A Note of Gratitude from the Athletic Director:
 
As things quiet down on campus and families turn their attention to the holiday season and the New Year to come, I'd like to offer a note of gratitude to the Middlesex community, the Student-Athletes, the Faculty and Coaches, and the members of the Athletic Department.  The last nine months have been extraordinary times by any measure, and after the coupling of remote learning and the loss of the spring season in 2020, the fall looked fraught with challenges.  These challenges were met with energy and collegiality by the members of the Athletic Department.  In the face of the pandemic, we chose to commit to our inclusive multi-tiered athletic programming as a way to keep the students physically active and engaged with the sports that they love to play.  The concept of a team took on a different meaning in the absence of interscholastic play, but the values and skills that were modeled and developed meant every bit as much as they do in a championship season. 
 
The effort and sacrifice that it took for the adults to support the kids on the fields and the courts this fall was astounding.  The Faculty-Coaches brought enthusiasm and leadership to their teams while managing the novelties of preparing to teach in a hybrid mix of in-person and remote students, supporting the various needs of the School for increased support and supervision in the dorms, the dining hall and dining tents, and around campus, while also taking care of themselves and their families through uncertain times.  Needless to say, it wasn't easy, but the coaches were instrumental in our ability to run practices and intra-squad competitions in the closing weeks of the season.  As ever, our green spaces were the envy of the league, and the playing fields were pristine and game-ready thanks to the leadership and dedication of Mike Rivetts and his team: Bob MacArthur, Greg Swanson, Terry Casey, Mike Morits, and Rob Mershon.
 
Rachel Berube supported the kids in countless ways, and she noticeably helped the Athletic Center to claim the mantle of 'Best COVID Signage' on campus, as the Athletic Center was reconfigured to have one-way traffic patterns, up and down-only stairwells, and designated entrance and exit-only doors.  Laura Darby McNally designed staggered practice flight times for 15 different groups in an effort to de-densify the locker room spaces.  Terrence Cassidy continued to wash the practice gear every day in the equipment room and placed each student loop by hand back into their locker to avoid any student lines while waiting for their clean practice gear.   Athletic Trainers Darby and Tory Sowizral continued to treat and rehabilitate our athletes through an appointment system and in the auxiliary outdoor trainers' tent and trained the coaches in COVID-coaching safety.  The trainers also prepared the cleaning solutions and a daily system for each sport to be able to clean and disinfect their equipment during and after each practice session, with help of Patrick McGann.  Bill Holden checked the athletes' daily symptom screen, known as a COVID-Pass, at the main entrance to the gym and then pitched in with support for our Strength & Conditioning program and managing the density in the locker rooms.  Emma Rasmussen joined Coach Holden in these daily duties while also finding time to focus on celebrating our captains and senior athletes by posting pictures and graphics on our various social media pages.  Joe Lang rallied the Football team to work within the modifications dictated by the state and create a positive Football experience in a time of social distancing, just one year removed from winning a New England Bowl game.  Bret Manning brought his ever-present positivity to the outdoor Strength tent, training a reduced number of athletes inside the tent and larger groups through agility and strength workouts outside on the fields, while offering additional strength sessions by appointment through the dinner hour.  Annie Vigne continued to teach Yoga and bring joy to our seniors as she moved her venue outdoors to the Bancroft Courtyard.  Amy Gleason took on a leadership role in our restructured Recreational Fitness program for seniors, and the campus was transformed with a six-hole Disc Golf course, and the addition of outdoor Basketball hoops and a Street Hockey rink on the outdoor Tennis courts.  The whole department then hit the reset button in November to be able to provide two weeks of organizational winter practices before the School entered our extended period of remote learning through the end of the first semester.  This allowed the winter athletes to get two weeks on the courts, the studio, the mat, and the ice, before we all broke for Thanksgiving.  We also managed to launch a new sport program in Nordic Skiing, a sport familiar to Middlesex alums but not since the mid-1990s. 
 
These examples are just a small sample of the logistical reworkings that helped the School to offer a meaningful and inclusive athletic experience on fall afternoons at Middlesex in 2020.  It was an example of servant leadership principles at their best and the benefits of being part of a team this fall were immeasurable for our kids.  Tennis legend Billie Jean King once said, "In life, champions adjust", and this mindset was embodied in our athletes, our coaches, and the members of the Athletic Department.  I am a firm believer that adversity reveals our character and our core values while teaching us invaluable lessons that make us stronger and better prepared for life's subsequent challenges.  That is the beauty of playing sports and being a part of a team. 
 
We all look forward to the time when we can train and compete without worrying about the spread of virus, but this period has made our community stronger.  As the Athletic Director, I have so much to be thankful for this holiday season.  The work of the Athletic Department and the Coaches was driven by our student-centered mission and the experience affirms our commitment to athletic requirements, the Faculty-Coach model, and the social and emotional benefits of being part of a team.  I am so proud of all of these teams, this year especially. 
 
Happy Holidays!
 
With Gratitude,
 
Ken Risley
Athletic Director, Middlesex School