Opening of Track Season Stirs Memories of Our Senior Year

The Fairfield Warde High School boys' outdoor track team begins its season in two weeks. The Mustangs open the campaign at Danbury against the host Hatters, Harding Presidents, and Norwalk Bears on Tuesday, April 10. One week later, Tuesday, April 17, the squad hosts Brien McMahon, Staples, and Trumbull at 11:00 in the morning during school vacation week.

Naturally, I'm reminded of the outstanding individual performances the track team had during our senior year at Andrew Warde High School. Although it's been 31 years, the memories of that Crimson Eagles' squad are still quite vivid.

Senior Floyd Scholz and senior co-captain Pete Hellfach both broke school records in 1976. Scholz shattered the high jump record with a jump of six feet, two and three quarters inches, and he broke the triple jump mark by going 42 feet, five and a half inches.

Hellfach threw the discus 153 feet, 10 inches, bettering the previous mark by about 10 feet.

In addition to breaking school records, the team defeated Roger Ludlowe High School, 84 to 61, and it placed seventh out of 16 teams in the FCIAC championships.

Hellfach placed second in the discus and third in the shot put at the league championships. Scholz placed third in the triple jump and fourth in the high jump and 330-yard intermediate hurdles.

Pat Fideles also helped the team in the FCIAC championships by placing third in the long jump and fourth in the 440-yard run.

After the FCIAC meet, Scholz, Hellfach (seen at left), and Fideles participated in the state class LL championships. Hellfach took second place in the discus, Fideles finished fourth in the 440, and Scholz took fifth in the high jump and sixth in the triple jump.

Other seniors who contributed to the effort in 1976 included co-captain Steve Trifone, Tom Fairfield, Marc Joseph, Mike McKernan, Mark Rasmussen, Brian Pander, Mike Petraglia, and Chris Chatlos, who also qualified for the state class LL championships in the pole vault.

This year's squad at Fairfield Warde High School can gain inspiration from its predecessors of 31 years ago.

Share your memories of the track team and individual performances in the "comments" link below.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.