The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) has just announced that they have made the difficult decision to cancel all remaining state championship tournaments and events, effective immediately.  The decision brings the state tournament runs of our boys basketball, boys hockey and boys swim teams to an end.  The Viking swimmers were scheduled to participate in the Class LL trials at East Hartford this Saturday.  Both basketball and hockey earned wins in their first round state tournament games last night and were looking forward to their second round games scheduled for tomorrow (basketball) and Friday (hockey).  The email from the CIAC announcing the cancellation follows.

After much consideration and consultation, the CIAC has made the difficult decision to cancel all remaining CIAC winter tournament games. The CIAC understands the disappointment that student-athletes, parents, coaches, and administrators may feel as a result of this decision. However, we must always place our student-athletes’ health and safety first.

Due to continuing concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the responses from local school districts and third-party venues have greatly varied.  Some districts have informed us that they will no longer participate in our tournaments; others have indicated that will play while limiting crowds to less than 100 people; still others have stated they will play without any spectators in attendance; and finally, neutral sites have informed us that they can no longer host our events.

Given the wide range of direction local districts are considering, coupled with diminishing availability of neutral facilities, the CIAC needs to take the lead in providing logistical direction to our membership.  Therefore, with many questions and unknowns still pending in Connecticut about COVID-19, we have made the decision to cancel our remaining winter championships so that schools can focus their attention on meeting their student’s educational needs.

The boys basketball has team has qualified for the CIAC D-III state tournament, cruising past Norwalk 63-50 in the Main Gym last night.  The team will be on the road next week (3/5 or 3/6) with the opponent and site not yet set.  Last night was also a big night for two other reasons.  The team held its annual Senior Night ceremony, thanking our seniors, co-captains Jack Schlachtenhaufen and Nick Lappas along with Tim McKeithen and Mike Maloney, as well as senior cheerleaders Dwan Boursiquot, Madison Cordwell and Josephina Trebing, for their commitment and dedication to their teams.  Finally, Head Coach Howard White hit a major milestone, winning his 200th career game as a head coach.  Congratulations to the team, to the seniors and to Coach White on a memorable night.

Westhill senior wrestler Tommy Mazur swept through the CIAC Class LL Championship this past weekend, becoming Westhill's first state wrestling champion since Ronald Thompson won the 160 pound title in 2008.  Mazur, who wrestles at 170 pounds, moves on to this weekend's CIAC State Open Championship.  The tournament starts with the preliminary round on Friday (2/28) and will be held at New Haven's Floyd Little Athletic Center.

Senior Girls Lacrosse player Emily Reid has signed a National Letter of Intent to take her talents to Sacred Heart University for the 2021 season.  Emily is pictured here with her proud parents, Bill and Christine, and her brother Conner.  Best of luck to you Emily.  All of Viking Country is looking forward to watching you play this spring as you finish up your career at Westhill.  Viking PRIDE!

http://connecticut.news12.com/story/41357236/team-of-the-week-westhill-vikings-girls-volleyball

SPRING SPORTS UPDATE

The CIAC (CT HS sports governing body) has released an update regarding the status of the 2020 spring season.  As of today, spring sports remain suspended, not cancelled, pending the re-opening of school.  The link to access the full CIAC statement is below.   Please note that pending any further updates/changes, the following policy regarding Westhill athletics remains in effect:

Due to the closing of all Stamford public schools, the start of the spring sports preseason is suspended immediately until further notice.  All official team workouts and practices are cancelled during this suspension.  Coaches are free to communicate with their team members but no team meetings may be held.  In addition, all winter season team dinners are postponed.  This information will be updated as necessary.

Senior wrestler Tommy Mazur has been named the NewsChannel 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Week for the week of Monday March 9.  Beginning with the 5:00 broadcast, Tommy will be featured in the sports segment of each news broadcast on Monday March 9 (tomorrow).  Mazur joins Viking Girls Volleyball captain Betsy Sachs as a weekly honoree for the 2019-20 school year.   We will post the link to the video on Tommy as soon as we get it.  The link to Betsy's report is below.

