The 2025 spring sports season will proceed without the Thompson Gymnasium, which is set to be demolished on March 10.

Athletic Department personnel will be moved to May Hall, and Assistant Athletic Director Justin Sellar says that he and Athletic Director Tom Nelson are still discussing protocols while construction is underway.

“We are aware that many students already change in the bathrooms, so we hope that this will continue to be a viable option for the foreseeable future,” Sellar said. “If we can provide an additional space, we know that that’s important and we’re working on it.”

The Athletic Department is also working on a rainy day schedule, but no plans have been finalized.

“This could be a combination of sending athletes to batting cages or some off-campus gym space,” Athletic Director Tom Nelson said. “We are working with preexisting relationship with other facilities.”

Athletic Trainer Larry Stahley will continue to be available to treat students. However, Nelson said, he is still finalizing an exact location for his services.

Despite this change, teams are gearing up for an exciting season.

“It’s been an ongoing process that we’re continuing to this point,” Assistant Athletic Director Justin Sellar said. “It’s taken some time out of our normal schedule just to make sure we’re storing things that we need—and having to make decisions about things we don’t.” 

Athletic Trainer Larry Stahley is also bracing for new challenges.

“We’re all going to have to compromise and work together,” Stahley said. ”We’re going to do our best to keep it as smooth and the same as it is now,” Stahley said. 

Varsity Baseball Captain Jonny Walsh ’25 is keeping a realistic but positive mindset about the upcoming season, after losing to Boston Trinity Academy in the MBIL championship.  

“We got to understand that everyone in our league can beat us,” Walsh said. “Just because we were in the championship last year doesn’t mean that we’re going to make it necessarily again this year. We have to come into each game knowing that we have a target on our back and that we got to beat everyone.”  

“We’ve already started having small captain’s practices on the weekends at the indoor facility. We got a couple new players which is really great for the team and maybe some middle schoolers coming up,” Walsh said.

Softball Captain Kaylee Rivera ’25 feels that that her team is returning with even greater focus.

“We have the same team as last year, and I think that we are starting from where we left off,” Rivera said. “We are doing Saturday practices up until the season starts. Also, me and some of the seniors have been working out together, sometimes with a professional instructor, to help with our hitting.”  

Sellar will certainly be kept busy, as he brings his experience to help oversee the baseball and softball programs.

“I am excited to just be involved and help a few different age groups at the School,” Sellar said, who has six years of experience as Associate Director of Athletics and Varsity Baseball Coach at St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island.

To keep healthy this spring, Stahley offered some practical advice.  

“Get some reps, whether it’s hitting in a batting cage, whether it’s throwing a lacrosse ball, just play wall ball, just getting warmed up. That’s to support specific skills for injuries,” Stahley said.