CUMBERLAND – The proof is in the pudding for Nathan Webber, who credits the improved surface of the new Tucker Field throwing circle, an upgrade he coordinated, for a new personal throwing record.
Webber, of Cumberland High School, said he didn’t think his Eagle Scout project would come out this well. He said fellow athletes on the track and field team are making longer throws and have been nothing but positive about how it came out.
“Everyone on the team likes it,” he said.
See Webber set a new record:
Also part of his recently completed project at Tucker Field off Mendon Road, Webber redid the mismatching hurdles used by the team, a project more about aesthetics than the throwing circle, he said, but still adding to the overall pride of the team.
A week after a ribbon-cutting ceremony in late April, Webber achieved a new personal throwing record of 172 feet, up from 167 feet, 11 inches (which he’s since broken). Seeing the throwing circle in use was very gratifying, said his mother, Debbie.
“For me it was a proud moment just to see other kids benefit from Nathan’s Eagle project,” she said.
Webber told The Local Insider he had to overcome a number of obstacles to get the job done, including a scheduling issue on the day of the work. He said he’s so thankful for teammates and scouts, as well as former scouts and adult leaders, for helping him with the work. He said he also wouldn’t have been able to do it without the material and work contributions of several companies.
Webber, son of Michael and Debbie, has an older brother Lucas who famous in Cumberland for his holiday light shows.
Ricky Goodreau, his throwing coach at CHS, was also an Eagle Scout, and his project as a youth was to improve the current flagpole at Tucker Field.
Webber will be a senior this fall, and is aiming to again be captain of the track and field team. He said he looks forward to more meets being held on the throwing circle he installed.
He said he was also happy to be able to use leftover concrete that would have otherwise gone to creating Jersey barriers for roadways to renovate the practice shot put circle.
A significant challenge for this project, said Webber, was scheduling for an athletic facility that’s regularly active. Concrete trucks couldn’t be crossing an active facility where games are happening, he said. His mom also described the challenge of getting all of the hurdles taken apart, sanded, and repainted with two coats of paint, saying how they had to take them all down one day from the facility’s halftime shed so a football game could happen.
“It felt like it took forever,” she said of the project, and she’s so proud of Nathan for persevering.
On his time in scouting, Webber said he learned so many leadership skills, and would not be the leader or person he is today without the experience. He said he’s also been able to go so many places he probably wouldn’t otherwise have traveled to, including beautiful destinations in Maine, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Connecticut.
A Life Scout with Troop 711 Albion, he will earn scouting’s highest honor after he passes his board of review. A court of honor would then be held to celebrate the achievement.
Webber created a sign christening the throwing cage as the Tom “TK” Kenwood Throwing Cage, in honor of the legendary track and field coach at CHS, and also another sign thanking those who contributed.
Legacy Excavation and ANDRE Concrete and Excavation donated their time, heavy equipment, and expertise to take away the old hammer and shot put concrete slabs and installed two new ones in one day, said the Webbers.
Tom Moniz, owner of Legacy Excavation, and Brock Whalen, who works for Tom, were there working as well.
Tommy Andre, owner of Andre Concrete and Excavation, had Kevin Nanni there working with him.
Other companies that helped with generous donations were Depaults Ace Hardware, Cumberland Collision, DiCenzo Brothers, Dean Warehouse, Blackstone Bicycles, and Aubuchon Brothers, said the Webbers.
In addition, this project would not have been possible without the generous donations and support from their community, they said.
