CIAC ANNOUNCES DELAY TO START OF THE WINTER 2020-21 SEASON

Here is the CIAC release regarding the winter sports season.

The CIAC Board of Control acted this morning to postpone all winter sports to January 19, 2021. The CIAC Board of Control will continue to collaborate with the DPH, Governor Lamont’s office, and the CSMS Sports Medicine Committee in the weeks leading up to the January 19th start of winter practices. CIAC Interscholastic athletics are an education-based experience that maintains in-person learning and the health and safety of our school communities as our top priority. Today’s action supports our member schools while they continue manage rising COVID numbers within their communities and experience widespread movements to distance learning.

The registration period for the 2020-21 winter season is now open.  It will remain open until Friday November 20 at 11:59 p.m.  The link to the registration is located below, along with Information on required forms.  When registering, if you have not set up an account before, you will need to do so prior to registering.  Do NOT use your Stamford Public Schools email as the email for your account as that is a closed system.  Once you have set up and confirmed your account, you will need to log into the website and click on the registration link.  The registration will take about 10 minutes to complete.  

PLEASE BE SURE TO SEE THE INFORMATION BELOW REGARDING REQUIRED FORMS TO COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION PROCESS

In order to participate in athletics at Westhill, in addition to completing the online registration, you must have a current physical and submit a completed "Purple Card".  

Please note that we have changed the verification process regarding the physical and the Purple Card.  Purple Cards will no longer need to be stamped by the nurse.  They should instead be returned to the Athletic Director during the Winter Registration period, which ends Friday November 20.  Physical forms should be turned in to the Athletic Director during this period also.  Please see the information below for instructions regarding both the medical card and the physical.  Returning these items by the above date will ensure that an athlete is cleared to participate at the start of pre-season tryouts/practices.     

1.   CURRENT PHYSICAL   In order to participate in the Westhill athletic program, every student-athlete must have a current physical on file with the school nurse.  A current physical is defined as a physical dated within the last thirteen (13) months.  The approved physical form, state of Connecticut form HAR-3, must be completely filled out, signed and dated by the students doctor.  A link to the form is below.  Athletes new to the school or who have had a new physical since the end of school should return their completed physical forms to the Westhill main office by the date  indicated above.  

2.  PURPLE CARD (permission-to-treat form)   Every student-athlete is required to submit a  permission-to-treat card (Purple Card) in order to participate in athletics at Westhill.  This form must be completely filled out, signed by a parent/legal guardian, and submitted to the Athletic Director prior to the start of pre-season tryouts/practices.  These cards are available at the Westhill main office.  You can also print out a paper copy (link below) and submit that.  Completed forms can be returned to the Westhill main office during the registration period. 

NO ATHLETES ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICE/TRY OUT WITHOUT HAVING A CURRENT PHYSICAL ON FILE AND TURNING IN A PURPLE CARD (or paper form).

Any questions regarding this process should be directed to the Athletic Director.

SPS POLICY REGARDING SPECTATORS AT ATHLETIC EVENTS

The Stamford Public Schools have announced that spectators will not be allowed at any home athletic events  at both Westhill and Stamford High during the fall season.  The Superintendent's letter announcing the decision is below.

Also below is information regarding the spectator policies of all of the FCIAC schools.  Several districts are allowing limited spectators.  Each of our head coaches have been provided with FCIAC lanyards which will allow parents of varsity athletes to attend games at those schools.  The coaches will distribute the lanyards to their varsity players directly.  Most FCIAC schools are not allowing spectators at sub-varsity level contests.

Any questions regarding either of the above issues should be directed to Westhill Athletic Director Dick Cerone.

Please read the letter form the WHS and SHS Athletic Directors (link below) regarding the SPS plans for the remainder of the fall season.  It contains important information regarding our plans as we move into the beginning of the fall competitive season and begin playing games on Thursday October 1.

Senior Betsy Sachs, who was honored this spring as one of Westhill's two CAS-CIAC Scholar-Athletes, was recently interviewed by The Ruden Report concerning this honor, among other things.  The link to the interview is below.  Hope you enjoy it.  

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.

The NCAA has recently issued a FAQ sheet regarding how the current Corona Virus situation will affect the initial athletic eligibility of members of the classof 2020.  Click on the link below to access the information.

