Our children make us proud
To say West Haven has not much to cheer about over the last several years is a wry understatement. Financial woes have plagued the city since the early 1990s, economic development has been stalled in the mire of high taxes and an aging infrastructure, resulting in what was once a destination community becoming another statistic in the decline of the Northeast.
One thing we had to cheer on during that time, however, was our children. Through the worst economic times, political squabbles and simple bad luck, our youngsters have provided a positive note to what seems like endless unwelcome news. State Chess Championships, performances on the stage in both drama and musical arts, and athletics have given Westies the opportunity to cheer and be proud.
March 20 will stand out as a milestone in the city’s history, and the effects go far beyond the realm of athletics. Two teams took to the floor of the Mohegan Sun Arena and came away with Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference state titles. The Unified team was able to outrun a tough Windsor team, 28-27, to win the Level I division, while the boys team was able to come away with a triple-overtime win over Staples of Westport, 79-72 for the Division I state title.
Both teams had to slog through the various tournaments leading to Mohegan Sun, but both teams made the best of the journey with thrilling victories. The boys, particularly, had to overcome archrival and state powerhouse Notre Dame of West Haven – a team it had not defeated in three previous attempts this year – to gain a spot in the finals.
It is interesting to note that only a few days later West Haven Theater Workshop had its production of Footloose – the Musical and played to large audiences for the two-day run. The talent was obvious and plentiful, and not confined to the court, rink, or field. Our youth are a fountain of developing talent.
But there is something about a state championship that is special – and should be. Naysayers will opine the emphasis on athletics is to the detriment of more high-minded pursuits. People who say that do not understand the intricacies of offensive and defensive schemes, which bring in coordination, geometry and critical thinking, the science of every sport.
The best understanding of why athletics are emphasized so much is the innate positivity it embraces. The late Joe McHugh, legendary head coach of West Haven’s 1968 football squad, used to say the reason many people head to the sports pages of newspapers before reading anything else is because “it is the only place that man’s accomplishments, not his failings, are highlighted.”
The National Federation of State High Schools Associations (NHFS), the ruling body of high school sports, an organization similar the NCAA, emphasizes “education-based athletics.” Sports are an extension of the classroom and are meant to teach skills that go beyond the schoolhouse and into adult life. The teams that played Nov. 21 as well as the actors and singers who performed a week late learned those lessons and will carry them into adulthood.
We are proud of our state champions, and we are proud of all those youngsters who learn to adapt what they learn in class with other aspects of life.
Congratulations go to all, but most especially to the members of the Unified and boys basketball teams, who have shared memories – and lessons – that last a lifetime.