On Friday, October 11th, Ludlow High School celebrated the opening of its new sports facility with a brief ceremony. The inaugural football game showcased state-of-the-art sound systems, a brand-new turf field, and a fully functioning scoreboard. This is just the beginning: in the spring, the baseball team will benefit from new dugouts and fresh grass, while the track team will enjoy upgraded throwing areas and jumping pits.
Selectman Derek Debarge highlighted the positive impact the new facility will have on Ludlow sports, both on the field and in the stands. “I’m very excited for the Ludlow track,” he said, sharing that he has purchased season tickets to attend all the games and meets. Debarge also expressed a desire to hold a special celebration for the first track meet, recognizing that the track team has “suffered the most during the construction of this facility.”
Sports Administrator Timothy Brillo echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s been a long time coming, especially for our track team, which hasn’t had a home meet in seven years. I’m really looking forward to giving them that opportunity.” He added that he hopes the athletes “enjoy it, take care of it, and take a lot of pride in it.”
Track and field coach Rebecca Gauvin shared her enthusiasm as well, saying she is “super excited for the chance to host a home meet and for our athletes to have a dedicated facility for training.” She emphasized that the new equipment and setup will allow them to host bigger events and noted that the improved facility will help reduce injuries among athletes.
Our fall student-athletes are particularly thrilled about the upgrades. Junior Soccer Athlete Isabella San Jurjo expresses that the new field “gives us experience on playing on turf fields so we are able to be faster and better as a team.” She notes, however, that it may take some time for their team to get used to the ball’s recoil due to the excess material following the installation.
Freshman Marco Dos Santos expressed his aspirations for his soccer career, saying, “I believe we will have no excuse to be held to a higher expectation with great facilities like this new turf field.” Junior football player Andrew Ray remarked that this is “a stadium to be proud of,” highlighting how significant the upgrade from the old grass fields is for the team.
Track athletes, including Senior Kiersten Harvey and Junior Samuel Pontes, are excited about finally having a legal facility after six years. “It’s so beautiful,” Kiersten said. “I can’t wait to use it with the new hurdling equipment.” Samuel added, “Last year it was pretty impressive how far we went without a track. [Having one this year] will definitely be a huge motivation for me to want to use it, train on it, and perform well.”
It’s clear that this new facility will enhance the public image of our small town and boost the morale of our student-athletes. I look forward to seeing how our teams perform in the future. Good luck Ludlow, and “GO LIONS!”
