 By Maya Fanelli '26 and Zach Morytko '26 Whether at Newington Arena or SDMS, the Wethersfield High School Athletic Department has celebrated a variety of wins this winter sports season across multiple teams. From ice hockey to gymnastics, many athletes have stood out among the rest by making a significant impact, helping their teams land in the winning column. Wethersfield seniors Gabby Gerardi and Lily Provost, and junior Nathan Rydecki are prime examples of athletes who have gone above and beyond to stand out among the rest while still leading the team behind them. In her 4 years as a member of the WHS Varsity Girls’ Gymnastics Team, Gabby Gerardi served as a captain in her upperclassmen years. She is also a two-time All-State and one-time All-New England recipient, which is a true showing of all the hard work she's put into the sport she's been participating in since the age of five. The senior, who captained her team along with Katherine Freitas, said, “Being a captain means being a good role model and being someone that everybody feels like they can go to for anything.” She said being a second-year captain helped her understand how to approach problems while still being someone her teammates felt comfortable talking to. “I realized that being responsible and taking more of a leadership role doesn’t have to feel like I am being mean,” said Gerardi. While leaving judges impressed with her advanced skills, one of her top priorities this season, besides focusing on her individual competition, was fostering a team environment. The WHS Gymnastics program consists of nine girls who all compete separately from one another. When asked how the team environment is kept in and out of the gym, Gerardi said, “We all are always cheering for and supporting each other during competitions. We all get excited for each other because you know how it feels to get a new skill, or make your routine. We see each other every day and because it is such a small team, we all are very close. Even outside of practice we are together all the time, whether it is at pasta dinners, brunches, or just driving around.” She will be a noticeable loss for the gymnastics team next season, considering she consistently ranked among the top gymnasts in the New England region. She plans to continue her athletic career in college because, as she stated “I just can’t picture my life without gymnastics. Seeing the results at meets and making it to New England's for high school, and regionals for clubs also makes me see that all the work does pay off.” Lily Provost, a four-year varsity player for the WHS Girls’ Basketball Team, put up impressive stats this season, averaging 6.5 points a game with a 8-12-0 team record. She also held a very important role this season, and stood alone at the top as the team's only captain and senior. “Being the only senior on my team, I wanted to include the whole team and make sure everyone was involved in making decisions for spirit days, team bonding activities and team dinners. Our team also worked together to create playlists for game days and bus rides. Also being the only senior, I wanted to make sure that everyone had rides and was included in outings to places like Panera or Dunkin. My younger sister Sarah is also on the team, so it was so fun to be able to play with her, and have a connection with the other freshmen. Overall our team had a great bond and we all supported each other throughout the whole season.” Provost described the group not just as a team, but rather a family, which is the constant they led with this season Going from having a freshman, junior-varsity, and varsity team last season, to just a combined junior-varsity and varsity team this season wasn't easy, but everyone knew their roles and they all came together when the time was right. On the court, Provost is described as a “true competitor" and as someone who “holds their head high with lots of respect for her opponents and the game itself.” She never got down on her teammates when making a mistake or challenged the refs when she didn't agree with the call. Instead, she took a deep breath and never gave up. She has an immense amount of respect for the game in the sense that she knows “the only way to win is through practice and not cheating the little things.” Nathan Rydecki is the WHS Boys’ Ice Hockey team's goalie and assistant captain. In his junior year he learned the importance of being a team leader while also being one of the most sought after goalies in the state. Being a goalie means your mistakes aren't wiped away after they happen; they show up on the scoreboard, while the other team is celebrating inches away from you. He said of being a goalie, “There is only one of me and it makes me stand out from everyone else. It also puts a lot of pressure on me to be locked in all minutes of the game. It definitely is hard mentally, too. Especially being a captain and having to take control over the team and hold everyone accountable, including myself. He also said, “I'm very hard on my teammates and I definitely push them to be the best player they can be because I know everyone's potential and what they can do with that skill.” After being told in the beginning of last season that he would not play no matter how good he was because of the two senior goalies in front of him, he used that as motivation in the off season to come back stronger, and just simply better. When asked what motivated him the most, Rydecki said, “I want to prove people wrong and keep working to eventually play at the collegiate level.” He ended the season with five shutouts and passed the career milestone of 850 saves, some games facing 40+ shots. He also found himself among elite company, being named All-conference and First Team All-State. The Eagles ended with a 11-9-0 record this year; five of those eleven wins ended with a score of 1-0. Rydecki noted that the team was able to get away with so many 1-0 wins because of the team chemistry. From the freshman to the seniors, they created a "we before me" culture and "definitely strived in pulling for each other." He looks to come back even stronger for his senior season, in hopes of getting one more run at a state championship.  
