Voting has begun for the Fairfield County Player of the Year Award. You can meet the candidates and read all the rules here.

You can vote for multiple candidates, but you can only vote for one candidate per IP Address. So that means you can’t sit at a computer all day and vote for your favorite player.

BlueStreak Sports Training is the sponsor of the Fairfield County Player of the Year Award, and we hope you also choose to support the American Diabetes Association by making a donation on your candidate’s behalf (please note, a donation is not required if you want to cast a vote).

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Want to nominate someone for the BlueStreak Sports Training Player of the Week award? Fan the FCIAC Football Blog on Facebook and you will receive the privilege! The Week 2 ballot will be open until 9 p.m. today (Monday, Sept. 27), and you can access the ballot by fanning the FCIAC Football Blog here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/FCIAC-Football-Blog/8521011629.

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King School running back Silas Redd is the BlueStreak Sports Training Player of the Week for Week One of the 2009 season.

Redd, who has committed to play at Penn State, ran for 264 yards on 10 carries in King’s 40-20 win over Hopkins. Redd scored on runs of 88, 65 and 71 yards.

Other players nominated for the award by their coaches include New Canaan lineman Conor Hanratty, Warde WR-DB Craig Lowery and Ridgefield LB Alex Howard.

Players for the weekly award are nominated by their coaches. A nominee is then chosen by a committe formed by BlueStreak Sports Training and the FCIAC Football Blog.

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Week One is just about in the books. So now we need a BlueStreak Sports Training Player of the Week.

Tyler Matakevich of St. Joseph was an unstoppable force in his team’s 37-0 win over Crosby. Ian Ratchford had a great night passing and running for Danbury. Christon Gill was a one-man wrecking crew for Central against Ludlowe. And Silas Redd… he was Silas Redd, with 262 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Now the players on the honor roll are nominated by the coaches, and the Player of the Week is voted on by a committee. But of course we want your input.

So go ahead and tell us: Who would YOU choose for the award in Week One? Go to The Board and give us your two cents. Are any of the above mentioned the top candidates, or is someone else out there this week’s BlueStreak Sports Training Player of the Week?

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Conditioning Week is still a few weeks away, but MaxPreps already has a video preview of Connecticut high school football on its site. The video can’t be embedded, but it can be accessed here.

Of course the video, hosted by MaxPrep’s Steve Montoya, leads off with New Canaan, the defending FCIAC and Class MM champion and the state’s top-ranked team. The interesting thing though is Montoya doesn’t mention any returning players, only that Lou Marinelli’s teams reload.

Now you have to wonder about the added pressure for New Canaan to reload when you have the state’s biggest target on your back. There’s not going to be a lot of love for the Rams this season. Remember when Ansonia lost to Crosby last season, or when Greenwich lost its first game of the season to Darien? That’s the kind of shot-heard-around-Connecticut you’ll hear when (and if) New Canaan loses its first game of 2009.

Other teams mentioned in the video are Hamden, Glastonbury, Seymour and… Stamford. Montoya does not give the Black Knights claim to the FCIAC throne. But he does talk about linebacker Khairi Fortt, who will soon decide which top Division I program will have his services starting in 2010.

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Shelton quarterback Mike Brighindi has been named BlueStreak Sports Training Fairfield County Player of the Week for his performance Friday against Cheshire.

Brighindi completed 19 of 28 passes for 276 yards and one TD and in a come from behind 35-34 overtime victory on the road. Brighindi led the Gaels on an 82-yard drive in the final two minutes of regulation to tie the score, and completed six of eight for yards on the game-tying drive.

Brighindi will receive his award at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday from BlueStreak Sports Training president Matt Cole.

Nick Cortese of Trinity Catholic, the winner of the award in Week 2, was the runner up. He ran for 216 yards and five touchdowns in the Crusaders double-overtime win over Fairfield Ludlowe.

Also nominated in Week 3: Scott Benzing, WR, Brookfield; Joe Dalla Vecchia, QB, St. Joseph; Nikki Dysenchuk, RB, Darien; Chris Hines, RB, Norwalk; Matt Kelly, CB, Staples; Justin Warzoha, QB, Greenwich; and Mike Webber, WR, New Milford.

Players are nominated both by football coaches representing teams in Fairfield County. A mimimum of five nominees from a weekly fan poll are also included on a ballot, and the Player of the Week is then selected by members of the Fairfield County sports media community.

The award is presented by the FCIAC Football Blog.

