit]- Melrose - 2017, 2022 D3
- Winchester - 1995 D2; 2007, 2008 D3
- Woburn Memorial - 2001 D2
Baseball
[edit]Source:[35]
- Reading Memorial - 1996 D2
- Stoneham - 1995 D2
Softball
[edit]Source:[36]
- Burlington - 2023 D2
- Lexington - 1976, 2008, 2009 D1
- Reading Memorial - 1986, 2001 D1
Outdoor Track & Field
[edit]Source:[26]
Boys
[edit]- Belmont - 1941, 1957, 1959, 1961 Class B; 1948-1950, 1953-1956 Class C; 1972 All-State
- Burlington - 2023 D4
- Concord-Carlisle - 1952, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960 Class D; 1954 Class B
- Lexington - 1937, 1960 Class B; 1994, 2007 All-State; 2023 D1
- Melrose - 1944 Class B; 1967, 1969 All-State
- Reading Memorial - 1975 All-State
- Wakefield Memorial - 2022 D3; 2025 D4
- Winchester - 1948 Class D
Girls
[edit]- Lexington - 1987 All-State; 2025, 2026 D1
- Reading Memorial - 1996 All-State
- Stoneham - 1999 D2
- Wilmington - 2022 D4
- Woburn Memorial - 2014 All-State
Lacrosse
[edit]Source:[37]
Boys
[edit]- Reading Memorial - 2018, 2023 D2
- Winchester - 1971, 1999 All-State; 2000 D1; 2019 D2
Girls
[edit]- Winchester - 2008 D2
Tennis
[edit]Source:[38]
Boys
[edit]- Lexington - 1985, 2014, 2023 D1
- Winchester - 1977 Class A; 1981 D1; 2003-2009, 2011 D2; 2016, 2018 EMass D2
Girls
[edit]- Lexington - 1975 All-State; 2000, 2022, 2023 D1
- Winchester - 1979 All-State; 1983, 1996-1999 D1; 2007-2011 D2
Rugby
[edit]Source:[39]
Boys
[edit]- Belmont - 2019, 2022, 2023 D1
Girls
[edit]- Belmont - 2017-2019, 2022-2026
External links
[edit]School Websites
References
[edit]- ↑ "Middlesex League Schedule". The Boston Globe. March 30, 1903. p. 4.
- ↑ "Middlesex Baseball League Completes Plans for Next Season". The Boston Globe. January 24, 1905. p. 8.
- ↑ "Saugus H.S. Drops First Game to Peabody H.S.". The Daily Item. April 16, 1906. p. 8.
- ↑ "In Two Leagues Again". The Boston Globe. March 23, 1912. p. 9.
- ↑ "Wakefield H. S. 9, Reading H. S. 7". The Boston Globe. May 10, 1914. p. 16.
- ↑ "Woburn High Players Sue for Baseball Trophy". The Boston Globe. February 24, 1915. p. 6.
- ↑ Woodlock, Albert J. (May 10, 1920). "Suburban League Baseball Race Is Becoming Much More Interesting". The Boston Globe. p. 6.
- ↑ "Belmont High Joins League". Boston Post. February 23, 1921. p. 13.
- ↑ "Will Start Practice". Boston Post. March 21, 1921. p. 6.
- ↑ "Two Quintets Quit Suburban". The Boston Globe. November 20, 1925. p. 15.
- ↑ "Schedule for Middlesex County League Fives". The Boston Globe. December 11, 1928. p. 27.
- ↑ Nason, Jerry (September 7, 1931). "Schoolboy Sidelights". The Boston Globe. p. 21.
- ↑ "Middlesex H.S. League Basket-ball Schedule". The Boston Globe. December 1, 1931. p. 20.
- ↑ Dalton, Ernest (November 14, 1940). "School Football Season Wanes, No Title Settled". the Boston Globe. p. 21.
- ↑ "School Baseball". The Boston Globe. May 4, 1943. p. 24.
- ↑ "League Standings". The Boston Globe. January 23, 1945. p. 22.
- ↑ "Middlesex League to Have Eight Clubs". The Boston Globe. February 28, 1946. p. 10.
- ↑ Rosa, Francis (September 20, 1956). "Concord Back Flanagan Draws Coach's Praise". The Boston Globe. p. 32.
- ↑ "busa, Bevins Propel Woburn To 2-0 Win, Class B Title". The Boston Globe. June 15, 1968. p. 19.
- ↑ "Price Paces Wakefield's 26-0 Win". The Boston Globe. October 27, 1968. p. 71.
- ↑ Pave, Marvin (December 21, 1971). "Rivers five gathers no moss". The Boston Globe. p. 33.
- ↑ Pave, Marvin (March 17, 1972). "Burlington HS joins Middlesex". The Boston Globe. p. 44.
- ↑ "Standings". The Boston Globe. September 28, 2009. pp. C13.
- ↑ "10 changes for EMass football". The Boston Globe. September 8, 2011. pp. C7.
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-football.pdf
- 1 2 3 https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-track-cross-country.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-11/fieldhockey-2024-state-finals-program.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-volleyball.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-soccer.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-10/2024-fall-golf-program.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-swimming.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-basketball.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-ice-hockey_0.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-wrestling.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-baseball.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-softball.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-lacrosse.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-tennis.pdf
- ↑ https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-rugby.pdf