Some final work is still being done on Conard’s track, but it should not impact contests on the turf.

Replacement of the Conard High School track is nearly complete. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Public Schools will begin the academic year on Aug. 26, but due to the early opening in town and changes to the CIAC schedules, most sports will not begin until after school begins.

The first official day of practice for all sports other than football is Aug. 27. Conditioning practice for football has already begun.

The extra time before sports get fully underway is welcome at Conard, where resurfacing of the track has been ongoing throughout the summer.

Athletic Director Betty Remigino-Knapp said that the work on the track is in its final phase. “We’re hoping that all will be done by the end of the month – depending on the weather,” she said. “I’m fairly confident that we will be able to play games in the stadium in September.”

“The track is done in layers. It’s taken down to the rock, leveled, and then asphalt is added in layers that each have to cure,” Assistant Superintendent Andy Morrow said. The administration has been working closely with the contractor to ensure that the work is completed properly and in a timely manner so it won’t impact fall sports.

The track needed resurfacing due to normal wear and tear, Remigino-Knapp said. Once it is completely striped, which may not be until spring, it will be “gorgeous,” she said.

Although Conard teams will not be able to use the track as part of team tryouts and preseason conditioning, the turf field is still available.

The other upgrade that many had hoped to see completed over the summer at Conard did not materialize. “The bleachers were originally planned for this summer, but there was difficulty with the engineering,” Morrow said. By the time the engineering reports were completed, there wasn’t enough time to get the bleachers and other associated work –  including a new press box and updated electrical systems – done in time.

“We made the decision to postpone the entire process so it wouldn’t impact the fall sports season,” Morrow said. He is not sure whether the bleachers will be installed prior to the spring 2016 season or if it will wait until next summer. Morrow confirmed that the funds have already been approved for the project.

One major change affecting the fall season at Hall as well as Conard is that teams will be facing some new opponents.

There has been a realignment of the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC), and the conference is now divided into three regions: North, Central, and South. Conard and Hall are both in the Central region, which also includes Avon, Bulkley, Farmington, Glastonbury, Northwest Catholic, Simsbury, Southington, Weaver, and Windsor.

“It will be exciting,” Remigino-Knapp said of the realignment. The new region will provide more competitive schedules for many sports. “I’m looking forward to it, and many of the coaches are, too,” she said.

Click here to access the CIAC’s fall sports schedules.

Remigino-Knapp said that there have not been many coaching changes in West Hartford for this fall.

At Hall, Catherine Hanks will take over as head field hockey coach, replacing Sarah Chaves. Hanks has been assistant field hockey coach at Westfield State University for the past five years. She is a former field hockey player at Westfield State, where she was a MASCAC second team all-conference selection in 2006 and 2007.

Hanks received her degree in elementary education and liberal studies with a focus in English and is currently a sixth grade teacher in Avon and head lacrosse coach at Avon High School.

The only other new coach in town is Monika Dronzank, the former assistant cheerleading coach at Conard who will assume the head coaching position this year. Dronzank, who graduated from Conard in 2008 and was a varstiy cheerleader, is a teaching assistant at Sedgwick Middle School. She is taking over for Susan Averna who left after coaching after four years due to her new practice and to spend more time with her young family, Remigino-Knapp said.

The other major change impacting sports is that the CIAC has revised its calendar so that all three seasons are of equal length. The change will primarily affect the winter season, with practices beginning after rather than before Thanksgiving.

We-Ha.com will provide team previews once they are available from coaches.

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