Schools
Runners Honor Former Teacher at Cross Country Meet
Runners, Parents, Coaches Honor Former Middle School Teacher and Coach
Runners from four middle schools honored former Hillsborough Middle School science teacher and boys cross-country coach Brian Hahl, during a cross country run named after the coach.
The event, which had been Hahl’s idea, started as the Route 206 Classic—a cross-country meet for middle schools along Route 206. It was renamed in his honor last year. Along with Hillsborough, the other schools participating were Montgomery, Somerville, and Bridgewater.
“This was a great event to remember Brian,” Debbie Redling, Hillsborough Middle School Girls Cross Country couach said.
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Redling was instrumental in having the meet renamed and permanently relocated to Ann Van Middlesworth Park—the home course for the Hillsborough students.
Hahl was a science teacher at the school who taught there for 27 years. In addition to teaching and coaching, he was an avid bicyclist. However, he suffered a heart attack during a practice ride to prepare for a charity cycling event.
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“Brian was a legend at the school," Scott Rourke, Hillsborough Middle School Boys Cross Country coach who took over after Hahl's death, said. "All the kids knew and loved him. After Brian died and they asked me to coach again it was a no-brainer.”
Hahl coached the school’s program for nine years, starting in 2000 when he had only 36 boys and the middle school was grades six to eight. The program has now grown to where there are 60 runners from only two grades.
Hahl’s mother Madeline, who attended for the first time, said that Brian “always liked young people. In college he switched to education in his junior year. Teaching in Hillsborough was his first and only job and he loved it.”
“I know Brian is up there looking down on us and loving what happened here today” Assistant Athletic Director John Ciccarone said, as he prepared to hand out the awards.
The Hillsborough boys and girls swept the team trophies. Individually, Hillsborough’s JP Machala won the boys race and Christine Arcoleo of Bridgewater won the girls race.
