06/01/2026
The Watertown Association for Youth Soccer is very proud to announce this year’s scholarship winners.
Our first winner has played soccer for most of her life, starting with our Little World Cup preschool program and then she went onto Watertown High School where she finished her career as one of their captains & varsity players. Her coach here at WHS, Mr. Caliguiri, tells me that she in the short time she played for him, that she was an exceptional student-athlete who consistently excelled in the classroom while demonstrating dedication and discipline on the field. As captain of the team, she showed outstanding leadership, always leading by example and supporting her teammates with positivity and determination. Her work ethic, character, and commitment make her truly deserving of this scholarship, and I have no doubt she will continue to achieve great things in the future. We are sure she will continue this at the University of Connecticut where she will be studying Biological Science on a pre med track.
Congratulations to Sofia Barbagallo.
Our second winner has also played soccer for most of his life, 8 years with WAYS, ending in our U14 travel team, along with playing in our Select program. He went on to Watertown High School, where he played varsity and was also senior captain. His coach, Mr. Perugini, noted, “Jacob is an incredible person and an outstanding teammate. He's a great representative of our program and consistently demonstrated what it means to be a dedicated and dependable player. Whether in training, games, or team activities, Jacob could always be counted on to give his best and support the team.
What sets Jacob apart is not just his play, but the way he carries himself. He is a positive influence on the field and off, and a great role model for the younger players. He shows respect, commitment, and a true love for our team and school which ultimately led to not only being named Captain but earning All NVL honors .
Jacob’s presence has made a lasting impact on our team, and he will certainly be missed. I am especially proud of him and excited to see what he accomplishes next. He will need off of those attributes as he goes on to the University of Tampa to study criminology & criminal justice.
It is our sincere pleasure to award this scholarship to Jacob Mendello.
