Levin takes reins at Beaver Country Day
The Beaver Country Day School is well known for its arts programs and its graduates in the entertainment field, from actresses Jane Alexander and Eliza Dushku to Matt Selman, writer and producer of "The Simpsons."
But the private school in Chestnut Hill has also produced gold medal-winning figure skater Tenley Albright, and, more recently, basketball star Wayne Turner, who won a pair of NCAA championships at the University of Kentucky.
Sherry Levin is determined to raise the bar with the school's athletic program.
This summer, the West Newton native left her position as assistant director of alumni relations and girls' basketball coach at Worcester Academy to become the new athletic director at Beaver Country Day. And since her arrival, Levin has been busy on the job, reconnecting with alumni and hiring new coaches in several sports.
Levin, who will also coach the girls' basketball team, has already made seven new coaching hires, including Donovan Walker as the varsity boys' basketball coach, and former Hartwick College standout Jen Ryan as the varsity field hockey coach. Matt Thompson has been promoted to varsity soccer coach.
Now, Levin will work to elevate the school's sports teams, which play in the Eastern Independent League, to the same level as other competitive schools.
"Within a couple years, I don't see a reason why we couldn't," said Levin, while offering a tour around campus and showing off the school's new 24,000-square-foot athletic facility. "We've certainly got the tools."
The squad, coached by Newton residents David Bikofsky and Billy Hunt, along with Sam Doner of Framingham, won the state championship in its age group, and posted a 28-7 overall record during the spring and summer season.
At the nationals, the Jaguars went 4-1 in the pool competition to earn a berth in the final four, defeating teams from Texas, Ontario, Harlem, and Virginia, before falling to the eventual US champion, the Philadelphia Comets, 44-41.
Local players on the Jaguars, many of whom having been playing together since age 10, include Lindsey Jones of Sudbury, Blake Dietrick of Wellesley, and Newton residents Sophie Bikofsky, Briana Hunt, Chloe Rothman, and Julia Sloan-Cullen.
On Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., the Eastern Massachusetts Interscholastic Swim Coaches Academy will dedicate the Massachusetts Swim Coaches Hall of Fame at the Milford High pool.
Established in 1981, the Massachusetts Swim Coaches Hall of Fame honors the finest coaches in the history of swimming and diving. A similar display is on exhibit in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., at the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
The display in Milford will include the Jack McDonald Memorial Award, state records, and photos depicting the people and events that helped shape interscholastic swimming in the Bay State. For more information, contact Dave Chaplin at dwchaplin@hotmail.com.
Waltham High graduate Russ Hammond will be among six inductees into the Westfield State Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 17. Hammond (class of 1973) was a two-sport standout for the Owls. He was a four-year member of the men's basketball team in an era when few freshmen played on the varsity team, and playing guard, forward and center, netted 859 points in 85 games. On the diamond, he led team in innings pitched in 1971, 1972, and 1973, allowing only 49 runs in 158 innings. A teacher in Waltham who has remained active in athletics, he resides in Weston
Under the direction of manager Tim Furdon, a Natick summer travel team recently captured Bay State Baseball's B Division crown with an 11-3 win over Sudbury, capping a 27-2 season. The Natick squad, composed of 10- and 11-year-olds, won three weekend tournaments leading up to the Tournament of Champions.
Brendan Hall can be reached at bhall59@hotmail.com.
Craig Larson contributed to this story. He can be reached at clarson@globe.com. 