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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!
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 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!  By: Nick Farrelly On Saturday, February 25, the Nighthawks girls ice hockey co-op team won their first-ever CCC title. This co-op girls hockey team consists of a number of towns, which includes Berlin, Newington, Avon, Southington, Coventry, RHAM, Lewis Mills, Plainville, Watertown, and of course Wethersfield. After an excellent regular season, posting a record of 14-4-2, the Nighthawks kept rolling and defeated rival Hall/Conard in the CCC championship at Trinity College. Congrats to the girls on this amazing achievement. Wethersfield High School’s own Nicole Partridge was named the MVP of the tournament. I sat down with her to discuss her thoughts on the season, the tournament, as well as being named MVP. Partridge said about her MVP, “It felt awesome, I was not expecting it at all. It’s an honor. But it wasn’t just me, everyone on the team contributed in the tournament and played great, and we as a team deserved that win, but the job is not finished.” A junior here at Wethersfield High School, Nicole is a captain for Nighthawks, and led the team in points throughout the season, along with fellow WHS student Bella Bonfiglio. Nicole continued her dominant season in the first two rounds of the state tournament, scoring two goals in each of the first two games. In the first game of states against Suffield, the Nighthawks went down early, losing 2-0 after the end of the first period. “It was a really nerve racking game. I think the nerves of being in such a big game got to us in the beginning, but I had faith in our team. We had a few little locker room speeches. These speeches brought us together, and gave us a good game plan for the next two periods.” The locker room speeches paid off. The Nighthawks stormed back in the last two periods. RHAM’s Nina Holm scored the first goal for the Nighthawks, and Partridge added on two more, which was enough to propel them to victory.  In the second round of states, the Nighthawks came in as the underdogs against Simsbury. However, they were not underdogs for very long. Two more goals from Nicole Partridge as well as WHS’s own Sophia Nower silenced the Trojans, as the Nighthawks won 3-1. “We really just added onto what we did in the last two periods against Suffield. We just played our game, and stuck to what we knew, and that ultimately won us the game,” stated Partridge. Sadly, the Nighthawk’s great run came to a close this Saturday in Shelton at the hands of #2 seeded Darien. It was a hard fought game all around, but the Nighthawks fell 5-1, as Bella Bonfiglio scored the lone goal for the co-op team. Despite the tough way these girls went out, congratulations to them on a historic and amazing season and run in the state tournament. They can only build on what they accomplished this year and will be back even stronger next winter. From left to right: Bella Bonfiglio, Sophia Nower, Nicole Partridge of Wethersfield High School named All-Conference.  By: Nicole Partridge
Wethersfield Youth Recreational Basketball, a program that has existed for decades is a great way for 7-8th graders to get out and play a sport. Not only does it benefit the kids, but it also allows high school students to give back by coaching the kids. For the 2021-22 season, many teams competed to try and bring home the first place championship shirt. The winning team, coached by Nick Farrelly along with assistant coaches: Ben Caulfield, Dylan Romagnoli, and Evin Adhin, had a season going against all odds, they lost to the team they played in the championship 4 times previously. A team coached by 100% high schoolers, faced adult coaches that have been coaching for years now. They were also the underdogs, they weren’t supposed to have the tremendous season they did have. Farrelly said, “This might be the last game you’ll ever play for basketball, at least organized, leave it all out on the floor.” While they were coaching, they learned just as much from their athletes. Farrelly said, “They taught me that I really enjoy coaching and that I really want to coach in the future.” While he is possibly looking up to the age group he coaches, he will never forget the kids who taught him that it's okay to coach loosely and that sometimes winning sprouts from focusing on having fun. Other coaches, Joe Bellas for one, learned life-long lessons from coaching as well. Bellas said, “I learned how to grow and improve as a leader by learning from my players and working to create a fun environment.” His team also had a pretty successful season. Aside from the coaches and players, fans had a great time at the game. Friends of the players had formed a student section of their own, cheering on their classmates. Junior, Ava Healy, supported the coaches at the championship game. Everyone knew this championship was a very important thing for the kids. Healy says, “I felt a lot of pressure for them [the kids], I knew this meant a lot to them.” The middle schoolers endured the stress, excitement, and more that they will go through in future years. When asked if she would consider coaching she agreed enthusiastically with, “Most definitely. Nick [Farrelly], Ben [Caulfield], Dylan [Romagnoli], and Evin [Adhin] really inspired me to want to start coaching.” This shows not only does it change the kid’s and coach's lives, but spectators as well. Recreational basketball is a great activity, no matter if you are in 7th grade looking to play or high school looking to give back, or even spectating! This is definitely something anyone should look into, you never know what you may learn.  by: Ethan Malloy, Ethan Torres, and Jake Donahue
As the CCC Championship approaches, the Wethersfield Eagles hockey team is set to take on Northwest Catholic at the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum in Mansfield, Connecticut on March 4. The Eagles have faced off against Northwest twice this year already, tying back in January 2-2, and losing 5-1 in February. However, the Eagles stay optimistic and believe that a new game means a fresh start. Senior Captain Colby Quinn said, “We had a great week of practice working hard, working on the things we needed too, and when we come out tonight they aren’t going to know what hit them.” Starting defensemen TJ Mayfield added, “This is a big game for us, we have to come in with confidence and play the game we play. We have to come out with more aggression and show we want it more.” Starting left wing Will Mccarter acknowledges that Northwest is a high-level team, and is not taking them lightly by any means. He stated,”Obviously they are a top 3 team in the state, it’s going to take everything we got to beat them, and we have to play every shift as hard as possible. As the boys take the road trip down to Mansfield, Captain Jay Socha had one final thing to say,”The boys are rolling, and they're not stopping anytime soon.” Note from the Editor: This is an article in a series called "Wethersfield Heroes," where our students work to highlight and honor those in our community going above and beyond amidst the tumultuous year. If you know someone that you would like to nominate as a Wethersfield Hero, please contact Mr. Martin at [email protected].  Coach Jachym in his MLS playing days for the NE Revolution. Source: Adidas/CTRevs by: Rei Betoja and Antonio Contreras
