Weymouth leads NDCRHS with pride, passion

By John Molori
MethuenLife Writer

 

Methuen’s Jim Weymouth has seen academics, administration and athletics from all sides. He spent 36 years in public school education, 35 of those years in Methuen. During his time working for the city’s School Department, Weymouth was a special education teacher, assistant principal, associate principal of the upper school at the Timony Grammar School and athletic director/associate principal at Methuen High School.

In addition, he was a landmark coach for the MHS boys’ basketball team, one of the most successful programs in the area during his tenure highlighted by a Christmas Tourney title and a stirring State Tournament run to the TD Garden in 1997.

Weymouth retired from his Methuen work in 2016, then spent two years as the athletic director at Matignon High School in Cambridge. He returned to Methuen as athletic director at Presentation of Mary Academy (PMA) and has spent the last five years in the same role at Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School (NDCRHS) on the site of the former PMA. Like I said, the 66-year-old Weymouth has seen local sports from all angles.

“This is my fifth year as the athletic director,” says Weymouth. “I was working at PMA when it closed and NDCRHS was in the process of purchasing the school. I met with the principal and president of the school and decided to stay on.”

The sports programs at Notre Dame Cristo Rey retained the team name Panthers from PMA, and Weymouth is building the program sport by sport. He relates, “We currently have girls’ volleyball and co-ed cross-country in the fall, and boys’ and girls’ basketball in the winter.

“The boys’ program has grown, so we added a junior varsity team. We’re hoping to do the same with girls’ basketball and girls’ volleyball. In the spring, we offer baseball and softball.”

NDCRHS is an independent school in most sports, but participates in the Commonwealth Athletic Conference for softball and baseball. Of course, with Weymouth in the house, winning follows. At press time, the boys’ hoops team stood at an impressive 19-1 awaiting Tournament play.

As for numbers, they are steadily on the upswing.

“There are 275 students in the school,” Weymouth explains. “Our numbers in the fall have grown. Cross-country has about 20 students participating. We had over 30 girls try out for volleyball. Girls’ basketball has 14 players on the varsity. Boys’ basketball also has 14 on the varsity and 15 on the junior varsity. Last year in softball, we had 20 girls participate with 15 in baseball. Our underlying goal for the athletic program is to increase our programs when the numbers call for it.”

Established in Lawrence in 2004, NDCRHS is a private, Catholic, college preparatory high school ministering to 275 underserved youth. Sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur US East-West Province, the school is part of the Cristo Rey Network, a growing association of 40 schools across the United States whose education model is built around the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), a partnership with the business community developed by the Jesuits.

Says Weymouth, “Through the CWSP, each of our student works five full days per month during the academic year at one of 75 companies throughout the Merrimack Valley, I-93/495 corridors, and southern New Hampshire.”

The experience that Weymouth brings to NDCRHS is invaluable. The guy knows how to run an athletic program, foster unity and direction and motivate people. He states, “I think being around as long as I have has given me the opportunity to schedule schools that are close to us in terms of student population and skill level. Each day, a coach is missing at least one class from practices and possibly games, but that’s something we’re all on board with. The highlight of the academics is that since our opening, every senior has been accepted to a 4-year college or university.”

Weymouth talks about the coaches in the Panther family: “Our coaches range from staff within the building to a local judge who coaches our boys’ basketball team. Our cross-country coach works in the Recreation Department for the City of Lawrence.”
In addition to the current coaches, this former MHS basketball mentor could not resist getting back on the sidelines himself to banter with officials.

“I actually coached the girls’ basketball team for three years,” says Weymouth. “This was my first year not coaching. It was a lot of fun to get back into coaching. I stepped aside this year because the boys’ program expanded. In the past, we played the girls’ varsity games right before the boys’ varsity game, but adding the boys JV team, we had to schedule one varsity team at home and the other on the road. I had to be at all home games as the site manager.”

Beyond the job description, Weymouth has always been about personality, pride, passion and people. In his current role at Notre Dame Cristo Rey, this style has not changed: “Our parents are great. They are so supportive of our sports programs. We certainly have a home-court advantage when playing home basketball games. The student body, parents and friends pack the gym. Our kids are respectful, hard-working, and goal oriented. I truly love the job.”

Blitz Bits

Several area sports figures and teams participated in the recent Methuen Police Department Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics. Among them the Methuen High School boys’ lacrosse team … The Methuen girls’ track 4×200 team of Alysha Santana-Sosa, Lauren Quarm, Bella Fiore and Kiera Fitzpatrick are lighting it up at area meets. They recently won the Division 1 State Championship. This quartet has been the ultimate in individual accomplishment within the team aspect of the 4×200 event … Bella Medeiros of the MHS girls’ softball team will continue her academic and softball career at Thomas College. Medeiros has been an outstanding member of coach Jason Smith’s squad, carrying on the tradition that has made the Rangers one of the best programs in the state. Thomas College is getting an all-around great player as well as a leader … Congratulations to the MHS gymnastics team on winning the Merrimack Valley Conference Championship and to superstar MHS gymnast Divier Ramos for hitting his record-setting second 10 on the vault … Kudos also go out to the Methuen/Tewksbury Red Rangers for winning their first conference championship since 2019 … MHS hoops senior Isaiah Andino recently scored his 1000th career point, such a tremendous accomplishment for one of Coach Ryan Middlemiss’ team captains. Andino has shown great leadership throughout his career.

John Molori is an author, columnist, and a 2011 inductee into the Methuen Athletic Hall of Fame. Facebook: John Molori, Twitter @MoloriMedia. Email molorimedia@gmail.com