2010 Holy Cross Football ~ Home of the Crusaders
*2009 Naugatuck Valley League Champions*
Highest finish ever for Crusaders
Holy Cross Football 2010 In continuing with our in-season study hall that runs from the first day of school until daylight savings time, we will be holding a study hall for our football players who are strictly weightlifting during the Winter Sports season. This is a mandatory study hall that must be attended and the football staff will be keeping tabs on the off-season academic progress in order to assure that academic eligibility does not become a problem with our student-athletes in the future. Requirements: Study Hall is mandatory to ALL football players who are not participating in a Winter Sport. There will be no exceptions for anyone on the team who has received two or more grades below 70 in any of their classes during any marking period. This will also keep the emphasis on academics in the off-season. During this time, appointments can also be set up for extra help with any of the teachers, make-up tests, etc. (NOTE: extra help, make-up test is the only reason a study hall can be missed and must be accompanied by a note from the supervising teacher).
In the 181-200-pound category, Uszakiewicz grabbed a clean sweep by winning all three events, including a lift of 425 pounds in squat. “This feels pretty good,” said Uszakiewicz. “It’s shows that hard work does pay off. Two weeks after the football season, I started and spent a lot of time bettering myself. I just dedicated myself.”
So did Wolcott’s Tucker Chicano, who weighs only 150 pounds but was strong enough to squat 425 pounds, an NVL record for his 161-pound weight category. Chicano had expected a good day although he had trouble sleeping Friday night. “I didn’t actually get any sleep,” said Chicano. “It was all about being focused, determined and motivated to have a good day. When I got 425 pounds, I was really pumped up.”
Chicano hopes his success in the offseason will translate into a possible starting spot on the football field as an offensive guard and linebacker for the Eagles. He’s taking nothing for granted, and neither are his teammates. The offseason training program has thrived over the past four years, and that continued Saturday.
Wolcott won its fourth straight team title, accumulating a collective 13,445 pounds. Holy Cross (12,170) and Woodland (12,050) were a distant second and third, respectively. Holy Cross Junior Brandon DiClementi captured the 160lbs & Under Weight Class with his three lifts totaling 900 pounds. DiClementi took 3rd in the Bench Press at 260lbs. and First in the Power Clean with 260lbs. Sophomore David DiGiorgi captured his Weight Class of 161-180lbs with a three lift total of 870. DiGiorgi took 2nd in the Squat with a lift of 410lbs.
Wolcott’s Nick Pastore explained the Eagles’ secret to success. “There are no days off to be taken,” said Pastore. “Taking a day off is unacceptable.” Especially now as the Eagles continue to reflect about the past two football seasons of respectable 8-3 and 8-2 records under head coach Patrick Russo. But still they have no playoff appearance or title to show for it.
“We’re making progress and I don’t think we will ever stop having that desire to win,” added Wolcott quarterback Dominic Gambino. “I think the work we do now will definitely translate onto the field in the fall. We are all hungry to succeed and we have that goal in mind every single weight we lift now.”
The same can be said for Sacred Heart quarterback Rohan Ifill, who passed for 2,000 yards and yet he and his teammates had trouble finishing out games. “It comes down to weight training,” said Ifill. “In the fourth quarter, I was a little tired. This offseason has all been about getting stronger, and hopefully, we’ll have better outcomes next season.”
After a 6-4 record last season, Wilby coach Chris Eckert is using the offseason as a springboard for even better days. “We have a lot of enthusiasm and have got the ball rolling,” said Eckert. “It’s like pushing a car uphill. You have to keep moving forward. If you stop, it come back on top of you.”
That’s what makes days like this in the winter worthwhile, says St. Paul coach Jude Kelly. “Giving teams a chance to compete builds camaraderie,” said Kelly. “It’s those little things that makes a difference.”
Off-Season Program
Time/Place: Study Hall will run three (3) days per week on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. The Study Hall will take place from 1:35pm – 2:25pm in the Lecture Room. There will be an attendance book that will be kept and strictly enforced. When we return from Chrsitmas Break (Monday January 4th, 2010) we will begin weightlifting / conditioning four (4) days per week. We will lift Monday, Tuesday and Friday with a Study Hall prior to workouts at the usual time. Tuesday & Thursday will be used as conditioning/core training days (w/core lift) with emphasis on speed drills, footwork, timed wall squats, and box-drills. This schedule will run until the end of the Winter Sports Season and strength & conditioning will run through the Spring Sports Season.
