Last year, Liberty Central School District Athletic Department instituted its Champion Plan, which aims to bring championships back to Liberty and cultivate athletes who thrive on and off the field.

The department has built upon existing programs, including Athletes Helping Athletes and youth sports, to help foster opportunities, offer mentorships and build skills to improve the sports culture across the district.

Earlier this year, Liberty hosted Coach Kevin Metcalf, a longtime teacher and coach at North Rockland now at St. Joseph Regional, for Coaching the Coaches sessions. The goal was to offer professional development for Redhawk coaches at all levels through sharing thought processes and approaches and to provide coaches with a place to collaborate and share experiences.

Additionally, the district is expanding opportunities for older athletes to interact with and help younger students through team-to-team skills development, assisting youth sports teams, and, most recently, the institution of intramurals at the elementary level.

“Interest in sports at Liberty is growing,” Athletic Director Thomas Zehner said, citing an increase in participation at all levels across seasons. “I look forward to what the future holds.”

And the teams are seeing success, highlighted by alpine skiing and girls indoor track and field athletes competing in states this year, as well as multiple league and sectional play off appearances and all star honors for the Redhawk athletes.