As a team, the Ludlow High School Cross Country student athletes  participate in several community service projects during the season. 

Their first project of the 2020 season was kept close to home when they gave a much needed facelift to the LHS sign located on the hill, by the track, at the LHS Athletic Complex.

“We feel it’s important that our student athletes give back to the community and take pride in being a Ludlow Lion by representing our school and program not only on the Cross Country course but even when they are not in uniform,” shared LHS Boys Cross Country Coach and LHS Physical Education Teacher, Beccca Gauvin.

Gauvin went on to explain that typically team members volunteer at the Ludlow Fire Department Open House and the Youth Cross Country programs through the Ludlow Boys and Girls Club, but that due to COVD-19 this year they had to make some changes.

LHS Girls Cross Country Coach and Baird Middle School Math Teacher Amy Walsh said the LHS sign that was originally created by the 2014 LHS Cross Country Team was long overdue for a cleanup.

“The sign was in need of weeding and moving the rocks to the surface,” said Walsh. “We felt it was important to bring it back to life and give the hill a freshened up look. The mulch was left over from another project and the rest was just time and labor.” 

“I am so proud of our Cross Country athletes for taking pride in our facility,” said Ludlow High School Athletic Director Tim Brillo. “It has been a few years since the hill was done and it most definitely needed a facelift.”

Aaron Stasiowski, LHS junior and Boys Cross Country runner, was proud to help with the project.

"We need to treat the track with respect so we keep the vibes there great. The sign needed to be redone so we took care of it,” commented Stasiowski. 

When asked to share her thoughts about the project LHS Junior and Girls Cross Country Team Captain Sofia Tulik shared,  “Having our team restore the LHS sign as our community service project this year shows we care about our facility and really hope the track is fixed soon.”

Tulik  joined the LHS Girls Cross Country Team as a freshman but has never competed on her home track due to it being deemed unsafe. 

“For me, it’s very upsetting to be recognized as one of LHS’s fastest girls cross country runners ever and not be able to compete on my own track.” said a disappointed Tulik. 

“My team tried very hard to get the community to vote to pay for a new track,” added Tulik. “I am still hopeful renovations will be funded in the near future so I can experience the pride of competing on my home track.”

Brillo told us that since 2018 he has been advocating for much needed renovations to the outdated Ludlow High School Athletic Complex that was constructed in 2001. 

According to Brillo the most notable repairs in need of imminent restoration include the resurfacing of the track which currently is unsafe to hold regulation track meets and the soccer/football field that experiences drainage issues in addition to being uneven, making athletes susceptible to injury.

In response to Tulik’s comment Brillo stated, “We want nothing more than for all of our athletes to be able to compete at home. We continue to pursue all avenues to secure money for the renovations.”

If anyone is interested in making a tax deductible donation to assist with the renovations they can contact Brillo directly at t_brillo@ludlowps.org.