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Touching All The Bases, Willimantic, CT (2025)

11/30/2022

MIKE SYPHER
STORRS – Moments after his Whippets had dispatched with Montville, 56-6, in last Tuesday night’s pre-holiday regular-season finale, Windham High football coach Randall Prose let his mind wander just a bit.
His Whippets (9-1) had just wrapped one of the most successful regular seasons in program history, in the process earning themselves a top-3 seed in the upcoming CIAC Class SS state tournament playoffs as well as another ‘home’ game for the High Street Road Warriors.
Who, pray tell, would the Whips draw in the quarterfinal round?
“We’ll play anyone, anywhere,” Prose said that night.
After all the dust had settled following the slate of Thanksgiving Day games just two days later, ‘anyone’ became Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic Regional for the Whips with ‘anywhere’ earmarked for the artificial turf at E.O. Smith High School.
Seeded second in the 8-team Class SS field, the Whips had drawn the seventh-seeded Yellowjackets (8-2) out of the Naugatuck Valley League in a Tuesday night match-up at 6:30 p.m. in Storrs.
Prose’s reaction following his first glance at the draw might have been something like this: ‘Uh-oh. …’
“That’s the only team I didn’t want to play right away,” Prose said following GNH’s 34-0 rout of the Whips in Tuesday night’s quarterfinal round. “We knew they were a very good team after watching them on tape, but after playing them tonight, we know they’re a great team.”
Senior running back Fred Calder-Camp rushed for 106 yards on 17 carries, including touchdown runs of five and 11 yards, before capping the rout with a 48-yard interception return for a score in the fourth quarter.
Junior quarterback Nolan Reisdorf hooked up with Calder-Camp for GNH’s lone completed pass on the night, a 77-yard catch-and-run TD down the left sideline in the second quarter, and junior running back Aiden Avenia contributed a 40-yard TD run as the Yellowjackets (9-2) advanced to play at sixth-seeded Valley Regional/Old Lyme (10-1) in Sunday’s semifinals at 12:30 p.m. Valley Regional/Old Lyme moved on following a 26-13 victory at No. 3 Foran (9-2) on Tuesday night.
Following the 6:31 p.m. kickoff by Windham High’s Chase Collins, GNH set the tone for the entire game with an opening march that produced a touchdown at 6:42 p.m.
Reisdorf (9 carries, 43 yards) sped to the right sideline for a 5-yard gain on fourth-and-3 from Windham’s 49-yard line to keep the drive alive before taking a shotgun snap and gaining eight yards along the left sideline on fourth-and-7 from Windham’s 25 moments later.
Calder-Camp, who had already gained 24 yards on four previous carries, high-stepped the final five yards into the end zone that finished off a 14-play, 56-yard drive that ate up 7:33 of clock time and gave the Yellowjackets a 7-zip advantage once Daryl Sharack added the PAT.
“We knew what we were in for right away,” said Prose. “If we could have answered with our first drive, things might have turned out a little different. We come right back and answer with a score of our own, that would have been huge.”
Windham’s first drive from its own 22 hinted at the prospects of an epic back-and-forth showdown.
Runs of eight, four and 22 yards by senior fullback Victor Mejia (15 carries, 65 yards) moved the Whips into GNH territory at the 44-yard line. Ten- and 6-yard scampers by senior quarterback Zachary Robinson-Smey (5 carries, 26 yards) along with a 9-yard rush by senior halfback Travis Mangual Jr. (7 carries, 14 yards) helped nudge the ball nine yards from the goal line, but Mejia’s bid for a new set of downs fell one yard short on fourth-and-2 in the opening minutes of the second quarter.
“We had to answer there,” admitted Robinson-Smey, who fell just short (978 yards) of a 1,000-yard season. “When we first saw who we were going to play, my Dad [Joe Smey] told me we’d probably be facing a very good team because he played for Naugatuck in that league.
“I think it’s a league where they just attack teams the whole game. Every play we ran they were right there. They were aggressive and they tackled hard.”
Pinned down deep in their own territory, the Yellowjackets made the defensive stand pay off, gaining a first down before Reisdorf shrugged off a third-and-12 by rolling left and throwing across his body to find Calder-Camp streaking just behind Windham’s deep coverage for a 77-yard score and 14-0 lead with 5:38 left in the first half.
Windham’s second possession lasted just five plays before Emanual Vazquez pinned GNH down on its 23 with a 27-yard punt.
Five plays and 77 yards later, the Yellowjackets had themselves a 21-zip advantage after Avenia (9 carries, 61 yards) rumbled off left tackle and raced down the left sideline for a touchdown with 57.1 ticks remaining before the break.
GNH maintained a 226-89 advantage in total yards over the Whips in the opening half but it was its toughness that served notice that a comeback was unlikely.
“Best team we played all year,” said Robinson-Smey.
“No question. They hit hard, they fly to the ball, they’re talented, fast and disciplined on offense … just a great football team,” said Prose.
Windham received the opening kickoff of the second half but gained just 20 yards on six plays before Vazquez booted a 43-yard punt. The Whips limited GNH to just 12 rushing yards and kept the Yellowjackets off the scoreboard in the third quarter but, after the Whips turned the ball over on downs 36 yards from the goal line early in the fourth, Reisdorf and Calder-Camp got back to work.
Reisdorf gained 15 yards on two carries and Calder-Camp carried six times for 36 yards, the final attempt netting 11 yards punctuated by a dive to the right pylon to cap an 11-play, 64-yard drive for a 27-0 lead with 4:10 left in the game.
Calder-Camp then finished off his fine night by picking off Robinson-Smey (6-for-12 passing, 33 yards) at Windham’s 48 and zig-zagging his way to the left sideline for a pick-6 while sealing GNH’s 34-point win with 2:10 remaining.
The Whips finished with just 123 rushing yards on 31 attempts while the Yellowjackets amassed an efficient 215 yards on 37 carries.
“I just told the kids we got beat by a better team, plain and simple,” said Prose. “No shame in that and all the credit goes to them.
“And I told them what they accomplished together this year was phenomenal. The older kids established something for the others to build on and the young kids can really learn from these seniors. Just a terrific season.”

