Athletic Director Looks Ahead to New Season of BHS Fall Sports

A new school year is beginning, and along with it a new BHS fall Sports season. The Buzz chatted with Burlington High School's Athletic Director, Shaun Hart, to learn what developments to expect with Burlington athletics this season and what he's most looking forward to.

Tryouts have finished, practices have begun, and teams are starting league play this week and next. Coach Hart, who is entering his 11th year as Athletic Director, is looking ahead to watching teams like the boys' football team, who lost to Tewksbury in the state semifinals last year, and the girls' soccer team, which improved greatly over the season, pick up where they left off. "I love the start of the season because it's fresh," he said, and there's no record weighing teams down. He is also very excited for an athletic class of freshmen, many with middle school sports experience, to come in.

But some of the most exciting developments have been on the (literal) field, says Hart. The district will be breaking ground on an upgraded baseball field at Francis Wyman this fall and plans to have it ready for the spring. He's also excited and appreciative about Town Meeting's approval of a field renovation project at Marshall Simonds Middle School that he says will add two additional turf fields to the existing turf field and track, giving more athletes the opportunity to play in a state-of-the-art facility. And, finally, with the construction of the new Fox Hill Elementary School, provided the project is approved by town Meeting, more full-size grass soccer fields will be added.

While most won't be completed for a few years, these new and upgraded facilities, combined with plans already in place by the Recreation Department to better maintain the fields with the help of funds allocated by Town Meeting, will address long-held concerns by many residents and student athletes about the quality of Burlington's athletic fields. They'll also spread out use of the fields, allowing practices and games to be held earlier in the day so the town's tweens and teens aren't out practicing past what should be their bedtime.

Check the Sports section throughout the season for updates from BHS fall sports, including football & cheerleading, field hockey, golf, soccer, girls' volleyball, girls' swimming, unified basketball, and cross country, throughout the season. Best of luck to all Burlington's student athletes!