Sports Week in Review, Aug. 21 - Aug. 27

Bad news for boaters, beach-goers and sun-bathers: The summer is over. Well, at least according to the high school sports calendar it is.

With their summer breaks already in the rearview mirror, Concord-Carlisle High School athletes returned to the field this week in preparation for the upcoming fall season.

The football team was the first to hit the practice field. The Patriots began their season in soggy conditions on Monday.

Coach Mike Robichaud's squad, looking to improve on an 8-4 mark from 2009, strapped on full pads on Thursday. C-C opens the regular season at Beverly High School on Sept. 11.

The rest of the Patriots athletic teams got under way on Thursday, including the defending Division 2 state champion boys' soccer team.

This season, historically competitive CCHS is in search of its 26^th straight winning season and third state championship since 2006. Coach Ray Pavlik ran his team through double sessions on Thursday.

Dry weather and warm temperatures were a boon for local camps this summer. Among them was Star Camps, a sports-focused day camp ran by Bob Starensier and headquartered at CCHS.

Concord Recreation summer camp Director Laura Lunig said the turnout this summer was much better than in 2009, when cold and rain kept kids away.