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By Jayden Hernandez '26
College sports are practically unrecognizable compared to how they used to be—but is it for the better? In the modern era of college sports, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has taken over. Athletes now have the opportunity to think more broadly about where they would like to go. Coaches and schools know how much has changed, and they know that if they don’t adapt to the times, they will get left behind. The introduction of NIL is controversial. "Name, image, and likeness" are the three components that allow players to grow a brand of their own. Whether it is a highly recruited high school student or a college athlete looking for an opportunity, NIL deals are made to persuade players or ensure an athlete's future. Some argue that NIL has always been a part of college sports and traditional recruiting, but it has only recently been established in its current form. In 2019, California saw the first major case of students being able to profit from their athletic ability. Athletes felt that if they were talented, they should be able to profit from their image and skill. During mid-2021, the Supreme Court passed a law allowing all college students to profit off NIL. This new rule helped players compete in a more advanced way and allowed them to create their own influential spaces. Many students feel NIL can only be a positive; after all, who wouldn't want their hard work to be recognized? For example, a softball student-athlete was interviewed by University of Florida reporters and said, “It’s been great to feel seen and have your hard work in a sport help in other parts of life. It’s really nice to use NIL on a resume as marketing experience.” This shows NIL being positive not only for her softball career but also by providing opportunities for future careers. Like every other student, athletes face challenges. Some overcome them by teaching themselves about financial literacy or asking professionals for clarification. NIL has changed the game, and as it continues to evolve, so will the athletes who use it.  Source: The IX Sports By Omer Turgut '26
In the world of women’s ice hockey, there is no such thing as a "friendly" game. For over 30 years, the U.S. and Canada have been the top two teams in the sport. Since women's hockey joined the Olympics in 1998, these two rivals have fought for almost every gold medal. When one team loses, the players spend the next four years training to take the trophy back. High school hockey rivalries are equally intense. For Maya Fanelli, a high school hockey player, the biggest challenge is playing against East Catholic. "The team feels different when that game is on the calendar," Fanelli said. "When I see them on the schedule, my team's mindset changes from 'we want to win' to 'we need to win.'” Whether at the Olympics or a local rink, beating a rival remains the ultimate goal. Because these are the two best teams in the world, everyone knew the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan would be a hard-fought battle. The players competed with immense focus and strength, making it the most physical matchup in the sport. The game was a thriller that pushed into overtime. The U.S. was trailing 1-0 until captain Hilary Knight scored late in the game to tie it. In overtime, defender Megan Keller scored the "golden goal" to secure a 2-1 victory. This comeback showed that the U.S. team never gives up, even under high pressure. Many fans in the United States woke up early to watch the record-breaking broadcast. According to Nielsen, it was the most-watched sporting event in U.S. history with a start time before 9 a.m. Eastern time. The 2026 U.S. team featured a mix of young stars and veterans. Knight, playing in her fifth Olympics, broke the record for the most points ever scored by an American. While the offense was productive, the defense was also stellar. Goalie Aerin Frankel set a new record with three shutouts. Experts believe this roster is the best U.S. women’s hockey team to ever play the game. Their matchups are typically decided by a single goal; in a rivalry this evenly matched, a blowout is nearly impossible. This win sent a message to the rest of the world that the U.S. had spent the last four years training specifically to reclaim its spot as the best team on Earth. While the whole team played well, the star was 23-year-old defender Caroline Harvey. She was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her skill on both sides of the ice. "We’re confident," Harvey said. "We’re going to go back and tear it up." Inspired by players like Harvey, Wethersfield High School student Fanelli is preparing for her own jump to college hockey next season. "Seeing the women's team win gold at the Olympics motivates me to keep working hard to reach my goals," Fanelli said. She noted that the "reward of winning" and the friendships at the rink are what keep her coming back every day.  By Norah Majewski '26
Every week since December, the Newington ice hockey rink has filled with excited parents and students to watch the Wethersfield Eagles boys' ice hockey team. Led by coaches Dennis Tulimiri, Eric Fannelli, Nick Rouquie and Kevin Pocaccini, the team's season has been impressive, with an 11-7-1 record. In their most recent win against East Catholic High School, the Eagles won 2-1 with goals from Jack Leahy and Jackson Faber, along with an outstanding 51-save game from junior Nathan Rydecki. This was a major confidence boost as Wethersfield picked up another conference win. A few other notable games this season included a big win against Farmington Valley in overtime, with the winning goal scored by senior captain Nick Socha. Additionally, on Jan. 31, the team held a successful charity game to raise awareness for mental health. They won against Glastonbury 4-3. Senior defenseman Reid Parker describes the season so far as "going good and we’ve been playing well recently. I’m hoping that we can make it into the CCCs". However, now entering the postseason, how are these athletes maintaining motivation to finish the season strong? As the team prepares for states, another senior defenseman, Dylan Cyr, says the team is preparing by "focusing on getting as many wins as possible". "The more points we have from wins, the better we’ll place in the standings," Cyr said. Their first state game will be at Newington Ice Arena on Tuesday, March 10, against Daniel Hand. Come out and support our Eagles as they try to make a final postseason push.  by Dylan Cyr '26
