The Danbury High School boys track and field team’s dual-meet winning streak is over. The last time the Hatters lost was 2000, according to published reports. And some say it can be attributed to the suspension of 13 Danbury athletes for its meet on Tuesday.

Danbury head coach Rob Murray told The News-Times that the suspensions were for disciplinary reasons, and could not elaborate further. But as a result, Danbury fell to Trumbull 76-74 (even though the Hatters did get wins over Westhill and Wilton).

But for what it’s worth, what is a one-meet suspension worth? And did the crime fit the punishment? That part we will never know, since school records are kept under wraps.

But dual meets, in theory, are overrated when it comes to track in field. Yes, winning is great, but track is one of those sports in which dual meets are used to get ready for the post season. The regular season, in all reality, is all about developing athletes.

Yes, there is a bit of pride on the line when you go against a rival school, but that’s about it. Even if the athletes are not allowed to compete Saturday in the O’Grady Relays (which are kind of a big deal in Danbury and the surrounding area), that one is still a meet based on pride.

The streak of 137 consecutive dual meet wins is nowhere near as important as discipline. I applaud Murray for taking a stance. Form The News-Times:

“We took this action because both the track and field team and the school felt it was important to convey to the community that what took place is unacceptable,” Murray said. “It is not what we stand for.”

And with the way the team performed Tuesday, there’s little doubt that Danbury has the athletes and the depth to compete for FCIAC and CIAC championships… the meets that count.

–Tim Parry

Thirty of Fairfield County’s finest football-playing scholar-athletes were honored April 10 by the Ralph DeSantis chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. Also honored at the dinner at Continental Manor in Norwalk were the head and assistant coaches of the year in the SWC and FCIAC, as well as two officials of the year.

Three players received $500 scholarships to be used towards their college education as well: William Bass (Bassick), Richard Holmes (Danbury), and Chris Payne (Wilton).

Wilton’s Tim Eagen was introduced as the FCIAC’s coach of the year by his mentor, Tom Fujitani, who he served under as an assistant coach for several years, and thanked his assistant coaches and the Warriors’ booster club for its efforts in helping to build a top-notch program. Ridgefield’s Kevin Callahan introduced one of his former players, New Fairfield’s Andy Buchsbaum, as the SWC’s coach of the year.

Carl Cairo (Greenwich) and John Pereira (Pomperaug) received their league’s respective assistant coach of the year awards.

The scholar-athletes honered were:

• William Bass, Bassick
• Nick Verderosa, Bethel
• Chris Green, Brien McMahon
• Kenneth Cobb, Bridgeport Central
• Steven Moss, Brookfield
• Jeffrey Farrell, Bunnell
• Greg Passineau, Canterbury
• Richard Holmes, Danbury
• George Rhein, Darien
• Matthew O’Laughlin, Fairfield Ludlowe
• Thomas Marx Jr., Fairfield Warde
• Jonathan Meyers, Greenwich
• Scott Hickling, Joel Barlow
• Victor Ciancetta, Masuk
• Chris Lemoine, New Canaan
• Patrick Cassidy, New Fairfield
• Jonathan Henion, New Milford
• Eric Puffer, Newtown
• Cyprian Oyomba, Norwalk
• Patrick Purrell, Notre Dame-Fairfield
• Stephen Barton, Pomperaug
• Tyler Strittmatter, Ridgefield
• Michael Dinihanien, St. Joseph
• Jason Zins, Staples
• Justin Shumyhora, Stratford
• John O’Leary, Trinity Catholic
• Jameson Cherilus, Trumbull
• John Midy, Westhill
• Dylan Hannum, Weston
• Chris Payne, Wilton

Also honored were a few unsung heroes of the game, the referees. Without them, of course, the games wouldn’t count in the standings. Bob Seirup, who has been working with the Fairfield County Football Association for 54 seasons, was honored as its official of the year. Bill Vasutro was the Colonial Football Association’s honoree.