11/27/2022

MIKE SYPHER
WILLIMANTIC – Randall Prose walked off the outfield grass at Windham High’s baseball field – his football squad’s practice digs – a few minutes after noon on Saturday morning, more than enough time for the eighth-year coach of the High Street Road Warriors to zip home and watch his beloved Buckeyes from The Ohio State University take on the hated Wolverines from Michigan.
I haven’t checked on Randall to see if he’s OK since Michigan rode a huge second-half effort to a 45-23 thumping of his Buckeyes but, no matter … I trust that Prose has a nice little diversion to help him recover from Saturday’s disappointment.
Yep, Prose and his staff are laser-focused on preparing their Whips (9-1) for Tuesday night’s CIAC Class SS quarterfinal-round playoff game against Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic Regional (8-2) at 6:30 p.m. at E.O. Smith High School.
Ohio State will play again this season. That’s the goal for Prose and Company … survive and advance while somehow steering their second-seeded Whips past the No. 7 Yellowjackets and on to Sunday’s semifinals of the Class SS tourney.
According to Prose, Tuesday night’s challenge is a difficult one. After scouting Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic Regional on film and witnessing firsthand the talent level and tendencies of the Yellowjackets, it was as if he was watching tape of his very own Whippets.
“All of ’em,” replied Prose when asked how many of Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic Regional’s games he had watched in preparation for Windham’s first CIAC playoff game since the Whips fell to Ansonia, 35-14, in the semifinal round of the Class S-Large playoffs back in 2014. “We’ve watched all of their games and, let me tell you, they’re good.
“They’re like a mirror image of us. It was like we were watching us on tape. They run the ball a lot, they run option, their line is good, they throw the ball sparingly but the passing game is effective, just like us. No. 5 is the key for them on offense and he’s a terrific athlete. Their defense flies to the ball like us and they’ve got two really good middle linebackers who really are the keys for them.”
No. 5 for the Yellowjackets is 6-1, 185-pound senior running back Fred Calder-Camp, the proverbial straw that stirs the offensive drink for head coach Scott Salius’ squad.
Calder-Camp has gained 979 yards on just 82 carries (11.9 yards per carry) for the Yellowjackets while junior running back Aiden Avenia (5-10, 165) completes the 1-2 punch in the backfield for Salius with 654 rushing yards on 76 carries, 13 of which ended with flips to the back judge in the end zone.
But Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic Regional is hardly a 2-trick pony.
Senior running back Greyson Ursone (5-9, 150) has gained 360 yards on 23 carries while adding six touchdowns with junior quarterback Nolan Reisdorf (5-7, 135) adding 451 yards on 54 rushes, including five TD carries.
Reisdorf has also completed 17-of-37 pass attempts for 415 yards and five touchdowns through the air.
“They might throw the ball just four or five times a game, but they’ve very effective with the pass,” Prose said of the Yellowjackets’ approach on offense. “We’ve got to be aware of a number of people.”
The reflection in that ‘mirror’ Prose alluded to earlier suggests that the Yellowjackets would be wise to be aware of a number of Whippets as well.