As we hit the final stretch for some of our winter sports teams, the pressure is on for our athletes to finish strong. We’ve collected the current rankings, recent scores and upcoming must-see matchups to keep you in the loop as we get closer to playoffs. Boys Basketball The boys' basketball team is currently ranked No. 24 in Division IV with a 7-10 record. In its 20-game season, the team continues with three games left. After beating Comp Sci (Division V), the boys look to get another win in the books against Maloney (Division II) on Friday, Feb. 13. Girls Basketball At No. 26 in Division III, the girls' basketball team has a 7-9 record. They just played Maloney (Division IV) on Thursday, Feb. 12, with a big win for their senior night and look to get another when they play East Granby (Division V) on Friday, Feb. 13. Boys Ice Hockey Sitting proudly at No. 4 in Division II, the boys' ice hockey team continues its successful run. With an 8-4-1 record, the team recently qualified for states with a 1-0 victory over Northwest Catholic (Division I), but the battle isn’t over. With its next matchup against Simsbury (Division I) on Saturday, Feb. 14, the boys look to take the No. 3 spot with another big win. Girls Ice Hockey Ranked No. 10 in Class 1, the girls' ice hockey team has a successful 9-5-1 record. After a good win against Simsbury (Class 1), the girls look for another when they play Darien (Class 1) on Saturday, Feb. 14. We’d also like to congratulate our very own Maya Fanelli for being selected as GameTimeCT’s athlete of the week! Good luck and keep up the good work! Gymnastics We’d like to congratulate our athletes who competed at the CCC Championships last weekend and finished third overall. A massive recognition goes out to senior Gabrielle Gerardi, who displayed exceptional consistency by placing in every individual event. Editors: Mevlad Delic and Luca Iannucci From record-shattering goal counts on the ice to historic championships on the court, 2025 was a year for the history books. While many played well, only a few stood above the rest to truly dominate their sports. Whether they were breaking "unbreakable" records or securing their first major titles, these 10 individuals redefined what it means to be an elite athlete.  No. 10: Alex Ovechkin Alex Ovechkin, often called “Ovi,” “Sasha,” and “The Great 8,” is one of today’s greatest athletes. Drafted first overall in 2004 by the Washington Capitals, Ovechkin is now in his 21st season. In those 21 years, he’s made a name for himself with his incredible ability to score goals. On April 6, 2025, at 39, Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894 goals. Not surprisingly, he became the first player to surpass 900 goals in Nov. 2025. To put that into perspective, 39-year-old Sidney Crosby has 643 regular-season goals, the second-highest count among active players. While that is an incredible feat, it sits at No. 15 on the all-time list. Hockey fans are excited to see just how many more goals Ovechkin will score before he retires. — Dylan Cyr '26 No. 9: Sha’Carri Richardson Sha’Carri Richardson is one of the best track and field athletes of the year. She became famous in 2019 as a freshman at Louisiana State University when she broke a 100-meter collegiate record with a time of 10.75 seconds. Richardson is widely regarded as the fastest woman alive, combining a bold signature style with immense strength. Her top speed is estimated to be around 24–25 mph. After facing a ban for testing positive for THC following her mother’s death, she has made a triumphant return and is performing better than ever. — Olivia Kablik '26  No. 8: Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff is a top female athlete not just because of her talent, but because of how much she has accomplished at such a young age. She became famous as a teenager for winning big matches against the world's best players. Her biggest moment came when she won the US Open, making her one of the youngest champions in tennis history. Her game is a mix of power, speed, agility, and confidence. Gauff has won multiple major titles in both singles and doubles and is consistently ranked among the best in the world. She isn’t just a star today; she’s shaping the future of the sport. — Rosie Thigpen ’26 No. 7: Terence Crawford Terence Crawford makes this list after becoming the first male boxer in the four-belt era to be an undisputed champion in three different weight classes. His victory over future Hall of Famer Canelo Alvarez in 2025 cemented his legacy in boxing history. Crawford holds an impressive 42-0 record, and his technical mastery of the ring makes him a nearly impossible opponent to beat. — Mevlad Delic ’26 No. 6: Jordan Chiles Jordan Chiles, a two-time Olympic medalist, continued her gymnastics career at UCLA in 2025. After winning a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics for the floor exercise, she became the NCAA uneven bars champion and led her team to a Big Ten title. In 2025, Time magazine named her one of its "Women of the Year." She also partnered with Nike as a featured athlete for Super Bowl LIX. In August 2025, Chiles joined the cast of "Dancing with the Stars" for Season 34 with partner Ezra Sosa. She continues to work toward competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. — Kate Freitas Click READ MORE to see the Top 5!  Photo Credit: Ms. Campbell (WHS) by Elizabeth Mann '26
There is a chill in the air, which means Wethersfield High School is ready for its winter athletes to take on the pool, court, ice, and track. Here’s what these specific teams are doing to get ready for their exciting season ahead! The official dates to the start of the winter season are spread across the first week of December, except for Girls Ice Hockey, which actually began on November 24. On Dec. 1, tryouts and practices begin for Girls basketball , Boys ice hockey, and wrestling. The rest of the winter teams kick off on Dec. 4, including Boys basketball , Girls and Boys indoor track, Girls gymnastics, and Boys swim and dive. The question of where and when is quite simple, since a majority of the competitions and matches will be held right here, at Wethersfield High School. Senior Isabella Korizinski shares. To get ready for her gymnastics season she is making sure she gets enough sleep and stays hydrated throughout the day. She is also stretching and resting daily. Korizinski continues to stay in shape throughout the year as she does other sports, such as swimming and tennis. This season, she hopes to achieve the state title as well as receiving a higher place than in previous years. Lastly, to make sure she keeps up with her academics while excelling in gymnastics, she creates a planner each week which helps her with her time management skills. Most of these winter athletes have been doing club sports or staying active by playing a fall sport through the school. This cross training is necessary, but the transition to the focused winter season demands intense preparation. These students must understand what it means to be an athlete, the early morning weightlifting sessions, the endless laps in the pool, and the repetitive court and track drills. Our winter warriors are ready to take on the 2025 season and represent Wethersfield High in a positive way with pride and determination. Be sure to check out the WHS Homepage for the full schedules and come cheer on our Eagles.  