December 2021
“May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve”
-Unknown
It’s a GREAT day to be a Yellowjacket!
After a very exciting Thanksgiving Football game against Granby (21-0) here at the Gilbert Campus and a filling Thanksgiving dinner surrounded by friends and family we look back on our Fall season and forward to the coming December holidays and Winter Athletics.
While GNH football has made it into the postseason, the rest of Gilbert athletics did not. Making it into the Postseason is not what defines an athlete. I believe we have some of the best student-athletes and coaches in the league. We have great sportsmanship, dedication, never quit attitude, love of the game and an understanding and willingness to play the long game. On two occasions this fall, I received phone calls from Principals and AD’s letting me know how exceptional our athletes were while at their school. This is a rare phone call. Usually a principal is calling to discuss issues or concerns. It speaks volumes for a principal to take the time and call to discuss how exceptional your athletes are in sportsmanship and conduct while visiting their school. This definitely is a result of quality coaching and a sound perspective on how sports fit into our lives.
Congratulations go out to both the Boys Soccer team, Boys Cross Country team and the girls Volleyball team. All three won the Ted Alex sportsmanship award this Fall. The winner of the Ted Alex award is determined through a voting process taking input from all Fall BL players and coaches of the same sport. The parameters of the award are sportsmanship of coaches, players and fans. Emily Arel and Alina Gutic, both on the Girls soccer team and Thomas Reeves, Cross Country were recognized All Berkshire League Honors. Emily also made a Gilbert Girls Soccer record breaking 17 goals this season. Congratulations to these three fine athletes and all the Gilbert student-athletes on a successful Fall season.
I would like to take a moment to congratulate our Scholar Athlete winners for the Fall athletics season. We had 51 Varsity athletes and 77% of them earned the Scholar Athlete award. These numbers do not include football or cheer as their season is still going. This is an amazing accomplishment by so many student-athletes. Please take a moment and congratulate them when you see them.
The GNH Football program has had a good season but not without Covid having its impact. In spite of two games being declared no contest due to Covid cancelations and after a dramatic Thanksgiving win over Granby (21-0) GNH football made it into the playoffs with a season of 7-2 (6-2 for points). The last time the football program made it into the playoffs was 2013. Great job by all, student-athletes, coaches and all those others who worked behind the scenes to make each game a success. GNH will play in the quarterfinals against Killingly on November 30th.
We now look forward to the Winter athletics season with Girls Basketball and wrestling already practicing and Boys Basketball practice starts on 2 December. Winter cheer is also ramping up for the season. Middle School will start their season soon. For questions about Middle school athletics contact the MS Athletic Director, Mr. Penn: pennj@gilbertschool.org
Winter mask and social distance requirements have been finalized between CIAC and the DPH. Of course the potential for change is always there should conditions warrant it. All spectators, workers, coaching staff and student-athletes not actively participating are expected to wear a mask when indoors. Basketball players, wrestlers and runners who are vaccinated will be allowed to go without a mask while they are actively participating on the court, mat or track during a contest. Those who are not vaccinated will wear a mask at all times during contests. The only exception to this rule is for wrestlers. For safety reasons, wrestlers will not wear a mask while grappling regardless of vaccination status.The winter Covid policy is available on the CIAC website. http://ciacsports.com/site/
Registration for Winter sports is open in Family ID. To register for high school or middle school winter sports, go to: https://www.gilbertschool.org/athletics/family-id Winter registration will be closing on December 4th.
For Gilbert specific updates, navigate to and follow or like the Athletic Department Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheYellowjacketHive on facebook. Also visit the Gilbert Athletics webpage: https://www.gilbertschool.org/athletics. You will find the athletics handbook on the website. All athletes should know it, front to back.
Questions? Contact the Gilbert Director of Athletics at: morganb@gilbertschool.org
or call 860 379-3721
The Middle School Athletic Director is Josh Penn, Contact him for middle school athletics
at: Pennj@gilbertschool.org
Buckley W. Morgan II RAA
ISS Coordinator
Athletic Director
The Gilbert School
AD Office: 860 379-3721
Register online for Gilbert Athletics
Gilbert Sports Schedule & Results
NFHS Network/Gilbert page
Coaches Are Teachers in a Different Classroom