The following media members voted: The following media members voted: Rob Adams (WGCH-AM), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), Zachary Eastright (WSTC-AM/WNLK-AM), Dan Farrand (News-Times), Scott Ferrari (Greenwich Citizen), Andy Hutchison (Newtown Bee), Jason A. Intrieri (FCIAC Football Blog Live), Ken Morse (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), John Nash (The Stamford Times), Matt Norlander (New Canaan News-Review), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Eliot Schickler (Westport News), Paul Silverfarb (Greenwich Post), Dave Stewart (New Canaan Advertiser), Rob Sullivan (Minuteman Newspapers), Michael Suppe (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers).

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Nate Quinn and Nick Cortese have been named BlueStreak Sports Training Players of the Week. Who will win the honor for Week three? You can can help the media make that decision by nomination a Player of the Week candidate.

Click here to nominate a player. You have until noon Monday, Sept. 29, to give someone a shot at the award.

Here’s a quick rundown of the criteria:

• Player must be on a team or leage based in Fairfield County (example: Oxford, New Milford and Pomperaug players are eligible because they play in the SWC. Fairfield Prep, Shelton, St. Luke’s, Bruswick, King, Bullard-Havens and Wright Tech/Stamford Academy players can also be considered).
• “Offensive line” is a unit, not a player. But you can nominate a lineman, of course.
• Only one vote per IP address is permitted.

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By Tim Parry

Trinity Catholic fullback and linebacker Nick Cortese was selected as the BlueStreak Sports Training Fairfield County Player of the Week after a dominant performance against Westhill of Saturday.

Cortese ran for 239 yards and four touchdowns, had three tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery, and as a punter held the Vikings to zero yards on punt returns.

Players are nominated both by football coaches representing teams in Fairfield County. A mimimum of five nominees from a weekly fan poll are also included on a ballot, and the Player of the Week is then selected by members of the Fairfield County sports media community.

Brian Kosnik of Darien was the runner-up. In the Blue Wave’s upset of Greenwich, Kosnik had six catches, 113 yards, one touchdown, a two-point conversion, and seven tackles.

Other Week 2 nominees included Stuart Armstrong (Danbury), Vinnie Cannon (Wilton), Joe Della Vecchia (St. Joseph), Axel Lee (Central) and Andrew Millmore (Warde).

The following media members voted: The following media members voted: Rob Adams (WGCH-AM), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), Zach Eastright (WSTC-AM/WNLK-AM), Dan Farrand (News-Times), Scott Ferrari (Greenwich Citizen), Jason A. Intrieri (FCIAC Football Blog Live), Ken Morse (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), John Nash (The Stamford Times), Matt Norlander (New Canaan News-Review), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Paul Silverfarb (Greenwich Post), Rob Sullivan (Minuteman Newspapers), Michael Suppe (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers).

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By Tim Parry

The BlueStreak Sports Training Player of the Week Award is back for the 2008 season, with an exciting new twist or two.

In addition to the award being based solely on nominees by Fairfield County high school coaches, BlueStreak Sports Training has opened the ballot up to five Wild-Card entries as chosen by the fans.

The top-five fan nominees will be added to the ballot, which will be sent to the Fairfield County working media for its vote for the BlueStreak Sports Training Player of the Week.

But there’s a catch: There is only one nomination allowed per IP address, so make your choice wisely. You may nominate a player from any FCIAC or SWC team, plus the following schools: Wright Tech/Stamford Academy, Bullard-Havens, Shelton, Fairfield Prep, St. Luke’s, King (formerly KLHT), and Brusnwick.

Nominations received after 11 p.m. Sunday of each week will not be accepted.

And now, click here to nominate a player for Week 2.

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New Canaan quarterback Nate Quinn is the Week One recipient of the BlueStreak Sports Training Player of the Week award, which is presented weekly by the FCIAC Football Blog.

Making his first offensive start for the Rams against Trumbull on Saturday, Quinn completed nine of 17 passes for 255 yards and six touchdowns. New Canaan defeated Trumbull 41-13.

Quinn will receive his award from BlueStreak Sports Training president Matt Cole Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. at New Canaan High School at the upper field.

Players are nominated both by football coaches representing teams in Fairfield County. A mimimum of five nominees from a weekly fan poll are also included on a ballot, and the Player of the Week is then selected by members of the Fairfield County sports media community.

Fairfield Ludlowe placekicker Sean Anderson was the runner up. In addition to a pair of extra points, he nailed a 29-yard field goal as time expired to lift Ludlowe over heavily-favored Norwalk 17-14.

The Week-One nominees also included George Benitez (Darien), Tae Dangerfield (Staples), Marcus Dixon (Stamford), Chris Evans (Stamford), Mike Graham (McMahon), Mike Grant (Greenwich), Brian Kosnik (Darien), Colin Morris (St. Joseph), Kurt Ondash (New Canaan) and Chris Sloat (Bunnell).