By: Rophie Centurpen (Rosie Thigpen and Sophie Centurelli) '26 The seniors win it all! The Class of 2026 pulled through and beat both the teacher’s team and the grades 9-11 team. There was a large variety of players on the senior team, allowing for much more talent that was clearly displayed on Friday evening. At this event, we had a great student turnout. It was amazing to see students, parents, and faculty members come together to support the teams. Although the seniors winning was the highlight of the evening, watching the male teachers perform their halftime show was a close second. Mr. Chatfield, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Zappola, and a few others, took the role of our amazing WHS cheerleaders to cheer on our players. Overall, due to the success of this event, teachers and students advocated for this to be an annual event. So we will be bringing the Turkey Bowl back next school year.  By: Katherine Freitas Wednesday, November 26 is the 32nd annual Thanksgiving Day high school football game. The game will be hosted by Newington, at Alumni Field, at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the door. In the last 42 years, this game has always had a big turnout from friends, family, community members, and others. Wethersfield has won 20 times, while Newington has won 24 times. Last year, Wethersfield won on their home turf, earning them an invite to the CIAC State Tournament. Even though Newington had an undefeated record, Wethersfield pulled through with the 22-14 win on Thanksgiving Eve. Senior Jacob Yanosy, the team's starting wide receiver and team captain, has been on the WHS Football team since his freshman year. Even though this event comes every year for the team, it never becomes “just another game.” “We have been practicing all week and we feel very prepared in all aspects for this game,” he said. The team had a week and a half to prepare just for this game, and are ready to put everything they have practiced out on the field on Wednesday.  Throughout the season, they have learned about their teammates in not just a football aspect, but as friends and peers. One thing they all have in common is that they show up and want to win. Yanosy said, “Our greatest strength is our will to win as a team. Every player no matter the position or amount of playing time wants to win and will do anything to achieve that goal.” Junior defensive end Corey Smith adds on, “Our greatest strength is our team chemistry and we are gonna use it to demoralize the Newington Nor’Easters.” Wethersfield will come to play on Wednesday with a competitive mindset.
Yanosy also explains how the nerves and pressures as a team will not affect them. “We all go into the game with the same mindset and that is to win,” he stated. To everyone else, this is just another game, but for the team, this is a game where focus and determination plays a key role. Smith says, “Yeah, it's a rivalry game, and it’s a must-win to clinch our spot in the Class MM playoffs.” Wednesday night, Wethersfield hopes that the strong community comes together to support a game that brings more excitement than others. The team hopes to bring home a win. Photo credits: CT Insider and @Grafx.Eagle  by Mevlad Duric and Luca Alfieri Ianucci '26
The Wethersfield boys soccer team took a heartbreaking defeat in the state championship at Trinity Health Stadium to Simsbury last Sunday night. The game was action packed that finished tied at 2-2 and ended in penalties, where Wethersfield was defeated. This being the end of the season seniors leave the underclassmen with a task to handle next season there are 16 seniors leaving the program meaning the team will be looking completely different. With two starters returning who are Junior Damian Sardo, and Junior Augustus Spaeder; the team is looking to be completely rebuilt. Many key players are leaving, like senior striker Tarik Alihodzic and position and year Ramo Ahmetovic. Ramo was crucial in the backline and always dangerous on setpieces, while Tarik was the goal scoring machine and was always linking up with junior Damian Sardo. Many upcoming players that were on varsity didn’t get a chance to play this season will get a chance to shine next season. One of those players is sophomore Yavuz Ozdemir. Yavuz Ozdemir was on varsity this season, but had seniors ahead of him playing. Next year, he is going to be one of the main attackers and targets for Wethersfield. “I look forward to next season because I’m ready to play and show what I have.” He continued, “Next season I'm expecting us to not gel like this year at the start because it is a completely new team, it will take us time.” With so many seniors leaving there is a real question if they will have team chemistry and be able to make another push for the state title. Ozdemir went on to say, “At the end of the season, I feel like the team will be at a better spot than where it will be at the start of the season. The state run we don’t know of course we want to be confident that we can be back in the championship. It is too early to tell because we don’t know how the other teams look around us.” The team will prepare by playing at clubs over the winter and during the summer they will have captain practices and summer league at FSA. We hope the team next year finds success and finishes the unfinished job of winning the state championship.  Photo Credit: CT Insider Our WHS Boys Soccer Team lost in a heartbreaking round of penalty kicks to Simsbury at Trinity Health Stadium in the CIAC State Tournament Final. We asked students for their reactions to the match, and you can read them below.
