The New Canaan High School Fall Sports Season concluded on November 14th with over 650 New Canaan High School students participating in our programs.
As we reflect upon the season, I want to thank the NCHS Fall Coaching staff, our student athletes, and their families for helping to make this Fall season extremely successful. Even though the season was far from “normal,” our athletes and coaches focused on the positives, such as the joy of playing, the confidence that comes from improvement through committed practice, and the excitement being together to experience the challenges and successes of competitions. We began the season with uncertainty due to the COVID pandemic, and are concluding it with feelings of pride and gratitude.
There were many highlights during the Fall Season.
Boys and Girls Cross Country competed extremely well in the Divisional Meet in Waveny Park on November 4th. The girls team had many fast times and placed 2nd overall. The boys team tied for 1st but, due to tie-breaking points, placed second overall.
Girls Swim and Dive also had a number of very strong performances in their season, ending each meet with several best times.
Boys Soccer advanced to the Western Region Finals by virtue of a thrilling Penalty Kick (PK) Shoot-Out win over Stamford HS, right here in Dunning Stadium. Many of us in attendance agree that it was one of the best high school soccer games we have ever seen.
Playing in masks couldn’t have been easy, yet our girls volleyball team made it look that way as they were very competitive with two of the best programs in the state, Greenwich and Darien, all season long.
Although the CIAC did not sanction 11 on 11 football, our coaches continued working with student-athletes in grades 9-12 on skills and techniques and prepared them for 7 on 7 and competitions.
Girls Soccer capped a great season by winning the regional championship in the best possible fashion by beating an undefeated Darien squad that had previously beaten them 3 times.
Field Hockey defeated Darien in 2 out of the 3 games they played and were seeded first in our region. Although a COVID issue caused them to have to withdraw from the tournament, they ended the season with their heads held high.
The way in which our field hockey coaches and players dealt with the disappointment of having to miss the regional tournament truly encapsulates the fall athletic experience. Instead of being sad and remorseful about what could have been, our team celebrated all of the great things they accomplished throughout the year, together. For them, the most important part of the season was coming together as a team every day, giving their all in practice, and leaving everything they had on the field, during practices and games.
As I reflect upon the season, it is clear that the memories our student-athletes made life-long memories, on and off the field. We are proud of them all.
As I watched the practices and games this fall and talked with our athletes, I was reminded of some very important outcomes of high school sports.
- Feeling the sense of belonging to a group that is working together to achieve a common goal.
- The anticipation of practices and games, both for the competition and because our students enjoy spending time with their teammates and coaches.
- The drive to perform well so as not to let your coaches or teammates down.
Thanks again to our athletes, coaches and parents for a great season and for showing us all what high school athletics is really all about.
Jay Egan
New Canaan High School Athletic Director
Well said, Jay! In Addition, you and the Athletic Trainers we part of the successful season of sport challenges….new Canaan does not disappoint!
Regarding “11 on 11” tackle football it was great to see the FCFL create a Senior division and give the players some semblance of a season after The CIAC let them down. Although not what they would have wanted, but starting on Water Tower Field as 3rd graders and ending on Water Tower as Seniors had a nice poetic symmetry to it.