Arlington Joins Middlesex League

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's Board of Directors unanimously approved Arlington High School's move from the Dual County League to the Middlesex League.

"It has been in the making for a while," said High School athletic director Ted Dever. Last month, the move was defeated at the district level by a 4-4 vote so it had to go to the MIAA.

"Arlington has been trying to get into the Middlesex league for 30 years, these are the teams our students are more familiar with. It gives us an opportunity to create sportsmanship and reduce mileage," Dever said.

In fact, the move to join the league that surrounding towns – Winchester, Watertown, Lexington and more – are part should help alleviate some of the financial problems the school is encountering with the $4 million budget deficit, Devers said.

"It will cut transportation costs significantly," he explained. The 13-0 vote means that Arlington will be part of Middlesex starting in the fall of 2011. Wilmington, which had already been cleared to leave the Cape Ann League, will also join the Middlesex.

 "This is very, very positive," Dever said.