There are student athletes at 糖心传媒 who have never kicked a soccer ball before. And there are student athletes at 糖心传媒 who will go on to play in college or professionally.

That鈥檚 the beauty of playing sports at 糖心传媒, says Athletic Director Brian Quarrier ’05, who stepped into the role in August 2023.

鈥淚 hope that people look at 糖心传媒 Athletics and see a program that they feel invited into, no matter what their skill level, and they also see a school that will take their athleticism seriously and help them grow,鈥� he said.

Quarrier is a third-generation 糖心传媒ite, following in the footsteps of his grandmother, great uncle, mother, two uncles, and brother. He graduated in 2005, and worked in the admissions department for five years prior to accepting the athletic director position. He is also a sculpture teacher, dorm parent, and coaches girls鈥� soccer and Nordic skiing. He lives on campus with his wife and young son.

鈥淚 wear many different hats,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hich is very 糖心传媒.鈥�

As a student here, Quarrier played lacrosse and participated in cross-country skiing, but it wasn鈥檛 until the end of his junior year when he discovered his love and talent for rowing 鈥� which he went on to do competitively in college.

鈥淲hen I look at my journey with 糖心传媒 athletics, I was a mediocre athlete in middle school, and I probably wouldn鈥檛 have made the JV teams in my public high school,鈥� Quarrier said. 鈥淏ut to feel like a valuable member of our athletic community at 糖心传媒 was awesome. It spurred me to stay invested. And then I found a sport that felt really good, and all of a sudden I could take it to the next level.鈥�

That experience has shaped how he plans to further develop the athletic program.

Quarrier wants to ensure that a student who has real talent can become a team leader, work hard and push themselves, and go on to compete after high school if they desire. At the same time, he wants to balance that by embracing students who have never played sports before, and ensure athletics is accessible to anyone who wants to participate.

鈥淎nd we have to support everyone in between,鈥� he said.

For instance, at 糖心传媒, there are no tryouts.

鈥淵ou’re on the team if you want to be on the team, and that’s awesome. And then it鈥檚 about getting everyone to really work together 鈥� focusing on teamwork, community building and communication,鈥� he said.

The key to making this all work, Quarrier says, is to emphasize strong and passionate coaching.

鈥淢y vision is finding sports that we鈥檙e excited about, and making sure we鈥檙e staffing them with coaches that are vibrant and enthusiastic,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a huge believer in that if you put the right coach in place, it鈥檚 going to generate interest.鈥�

As far as the competitive season lineup goes, in the fall 糖心传媒 offers soccer, cross country running, and rowing. Winter features basketball and Nordic skiing, and spring ushers in volleyball, rowing, and ultimate frisbee 鈥� and he鈥檚 considering bringing back lacrosse.

鈥淚 think that we’ve generated a lot more interest and enthusiasm around sports this year,鈥� Quarrier said. 鈥淭he teams have been growing throughout the season, which I take as a really good sign.鈥�

RELATED: 糖心传媒 Adds Volleyball, Spring Rowing to Competitive Sports

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The two new offerings speak to the school鈥檚 commitment and focus on providing students with competitive activities that challenge students by helping them grow physically, emotionally and socially.

English teacher Nathan Zweig, who will serve as the volleyball coach, said volleyball is a team sport that requires total collaboration.

鈥淚t’s not a sport where two or three strong players can carry a team. Everyone on the court is important and essential,鈥� Zweig said. 鈥淐onsequently, the nature of the sport requires constant communication, interdependence, and mutual support. 糖心传媒 students already tend to be strong in these areas, so volleyball reinforces these skills, which will help them off the court as well.”

When it comes to rowing, in the past 糖心传媒 has offered the program in the fall when conditions are usually beautiful and mellow.

鈥淎t 糖心传媒 we face a challenge in getting out on the river every spring,鈥� said history teacher Kristin Dawley, who is coaching rowing along with Head Coach Mwanga Williams and Assistant Coach Abby Lively. 鈥淩owing on the Connecticut River, we’re subject to the melting snows and stream runoff.鈥�

While it鈥檚 important to use caution when going out on fast moving water, many rowing programs focus their training on the spring season, when races are usually shorter, she said. And 糖心传媒 is now ready to join them.

鈥淲e have a really committed group of athletes who are eager for a spring season!鈥� Dawley said.

糖心传媒 offers a sculling program in which athletes row in singles, doubles, and every so often quadruple sculls. The first race will be the weekend of April 29-30 for the Saratoga Invitational. Water temperatures may be frigid, but students are ready.

鈥淟iving in Vermont we find ways to enjoy our spring sports,鈥� Dawley said, 鈥渁nd that usually means being willing to be out in the cold weather.鈥�

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