Kayle Acuna, ‘27 During the second half all the players from both schools started to lock in. With #7 from Wethersfield scoring the first goal of the game , putting us in the lead. My friend and I were happy because we thought we got it and were going to win. Shortly after, Simsbury scored, making it a tie. My friend and I were a bit nervous. Time was up and we were going into 2 overtimes. In the first overtime #7 scored again. My friend and I thought we for sure had won with that score. When we went into the second overtime, suddenly Simsbury scored. Everyone in the crowd seemed in complete shock. It was time to go to penalties where that made everyone in the crowd feel anxious. Unfortunately Wethersfield lost, but it was still a win that they made it this far into the championship. Tyrice Wilson, ‘27 There was alot of people there, it really showed school spirit. Everyone was cheering, and they really played like a championship team. Elliot Nash, ‘27 The game was very exciting to watch, with the energy at its peak and the momentum high. After we went up 2-1, the student section and I thought it was all over. However, once Simsbury tied it, we went silent, and after they won in PKS, it was one of the saddest moments I have ever seen. The team fought so hard to be here, and watching them lose and come so close was demoralizing. While the turnout was sad, it was well-played, and the team had a great season. Augustus Spaeder, ‘27 and WHS Soccer Player I think it was a once in a lifetime experience. No matter the outcome of the game, I still will cherish the moment forever. Playing at that stadium in front of that many people in a game that was intense was incredible and I loved it. Can't change who won but I can have a good view on it.  Source: KBA Architects by Rophie Centurpen (Rosie Thigpen and Sophie Centurelli) '26
Today, November 21, at 6 pm, our high school will be hosting its first Turkey Bowl since 2019. Turkey Bowl, formerly known as Powder Puff, is an all women’s flag football competition and a Wethersfield High School tradition. The event consists of 3 teams: a teacher team, a senior team, and grades 9-11 team. The game will follow a Round Robin tournament style. Anticipation rises as we approach the event, many students, teachers, and faculty are already invested in the competition. Some of the participating teams on the teachers team were dressed up in the official teachers Turkey Bowl shirt, while also drawing under their eyes with eye-black to really hype up their play! The senior team is showing their readiness for the game by all wearing their official shirt to school. Playing first are the Seniors vs. grades 9-11, following that are grades 9-11 vs. teachers and then for the final game it’s seniors vs. teachers. Eagle Eye will cover the event in its entirety, but make sure to check it out on Cottone Field at 6 PM!  By Katherine Freitas '26
Wethersfield High School athletics has seen lots of wins this fall season. From soccer to field hockey, there are standout athletes who helped lead these teams to their wins. Wethersfield High School’s fall athletes and seniorsMaya Fanelli, Justin Crossen, and Joey McKenna are a great representation of our school's pride and integrity. Here are some of your fall standout athletes. Maya Fanelli: Maya Fanelli has been a 4-year varsity player for the WHS Girls Field Hockey team. The midfielder has put an immense amount of time and effort all four of those years to get to where she is now. October 20 was senior night and also the night Fanelli scored her 100th goal of her high school career. At the end of her senior season, she had 18 goals and 12 assists. As a team captain, she led her team through different challenges and faced many different teams this season. “I learn what my teammates do and don't like, and what works for them, not everyone can handle ‘tough love.’ I try my best to create bonds with everyone on the team and help foster the idea that we all don't have to be best friends with one another, but at the end of the day we are a team that will enjoy being together for the 3-4 hours a day that we are,” Fanelli said. Fanelli was a crucial part of the team on the field and off the field. She made sure that her teammates knew the captain and didn't just mean she was an upperclassman, but to let her team know that she was there when they needed her, and that team chemistry was something that meant a lot to her. Even though most of the field hockey season was filled with positivity and wins, it also had its struggles. She said, “The hardest setback was losing 8 out of the 11 varsity starters from last season. We only had 3 returning varsity starters, so this season I had to learn to play with a lot of new people. It was never super difficult and our team chemistry helped us click with each other quickly.” Even though she was surrounded by a new roster, she was still able to bring the chemistry from the varsity team last year, to the new players this year. Fanelli made sure that they would be able to play successfully on the field, while also having a strong connection off the field.  