Tears flowed for Brooks School players when last season concluded with a 2-0 loss to South Kent in the New England Class B championship game.
But not just because of the result.
"They were saying, ‘I don’t care that we lost. It’s that we don’t get to practice together for nine months,’" longtime coach Dusty Richard said.
After a few lean years, Brooks put it all together last fall. The Bishops won the title in the Independent School League — losing just once — and finished with a record of 17-2 overall.
Now, with eight starters back from that team, plus another player who was pressed into a starting role during the playoffs, there’s a sense that this edition could be even more special.And players, many of whom tasted success with club or academy teams over the summer, couldn’t wait for it to begin.