and outdoor track programs as well.But the handsome freshman has some unfinished business as a West Lynn Pop Warner football player to take care of next week. In what has become an annual rite for the Rams’ quarterback, Watler will travel to Disneyland in California to pick up his third Pop Warner Scholastic All-American Award.
Watler was named to the National Pop Warner All-American Second Team after being a First Team All-American in his previous two seasons. He journeyed to Disney World in Florida last year for the All-American Awards Banquet.
William Mahoney, guidance counselor at Lynn Classical High School, commended Watler on his unprecedented accomplishments in Lynn Pop Warner football, adding that Watler has already begun to distinguish himself as a member of the school’s class of 2008.
“Alex is an honor roll student every quarter and an outstanding kid,” said Mahoney, whose son Ryan attends Dartmouth College. “Alex is a student-athlete who is focused and well spoken. I’m sure he’s going to be a big contributor in the athletic program and he has the right attitude. I congratulate him and his family on this outstanding achievement.”
Watler, who will be a candidate for the Classical quarterback position in the fall, received a special award at the West Lynn Pop Warner banquet from president Melvin Lark. Alex’s parents, Harold and Karen, were also recognized for their contributions to the organization.
“We’re extremely proud of Alex,” said Harold Watler, who was his son’s coach during his Pop Warner career. “I’m proud of the way he’s carried himself overall and the way he’s able to use his intelligence out on the field.”
Alex Watler played eight seasons in West Lynn Pop Warner, starting out as an offensive guard for the Mighty Mites before moving to quarterback in his second year. He helped lead West Lynn to three North Shore championships and the Eastern Massachusetts title last fall.
Watler thanked his father, Harold, and West Lynn coaches Rob Smith and Dre Robinson for making his Pop Warner experience such an enjoyable and productive one. “I had the best coaches anywhere,” said Watler. “They taught me how to play football but more importantly how to be a good teammate and that academics is the most important thing.”
Watler will join Pop Warner All-American football players, cheerleaders, and dancers at the awards banquet. He will have the opportunity to meet Notre Dame football legend Rudy Ruettiger, Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and Cowboys cheerleader and current sportscaster Bonnie-Jill Laflin. He met Heisman Trophy winners Tim Brown and Ricky Williams at the past two banquets.
And even though Watler is making his third trip to the All-American banquet, he said the event hasn’t lost any of its significance.
“It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime event that you get to do and I’m just glad that they selected me,” said Watler.