Positive Results In Grimes’ 2nd Year As Ashland A.D.

There was no sophomore jinx for Mike Grimes, who last month finished his second year as Ashland High’s athletic director.
The 44-year-old Grimes not only enjoyed the success of 11 Clocker programs that competed in post-season tournaments, but he also was pleased that student participation in athletics increased, user fees will remain unchanged, and facilities have been effectively maintained.
“We had a lot of teams get to the playoffs,’’ said Grimes, who was an alternative education teacher at Natick and also a soccer coach before taking the reins as Ashland’s A.D. “A great deal of credit for our success goes to the coaches and the student-athletes. Our coaches are devoted to their programs, and the kids are dedicated and truly enjoy competition.’’
The football team, which had a 7-4 season, lost in the playoff semifinals to Hanover, but beat Hopkinton for the first time in seven years. Girls soccer (7-7-4) snapped an eight-year tourney drought while the girls volleyball squad finished 12-8 before bowing in the quarterfinals of the Sectionals to Canton.
Winter teams also experienced success. The wrestling squad finished second in the Tri Valley League and had a sectional champion in Nick Riordan at 220 pounds. The co-ed swim team had a 6-1 mark and also finished second in the league. The boys and girls hockey teams were tourney-bound — the boys went 10-8-2 and the girls co-op team (Medway-Ashland-Holliston-Millis) had an 11-7-5 record.
Also during the winter, the Medfield-Ashland-Dover-Sherborn co-op gymnastics contingent finished second in the New Englands and the ski team enjoyed success. Donnie Jones was a Boston Globe all-star who placed third in the giant slalom and sixth in the boys slalom at the state meet.
The spring produced two tourney teams —baseball went 13-7 and took second in the TVL before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs; and boys lacrosse defeated Oakmont Regional in the tourney before losing to powerhouse Dover-Sherborn, 13-8.
Athletic fees will remain unchanged for the 2017-18 school year. All sports are $290 except for football ($300), boys ice hockey ($450) and track/cross-country ($230). “I’m glad there were no increases,’’ Grimes said.
A total of 482 athletes (some of whom play more than one sport) competed out of an enrollment of 748. That’s a 64.5 percent participation rate. “We had 313 students playing in the fall, 191 in the winter and 269 in the spring,’’ Grimes noted. “The numbers were up for all three seasons.’’
Grimes said he was pleased with Ashland’s two turf fields and the manner in which they’ve been maintained. “We’ve done well in caring for the fields,’’ he said. “They’re groomed on a regular basis.’’
As Grimes prepares this summer for his third season, he’s got three objectives he wants to see fulfilled. The first is already in the works and involves an information seminar for students and parents.
“It’ll be held during an evening in November,’’ he said. “The DAET group (Decisions At Every Turn) will be presenting guest speakers to focus on substance abuse, mental health, and injury prevention. There’ll be other topics and messages, all designed and aimed at the well-being of student-athletes.’’
Grimes’ second goal is for more students to get involved in leadership programs offered by the Mass. Interscholastic Athletic Association. “I want to see more students and more coaches participate,’’ he emphasized. “The MIAA offers summits and initiatives all year long on leadership that are excellent benefits for student-athletes.’’
Third on Grimes’ list is starting a monthly athletic newsletter. “It would involve updates on teams and athletes and progress reports on our programs,’’ he said.
Being an A.D. now is much different than it was decades ago because of added duties, more regulations and health reports. But, Grimes doesn’t let the daily grind of budgeting, scheduling, hiring, and evaluating detract from what he enjoys. “I like seeing our athletes compete and I like getting to know them,’’ he emphasized. “I also like collaborating with other athletic directors and other departments in town, like public works for our fields and police for various details. And, working with people at the youth sports level is enjoyable.’’
The most challenging situation, Grimes offered, is dealing with postponements because of inclement weather. “I have a list of 12 groups of people who have to be contacted when a game is postponed,’’ Grimes said. “Other A.D.s have to be called and also coaches, officials, and bus personnel, to name a few. Updates to the schedules also have to be made.’’
One change for the new school year will create some adjusting for Grimes. The school day, he said, will begin later. Instead of 7:30 to 1:55, it now will be 8:20 to 2:45. “That means practice times will change, sub-varsity football will start later and buses will be on the road later,’’ he noted.
Grimes, who has a bachelors degree in athletic training from Keene State and a masters in special education from Fitchburg State, lauded the efforts of Lindsay Duane, an assistant in the athletic department. “Lindsay does a great job,’’ he said. “She’s creative and very resourceful.’’
Whether it’s hiring new coaches (six since he started two years ago), implementing a new sport (skiing), or dealing with a new TVL member (Dedham starting in the fall), Mike Grimes is a diligent A.D. who’s adapted and adjusted quickly to a very demanding administrative role.