Brewster Joins the NIBC

The spring season for Brewster Athletics was as impressive and exciting as fall and winter—and we’ll have all the coverage in the next issue. Plus, we’ll report on how Brewster’s storied basketball program is prepping for its first season in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), an association of the most competitive teams from across the country.

“We are extremely excited to be joining the premier high school basketball league in the nation, the NIBC!” says Coach Jason Smith. “We

Kate Turner Retires

At the end of the 2021-22 school year, Associate Athletics Director Kate Turner, an icon of Brewster Athletics, retired. The founder of the Bobcat field hockey program, Ms. Turner coached alpine skiing, lacrosse, JV tennis, field hockey, and most recently JV field hockey in her 35 years at Brewster. Last spring, students dedicated the yearbook to her, and Head of School Kristy Kerin announced that Brewster’s annual Athletic Director’s Award will forevermore be called the Kate Turner Athletic Director’s Award (an announcement that shook the Smith Center rafters!). At that time, current colleagues showered her with words of praise, including tireless, dedicated, relentless devotion, inspiring, and compassionate.

We reached out to former Director of Athletics Matt Lawlor, who worked with Kate for 11 years, and asked for his reaction to his friend’s retirement: are very grateful for this opportunity and humbled to be included with this selective group of elite programs and institutions.” The conference currently comprises member schools from nine states across the country. The decision to join the NIBC will give Brewster players the opportunity to compete against top talent, bring Brewster into the national spotlight with a slate of nationally televised games, and host games throughout the year, something that will draw more eyes to the school as well as the beautiful town of Wolfeboro. •

“Kate Turner is a legend and one of my favorite people in the whole world. When I think of her, the first thing that comes to mind is how she always advocated for the JV athletes and the teams. Kate always stood up for the sub-varsity teams—she was a strong voice for those students. The kids took notice and appreciated her lobbying for them. I have so many anecdotes, I could write a book, but one of the best is how Kate handled crowd control at games. During my earlier years, I would have a few strategies on how to ensure that our students demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship as fans (which they usually did). There were times, however, when I needed to call in for support and that support was Kate. She would not raise her voice or have any conflicts with students, she would just sit kindly in the middle of the pack and take out her knitting! Yes, knitting! It was brilliant. We could have the most high-maintenance group of kids watching a game, but if Kate sat next to them and started knitting a sock for her grandson, she would have them helping with the heel by the end of the game! It was her presence and the immediate respect that all Brewster students had for Kate that made me feel fortunate to spend 11 years with her. We need more Kate Turners in the world of athletics!” —Matt

Lawlor