Holy Cross Juniors Chris D'Esposito (Left) and Brandon DiClementi (Right) accept the Runner-Up Trophy for the 2010 Naugatuck Valley League Weightlifting Competition. The Crusaders finished with 12.170 lbs. combined for all their lifts, falling behind Wolcott, who captured the Title for the Fouth Consecutive Year with 13,445 lbs. DiClementi captured the title in his weight class of 160 lbs. & Under.
Final State Coaches Poll
New London Day Top 10 Poll ~ Week 13 1 ND-West Haven (10) 11-1 2 Cheshire (3) 11-1 3 Staples 12-1 4 New Canaan 11-1 5 Pomperaug 12-1 6 Bridgeport Central 9-2 7 St. Joseph-Trumbull 10-2 8 Xavier 9-2 9 Hyde-New Haven 11-1 10 Berlin 10-2
Dropped out: New London (T4), Conard-West Hartford (7), and Simsbury (8)
Also Receiving Votes: Greenwich (7-3), 113 points; Glastonbury (9-2), 104; Simsbury (9-2), 102; New London (10-1), 84; Conard (10-1), 75; Montville (10-2), 51; East Lyme (10-2), 38; Masuk-Monroe (9-2), 30; Bethel (9-3), 26; Northwest Catholic-West Hartford (10-2), 25; Avon (10-1), 14; Holy Cross-Waterbury (9-2), 10; Bloomfield (9-2), 9; Ridgefield (9-1), 8.
| New Haven Register Top 10 ~ Week 13 | ||
Final State Media Poll
| ||
| 1 | ND-West Haven (19) | 11-1 |
| 2 | Cheshire (3) | 11-1 |
| 3 | Staples (2) | 12-1 |
| 4 | New Canaan | 11-1 |
| 5 | Pomperaug | 12-1 |
| 6 | Xavier | 9-2 |
| 7 | St. Joseph-Trumbull | 10-2 |
| 8 | Bridgeport Central | 9-2 |
| 9 | Hyde-New Haven | 11-1 |
| 10 | Berlin | 10-2 |
Dropped Out: New London (3), Glastonbury (6), Conard (8), and Simsbury (9)
Others Receiving Votes: Glastonbury (9-2), 244; New London (10-1), 179; Simsbury (9-2), 175; Conard (10-1), 165; Montville (10-2), 132; Greenwich (7-3), 103; Masuk (9-2), 63; Bethel (9-3) and East Lyme (10-2), 50; Ridgefield (9-1), 34; Avon (10-1), 30; Northwest Catholic (10-2), 20; Holy Cross-Waterbury (9-2) and St. Paul (8-3), 19; Shelton (7-3), 18; Bloomfield (9-2), 15; Hamden (7-3), 10; Ansonia (8-3) and Windsor (8-2), 8; Wolcott (8-2). 7.
| Previous Seasons: | |
| 1996 | 11-0 |
| 1997 | 7-4 |
| 1998 | 2-8 |
| 1999 | 9-1 |
| 2000 | 7-3 |
| 2001 | 4-6 |
| 2002 | 4-7 |
| 2003 | 5-6 |
| 2004 | 8-2 |
| 2005 | 9-1 |
| 2006 | 10-0 |
| 2007 | 7-3 |
| 2008 | 5-6 |
| 2009 | 9-1 |
Holy Cross Fight Song
(To the beat of Minnesota Rouser)
Go Crusaders, Go all the way
You can do it any old day
Show the others just how to play
For we are men and men of might
Fight, fight, fight, fight
Onward to victory!
*The Holy Cross Football Community would like to thank the efforts of Mr. Brian Beaulieu for all his work and dedication during the football season in providing the action photos you see on this website. Mr. Beaulieu is on the sidelines week in and week out dedicated in capturing the photos you see here. Thanks again for everything you do for the program and especially our players*