Wilton 8-White Fights Valiantly, but Falls to Darien, 20-0
“The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.” ⎯Vince Lombardi
The Wilton 8th grade White football team ended their final youth football season as runners-up after a hard fought championship game. The young Warriors had a storybook post season, winning three playoff games, including knocking off the number-one seed Westport in their march to the championship game. The young warriors entered the post-season with a 1-6 record but never looked back. These exceptionally well-coached young men shrugged off the regular season record and blasted each postseason opponent in their drive to the league finals.
Many of these young men and their coaches have been together through six years of youth tackle football in which they won the championship twice and were runners up twice. These young men and their coaches have dominated the FCYFL for the last 6 years.
The game was much closer than the score would indicate. Leading 14-0 with 30 seconds to go in the 4th quarter and the ball on the Wilton 5-yd. line, the Darien team elected to try for another touchdown that caught the Warriors off guard and resulted in a 20-0 final result.
The young warriors were blessed to have been coached by some of the finest coaches anywhere: head coach Matt Zeyher, defensive head Artie Dirocco, linemen coach Vin Santomero, offensive coach Matt “Goldie” McGoldrick and, last (but certainly not least), defensive coach and strength trainer Demetrius Whitfield.
The young warriors who proudly represented Wilton were: R2 Dirocco, Jake Zeyher, Drew Phillips, Ryan Kauffman, Niko Kouvaris, Tucker Walden, James Wright, Griffin Morris, Jack Dirocco, Luke Mercer, Matt Dooley, Jake Kauffman, Nish Wangneo, Barrett Brown, Camilo Galleano, Stephen Kendra, Jack Santomero, Patrick Burke, Ciaran Smith and Cole Snyder.
As youth football ends and this chapter concludes we wish the very best to these young Warriors both on and off the field.
Wilton 6-White 6, Westport 26
Wilton 6 White (7-3) gave it their all, but fell short against an impressively efficient Westport 6 team (10-1) in the FCFL 6th grade championship game.
The Westport team, after losing their first game of the season, rolled to 10 consecutive wins while giving up only six touchdowns all season. The Warriors, who began the season a shaky 2-2, learned from every game and, through hard work, came together beautifully as a team to win the NFC division.
It was this teamwork and effort that resulted in five consecutive wins prior to the championship game. Wilton showed tremendous heart in those five victories, having been either tied or trailing in each of the games, but never giving up and fighting back to deliver a win. In the championship game, the lone score Wilton could muster was a 57-yd. strike from QB Grant Masterson to receiver Matthew Giller, early in the 4th quarter.
This was a special team that saw tremendous growth from its interior line, led by Kieran O’Neill and Michael Breen, while seeing Joe Schiavone, Ryan Farrar and Ben Pond improve greatly throughout the year. The center play of Ryan Jackson, Chris McCann and Andrew Pellicano kept the ball secure and the QB protected.
The “kamikaze” defensive guard rotation of Charlie Fischer, Ryan Keenan and Brennan MacGregor consistently and selflessly kept the center from attacking our defense. Quarterback/linebacker and kicker Masterson scored from all over the field with his passing, running and kicking, having missed only one extra point all year. Giller was Wilton’s big play receiver and punter, while Sean Wiseman and Mikey Longo were the key running back and defensive back threats. Eddie Keller and Dominic Roberts were Wilton’s best blockers from the receiving position with a steady dose of great effort and hard work, while also providing key plays from linebacker. Receiver, running back and cornerback William Ryan was our most news media savvy player, who came to work every day with a great attitude and work ethic, who always did what was asked.
The Warriors should be proud of their “never give up” attitude and sense of TEAM displayed this season. Thank you to all the coaches and team mom Anne McCann for their time and dedication to Wilton 6 White.
Wilton Y Gymnasts Succeed at Trumbull Invitational
Twenty-two members of the Wilton Y Gymnastics team competed in Trumbull’s Harvest Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 22. Six teams from CT, NY and MA were represented in the pre-season meet designed to test the readiness of new routines and skills and help high-school gymnasts qualify for Y Championship meets before they switch over to competing for their schools. Wilton gymnasts proved their readiness. Every member attending qualified for Leagues, and most also qualified for States and Nationals.
Among the Level 3 competitors, 8-year-old Alyssa Mariani placed 2nd on Bars (9.1), Floor (9.0), and All-Aroud, as well as 3rd on Beam. In the 9-year-old division, Lauren Condon placed 2nd on Floor and Beam and 4th on Vault (9.0) and All-Around. In the 10-year-old division, Emma Incao placed 2nd on Beam and 4th for Vault and Bars. In the group for 11 years and older, Becky Arnowitz took 1st place on Floor (9.05) and Beam, 2nd All-Around, 4th on Vault (9.05) and 4th on Bars. Samantha Bauer won 1st place for Bars, 3rd on Floor (9.0), 4th for All-Around, and 5th on Vault (9.0) and Beam. The team as a whole placed 3rd.
Level 4 gymnasts were also successful. In the youngest age group, Sienna Morris took 1st place on Floor, and 2nd on Beam (9.0), Bars, Vault, and All-Around. In the next age group, Peyton Ricco finished 5th on Floor. In the next age group, Alyson Scheurkogel garnered 1st place on Beam (9.0) and finished 3rd All-Around, 4th on Vault (9.1), and 4th on Floor. Donna Stepnowsky took 2nd on Bars and Floor and 4th on Beam and All-Around. Grace Condon won 1st place for Bars (9.1), 4th for Beam and 5th All-Around. Maddie Rosa scored a 9.0 on Vault.
Level 5 sisters Erin Daugherty and Emma Daugherty scored well and will be moving to Level 6. Erin took 2nd on Vault (9.55) and Emma finished 5th on Bars and Floor.
For Wilton’s Level 6 competitors, Mia Karlehag finished 2nd on Beam (9.2) and Bars, 3rd on Vault and All-Around, and 5th on Floor.
Both of Wilton’s Level 7 gymnasts at the meet were new to the level, and both placed in the top 5 on every event. Alyssa Jarrett won first place for Beam (9.0), and took 2nd for Bars, 3rd for Floor and All-Around, and 5th on Vault. Kate Ginsburg placed 3rd on Vault (9.25), and 5th on Bars, Beam, Floor, and All-Around.
Wilton’s Level 8 squad took first place as a team. In the junior division, Sam Huffman was the All-Around Champion, winning 1st place on all events and in the All-Around. Marra Woodring placed 2nd on Bars and 3rd on Vault, Beam, Floor, and All-Around. In the senior division, Lizzie Berta was the All-Around Champion, and won 1st place on Bars and Vault and 2nd place on Floor and Beam. Alessandra Uriarte won 1st place on Beam (9.0) and Floor, 2nd All-Around and on Bars, and 3rd on Vault.
The Wilton Y gymnasts next compete at home on Saturday, Dec. 19 at the 2nd Annual Snowflake Invitational.