HARDWICK – For the first time in Hazen Union’s history, both the girls and boys basketball teams brought state championships back home to Hardwick in the same season. March Madness is alive and well.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
After the Lady Cats halted the dynastic run of Windsor in the Division III Finals for a second time in three seasons on March 7, the boys completed Hardwick’s extraordinary championship duet with a takedown of top-seeded Randolph a week later. This rare event has only happened a handful of times to a handful of schools in the history of Vermont high school basketball. With plenty of talent returning for both teams and two of the best coaches in the state (Aaron Hill and Randy Lumsden) roaming the sidelines, don’t expect the winning in Hardwick to end any time soon.
Head coach Aaron Hill just finished his 27th season as the Hazen boys coach. His career stats (7 Division III state championships and 450 career wins) would suggest a man entering the twilight of his coaching career. He’s still in his early 50s, however, and he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. His now-storied Wildcat program made it to the state finals at the Barre Auditorium for a fifth consecutive time, book-ending that incredible run with a pair of championships (’22 and ’26). He has more career wins than any active coach in the state and is now seventh on the all-time list. The late great Dan Gandin retired from coaching with 632 career wins. This was Hill’s first state title as Hazen Union athletic director. His main focus was on the kids but spoke about the challenges of navigating both responsibilities during a hectic basketball season and the pride he felt for Hazen and the Hardwick community with both basketball programs having so much success.
“Both programs had such a great season, and getting to see those seniors end their careers on such a high note was just special. My first one as the A.D., I’m not going to lie, there was a lot going on responsibility-wise for a bit there, but seeing both programs win it all in the same season was special, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m so proud of the kids and just so happy for the community. To watch a player you coached in Randy win his own state championship and then go on and elevate Hazen’s girls program the way he has is just amazing to watch. We feel like Hardwick is the capital of Vermont basketball right now,” said Hill.
Lumsden won his own title under Hill in ’99, completing the three-headed monster that was Tim Shedd and Billy Welcome. After many years coaching at the youth level, he took over the Lady Cat program four years ago, and the rest, as they say, is history. Lumsden’s career stats as a head coach (81-7, 4 Final Fours and two state championships) don’t seem real but are indeed factual. His graduating senior class will leave Hazen in the spring, having never lost a home game at the Cat Den. Like Hill, he is thankful for the journey and being able to share success with the community and family.
“The last four years have been amazing and special. A lot of the foundation of my coaching philosophies stems from my experiences with Aaron and Steve Pratt. I’m also lucky to have Alison Blaney and Sue Rivard on the coaching staff, being able to develop and communicate with our players at such a high level. Alison has had phenomenal success herself with our junior varsity program. I love that they are not afraid to push me and bring new ideas. I’m not always right. I’ve admired watching Aaron get to enjoy all that success within his program with family. Getting that same chance to watch my daughter (Mya Lumsden) and niece (Caitlyn Davison) achieve their goals with their teammates and friends has made it all that more special,” said Lumsden.
