A Tale of Two ADs

You'd think there would be a little more animosity. You'd think that a town with two high schools would experience more awkwardness: that the schools would scrape and scrap over resources.

Yet, when it comes to high school athletics, and high schools see eye to eye.

"It's great," Plymouth North Athletic Director Karl Braun said about working in a town with two high schools, "there's a good healthy rivalry between the two schools."

Over at Plymouth South, Athletic Director Scott Fry doesn't see the notion of cross-town competition as a problem. "I don't think it limits us in any way to be honest," Fry said in a phone interview adding, "It's all I know, having been a teacher, coach and AD here."

Fry has been around athletics—particularly football—his whole career. Before taking the job as athletic director he coached football and taught physical education at Plymouth South. Prior to that, Fry had a long tenure coaching football with stops at Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston, Maine Maritime Academy, and Princeton University.

 How he got his start coaching at Plymouth South puts another wrinkle in the North-South story.

"I think I hired Scott as the football coach," Braun recalled, harkening back to his long experience in Plymouth South's athletic director's office. Braun started working at Plymouth South in 1973. He retired from his post atop the athletic department three years ago.

When Plymouth North's previous AD, Bill Burkhead, was promoted to assistant principal this summer, Braun was brought out of retirement to take over Plymouth North's vacated position on an interim basis.

"Everybody at North has been great," Braun said noting that he is enthused that athletic participation is up this year. He lamented the difficulties the program is experiencing with the ongoing construction, but insisted that off-site facilities, especially the massive Forges Field complex, have been tremendous in easing the transition.

With both schools boasting more than 300 fall and 200 winter athletes, sports are thriving in Plymouth. Fry things some of this can be attributed to the cross-town competition.

"There are a lot of positives about [having two high schools]," he said, "No question about it, I look back and a lot of kids have played together because the youth programs are interconnected." He also proudly pointed out that a lot of Plymouth North folks come to Plymouth South's basketball games.

Thankfully, it also appears that economic hardship has not led to either school being limited. Plymouth North's large construction plans move forward while Fry said his programs haven't felt the money crunch.

"We've been extremely lucky," he said, "that since I've been the AD we haven't had funding decreases during the [recession]." He underscored key support from both the Superintendent Gary Maestas and the School Committee.

Both schools have intriguing winter seasons coming up. Plymouth North's boys' basketball posted a strong record last year but lost six outgoing seniors. The school's hockey team, however, features seven seniors.

Fry points to several of Plymouth South's teams that are poised to have big seasons. The wrestling program is "one of the best in the state," he said. He also points out that girls' basketball and the hockey teams are returning many top players after strong tournament finishes.

 It should be stiff competition for the Superintendent's Cup, award yearly to the Plymouth high school with the most head-to-head wins. Last year Plymouth South won it for the first time in six years.

This year it's tied heading into the winter season.