WOODBURY — As another summer ends, another football season begins. This year, however, has a bit more meaning. For Northwest United football, the 2024 season might be the last time athletes ever play as one of the Workhorses.

For the past four years, Nonnewaug has been a part of a co-op in the Connecticut Technical Conference, with Shepaug Valley High School, Lakeview High School (formerly Wamogo and Litchfield high schools), and host school Oliver Wolcott Tech. 

NWU has had a successful past three years as a co-op. Their first year, they finished 7-3. The second year, they were 10-0 in the regular season, winning the conference and making the state playoffs. And last year, the Workhorses were 9-1 in the regular season and finished second in the conference with a return trip to the playoffs.

Mykal Kuslis, Nonnewaug High School’s principal, has seen NWU’s success first-hand as the roster has grown. 

“As that success grew, so did the number of kids who wanted to come out into the program,” Kuslis said.  

As the number of athletes who joined the program grew, it started to interfere with the CIAC’s rules and conditions for a co-op.

The CIAC handbook states: “A school whose numbers exceed [the] maximum determined limit will be placed in a phase out for either one or two years. Should the numbers drop during the phase out period the schools are eligible to re-apply to restore their co-op status.”

The number of players in the Northwest United program surpasses the threshold. The Workhorses finished with 77 players in 2023, and they have 66 in 2024. In a football co-op, the maximum number of players is 64, and no one school can have more than 32 players. 

“When we reapplied for the co-op this year, with our numbers that they were, [the CIAC] gave us a one year phase-out,” said Kuslis. “Essentially, they said, you can play the 2024 season, like you’re good to go, but at the end of 2024, you either have to phase out the co-op and start something new, or when you play in 2025, you can play in that co-op, but you’re not going to be able to qualify for state tournament.” 

With administration left having to make a choice about the future of Nonnewaug football, Kuslis explains what went into the decision-making process. 

“So you’re trying to plan for a bunch of contingencies, which you don’t really know are going to happen,” Kuslis said. “We also have to figure out, is this co-op even feasible in 2025 in its current state?”

Northwest United reached out to the Naugatuck Valley League and Pequot Conference as potential homes next year if the co-op were to remain in place, looking at leagues geographically and competitively.

Kuslis said both leagues refused to accept the co-op as it currently stands with the numbers it currently has.

That left administration having to make a difficult change. After discussions with other regions, they ultimately decided to do what was best for Nonnewaug athletes — even if that meant having to lose a school in the co-op. 

The decision was for Nonnewaug to create its own co-op for 2025 and drop host Wolcott Tech to stay within the co-op regulations. 

“There’s no perfect answer here, right? Because at some point somebody’s going to be dropped out of it. There’s going to be somebody who has the potential of not having football next year,” Kuslis said. “It’s not an easy decision.”

Nonnewaug in turn reached out to Region 12 and Region 20 to see if they would be interested in a co-op for the 2025 season as Nonnewaug as the host school, but it would lose Wolcott Tech. In terms of finding a league to join, Kuslis explains how there wasn’t enough room in the NVL, but the Pequot will potentially let the future co-op join. 

“We are very confident that in the next couple weeks, the Pequot will vote us in for football. We play in the Pequot for football and that’s where we would go for 2025,” Kuslis said. “So Wolcott Tech would be the one that would have to find another co-op.” 

Junior Scott Viveros, a NWU football player from Nonnewaug, has mixed opinions about losing Wolcott Tech.

“It’s gonna be a weird change, especially because half our team is from Wolcott Tech, so next year it’s gonna be weird not having those kids,” said Viveros. “But I think that it’s an opportunity to give playing time to kids that wouldn’t start with the Wolcott Tech team there.”

Sophomore Henry Strzelecki, also a NWU football player from Nonnewaug, agrees with Viveros.

“I think it’s really going to affect our team, because we have a lot of good players that come from that school, so I don’t know. It’s gonna allow for more kids at Nonnewaug to get more playing time, but it’s definitely going to affect us as a team,” Strzelecki said. “Honestly, we’re going to lose a good amount of good players so I don’t know, we probably won’t do as good without them.” 

Tristan VanDyke, a NWU football player from Wolcott Tech, is upset about the change, but is hoping it gives the team motivation as this is their last season together. 

“I feel super grateful for the time I had been a part of this co-op. It’s sad to see Wolcott Tech leave the co-op,” VanDyke said. “Next year I don’t know what’s going to happen with the players that want to play football that go to Tech; it’s unfair to them to not be able to play the sport they love. But to be honest, I think it’s just gonna fire us up for this season. I feel like as a team it should just give us more motivation to work together.”

The Workhorses are off to a 3-0 start this season, including nonconference wins over Stratford and Lewis Mills. For students like VanDyke, although the present is good, it is unclear what the future may entail.

“I don’t know the reason for why we are dropping out next year, but some kids just wanna play football,” said VanDyke. “I feel no matter how hard some of these kids put the work in, it’s getting taken away.” 

Zion Francis, another NWU player from Wolcott Tech, also feels upset about the change. 

“I’m pretty sad,” Francis said. “This is the last year with all my friends, and I have formed a brotherhood with my team.”

Despite the difficult feelings that arise from this change, Kuslis reiterates the decisions made were all in Nonnewaug’s best interest. 

“I know it’s become a family, and everybody loves it. I mean, the school spirit is brought back to the school — the games, the food trucks,” said Kuslis. “We’re doing everything we can to help Wolcott Tech. We made what we thought was the best decision for Nonnewaug High School students.”