Harwood sports spring preview
Highlanders gear up, shed COVID restrictions
April 2, 2022 | By Jared Pap | Community News Service 
Harwood junior Jonah Halter gets in some pitches at an early-season indoor practice recently. Photos by Sarah Milligan
As high school athletics around Vermont gear up for their most normal season since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harwood Union teams take the field hungry for playoff success.
Baseball pitchers began practices on March 14, while other teams began tryouts and practices last week. Teams have been mostly confined indoors until the mud season field conditions improve.
Harwood Athletic Director Chris Langevin noted that restrictions regarding COVID-19 have been lifted, so there are no limitations on attendance at games this spring. Athletes are not required to wear masks for practices or games either.
This is the first sports season since March 2020 where protocols have returned to normal, he said.
Games get under way this week with boys and girls lacrosse both traveling – boys to Burlington on Monday and the girls to Mt. Mansfield on Friday. Track and field also has a meet in Burlington on Tuesday.
Weather forecasts for next week show conditions more like fall than spring with temperatures just breaking into the 50s. Should game plans change due to weather or other circumstances, schedules are online and updated regularly on the Harwood Intand calendar.
Here’s a quick recap of how the Highlanders ended up in 2021.
Boys’ Lacrosse
Boys lacrosse celebrates their championship win over Rice Memorial in June 2021. Photo by Brian Larrabee
The Highlanders look to defend their Division II state title from last season. They knocked off first seed Rice Memorial 11-7 in last year’s final. Coach Russ Beilke told the Times Argus he’s excited about record turnout at tryouts, which should lead to a deeper Harwood program than ever. “A number of years ago when I first started, there were no cuts because we needed everyone. And now we have two teams,” Beilke said.
Their road to a repeat and a fifth straight championship appearance begins on Monday, April 4, at Burlington High School.
Girls’ Lacrosse
Despite losing a heartbreaker to the Woodstock Wasps 11-10 to end their season in 2021, Coach Hillary Wheeler is looking to start the season strong on the road against Mount Mansfield on Friday, April 8.
Baseball
Coach Dominic Moreno is hoping to build off last year and lead Harwood to another playoff run on the diamond. The Highlanders fell to Enosburg Falls 8-6 in last year’s D-II quarterfinal. Along with softball, they will travel to Milton to take on the Yellow Jackets on Monday, April 11.
Softball
Like their counterparts on the baseball diamond, Harwood softball also lost to eventual runner-up Enosburg in the playoffs last year. They open their season away at Milton on April 11.
Boys’ Tennis
Coming off a shortened 2021 season, Harwood kicks off the season on the road against Stowe April 12.
Girls’ Tennis
The Highlanders got past Rice in the first round of the D-II playoffs last year before being knocked out by No. 1-seed Middlebury. They will travel to Stowe April 12 for their first match of the season.
Track and Field
Harwood is among at least 10 teams signed up for the first meet of the season scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, at Burlington High School.