Westhill Athletic Policy requires that all student-athletes ride to and from away games with their teams.  However, we also realize that on occasion circumstances may arise that would necessitate a waiver to this policy.  When such unusual circumstances do arise student-athletes or their parents may request a waiver from this policy by completing a Bus Release Form and submitting it to Mr. Cerone.  Forms must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the the trip.  To access the Bus Release Form, click on the link below.  You can submit the form either electronically or with a hard copy.  Electronic forms can be emailed directly to Mr. Cerone.  Hard copies can be given to him directly or be placed in his mailbox in the Main Office.  He will notify you directly to let you know whether or not the appeal was granted

Congratulations to senior girls volleyball player Betsy Sachs on being named The Ruden Report fall season Female Athlete of the Year.  Betsy garnered over 20% of the vote in a pool of 13 finalists.  Thank you to all of you in Viking Country who took the time to vote for her.  

https://therudenreport.com/vote-for-the-ruden-report-fall-male-female-players-of-the-year-2/

BATTLE FOR THE CITY CUP

2018-19 RESULTS   STAMFORD 12-WESTHILL 11

NEXT UP: 

SPRING SEASON 

Results from this weekend's state and New England championship action:

Cheerleading finished 11th in the state championship competition on Saturday at Hillhouse HS (New Haven).  Congratulations to Coach Tintle, Coach Castiglione and all of the girls on a successful competition season.

The Gymnastics team had two girls, Bailey Petrizzi (10) and Hannah Chuckas (9) qualify for the CIAC Open Gymnsatics Chamoinship, held on Saturday at Jonathan Law HS in Milford.  Both had a good day.  Bailey placed 14th on the bars and Hannah finished 22nd on the bars and 23rd on the floor.  Both had previously earned all-state honors.  Congratulations to Coach Olsen, Coach Prince and all of our girls on the strong season they had.  The team took a big step this year, qualifying for the Class L State Championship for the first time in almost 20 years.  

Finally, senior Wrestler Tommy Mazur spent his weekend competing at the New England Chamionships in Methuen, MA.  Wrestling in a stacked 170 pound weight class, Tommy won his first two matches but fell in the quarterfinals.  Still, Tommy had a great  year, closing out his Westhill career by sweeping Connecticut in the 170 pound class, winning the FCIAC, CIAC Class LL and CIAC Open titles.  Congratulations to  Tommy and head coach Mike Cigala on a great year, and to Tommy on his outstanding 4-year career at the Hill.

Hello Viking Country.  Are you a recent grad looking for those annoying extra-long twin sheets for your new home-away-from-home?  Parents, are you looking for top-of-the-line sheets for yourself or a gift?  If so, the Westhill Captains Council has what you are looking for.  We have recently partnered with CoZzzy Comfy to offer 1800 count (that's right, 1800) sheets in a variety of colors and sizes.  For every set sold, the Captains Council receives $10.00.  Money raised will help to defray the cost of the Senior Athlete Recognition Dinner and the senior plaques.  Best of all, ordering is very easy.  Just click on the image above to get to the CoZzzy Comfy site, create an account and pick your sheets.  When checking out, be sure to choose Westhill HS Athletics as your school/group code.  Then enter your payment info and choose your shipping (be sure to choose the Direct Ship option).  You will not be disappointed with these sheets.  Thanks in advance for your support.

Contact our Athletic Director, Dick Cerone 

(203)977-4696

Hey Viking Country.  Volleyball senior Betsy Sachs has been named the channel's Scholar-Athlete of the Week.  Check out the feature they did on her.  The link is below.  Congrats Betsy.  Well deserved.

http://connecticut.news12.com/clip/14960369/scholar-athlete-betsy-sachs