Conant Middle High School brought on two new coaches for this fall season.

Heather Sawyer joined the boys’ soccer team as head coach in July, while Ashley Lingerman became the field hockey coach in the spring.

Sawyer, who previously served as assistant coach, said the team lost eight starters and 10 players overall. Additionally, she said three first-year students joined the team. She said the area has seen fewer younger children playing soccer, which leads to smaller high school teams.

Despite low numbers, with 22 players across both junior varsity and varsity, she said Conant will be maintaining the JV team. She said having a JV team is important for players to learn and grow in the sport, and if it is cut it will be “The death of soccer at Conant.”

Last year, the team made it to the state semifinals, but this year, Sawyer said it will definitely be a rebuilding season. She said she and the team will be taking it one game at a time.

“It’s going to be a fun year; we have a really good group of guys,” Sawyer said.

Lingerman, who is entering her second year coaching field hockey, said a lot of seniors graduated in 2024, so this fall will be a rebuilding season with all the first-years that joined.

“We have a very young team coming up; we are able to make it our own,” Lingerman said.

As new head coach, Lingerman said she is really looking forward to working with the girls and being a mentor for them in all aspects.

Heather Linstad, activities director for CMHS said, “We have a really talented group. All the coaches feel like they are going to have the success that they want to have.”

Pimental takes over at ConVal

Students, parents and fans of ConVal athletics will be seeing a new face this year, as Larry Pimental goes into his first year as athletic director.

Pimental, who started in July after having been principal of Peterborough Elementary School, said he hopes to continue to grow the athletics programs at the school and increase community engagement and spirit surrounding the teams. Pimental said he thinks the number of participants is up this year.

As for teams to look out for this year, Pimental said he is not sure yet, but they all plan to be competitive in their respective sports. He added all coaches are returning, so the teams are in good shape.

“I’m pretty modest, as a former coach,” Pimental said. “We just want to see how things go, practice hard, play hard.”

Coyne replaces Smith at Mascenic

Mascenic Regional High School brought on one new coach for this fall season. Evan Coyne became the head coach for the cross-country team, taking over for longtime coach Mike Smith.

John Cocozella, athletic director for MRS, said the golf team is looking to continue its momentum after winning the state championship last year.

“I think they’re, in my opinion, the team to beat.” Cocozella said.

Additionally, he said the boys’ soccer team and the field hockey team are looking to get further in the playoffs this year than they did last year. However, he noted volleyball could be in its rebuilding period, after losing a bunch of seniors. He also noted the girls cross- country team this year is rather small due to several seniors graduating, so students who are participating might have to be entered into competition as individuals.

Cocozella said the boys cross-country team is looking promising.

New face at WLC

Amber Brewster is the new athletic director at Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle High School after Cam Taber left the position.

Brewster, who previously served as an assistant coach at Merrimack College, took over in July and is hoping to engage the community more in the athletic program and increase communication between everyone involved in the athletics department. Additionally, she hopes to continue to grow the sports program in the years to come.

So far this year, she said all the fall teams have seen increased memberships.

“Getting the community more involved in our athletics more involved is such a big thing that is going to be on the rise here,” Brewster said.

Brewster said based on last years performances, she expects the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams and cross-country team to do well this year.

“We’re little but we’re mighty,” Brewster said.

Besides a new head of the athletics department, WLC brought on a new head coach for the girls’ soccer team, Bjorn Flora, who was hired in July.