ctinsider
Sara Brewer, who took over as Torrington's athletic director on July 1, has a background that includes three sports at MacDuffie School in Massachusetts, but her primary athletic passion was always horseback riding. She began lessons at age 6, acquired her first horse at 12, and competed in shows from New England to Virginia until college. The former Suffield resident won her circuit championship multiple times and was high-point champion in Massachusetts and reserve high-point champion in Connecticut.
Reflecting on her success, Brewer said, 'I was successful, but it wasn't about the ribbons, though I do love blue. It was about the camaraderie. It was about working with this 2,000-pound animal and trying to convince him that he wanted to do what I wanted him to do. It was a lot of fun.' She intends to apply the lessons from the horse ring, along with others from her sports career, to her new position, which was expanded to oversee all high school and middle school sports and improve fitness scores among district children.
Key Analysis
Brewer, 42, has demonstrated adaptability during her 15 years at the high school. After earning a degree in athletic training from Endicott College and a teaching certificate from Central Connecticut, she served as an athletic trainer before teaching allied health and sports medicine. Five years ago, colleague Maggie Magillicuddy suggested they take over the girls tennis team, which had only 10 players and no coach. Despite never having played tennis, Brewer agreed. The duo revitalized the program, growing it to 35 players last spring, all while the team had no home courts during construction of a new high school, middle school, and athletic fields. Practices were held at two municipal courts at Pleasant View Park. Brewer learned tennis through YouTube videos and books, and she and Magillicuddy attended USTA clinics to gather tips. 'Forty kids on two courts for an hour and a half, it was not always pretty,' Brewer recalled. 'But that's when Maggie and I started going to USTA [clinics]. We explained our situation to coaches from around New England. They gave us great ideas and were so supportive, and we made it work.' Last spring, the Raiders debuted six new on-campus tennis courts. Now, Brewer aims to generate excitement across the student body and city. 'I want to get the rest of our school involved more,' she said. 'I want to pack the gym for volleyball, pack the gym for basketball, pack the stands for soccer and football, and get them out for baseball and softball. We have this phenomenal new facility. Let's get more people here to see it.'
Originally reported by ctinsider.