Celebrating Homecoming & Hall of Fame 2021

Brooks School's annual Homecoming festivities and Athletics Hall of Fame Induction were truly momentous this year. They marked the first in-person alumni event since March 2020!

"To be on campus with fellow alumni and the students and faculty felt so special. It was long overdue," said organizer and then Director of Alumni Programs Carly Churchill '10. "The alumni got to see the work being done on campus, catch a football game and cross-country race, get some new Brooks gear and see old friends."

Indeed, the afternoon celebration — held on campus September 25 starting at 2 p.m. — was full of activities for alumni and guests, including a hospitality tent with refreshments, the athletic events and a virtual 5K for those unable to come by Great Pond Road, before the 5:30 p.m. Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony and dinner. Even a rainbow appeared during the late afternoon, despite the fact that there wasn't any rain.

"Everyone expressed how nice it was to be back at Brooks and see friends," Churchill added.

See an album of photos from Homecoming 2021 and Athletics Hall of Fame Induction

The Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony offered the 50 odd friends and family of the honorees a chance to reminisce and recognize this year's four inductees: Lawrence J. Harrington III '80, Patrick J. Harrington '82, Alison Vaill Mastin '89 and KenRick P. Skerritt Jr. '87 for their exceptional contributions to the quality and tradition of Brooks School athletics.

The group gathered in a tent erected especially for the occasion on the campus tennis courts and Director of Athletics Roberta Crump-Burbank offered remarks about each inductee.

"She knew each of the honorees personally, which added a really special touch to the speaking portion of the night," said Churchill, who noted that her favorite part of the day was hearing about the athletic accomplishments of the hall-of-famers.

"It's always amazing to hear them recount their successes and the lessons they learned," she added. "As a former Brooks athlete myself, I appreciate the paths that were paved for me by those who came before me."

Read on for highlights about each of the new members of Brooks' Athletics Hall of Fame:

Lawrence J. Harrington, III '80

LJ Harrington played soccer and basketball during his time at Brooks. In the words of Brooks coach and faculty emeritus, Ray Broadhead '70, P'94, P'99, "LJ was born to be a point guard...he played with tremendous intensity and showed court sense beyond his years." LJ was a selfless player who captained the 1980 1st basketball team as they made their way to the New England Class C championship, losing to rival The Governor's Academy. Former teammate Peter Guyer '80 shares: "He was always a team player, dependable, and fiercely competitive while always maintaining his trademark humor."

Patrick Harrington '82

Patrick Harrington played soccer and basketball while at Brooks. Known for his personality and sense of humor, Patrick was the type of athlete who stopped at nothing. On the basketball team, Broadhead shares: "Patrick played in the era before the three-point line, and his scoring statistics would have been much higher today." The 1982 team led by Patrick and fellow Hall of Fame inductee (2002), Harold Starks '82, won 18 straight games before losing in the New England Class C championship in overtime. Basketball continued to be a passion for Patrick and he went on to build a successful and memorable career as a coach before his tragic death in 2014.

Alison Vaill Mastin '89

Alison Vaill Mastin played field hockey, ice hockey and rowed crew at Brooks. She earned 10 varsity letters on her way to receiving the 1989 Athletic Prize at Prize Day. A captain during four seasons, she consistently led her teams with spirit and by example. Classmate Leah McLaughlin '89 shared, "Alison was an absolute inspiration to all of us for her generosity of spirit and her commitment to excellence - on the field and in the classroom."

KenRick Skerritt, Jr. '87

KenRick Skerritt played football, basketball and lacrosse during his Brooks tenure, earning 7 varsity letters. In each sport, but especially in football, he played with exceptional speed, valuable versatility and a team-first mentality. Teammate Bob Wagman '87 shares, "While Kenny certainly had loads of natural talent, he worked as hard as anyone to make himself better every day. He pushed himself at morning run, watched film and did all the little things necessary to become a great football player."

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