Norwalk High’s hockey and swim teams work as co-op programs, meaning they combine athletes from multiple schools to form a single team. Our boys hockey is combined with Brien McMahon and Staples and our boys swim team is combined with McMahon.
In towns like Norwalk and our neighbors we see impressive talent from high school athletes but a decrease in participation numbers at individual schools. With only a handful of athletes trying out from Norwalk High School each year the school realized if they didn’t do anything to change this pattern then they risked losing two important contributions to Norwalk Athletics, boys swim and boys ice hockey.
They found a solution to their problem by combining our ice hockey team with Brien McMahon and Staples resulting in our new team name, Stormac! Our boys swim team came together with our cross town rivals, Brien McMahon to create the Normac swim and dive team who are currently undefeated.
The Boys Ice Hockey team, known as Stormac are 6-8 with one game left. The three school collaboration allows the school to combine their resources and talent, providing a competitive environment for student athletes. Junior Captain Austin Minoff from Norwalk High School says “the best part is definitely being able to meet kids and make friends from other districts and schools”. Austin has formed some of his closest friendships on this team and it’s given him the chance to meet people he wouldn’t have if the team wasn’t co-op. Although there aren’t many, Austin tells us one of the difficulties at least for the hockey team is that everything is run through Staples. They have to travel to Westport when it comes to catching the bus on game day or even team meetings which could be sometimes inconvenient.
The Swim and Dive team led by head coach, Mr Minnocci currently are 7-0 with two more meets left. The co-op structure has been instrumental in providing opportunities for swimmers and divers from both schools to train and compete at a high level, fostering school spirit across the Norwalk community. It’s not often where we see Brien McMahon and Norwalk High School bring their individual talents together as they are our known rival for most sports but the swim team has proven the great things they can accomplish together.
It would be a shame if certain sports were unable to practice and play just because of a lack of participation. That’s where Co-op teams come in. Co-op sports teams give the opportunities for individual talents to come together in the world of high school sports. For many, high school sports are the easiest way to make friends, improve athletically, build leadership and teamwork skills, and on some occasions a way into college.
the best part is definitely being able to meet kids and make friends from other districts and schools. one difficulty for hockey at least is that everything is ran by staples so like we have to go there to get the bus, team meetings, stuff like that