The following media members voted: The following media members voted: Rob Adams (WGCH-AM), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), Dan Farrand (News-Times), Scott Ferrari (Greenwich Citizen), Andy Hutchison (Newtown Bee), Jason A. Intrieri (FCIAC Football Blog Live), Ken Morse (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), Tim Murphy (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers), John Nash (The Stamford Times), Matt Norlander (New Canaan News-Review), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Paul Silverfarb (Greenwich Post), Rob Sullivan (Minuteman Newspapers), Michael Suppe (Hersam-Acorn Newspapers).

Photos of Nate Quinn by Dave Stewart/New Canaan Sports Photography

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Albonizio Voted FCIAC Football Blog and BlueStreak Sports Training Coach of the Year
FCIAC Football Blog readers voted online to choose Greenwich head coach

BRIDGEPORT and STAMFORD, CT – Richard Albonizio has been voted FCIAC Football Blog and BlueStreak Sports Training Coach of the Year. Albonizio, head coach of the FCIAC champion Greenwich Cardinals, received 46% of the votes, and Lou Marinelli, head coach of the New Canaan Rams, was the runner-up with 40%.

“On behalf of BlueStreak Sport Training, we want to congratulate Coach Albonizo for being voted as our Coach of the Year,” says Matt Cole, president of BlueStreak Sports Training. “Going undefeated in the FCIAC, and also in the State of Connecticut, is a huge accomplishment. We are happy to recognize Rich Albonizo for this enormous feat.”

The Cardinals finished the season with a 12-1 record, its only loss coming against Naples, FL. That Naples team has advanced to the Class 3A title game, which will be played Saturday at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

The vote, conducted online at the FCIAC Football Blog (http://fciacfootballblog.com), attracted 471 voters over a three-day period, and only one vote was allowed per IP address.

BlueStreak Sports Training is the licensed provider of the highly effective training protocols developed by Athletic Repulic. BlueStreak was founded in 2004 by JetBlue Airways Founder and Chairman David Neeleman, and the former President of MSG David Checketts, to help meet the training demands of individual athletes and athletic organizations. The elite training facility located at 80 Largo Dr. in Stamford provides the best environment to help you reach your maximum potential as an athlete.

Launched in October 2005, the FCIAC Football Blog is the cornerstone of an online community for high school football players, coaches, and fans in Fairfield County, CT. In addition to the blog, the community includes a web log about the South West Conference (SWC Buzz), a message board, and an Internet radio, Live From the FC, on BlogTalkRadio.com.

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New Canaan quarterback Charlie Westfal and Greenwich linebacker Jonathan Meyers have earned Player of the Year honors from the FCIAC Football Blog and BlueStreak Sports Training.

Westfal is the Offensive Player of the Year. The Rams quarterback narrowly missed breaking the school’s single-season passing record with his 375-yard performance in the CIAC Class MM championship game. He completer 187 of 287 passes for 2669 yards and 25 touchdowns, and carried the ball 93 times for 400 yards and 10 scores.

“I’m overjoyed to hear that Charlie has been chosen as Offensive Player of the Year,” says New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli. “I’ve known him since he was in the fourth or fifth grade, and was watching him get beaten up as an unknown sophomore while he was running the scout teams, and never once had he begged out and quit. He’s played in pain, and done whatever he’s had to for us to win. And I think that’s made him the player he is today.”

Meyers is the Defensive Player of the Year. He had 97 solo tackles, one interception for a touchdown, 11 sacks, and three fumble recoveries. And many weeks this season, Greenwich head coach Rich Albonizio points out, Meyers was only needed on defense for half a game.

“Jonathan is a leader in every sense of the word. He has great grades, is a blue chip athlete and he has empathy for people,” Albonizio says. “Jonathan is humble about his talent and a person that enhanced my life. I think of Jonathan as a son. He is a credit to his family, school, and community.”

BlueStreak Sports Training is the licensed provider of the highly effective training protocols developed by Athletic Repulic. BlueStreak was founded in 2004 by JetBlue Airways Founder and Chairman David Neeleman, and the former President of MSG David Checketts, to help meet the training demands of individual athletes and athletic organizations. The elite training facility located at 80 Largo Dr. in Stamford provides the best environment to help you reach your maximum potential as an athlete.

Launched in October 2005, the FCIAC Football Blog is the cornerstone of an online community for high school football players, coaches, and fans in Fairfield County, CT. In addition to the blog, the community includes a web log about the South West Conference (SWC Buzz), a message board, and an Internet radio, Live From the FC, on BlogTalkRadio.com.

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