Track and Field Teams Prep for SWCs

Weston High's 2021 boys track team

Weston track and field athletes have a long history of success in CIAC’s South West Conference, and both the boys and girls teams are preparing for this year’s SWC championship tournament, which will be held at the Hillhouse facility in New Haven on February 5.

The boys

The Weston Boys Track team has won the SWC indoor track and field championships 13 times in the last 17 years, but will have some big shoes to fill if they are to make a run at the championship this year.

Coaches Matt Medve and Lloyd Weinstein have a strong group of senior performers returning, but will sorely miss pole vaulter Matt Bigelow, sprinter Jack Spencer, and hurdler John Cassol, who were all major scorers at the SWC and state meets but have moved on to collegiate competition.

Rex Kaplan and Ari Escandon will be likely scorers in the sprints. Blake Braun is a contender for the 600 meter title and will get support from Cooper Clemons. Coming off strong cross-country seasons, Cooper Capola (1000 meters) and Cole Mancinelli (1600 and 3200 meters) anchor the distance group and will vie for the championship in their events.

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

The girls

The Trojan Girls team has long-dominated the SWC, winning 14 times in the last 15 years. They will definitely contend again for the title, but will be missing graduating stars and Weston record setters Ava Zielinski, Nicole Sztachelski and Julia Rosenberg. Those girls were the nucleus of one of the strongest Trojan track teams ever.

The team will be very strong in the 300 meters with four girls already reaching the state qualifying standard. Senior Abby Miles will team with junior Ellison Weiner, junior Brooke Wagner, and promising freshman Sophia Taylor to form the core for the 4x200 and 4x400 relays. Senior Lianne Saussy will be a contender in the 600 meters. She and senior Amelia Rudolph will be additional contributors to the relays.

There are high expectations for two key sophomores, Charlotte Carter in the 1000 meters and Jianna Blunschi, who has the ability to score in all three jumping events and could also eventually contribute on the relays.