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/

HANNAH CHUCKAS TAKES SECOND AT FCIAC DIVING CHAMPIONSHIP

Westhill Sophomore Hannah Chuckas capped an outstanding fall season with a strong showing at the recent FCIAC Diving Championships held at Westhill.  Chuckas paced the Westhill divers during the season, finishing in first place against both Darien and New Canaan and finishing second to FCIAC champ Annie Bingle  in the team's regular season meet with Greenwich.  Hannah was also an All-State gymnast as a freshman during the 2019-20 season.

COLIN MCLAUGHLIN WINS FCIAC DIVISIONAL CROSS COUNTRY RACE, HAS FASTEST TIME IN ALL THREE DIVISIONAL MEETS

Senior Cross Country captain Colin McLaughlin finished first overall in the recent FCIAC West Division Champiuonship.  McLaughlin, who ran the day's fastest time (15:36.8) was 33 seconds faster than the next fastest time from any of the three divisional races.  The victory caps an outstanding 4 year cross country career at the Hill for Colin.   

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

Five Westhill student-athletes have been named to All-State teams in three different sports for the winter season.  Earning first team honors were  senior Tommy Mazur (wrestling),  sophomore Bailey Petrizzi (gymnastics), and freshman Hannah Chuckas (gymnastics).  Name second team were senior Hunter Gilchrist (B hockey) and  junior Tucker Healy (B hockey).  

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.

The honors and awards for Viking senior three-sport athlete Betsy Sachs just keep coming.  Following her selection as Westhill's CAS-CIAC female scholar-athlete, announced last week, Betsy has earned another statewide honor.  The Connecticut State High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) has announced that Betsy has been awarded one of their four John J. Fontana scholarships for 2019-20, chosen from more than 300 nominees from high schools across the state.  Betsy is the first Viking student-athlete to earn this honor since the award was inaugurated 20 years ago.  Congratulations Betsy. 

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.

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

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

Message Regarding Captain’s Practices

As a reminder, Stamford Public Schools and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) do not permit or support captain’s practices. Per the CIAC 2020-2021 Handbook, a captain’s practice is defined as below:

4.5.D. CAPTAIN’S PRACTICE (DEFINITION) The term “Captain’s Practice” usually means the team’s captain organizing and conducting practice sessions for that sport without adult supervision. The CIAC does not in any way sanction, encourage or condone “Captain’s Practice” in any sport. “Captain’s Practice,” depending on the member school’s involvement, may be a clear violation of eligibility rule II.D. (seasons limitations) or certainly a violation of the spirit of Rule II.D.

Also No. Rule 2.1.c. states: Member schools may not organize or permit coaches to organize, supervise or operate athletic practice which includes captain’s practices.

If you have questions, regarding this information, please contact your Athletic Director.

BATTLE FOR THE CITY CUP

2018-19 RESULTS:   STAMFORD 12-WESTHILL 11

2019-20 RESULTS: SUSPENDED DUE TO CANCELLATION OF SPRING SEASON

NEXT UP: 

2020-21

The 2020 Westhill Virtual Graduation video has been released.  Just click on the link below to view it.  And I know we have said it before, but all of us in the Athletic Department want to say thank you to our graduating student-athletes for all they have done for our program over these last four years.  We also wish each of you the best of luck as you leave the Hill and enter the next phase of your life.   And don't forget- ONCE A VIKING, ALWAYS A VIKING

Senior student-athletes Betsy Sachs and Alex Edwards have been honored as Westhill's recipients of the CAS-CIAC Scholar-Athlete Award.  The award is presented to one male and one female senior student-athlete at each CAS-CIAC member school whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary, whose personal standards and achievements are a model to others, and who possess high levels of integrity, self-discipline and courage.

Westhill Athletic Director Dick Cerone commented "both Betsy (volleyball, indoor track, softball) and Alex (wrestling, lacrosse) are talented, committed multi-sport athletes, extremely strong students and most importantly, outstanding people.  They are great representatives of our athletic program and our school and are certainly deserving of this honor.  We wish them much success as they prepare to leave Westhill soon."

Betsy plans on studying pre-med at The University of Virginia.  Alex is currently undecided on his college choice.

Contact our Athletic Director, Dick Cerone 

(203)977-4696