After tearing his ACL, senior running back Tom Sullivan decided to take a gap year at Phillips Academy Andover.  

“I decided to go to Phillips to get my grades up so I can get into a better college,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan also thinks that Phillips Academy will give him an opportunity to play football at “the next level.”

When Sullivan was choosing between prep school and colleges, he applied to Stonehill College, Merrimack College, St. Anselm College, and Bryant University. 

After his gap year, Sullivan hopes to attend an Ivy League college. 

Before his injury, Sullivan lead the varsity football team with 24 touchdowns and 1200 yards his senior year.

He tore his ACL on the second to last game of the season, against Concord Carlisle. The injury was not only a huge loss for the football team, but it also had an impact on the basketball and baseball teams.

The injury sidelined Sullivan for the rest of his senior year. He was unable to play basketball and baseball.

Boys basketball varsity coach, Ed Carey, explained that the injury was tough because it was so close to the beginning of the season. Sullivan’s injury caused him to change the team’s game plan for the 2008-2009 season.

“We lost his leadership and experience,” Carey said about the three year varsity point guard.  “He’s so fast and always finished his lay ups.  It really hurt us defensively.”

Sullivan plans to be ready for his upcoming season with Phillips Academy and does not feel that his knee will be a problem.

“My knee’s about 85% better,” Sullivan said, after many months of physical therapy, training, and strengthening.
There is no doubt his knee will be 100% by the time his new career at Phillips Academy begins.