Rob Jachym is no stranger in the Connecticut soccer scene, and especially in the Wethersfield community. From a professional soccer player to one of the most recognized coaches in the state of Connecticut, Mr Jachym has created a legacy for himself so much so that some people could even call him a hero. Robert Jachym moved from Poland to the United States in 1979 at the age of 5 years old. His left foot began to terrorize his opponents when he started at Maloney High School in Meriden, Connecticut. Being named an All-American in 1991 is what led him to his next step at the University of Hartford, where he was a second team All-American and graduated in 1996. “[Jachym] is one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met, no matter what he does he always does 100%,” said college roommate Antonio (Tony) Leone. The dynamic duo are still friends to this day, so if anyone knows Rob, it's Mr. Leone. With only one step left in a professional career, he was drafted by the Columbus Crew at the 3rd overall pick in the inaugural draft in 1997 . After 7 years in the MLS as well as the USL and 63 goals later, it was the end to Jachym’s playing career and the beginning to a new chapter. Wethersfield did not understand how lucky they were when Rob Jachym became an assistant coach for the boys soccer team. But years later, it is relevant how he has changed the Wethersfield soccer culture as a whole. “I think this year's championship is a great example of what he has done,” Mr. Leone said. Rob led this year's team to another State Championship, the 5th under Rob and the 16th in the program's history, which is the most in the state. But Rob reaches out past the varsity program and into the community of Wethersfield as a whole. Rob Jachym runs the Revolution Academy, which is a soccer summer camp that travels through the state of Connecticut, but for one week near the end of August it makes a stop to the town of Wethersfield. A great number of those who lifted that trophy this year attended that camp as a kid and one of them being myself. This has made Rob somewhat of a celebrity in town. “ We couldn’t go into Dunkin Donuts without the people mentioning good luck Rob good luck boys keep it going coach.” A hero can be defined as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Mr. Leone went one to say “It’s also great for the town players at the younger levels to have something to aspire to.” A hero nonetheless. Kids in this town grow up idealizing him and aspire to play on that field, under those lights, and maybe even one day live one of those trophies. So when it comes down to if Rob Jachym is a hero, the answer is obvious. He took over the head coach role in the year of 2000 and the rest is history. Success was no problem for Rob and the eagles as in the first 9 years as a head coach he already won 4 state titles. He had already made a name for himself as a player but was becoming even a bigger figure as a coach. This legendary status was set in stone when he was inducted into the Connecticut soccer hall of fame in 2010.  Last season, all winter sports were required to wear masks. This year, that policy has changed. Photo from Middlesex County Sports By: Ella Alger, Grace Lisella, Bella Tomaino
With the start of the upcoming high school basketball season upon us, players and teams are beginning their preparation. Exciting news from the CIAC on Oct. 29 stated that vaccinated players and coaches will not be required to wear a mask on the court. This differs from the modified season teams saw last year, in which they were required to wear masks at all times with “mask break” timeouts implemented into the game. Sitting down with a few members of the Wethersfield High School basketball community, we were able to discuss how the upcoming season will differ from what we saw last season and how they will continue to stay safe this winter. Jeffery Russell has been the head coach of the Wethersfield girls basketball team since the 2016-17 season, where he has helped lead his team to the state tournament each year and is no stranger to unusual circumstances. Back in March of 2020, his season was shut down due to the pandemic right before heading to the quarter finals of the state tournament. Last year, the team was able to play a modified season that included the requirement of mask-wearing. When asked about his preparation for last year’s season, his goal was about getting “back to being a team again” and easing into the season, rather than the intense practices he has led in the past. Additionally, when we asked how he would feel if masks were a choice again for this upcoming season, he told us, “My personal choice is yes. My youngest son still has some immune issues, so I mean I do just from a safety standpoint. They’ve never bothered me.” Masks or not, the girls basketball team is hoping to perform their same intensity on the court as we’ve seen in past years. We also spoke to Coach Mark Bagdasarian, the assistant coach for the Wethersfield boys basketball team. Last winter, the boys already shortened season became even shorter due to a COVID outbreak on the team. They were forced to quarantine due to positive tests and close contact, which ended their season prior to the tournament. For his preparation last year and this year he said, “How does it affect our preparation? It doesn’t.” So it's just the same old season for Bagdasarian, no adjustments or alterations to the game plan, just play basketball. Furthermore stating, “I don’t like having kids wear masks, but I understand the reason for it.” Seeing that masks will not be in effect this season, Coach Bagsdasarian seems to be ready to bring the heat to the court. Along with two of the Wethersfield basketball coaches, we also sat down with some players to receive their input on mask requirements from the past year and how they will feel having more breathing room outside of the mask this year. We first met with senior Jack Frietas, who has been on the boy's basketball team since his freshman year and has played varsity since his sophomore year. When asked about masks affecting performance on the court, Frietas told us “I don’t think [masks] impact us at all, you just need to be in shape.” Frietas feels that masks do not affect a player’s performance during a game, instead “it’s just more annoying to have it on.” From a players standpoint, running around at high intensity for 32 minutes with a piece of fabric on your face is not the most convenient experience in the world, so when players found out that masks would not be required for vaccinated players and coaches, they were most relieved rather than nervous. With COVID still being a present issue, taking other precautions will still be a priority. However, it puts players at ease to know that they will be able to get back to the game they always loved in the way it’s meant to be played. |
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