outdoor02

Regular season recap: Expectations were subdued coming into the season. After all, the defending SWC champions had lost 14 seniors, including every SWC and state qualifier except for senior Joe Lima. In addition, top returning distance runner Paul Emerson transferred. However, the team managed a respectable 5-10 (4-7 SWC) record, after facing even more obstacles.

Lima was lost for the season early on, robbing the team of its biggest threat. In his place, however, stepped freshman Kevin Chapin and senior Dave Harvey. Chapin qualified for SWCs and states in the 100,200,400, and long jump, and Harvey, fighting off injury, was a force in the hurdles, 100, and jumps. Tim Jacques and Matt Fogarty both had strong, qualifying performances in the javelin. Andre Keuck continued to improve in the pole vault. Senior leadership was displayed in the distance running by Kevin Atterberry and in jumps by Eugene Chest.

The postseason had more good news for the team. At SWCs, Dave Harvey and Kevin Chapin combined for 4 medals, while at States, although Harvey was lost to injury, Chapin gained 3 medals and 14 points. Then, at Opens, he made All-State with a 3rd in the 400m.

For the future, Pat Noonan and Dan Babis lead a large group of distance runners, while Fogarty comes back next year, and Chapin still has 3 years left to break records.

Overall, in a much-improved league and without its star, and lacking the discipline that had marked the champions of the year before, SHS had a season that met or surpassed the expectations given them.