Senior fullback Victor Mejia gained 1,516 yards for the Whips in the regular season on 169 carries, averaging 151.6 yards and 16.9 rushes per game while scoring a whopping 21 touchdowns on the ground and collecting nine 100-yard-plus efforts.
“Victor is as healthy as he’s been all season,” said Prose, who noted that Mejia is 100 percent after getting dinged up in Windham’s lone loss of the season, a 26-20 setback in overtime at Ledyard back on November 4. “He’s healthy and ready to go.”
Senior quarterback Zachary Robinson-Smey has rushed for 952 yards on 83 attempts while showcasing his dual-threat capability of sneaking through crevices up the middle or bouncing out wide and winning footraces to either sideline. Robinson-Smey has scored 16 rushing touchdowns while also adding six TD tosses on 26-of-45 passing for 487 yards.
“We’re excited to see how we match up and we’re excited for the opportunity to play another game,” said Prose. “It’s going to be a challenge but we’re risen to every challenge in front of us this season.”
Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic Regional has risen to challenges as well this season while facing an elimination game of sorts for six consecutive weeks following a 30-20 road loss to Ansonia way back on September 30. That setback, coupled with a season-opening 21-6 road loss at Naugatuck followed by victories over Kennedy (34-6) and Wilby (35-0), dropped the Yellowjackets to 2-2 on the season.
They ripped off six consecutive wins to close out the season and punch their ticket to the postseason, a run capped by a 56-6 victory over St. Paul on Thanksgiving Day.
Here comes the ‘mirror’ analogy again … the Whips blasted Montville, 56-6, on Thanksgiving Day. More similarities between the two squads color the upcoming match-up.
Windham has outscored opponents by a 422-149 margin while the Yellowjackets own a 433-168 scoring advantage. The Whips lost to a CIAC playoff team – Ledyard (8-2), No. 8 in Class SS -- while the Yellowjackets were defeated by a pair of playoff participants – Naugatuck (8-2), No. 5 in Class L, and Ansonia (10-0), No. 1 in Class S.
Leading tacklers for the Yellowjackets include Avenia (82 tackles, including 10 for losses), who lines up at middle linebacker alongside senior Devin Divita (70 tackles, 7 for losses). Windham’s leading tackler is 5-11, 225-pound sophomore man/child Malachi Fowler (108 tackles, 12 for losses) while fellow sophomore Asael Garcia Rodriguez has collected a team-high six sacks among his 33 overall tackles from his defensive end assignment.
The Whips will be making their second trip to Storrs this season after dispatching with E.O. Smith, 56-14, in their season opener back on September 8, a game that was knotted at 14-all late in the first half before they found their footing and pulled away.
The High Street Roadies have showcased their ability to handle bus trips anywhere from seven to 35 miles in search of a victory. Will Tuesday night be any different?
“It’s been a challenge. I’m not going to lie to you,” Prose said earlier this season when asked to assess the degree of difficulty attached to playing an entire season on the road. “But these kids have adjusted, adapted and adopted that Road Warrior mentality.
“We’ll play anyone, anywhere, any time.”
And so, this week’s assignment is a simple one: Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic Regional in Storrs at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday night.
Get there early and be a part of Windham High’s Road Show! …
Mike Sypher, former sports editor of the Willimantic Chronicle, has covered local sports for 35 years.

