On April 20th, 2022, The Hill Football Instagram posted an excited reaction to hearing the news of a new stadium being built for the football and lacrosse teams. Students and faculty expressed great delight and eagerness to see the new field, anxiously awaiting the first home game of the season that was scheduled for September 24, 2022. Unfortunately, after construction encountered multiple obstacles, the stadium still remained unbuilt. 

“We have been unable to get final permits needed from conservation board to proceed with the project.  We anticipate having them any day now and will be prepared to start the project immediately,” Seth Eilberg, the head of the athletics department stated.

Billy Antippas ’24, a boarding student from Long Island, New York, shared his thoughts about the unfinished football stadium. “I’ll play wherever there is a field,” Antippas said. “Even though it is disappointing, we should use it as motivation for the team.”  

Cole Bilotta ’23 and Dante McQueen ’23 shared similar thoughts as well.  “I was really excited to expand our football season and have a lot of fun on the new field,” Bilotta said.  

While many find the situation unfortunate and frustrating, the team looks to see things in a positive light.  “It made me very angry and motivated me and the team to play harder,” McQueen stated.  “You know, it’s certainly disappointing, but it doesn’t stop us. We will play on turf, grass, dirt, gravel, snow, etc. The surface that we play on doesn’t define us, but rather the work we put in day in and day out,” Max Elmore ’23 added.

Students are also curious about another athletic construction project: the Sweeney gym. The gym has been due for updates for years now and is finally receiving a face lift. “We have needed to replace the roof to Sweeney gym for several years and have been able to get to that now. We are also using this opportunity to power wash the façade of Sweeney facing Dell Road, and to renovate the windows which were very old,” Eilberg stated in an email. Students can look forward to a more improved facility.