Two weeks ago, students shuffled into the DHS dance room; some excitedly discussed the upcoming track season, while others complained that they would actually have to start running again.  Nevertheless, they were all greeted by the same realization: Coaches Jeff Reed and Nicole Sheahan would not be coaching winter track this year. Mr. Reed ended a consecutive five-year commitment, and Mrs. Sheahan has been coaching on-and-off for the past fifteen years.

Instead, DHS Portuguese teacher Hilaria Sousa will act as the girls head coach, and Brian Trepanier will be the boys head coach.  Mrs. Sousa and Mr. Trepanier are no strangers to the track scene, however, as they have each coached and/or helped out track athletes in previous years.

“I have been coaching track here at DHS since 1995,” said Mrs. Sousa.  From 1995 to 1996, she was an assistant with former computer teacher Joe McCarthy; she then became Boys Head Coach from the 1996-1997 to the 2006-2007 season.

DHS teacher Jacqueline Francisco will be the assistant coach for the girl's winter track team.  “I help coach and run with the distance runners,” said Mrs. Francisco.  “They are a great bunch of hard working runners. Along with that, I will be coaching the high jumpers.”

Mrs. Francisco isn’t a track novice, either.  “I’ve returned to running after a nine year break,” she said.  “I coached last at the old school building, so things are different.”

Mrs. Francisco says she has gotten herself motivated for the winter track season by running road races since May, and she plans to run a 5K race in Nova Scotia later this month.

For the past couple of years, DHS English teacher Nicole Sheahan has been contemplating taking a season off, either winter or spring.  “My main reason,” she said, “is that about a year ago, my husband and I bought a small vacation home in New Hampshire.  Part of the bargain on my end was that I had to give up one season or else we wouldn’t have time to visit it.”

DHS History teacher Jeff Reed, on the other hand, simply needed a break.  “I have the same issue that a lot of my students do,” he said. “We want to be involved in everything, but struggle to give 100% because there just aren't enough hours in the day. I decided that giving up one season [indoor track] would give me a ‘breather’ in the middle of the school year.” 

Mr. Reed explained that between coaching, taking graduate courses, trying to maintain his own running, trying to improve the way he teaches his classes, and attempting to have a social life, he was being stretched too thin.  “When you have nights [where] you can't stay awake past 8:30 p.m, you know you have a problem,” he said.  “I don't know how coaches who are married with kids do it.”

Turning their attention to the winter track team this year, both Mr. Reed and Mrs. Sheahan think the athletes will have a good season regardless of their absence.  “Every year the team is different because you have a new influx of athletes,” said Mrs. Sheahan, “[and] things will be different because you’re removing a particular personality, but I have great faith in the coaching staff.”

The captains, as well, are sad to lose two great coaches.  “They have been helping out the track team a lot, mentally and physically,” said boys senior track captain Sondre Brandso.  They really knew how to make you push it to the limit, because they were good role models and you wanted to make them proud.”

“They were the symbol of track,” said girls senior captain Sarah Martin.  “They were great coaches [and] they will definitely be missed.”

The captains have faith that Coach Sousa and Coach Trepanier will help the track team achieve success.  “Coach Sousa is amazing as well as ‘T-Pain’ [referring to Coach Trepanier],” said Martin, “and I know the new coaches such as Mr. Sutherland will do their part in helping the track season to run efficiently.”

“I’m excited to be the girls head coach.  It will be a new chapter in my track coaching career,” said Mrs. Sousa, “[and] I hope to continue the success [the track team] has had in the previous season in the OCL League and be a contender for the League Title.”