Weston High men’s track team in 2021

January 14, 2022 | by Terry Tyler

Weston track and field athletes have a long history of success in the CIAC Southwest Conference, and the men’s and women’s teams are preparing for this year’s SWC Championship Tournament, to be held at the facility. Hillhouse in New Haven on February 5.

The boys

The Weston Boys Track team have won the SWC Indoor Athletics Championships 13 times over the past 17 years, but will have big shoes to fill if they are to compete in the championship this year.

Coaches Matt Medve and Lloyd Weinstein have a solid group of returning senior performers, but pole vaulter Matt Bigelow, sprinter Jack Spencer and hurdler John Cassol, who were all major scorers in the SWC and in the ties state, but went to college. competetion.

Rex Kaplan and Ari Escandon will likely be the sprint scorers. Blake Braun is a contender for the 600 meters title and will have support from Cooper Clemons. After strong cross-country seasons, Cooper Capola (1,000 meters) and Cole Mancinelli (1,600 and 3,200 meters) anchor the distance group and will challenge for the championship in their events.

Aaron Smith is another senior who leads the pole vault group. Tyler Schiffer is the top rep in the junior class and will help in the sprints and relays.

Girls

The Trojan Girls team has long dominated the SWC, claiming 14 wins over the past 15 years. They will certainly challenge for the title again, but they will miss graduate stars and Weston record holders Ava Zielinski, Nicole Sztachelski and Julia Rosenberg. These girls were the core of one of the strongest Trojan track teams of all time.

The team will be very strong in the 300 meters with four girls already reaching the state qualifying standard. Senior Abby Miles will team up with junior Ellison Weiner, junior Brooke Wagner and up-and-coming rookie Sophia Taylor to form the core of the 4×200 and 4×400 relays. Senior Lianne Saussy will be a contender in the 600 meters. She and senior Amelia Rudolph will be additional relay contributors.

There are high expectations for two key sophomores, Charlotte Carter in the 1,000 meters and Jianna Blunschi, who has the ability to score in all three jumping events and could also possibly contribute to the relays.