This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/04/2023 04:05 PMJoining forces for the first time can be a lot to ask of any athletic team with postseason aspirations, but the Morgan-Westbrook-Old Saybrook co-op football team didn’t let that uncertainty take over in 2023, as the three schools joined forces and grinded through their schedule to punch a ticket to the postseason.
As the No. 7 seed in the Class S State Tournament, the Huskies will begin their run on Tuesday, Nov. 28 when they travel to No. 2 Bloomfield with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. Third year Head Coach Kevin Sullivan expressed that despite the immediate challenges that came with forming a co-op squad in its inaugural season, he was proud of the athletes’ ability to push past the obstacles and earn a spot in the playoff party.
“It was a bit up and down, we had a tough schedule. We have had a lot of injuries this year that have inhibited us, but we have also had a lot of guys step up in important spots,” said Sullivan. “We have a freshman quarterback at the helm. We have been able to weather the storm and it is a testament to the new program, their will to get to 6-4 and have the opportunity to play in the playoffs.”
Leading the charge for the Huskies on their 6-4 regular season campaign were four captains in Tyler Baldwin (senior, quarterback), Jack Nye (senior, receiver/linebacker), Jacob Jones (senior, tight end/linebacker), and Bardth Thaci (senior, offensive and defensive lineman). Each of them brought something unique to the table to help form an all-inclusive and welcoming camaraderie among the group.
“I think with all of them, they have all made sure that everyone has been included, making sure that the co-op is one team,” said Sullivan. “Bardth is doing a good job up front helping our guys, working together, and has been the one from Old Saybrook who’s made sure that everyone believed in the program. Jacob has been a great vocal leader for us on defense, he is always the guy making sure we’re lined up and in the right position. What really sets him apart is his work ethic, along with Jack, who isn’t the most vocal, but lets his play on the field and dedication to the weight room dictate what makes him a great leader. Unfortunately, Tyler has been injured most of the year, but having him around on the program he keeps the guys engaged. He is here every day, helping the guys get better.”
In the last contest of the regular season on Nov. 16, MSW faced the Valley Regional/Old Lyme co-op team and won 54-34. Nye was the highlight of the game for the Huskies, recording six rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown for a total of seven.
Besides Nye, other standout players that wore a Huskies uniform this fall included Trevor Powell (freshman, quarterback), Casey Corrigan (senior), Logan Ryan (junior, left tackle), Nick Novorio (senior), and Tyler Farrell (junior, center).
“Jack Nye has been our biggest contributor on both sides of the ball. He has totaled out to 28 touchdowns all over the place, he has been our leading receiver, and close to one of our leading rushers this year,” Sullivan said. “Trevor has stepped up tremendously, being thrown into quarterback is definitely not the easiest thing as a freshman. Casey is a guy that has run the ball for us the past three years and has been great, not only running the ball, but also stepping up defensively these past few weeks. Logan has been great and leading our team for guys up front, playing through injury and grit. Nick has done a great job stepping up throughout the season with all of the injuries and adversity. Tyler has been our rock all year. He is the guy that all of our offensive linemen look to, to know where the play is, where to go.”
On Oct. 13, the Huskies faced the Coginchaug/Hale Ray/ East Hampton co-op team and pulled out a big 40-0 victory, a win that Sullivan noted was an important one for the Huskies.
“We played them at home at Old Saybrook, came out and played really well that game. We showed up really well and Trevor had a great game,” said Sullivan. “Another big game that you can point to is the game against Ellington. Another team that is heading to the playoffs, and we were able to walk away with a win.”
With the unknowns that come with forming a combined group of kids from different areas and having to acclimate them to going from strangers to teammates, MSW saw some road blocks, until the team eventually became one cohesive unit.
“The first year being a co-op is a challenge in of itself. With the ability of having three schools, three separate groups of kids come together as one and build one team with a culture behind that,” said Sullivan. “For them to understand that this is one team, there are a lot of hurdles to get over from logistics, buses, practices, and practice times. I think the kids have done a great job coming together, in believing in each other as a team, and not playing as individuals. There is also adversity in the season, the ups and downs of football, the what could’ve been. I think throughout all, we have really come together and are relying on one another to make the best of the season.”
Sullivan is assisted on the sidelines by Jimmy Lewis (offensive/defensive line coach, head JV coach), John Bozzi (special teams coordinator, running backs and linebackers coach), and John Noise (defensive backs and receivers coach).
The Huskies full roster is comprised of seniors Baldwin, Nye, Jones, Thaci, Juan Vieyra, Corrigan, and Hayden Walter; juniors Mateo Guillen, Welsey Percival, Tyshawn Davis, Brandon Hester, Luke McComiskey, Dominic Larabee, Novorio, Hunter Roth, Griffin Ranuado, Ethan Lane, Carson Dowd, Tyler Fineza, Farrell, Mason Jakober, and Ryan; sophomores Wyatt Pennington, Kevyn Calazans, Christian Jacobs-Harris, Tristan Elliot, Chayton Katterman, Julian Gage, Johnnie Alexander, Jason Lee, Cesar Martinez-Jovel, Jaidyn Hills, and Greyson Simes-Vandersloot; and freshmen Powell, Julian Larabee, Dominic Cimino, Xzavion Clark, Logen Sneider, Kaiden Werner, Robert Winninger, Pedro Reis, Josiah Suarez, Joao Domingos, and Spencer Rueckert.
If you have any volunteer or sponsorship questions, you can reach out to “Friends of Morgan Saybrook Westbrook Football” on Facebook.