A look at the Eagles Hockey locker room. By Dylan Cyr ‘26 With winter just around the corner, the Wethersfield Eagles Men's Ice Hockey team begins their preparation for the upcoming season. Competing in Division II means the team faces a difficult and challenging lineup of teams, including South Windsor, East Catholic, Farmington Valley Co-op and many more. Preparing now is crucial to ensure success. Hard work starts well before the first puck drop of the season. “We try to get together and do any activities we can,” Head Coach Dennis Tulimieri Sr. says, “We’ve done a little bit of weight training, we’ve done a lot of leadership training with eight or nine players involved with that.” Every Wednesday, the team meets at Newington Arena to train with Future Fitness, a fitness program run by professional sports trainer Pete Asadourian to help with conditioning. “We can’t get on the ice until the Monday after Thanksgiving.” Keeping the team together and working hard off the ice will translate into a good work ethic and fresh legs by the time the team is back on ice.  Coach Tulimieri on the sidelines SOURCE: NBC Connecticut In his 40th season, Coach Tulimieri continues a tradition of involving a leadership council. Every Sunday morning, a group of returning players meet at the local cafe Max Bibo’s and talk about how to be a leader. Even though captainship isn’t promised, Coach Tulimieri believes that building up leaders, regardless of their title or lack of, will help support the team. “The core essence of a team is to develop a culture. If you don’t have a culture, you’re not going to have a team.”
As the season gets closer and closer, the team continues to work hard in hopes of having another successful campaign. From the work put in off the ice, to the chemistry built within the team, the preparation will help our Wethersfield Eagles have a good and successful season.  by Sean O’Leary and Dylan Romagnoli
This past year, the Wethersfield Eagles Baseball team made a run for themselves in the playoffs. The Eagles made it to the quarterfinals where they would be topped by Notre Dame 7-5. This team consisted of extremely young players, with some upperclassmen leadership. The talent on this young Eagles team is evident and the run that the Eagles made in playoffs was extremely impressive. The Eagles went 16-6 over the course of the 2021-2022 season. This was a great feat for this group of young men, as the young underclassmen were able to step up and fit into the roles necessary to make their run this past season. We sat down with Eagles Baseball senior infielder Nick Farrelly and asked some questions based on his outlook for the upcoming season. Nick Farrelly was a key player for the Eagles by holding down the infield with his sleek defensive plays along with being a reliable contact hitter who could be counted on to get the ball in play. When asked how he plans to lead the team, Farrelly said, “I go about it like I would with any team, just trying to do my part. Some captains try to take control of the team, and think they are above everyone else. That is not me. I am simply just a player on the team, who happens to be the one who is most vocal, who gets the team going, and leads them on and off the field.” This shows his selfless traits in which he uses to build relationships with his teammates to gain success. Farrelly continued to talk about building relationships by saying, “As long as my relationships with the players are solid, and we all trust each other, that's all I could ask for. I have played with these guys my entire life. We grew up playing together, I have played summer and falls with them, built friendships with many of them”. As the senior captain plans to develop these relationships and rely on his trust with his teammates. Farrelly expects his teammates to be working in the offseason and said, “The main thing is trying to do all of this with as much of the team as possible. If we start to grind and work together, the more comfortable we become. It just gets us ready for the season”. Eagles Baseball are determined to build on their recent success this season and work to bring home the state championship. They believe in the captains and the underclassmen look to guys like Nick Farrelly for leadership in their long season. The Eagles look forward to their season this spring and want to continue their recent success.  By Daniel Nerenxa and Ethan Guay Wethersfield Football has been on a rollercoaster ever since COVID-19 hit back in 2020, disrupting their highly anticipated season. The Eagles are coming off of a season that consisted of missing the playoffs after finishing 6-4 behind then-freshman Quarterback Camden Righi and junior Wide Receiver Ethan Lemos. Coming into the new season, hopes are high for both Lemos and the Eagles, who currently sit at 4-1 on the season. Now WR1 on the Eagles' depth chart, Lemos posted 24 receptions for 340 yards last season with a total of 5 touchdowns. He comes into this season hoping to improve on his previous seasons' stats, as he says, “I hope that I will do good, that we will make the playoffs, and that we will go far in the playoffs.” Lemos currently has 15 receptions for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns through a total of 5 games. He is already on pace to crush his previous season's stats with 5 games remaining in the season. Another breakout star for the Eagles is senior offensive lineman Evin Adhin, who is coming off a season-ending leg surgery last year. Through the first half of the season, Adhin hasn’t allowed a single sack and records 4 pancakes on the season as of October 6, 2022  Lemos and Adhin at WHS Homecoming Both Lemos and Adhin have unfortunately missed out on their sophomore years due to the circumstances of COVID-19. When asked about how COVID had impacted their high school careers, both Adhin and Lemos shared strong feelings on the topic. Adhin tells us, “Losing my sophomore year has affected my development as a football player and understanding of the sport”. Lemos shared similar thoughts, telling us, it affected his career because he lost a full year.