11/26/2022

MIKE SYPHER
MONTVILLE – Shortly after the final seconds had ticked off the scoreboard lights at one end of the football field at Montville High on Tuesday night, Randall Prose couldn’t help but allow himself a few wistful moments.
The head coach of Windham High’s football program had just watched his Whippets punctuate their regular season with yet another resounding victory, but Prose was thinking about all of the little victories within the big-picture win.
A season that began way back during pre-season workouts in August with the promise of someday, one day, playing on Windham’s beautiful new turf field instead gave way to a schedule full of distractions due to construction delays and deadlines pushed back for a variety of reasons.
No matter.
Enough constants remained to help nudge the plucky Whips along to one of the most memorable regular-season campaigns in program history: You need 10 yards to earn a first down, touchdowns are six points, PATs are almost a sure thing with these Whips, snarly defense pays big dividends and the Wing-T is a thing of beauty to watch when enough young men commit to filling unselfish roles.
“It was a difficult situation,” admitted Prose. “We were so excited, we knew we had lots of talent and potential coming back, but the whole deal with the field was a big challenge. It was always another date, another date, another date.”
The Whips were forced to play a road game, then another road game, then another road game, 10 in all counting Tuesday night’s finale at Montville.
But they answered that challenge with a victory, then another victory, then another victory - nine in all – including Tuesday’s 56-6 whomp job over Montville that secured at least a top-3 seeding for the Whips (9-1) in the upcoming 8-team CIAC Class SS state playoff field.
Fittingly enough, the win over Montville (1-9) secured yet another ‘home’ date for the Whippets, who will ‘host’ an opponent to be determined on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at E.O. Smith’s football field.
Windham, which dominated in every statistical category, always seemed on its way to a comfortable win on Tuesday night, but Montville hung around and trailed by 15-0 and 29-6 margins at the end of the first two quarters.
But the Whips transformed the game into ‘running time’ mode in the second half and presented their large following of fans who made the trek to Montville with yet another showcase of speed, ex*****on and just plain old brute force.
On offense, senior fullback Victor Mejia (11 carries, 117 yards) bumped his rushing total for the season to 1,516 yards and scored on touchdown runs from 14, 37 and six yards.
Senior quarterback Zachary Robinson-Smey (9 carries, 119 yards) added a 40-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, hooked up with senior tight end Emanual Vazquez on a 33-yard screen pass for a TD as the buzzer sounded at the end of the first half and nudged his season total for rushing yards within 48 of 1,000.
Senior Darwin Melendez Gonzalez (40 yards), sophomore Asael Garcia Rodriguez (44 yards) and junior Joseph Bartlett (42 yards) added long touchdown runs as the Whippets produced 410 yards on the ground on just 28 carries.
On defense, Windham limited Montville to 183 total yards but just 53 yards on 24 rushing attempts. Seven of Montville’s rushing attempts went for negative yardage and the hosts collected 57 of their yards on the ground on 10 carries in a fourth quarter against Windham’s reserves.
Montville did enjoy some success through the air with quarterback Tyler Ladia completing 10-of-17 passes for 130 yards – all in the first half – including a 25-yard TD toss to Anthony Barbuto in the second quarter.
The Whips opened the scoring in the first quarter when Mejia capped a 10-play, 79-yard drive with his 14-yard TD burst with 3:37 remaining, Robinson-Smey corralling an errant snap on the PAT attempt and somehow finding Melendez Gonzalez on the left sideline for an improbable 2-point conversion pass.
The Whips then made it a 15-zip game one play after Melendez Gonzalez fell on a blocked punt to set up Mejia’s 37-yard pin-ball TD with 44 ticks left.
Robinson Smey’s 40-yard roll to the left sideline made it a 22-0 game after junior Chase Collins added the second PAT of his 6-for-6 performance 4:19 into the second quarter but Montville struck back, moving 66 yards on 11 plays and eating up 7:09 of clock time with Ladia finding Barbuto open between a pair of defenders in the end zone with 32 seconds left in the half.
Little bit of hope for Montville down just 22-6 entering the break? Nope, not after the Whips parlayed an 11-yard run by Mejia, 12-yard scamper by Robinson-Smey, a pass interference penalty and Robinson-Smey’s roll right, throw left screen pass to Vazquez for the buzzer-beating, Montville-deflating TD at the first-half buzzer.
“Montville came out scrappy tonight and came right at us,” said Prose. “And we came out a little flat, a little cold. Scoring like that [right before the half] is what we like to do. We think we can score from anywhere, any time on the field.”
Windham produced three more anywhere, any time moments in the third quarter, Mejia surpassing 1,500 yards with his 13-yard TD scamper and adding a 6-yard score three plays after fellow senior Dustin Solensky recovered a Montville fumble before Garcia Rodriguez took his only touch of the game 44 yards to the house with 1:12 remaining.
Bartlett made his lone touch of the game a topic for Thanksgiving dinner chatter around the Bartlett-Risley holiday table with his 42-yard burst to cap the night’s scoring as the Whips tuned up for their first post-season appearance since 2014 when they lost to Ansonia, 35-14, in the semifinals of the CIAC Class S-Large tourney.
“We won’t know who we play until all the games have been played on Thanksgiving, but it really doesn’t matter,” said Prose. “We’ll play anybody, anywhere, any time.
“The kids have faced so many challenges and obstacles and they just keep coming back, work and take everything that’s thrown at them and just keep playing hard. I’m excited. They deserve this. They deserve to keep playing and see how good they are.”
Anybody? Anywhere? Any time?
Two things are certain: The Whips feel right at home, thank-you very much, on the road. And very, very comfortable, thanks to themselves, in the win column. …
Mike Sypher, former sports editor of the Willimantic Chronicle, has covered local sports for 35 years.

11/25/2022

This page was created with the hopes of maintaining my relationship with the local sports community by providing my observations and insights of our talented athletes and coaches to their fans, friends and parents in the area.

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