BHS Boys’ Track Team Dealt Admirably with Injuries
By KEN HAMWEY,
Bulletin Sports Writer
Coaches and student-athletes so often realize that physical setbacks can play a major role in the outcome of a sporting event or an entire season.
Coach Peter LaCasse and members of his boys’ track team were optimistic at the start of the dual-meet season that a winning record and possibly a Tri Valley League Small Division championship were realistic goals for the 2025 campaign.
But that outlook changed early on, when the squad battled opponents with some key players on the disabled list. The often-used adage that “injuries are part of the game’’ became a reality for the Blackhawks. Nevertheless, they finished their league season with a 2-3 record while Medfield became the conference’s Small Division champs.
“We had our eyes on a winning season and if things broke our way, we thought we had a chance to be in the mix for the league title,’’ LaCasse said. “But injuries hit us hard when four consistent scorers were sidelined.’’
The Blackhawks opened their season by posting a narrow victory over Millis without their four injured players. The four were absent again versus Medfield and BHS bowed. Losses built up against Dover-Sherborn and Medway with some of the sidelined players back in action. The dual-meet season, however, ended on a high note — a triumph over Norton with only one key player sidelined.
Senior captains Mason Jacques and Hunter Knox led the team admirably and competed intensely. Jacques competed in the 100 and 200-meter runs, the 4x100-meter relay and he threw the javelin. Knox threw the javelin and the discus. (An in-depth feature story on Jacques is included in this edition of The Bulletin).
“Mason and Hunter are quality leaders,’’ LaCasse said. “Mason is a great role model who sets a great example for his teammates. Hunter is our best javelin thrower. A quiet leader, he works hard and is highly skilled.’’
Seniors John Doucette and Jack Taylor and junior Eli Cowell also competed at a high level during the league season. Doucette runs the 100, 200, the 4x100 relay and competes in the triple jump. Taylor runs the 800, the mile and the 4x400 relay while Cowell runs the 100 and 400-meter hurdles, the 400-meter event and he also participates in the triple jump.
“John works extremely hard and is a solid competitor,’’ said LaCasse who’s coached the boys’ team for 13 years. “Jack, who’s very coachable, also is a hard worker who relies on speed and endurance, and Eli is not only coachable, but also a high-level competitor.’’
LaCasse, who led the boys’ outdoor team to a TVL title in 2014, is optimistic about the future. “The rest of the boys’ team is young, versatile and talented,’’ he said. “And, that should translate to a bright future.’’
And, as one football coach one said,“The future is now.’’ Indeed it is, because the boys still have an opportunity to finish strong since three post-season events remained on their schedule, all of which were on tap past The Bulletin’s deadline. The meets are the divisional relays, the TVL meet and the state meet.
“We could have a positive end to our season,’’ LaCasse noted.
That would be welcomed news for a team that endured injuries throughout its league season.