We were able to get interviews with both core seniors before their 14-7 win over the Enfield Eagles in Friday night’s homecoming game. Off to a phenomenal start, we were able to ask the senior offensive lineman what his goals were for the team this season. Adhin tells us, “My hopes are to stay healthy, have fun, and have a successful season”. Following that, we were wondering what these athletes were planning for after their final season comes to an end. Is football in college an option? Well, we got the answers from the seniors themselves, as Lemos tells us that he is leaning more towards baseball after high school rather than football, his final decision however hasn’t been made yet. Adhin tells us, “Right now, I'm talking to a few different colleges.” He continues to go on to say, “Football is definitely something that I would like to continue in college” It is clear the Eagles are aiming for a State Championship run this year, and they have the talent to do so. Led by third-year head coach Matthew Mckinnon and an amazing senior class, the Wethersfield Eagles go into their bye week soaring with confidence. As the Eagles have two weeks to prepare for their away contest against the 1-4 Hall Titans, hopes are high for the Eagles to win out. The road ahead for the Eagles won’t be an easy one but if they continue to play at an elite level, their hopes of a State Title become more and more achievable.  By Dennis Gega and Colin Shanley
Cross country is one of the lesser-known sports offered by WHS, it consists of long-distance running, which isn’t an activity the student body is fond of. Remember the mile you so dread running in PE? Well, the average cross-country race is three miles long. So, how can one prepare himself for such physical feats? Today we’ll interview Ryan Gagne and Jeffrey Sanborn to find out. Ryan Gagne is the top runner in Wethersfield. He has been on the varsity lineup since his freshman year and has been the #1 runner since his junior year. He has gone all the way to compete in the New England championship and he is in the top 5 in the state of Connecticut for cross country. He works hard for what he has accomplished and lives a busy life. Gagne starts his day getting ready for school and heads to his first class. He takes his academics very seriously and does well in all of his classes with mostly A’s. He then heads off to practice, where on a typical practice day, he will run 6-10 miles depending on the workout Coach Sanborn gives him and the rest of the team. Like many runners of his caliber, Ryan takes recovery very seriously. He makes sure he stretches and rolls out his muscles for at least 30 minutes a day to ensure minimal soreness and maintains a healthy diet with his pre-prepared meals and homemade dinners made by his mom. He makes sure he gets the proper nutrients with every meal by eating fruits and vegetables and eating things with high levels of carbs and protein. He also makes sure he gets enough sleep every day, with around 6-8 hours of sleep each night and takes a nap in his time between school and practice. With all of this in his life, he lives with a lot of weight on his shoulders. He has many goals that he has for himself that he needs to complete, along with the balance of school and his other extracurricular activities. He said, “There are times where I am really stressed out.” When asked how he overcomes this pressure, he states, “I just run. I feel fine after I run.” Running is a big part of his life and will be in his future. It is his way of exercising, clearing his head, and life. This season, Ryan hopes to go back to the New England Championship for the 2nd year in a row and make a name for himself to colleges across the region. Jeffrey Sanborn coaches cross country, indoor, and outdoor track at WHS. He’s a very experienced coach, having coached for more than 20 years, he also competed in cross country and track in high school and college. His day begins at 4:30: he wakes up, has breakfast, and heads to Healthtrax, where he works as a manager. At noon, he heads home to have breakfast and rests until 2:30, which is when practice begins. One of the most important factors in a cross country’s team success is the workout program. When asked about how he plans workouts for the team Sanborn replied by explaining how he has to plan for many skill levels as “The team is all over the place”. Some are brand new to running while others are more experienced and require more mileage. Normal practices end at 5, while races end at 6:30. Sanborn then heads home and has some time to relax, cook himself some food, and sleep. Back in his high school years, he remembers having a hectic schedule with not much time off. As his dedication to academics and sports filled up the majority of his schedule Sanborn says, “Sundays were my only day off.” So why would you want your day to look like this? Sanborn calls cross country a “lifelong sport” that brings about many benefits, both mental and physical. Another quality of the cross country team is its low-stress environment. “It doesn’t matter if you come first or last,” he said, and that self-improvement is always going to be the goal. Captains and managers are looking forward to another chance at becoming state champ  By Olivia Krout and Cora Tinker Last year during the athletic season of Fall 2021, the WHS field hockey team made it to the state finals before losing to Guilford. This year, the team hopes to recreate their success, but take it one step further and become state champions. “I think we definitely have the potential to make it there again,” said senior Gabriella Tomaino, one of three varsity captains. Cheryl Gleason was a team member playing for the freshman and JV teams until her senior season this year when she made the switch to varsity manager. “It was great to see my friends take their team and WHS that far last fall. It was a disappointing loss, but I was proud of them anyway.” Olivia Pellegrino was a manager of the team during their close state win last year. “It was so exhilarating, so exciting even though I wasn’t the one playing, it was so amazing watching the girls compete so hard and them getting so excited.”  Gleason and Pellegrino don't play or practice with the team, but they have a unique insight into players' stats and potential. Responsible for marking down fouls, corners, and goals, they attend every game and track all progress. “We lost a lot of our starters and there was a lot of talent in our graduating class last year, but I believe that with our work ethic we can get there again,” Gleason said when asked about the team’s future prospects.
