Norfolk & Wrentham July 2019

Page 14 Norfolk & Wrentham Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com July 2019
Sports
Brown Aiming to Keep KP Athletics Moving Forward
By Ken Hamwey
Staff Sports Writer
Gary Brown’s second year
on the job as King Philip’s athletic
director was successful on
a variety of fronts and now the
44-year-old administrator is preparing
to shift into high gear and
make his third campaign even
better.
The role of an athletic director
in today’s age is far more
extensive than in years past and
their to-do list is full of twists
and turns every day with an occasional
detour tossed into the
mix. Brown, who was Harvard
University’s associate director
of athletics for eight years before
arriving at KP, has kept his focus
on the right areas as he strives to
enhance the Warriors’ athletic
program.
His goals for the 2019-2020
school year speak volumes about
his philosophy.
“I want the Student Athlete
Advisory Committee to continue
to progress,’’ Brown emphasized.
“It’s open to all students and it
offers leadership opportunities
and community service projects.
It also helps me to know the pulse
rate of student-athlete involvement
in all aspects of leadership.’’
Brown also wants his department
to continue to meet students’
needs. “A good example is
boys volleyball,’’ he said. “That
new varsity program got underway
in the spring. And, Alpine
skiing is a two-year-old program
and still relatively new.’’
His third objective is to offer
KP’s student-athletes the best experience
possible and that translates
to obtaining outstanding
coaches at all levels, maintaining
a competitive schedule for all
teams and ensuring that equipment
meets high standards.
KP had its share of plusses in
the school year just completed
but one that should be greeted
with lots of smiles for the next
school year is the decrease in athletic
fees. They ranged from $230
to $575 but now they’ll range
from $200 to $500. “We want to
make competing as affordable as
possible,’’ Brown said, “and a lot
of the credit goes to the district
officials for an excellent job in
dealing with the budget.’’
Although KP didn’t capture
as many team trophies as it did
in Brown’s first year at the helm,
there still were championships
and there was a plethora of individual
honors.
During the fall season, the
field hockey team won the
Hockomock League crown and
the football squad won the Division
2 South Sectional title. Two
Hockomock League titles were
won in the spring — boys and
girls tennis — and the boys volleyball
squad (first varsity season)
finished with a 15-4 record and
won a tournament game.
Three wrestlers had success.
Sean Conniff was a sectional
champ and he finished No. 2 in
the states at 195 pounds. Luke
Fitch was a sectional champ at
182 pounds and Mohammad
Lotfi was second in the states at
145 pounds.
In track, Mike Griffin was the
Division 2 state champion in the
mile and Terrell Jacobs-Baston
was No. 2 in the states in the shot
put. In swimming, Tyler Stringfellow
won the South Sectional
100 breaststroke in a time of
59.65
KP, which will have a dozen
student-athletes competing at
Division 1 colleges and universities
during 2019-2020, honored
Caroline Robertson and
Justin Willson as its Hockomock
League Scholar Athletes. Robertson
competed in volleyball,
softball and track and Willson
played soccer and ran track. “It’s
great to recognize true studentathletes,’’
Brown said. “They
excelled not only in athletics, but
also in the classroom.’’
Sports Clinics at KP High
School this Summer
Join the King Philip High
School teams and coaching
staff for clinics this summer!
These clinics are specifically
designed for all players: new,
improving and accelerated.
Norfolk Recreation is
pleased to sponsor boys basketball,
girls basketball, girls
lacrosse, and girls field hockey
clinics for King Philip students
entering grades 4-9 this fall.
Boys basketball is scheduled
for July 15-18; girls basketball
is July 22-25; girls field hockey
is July 29-August 1; and girls
lacrosse is August 5-8. Each
clinic is held Monday-Thursday
from 9 a.m. to 2/2:30 p.m.
at King Philip High School.
Each clinic is $150 for the first
child and $75 for additional
siblings in the same clinic. Preregistration
is required as far in
advance as possible so t-shirts
and equipment can be ordered.
To register, go to www.norfolk.ma.us.
Follow the links to
“Recreation” and then “Online
Registration.” Call or
email Norfolk Recreation with
any questions at 508-520-1315
or recreation@norfolk.ma.us.
Another positive includes the
athletic participation rate, which
Brown said was slightly up and
“it continues a trend of rising
numbers.’’
Thirteen new coaches were
hired in Brown’s second year and
he’ll be adding more at the subvarsity
level for the new school
year. “The new coaches who
joined us are great representatives
of KP and they know the
proper balance between competing
and turning out good citizens
for the communities we serve
(Norfolk, Wrentham and Plainville),’’
Brown noted.
Brown has high praise for athletic
trainer Adam Bennett, a KP
alumnus, and Cheryl Rowe, a KP
teacher. “Adam plays a crucial
role in the department,’’ Brown
said. “He ensures the safety and
health of all our student-athletes.
Cheryl is amazing, helping out in
many ways. She registers athletes,
updates the website and collaborates
on schedules and rosters.’’
Five areas that dominate
much of an athletic director’s
time are budgeting, hiring, evaluating,
purchasing and scheduling.
And, as Brown says: “All are
important and have to be approached
with preparation and
organization.’’
Brown admits those areas are
“the moving parts’’ that make
the job challenging. “Take things
like uniforms, equipment and
busing,’’ he said. “They all have
to mesh at the right time. For
games, enough uniforms have
to be available and be the right
size; equipment has to be certified;
and busing must pick up
and drop off participants at the
right locations. Postponements
create reshuffling and dates for
events are changed mornings
and at night.’’
Unified sports began last fall
at KP and will continue in the
year ahead. The concept brings
together athletes, with and without
intellectual disabilities, to
practice and compete on the
same team. “It’s a great way to
build an inclusive high school
community and to develop
friendships among all students,’’
said Brown, who lives in Franklin
with his wife and three sons. Basketball
was played in the fall, the
winter included bocce and track
and field concluded in the spring.
KP hosted the track championships.
Brown emphasized that facility
upgrades have been a major
plus and he’s delighted how
valuable a role the turf field has
played. “So many teams play on
turf,’’ he said. “Teams that use
the field are football, soccer, lacrosse,
field hockey and track.’’
Another positive is the relationship
KP coaches have built
with youth programs. “We want
our coaches to be role models for
the youth program,’’ Brown said.
“We want them to engage with
youth coaches and we’re pleased
with how our coaches and students
have worked at that level.’’
Brown is acutely aware of the
importance of having winning
teams and he knows that victory
is achieved when student-athletes
strive to reach their potential and
enjoy an athletic experience.
“We want our kids to compete at
a high level and learn good life
lessons along the way,’’ he said.
“Being accountable, handling
adversity, being resilient and understanding
leadership are valuable
lessons that can be learned
in sports.’’
Brown has the highest regard
for the Hockomock League and
the 11 other athletic directors
who direct the circuit’s teams.
“It’s one of the most competitive
leagues in the state,’’ he noted,
“and the A.D.s work to make
the best decisions for studentathletes.
It’s a great group of administrators.’’
An athletic director is challenged
often, in so many areas.
But, there are upsides and Brown
is quick to point to the favorite
part of his job. “I really enjoy
being surrounded by students,
administrators, coaches and
teachers,’’ he said. “They’re a
great group that’s so supportive
of KP athletics.’’
There’s little doubt that Gary
Brown is a people person and
that’s what makes him an ideal
leader and a true ambassador for
the school.