SACO — The Thornton Academy football team was able to do something over the past two seasons that most programs could only dream about – win back-to-back state championships.

TA wide receiver Corey Hart was one of the main reasons why the Golden Trojans were able to accomplish that feat as he was able to beat opposing defenses both on the outside and over the middle – and was always a threat to go the distance.

Hart’s work on the field didn’t go unnoticed as the standout was recruited by several schools throughout New England, including the University of Maine, Springfield and Assumption.

In the end, the all-star wide receiver decided to take his talents to Worcester and join the defending Northeast-10 champion Assumption Greyhounds.

“I went down to my official (visit) to Assumption and I loved the campus and I loved what they had to offer. Them being good at football, just winning an NE-10 championship, that was really the (deciding factor) for me,” said Hart, who will also play wide receiver at Division II Assumption.

There is a strong possibility that Hart will start his Assumption career with a redshirt season – which means he will sit out for a year and still have four years of eligibility – and the TA standout believes that could help him in the long run.

“That doesn’t really matter to me. The redshirt process, obviously (practicing) and not getting to play in games will kind of stink, but a redshirt year actually helps you prepare for the speed and the speed adjustments to the game,” said Hart, who was also a standout on the TA basketball team.

While a redshirt season may help Hart adjust to the college game, the wide receiver believes his time at TA has already prepared him for the next level.

“It helped me a lot. We do a lot of things that the college level does and we come out and practice all the time as hard as possible. They prepared us best for the next level for the kids that wanted to move on to the next level and had a chance to,” said Hart.

Hart credits TA football coach Kevin Kezal for not only preparing him for the next level, but helping him get there.

“He’s been a huge help. He helped me email coaches, call coaches, he called around and has played a very big part in my recruitment process. I’m very thankful for him,” said Hart.

When Hart receives his diploma in June, it will wrap up an incredible four years at Thornton Academy – including getting a chance to win two Gold Balls with some of his best friends.

“The first (state title) was definitely good, but to go out in my senior year with another state championship, especially being back-to-back with all the kids I’ve been playing with since I was in second grade, was definitely one of the better feelings to end high school on,” said Hart.

Hart will head to Assumption with one of his good friends as fellow TA standout Ben Lambert, who was part of a dynamic wide receiver duo with Hart, will also head to Worcester – although Lambert will be playing for the Greyhounds’ baseball team.

“Ben is one of my very good friends and it’s going to be cool going to all of his games and he can come to mine. Seeing him almost everyday will definitely be good,” said Hart.

Hart, who will be taking up Sports Management at Assumption, is hoping to succeed both on the field and in the classroom.

“I’m trying to obviously do well in the classroom and on the football field, my goal there is to just play and be successful there,” said Hart.

Most people in Hart’s situation would probably look back on the two state championships when asked about his favorite memories from high school. For the future Greyhound, the state titles were special, but the journey to capturing the Gold Ball was what stands out to him.

“I would say all the practices because we all grinded out together at every practice,” said Hart. “I mean we didn’t want to be there, but we knew it was something we had to do to be better and be state champions.”

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @ JournalTsports.