TORRINGTON: As I stood on the roof of the new Torrington High School on Saturday morning during a tour of the HS/MS project, one thing came to mind.
Gratitude.
I was grateful that we, as a community, decided it was worth investing in future generations of young people who will enjoy this magnificent complex for decades to come.
I was grateful to the men and women who worked so hard behind the scenes to get this project approved in 2020, during the height of a pandemic. Go figure.
Walking through the halls of the high school building is stunning, considering the first cement footings were just poured one year ago to the day on November 11, 2022.
I flash back to the first time Mario Longobucco and I made a video in December of last year as we slugged our way through deep mud to get a look at what was started.
What has been amazing as I took three additional tours in 2023 was how much the complex looks like the video circulated earlier this year.
Right now, the classrooms are taking shape with breathtaking views on the upper floors, showing the beautiful surrounding hills of Litchfield County.
And no, you can’t hear the cars and trucks on Route 8, this is not O and G’s first rodeo. Schools have been built even closer to highways and are safe and secure.
The complexity of a project like this blows my mind and I’m glad folks with better minds than mine are on top of things.
January of 2025 is coming faster than we think and from all indications, this complex will be ready and waiting when that time comes.
–The 2023 high school football season is racing to a close as we approach Thanksgiving and it’s been a good one for the three area teams.
Northwest United, made up of players from Wolcott Tech, Nonnewaug, Shepaug, Litchfield and Wamogo have led the way with a to date perfect mark of 9-0.
One game remains, a Thanksgiving Day matchup with Abbott Tech on the road.
NWU plays in Class M this year and is currently ranked No. 2 behind Rockville (7-1) who hold a slight lead based on strength of schedule.
The top eight teams make the post season, and two potential opponents (Abbott and Bullard-Havens) will have faced them by then.
-GNH-The Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic co-op are fresh off a huge 14-7 win over Holy Cross at Van Why Field on Saturday,
The Yellowjackets play in Class SS and are currently seeded fifth with one game to go, a night before Thanksgiving contest at 1-8 St Paul in Bristol.
GNH has proven to be right at home in the Naugatuck Valley League, having beaten Torrington, the Crusaders, Seymour, Wolcott and Kennedy this year.
A year ago, in their first year in the NVL, GNH played right with Ansonia (30-20) and Naugatuck (21-6) before eventually falling to the two NVK powerhouses.
Granby/Canton holds the top spot in SS with an 8-1 mark and wrap their regular season this Friday when they take on SMSA (8-1, Class M) on the road.
-Torrington-A season removed from a 1-9 mark, the Raiders are a win away from going 6-4 if they can get by rival Watertown (4-5) on Thanksgiving Day at the Robert H Frost complex at THS.
The Warriors will have a great deal to play for as they currently sit in the final playoff spot in SS with that 4-5 mark.
Torrington got back in the win column with a 54-0 win over Wilby on Friday night at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury and will be highly motivated to both get the Helmet (the trophy that stays with the winning school for the year) and potentially knock their rival out of post season play.
-The Thomaston girls soccer team is taking us on another magical Golden Bears ride.
This is the first time the soccer program will put us on that train we have ridden so many times over the years with basketball, softball and field hockey.
Rick Wilson has been on the train for all the great moments and will bring all the action back to us as the Bears play on Tuesday night at Glastonbury High School as the top seeded Bears take on the five seed, Lyman Memorial at 6 p.m.
A trip to the finals awaits one of the two teams.
Like I said at the start,
I’m grateful for where we are and what we have.