Gleason isn’t the only one who’s noticed the absence of the Class of ‘22 on the field. “I have played field hockey for 7 years and this is the first year that I've played without the girls in the grade above me. But even though I don't have them to look up to on the field anymore, I am trying to be that person that some of the younger girls on the team can look up to,” said Maddie Gove, a team captain and senior, who was a part of last year’s varsity team. Despite the noticeable loss, this year's field hockey team has a record of 5 wins, 1 loss, and 1 overtime tie with a potential place in the 2022 State Finals. Although they have a long fight ahead of them, they have WHS’s unwavering support and we are all rooting for them.  by Sean O’Leary and Dylan Romagnoli
This past year, the Wethersfield Eagles Baseball team made a run for themselves in the playoffs. The Eagles made it to the quarterfinals where they would be topped by Notre Dame 7-5. This team consisted of extremely young players, with some upperclassmen leadership. The talent on this young Eagles team is evident and the run that the Eagles made in playoffs was extremely impressive. The Eagles went 16-6 over the course of the 2021-2022 season. This was a great feat for this group of young men, as the young underclassmen were able to step up and fit into the roles necessary to make their run this past season. We sat down with Eagles Baseball senior infielder Nick Farrelly and asked some questions based on his outlook for the upcoming season. Nick Farrelly was a key player for the Eagles by holding down the infield with his sleek defensive plays along with being a reliable contact hitter who could be counted on to get the ball in play. When asked how he plans to lead the team, Farrelly said, “I go about it like I would with any team, just trying to do my part. Some captains try to take control of the team, and think they are above everyone else. That is not me. I am simply just a player on the team, who happens to be the one who is most vocal, who gets the team going, and leads them on and off the field.” This shows his selfless traits in which he uses to build relationships with his teammates to gain success. Farrelly continued to talk about building relationships by saying, “As long as my relationships with the players are solid, and we all trust each other, that's all I could ask for. I have played with these guys my entire life. We grew up playing together, I have played summer and falls with them, built friendships with many of them." As the senior captain plans to develop these relationships and rely on his trust with his teammates. Farrelly expects his teammates to be working in the offseason and said, “The main thing is trying to do all of this with as much of the team as possible. If we start to grind and work together, the more comfortable we become. It just gets us ready for the season." Eagles Baseball are determined to build on their recent success this season and work to bring home the state championship. They believe in the captains and the underclassmen look to guys like Nick Farrelly for leadership in their long season. The Eagles look forward to their season this spring and want to continue their recent success.  Senior Jake Ericksson and other members of the WHS Indoor Track team. By: Josh Gstell and Brandon Rodriguez
Wethersfield High School offers several winter sports/activities including hockey, basketball, wrestling, boys swim and dive, and gymnastics. However, there is one often left out of this mix, being indoor track. When someone mentions winter sports here at Wethersfield High School, indoor track is one of the most overlooked. Indoor track is a very underrated winter sport, considering there are no tryouts, and if you register, you are automatically on the team. Speaking on this, it relieves a lot of stress in the process of trying a new sport. High school sports are a great way to try new things, and make new friends, especially as an incoming freshman. We spoke to Jake Errickson, senior Captain of the indoor track team for this past 2021/22 winter season. Jake has run indoor track all four years of high school and has shown to be a role model for the younger kids on the team, making him an easy choice for captain by both coach Jeffrey Weber and Jeffrey Sanborn. Jake’s older brother Jimmy Errickson was a senior captain Jake’s freshman year and convinced Jake to join the team. “He [Jimmy] said the team atmosphere was great, and I would make a lot of friends by joining [the indoor track team]”, said Jake. In the end, Jimmy proved to be correct! Shown right is just a few friends Jake has made from indoor track. However, meeting new people is just one positive aspect of indoor track. If you are wondering if the team is any good, this past season they saw great success. Jake stated, “this year was successful for me, I was part of the varsity team for the 4x800m and the 4x400m races. We ended up making the states time for the 4x800m and then came in 13th place at the states.” The team overall had 12 runners who qualified for state championships, and one runner, Holden Speed, who qualified for state opens, and for the New England championship. Physical activity is very important when it comes to high schoolers. Staying active in the winter is definitely a challenge for some due to the weather, but indoor track is a great way to stay active during the winter months. If you or someone you know is looking to join a winter sport in which little to no prior experience or knowledge is needed, indoor track is a great choice! Just because others have overlooked the sport, it certainly doesn’t not mean that you should too! |
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