Football preview: Griswold-Wheeler has high expectations in 2023
With a healthy group of returning lettermen, including 14 seniors and a core group of starters from last season, optimism abounds for the Griswold-Wheeler cooperative football team in 2023.
In fact, when the Wolverines get on their bus for the annual Thanksgiving Day clash against Plainfield, Griswold head coach Gregg Wilcox wouldn't be surprised if his junior-senior laden club was playing for a Class S playoff spot.
“6-4 is not going to be acceptable this year,” Wilcox said. “We should be better this year.”
Griswold went 3-7 following the non-playing COVID year, then fell to 2-4 after close losses against East Lyme and Waterford last season. The Wolverines, however, reeled off four straight victories, including a 34-0 win over Plainfield, to end the season on a high note.
“We’re a year older and we’ve got a pretty good senior group so I expect those guys to perform,” said Wilcox, who's long tenure at Griswold began in the late 1990s as the freshman coach and defensive coordinator. “That’s the evolution. Last year we made progress at the end of the year and I expect us to start at that level and go forward.”
Team leaders
Leading the way for Griswold-Wheeler in 2023 are senior captains KinKade Rubino (RB/DB), Kiyle Montigny (RB/LB), Aiden Peltier (RB/DB) and Aannin Kalwara (RB/LB).
The Wolverines return a great core of linemen in seniors Jacob Hamel (center), Tyler Skowron, Ayden Rourke, Sam Martin, and junior Ben Lewis.
Junior Luke Cassidy begins his third season as the starting quarterback. Juniors Dean Menzano and Josh Turner are also experienced returning lettermen.
The Wolverines lineup will also be bolstered by Jonathon MacFeat, a senior tight end/defensive end who moved from South Dakota.
The schedule
Griswold will christen its gorgeous new turf field on Sept. 8 against East Catholic at Griswold High School.
“No more mud bowls or wet, high grass,” Wilcox said. “The kids are really excited about the turf field.”
The Wolverines play four of their five games at home. Besides East Catholic, they also host Windham (Sept. 15), Woodstock Academy (Sept. 22), Weaver (Oct. 13) and Montville (Nov. 10).
Griswold, which competes in the Eastern Connecticut Conference, has road contests against Bacon Academy (Sept. 30), Ledyard (Oct. 19), Waterford (Oct. 27), Stonington (Nov. 3) and Plainfield (Nov. 23).
“The ECC is a tough league,” Wilcox said. “The kids have expectations with what they want to do and we as a coaching staff have similar expectations. We just have to hopefully get the work out of them, catch a few breaks and stay healthy.”
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Griswold-Wheeler aims to be Class S playoff contender
