Wlasuk Wins State Open Title, Leads NHS Trio Into New England Championships

By Andy Hutchison

NEW HAVEN — Newtown High School senior John Wlasuk was the best in the South-West Conference, then the best in state’s Class LL division and, on February 19, became the best in all of Connecticut. Wlasuk won State Open shot put thrown with a toss of 58-07 at the New Haven Athletic Center, clinching the title in convincing fashion (his nearest competitor was three-plus inches behind Wlasuk), despite it not even being his best toss of the campaign.

Now, Wlasuk will try to become the best in all of New England as he faces the best of the best from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island in the New England Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on March 4.

“It’s good. I’ve worked hard for three-and-a-half, four years to get to this point. You don’t work hard to come in second, so it’s nice to win,” Wlasuk said.

Wlasuk will be joined in the New England competition by two other standout NHS athletes — fellow senior Lauren Pettinelli and sophomore Jake Feinstein. At the Open, Pettinelli placed seventh in the 55-meter hurdles event to qualify for the finals, then moved up a notch to finish sixth in 9.07 seconds. The top six qualify for New England, making for a memorable finish for the senior, who will make her first State Open appearance. She broke Newtown High’s record with a 8.92 at the SWC Championships.

Feinstein, at the State Open, came in fifth in the 3200, completing the two-mile race in a time of 9:33.76 which also set a school record. Feinstein also set a new NHS mark in the 1600 in a time of 4:23.01 at the Class LL State Championships.

The State Open brings the top high school athletes from all class sizes, and includes 45 boys’ and 44 girls’ squads. The spaces surrounding the track are jammed with family and friends — and the pressure’s on for the high schoolers to live up to their own expectations.

“It’s a little nerve-wracking but after the first throw you just gain confidence and it becomes routine from there,” Wlasuk said.

Newtown Coach Doug Russell has watched all three Nighthawks develop into strong and successful competitors throughout their high school careers. “That’s pretty exciting,” the coach said of having three athletes represent the school in the New England Championships.

Wlasuk and Feinstein, based on their earlier results and seedings, could have expected to be going to New Englands. Pettinelli, however, was on the cusp and came through, much to her excitement.

“It was amazing. I was so happy — it was probably the best thing ever,” she said.

Russell has been impressed by Pettinelli’s hard work, and Feinstein’s ability for someone who is only a sophomore. The tough competition at the State Open can make for a bit of a stressful environment, but it also serves as motivation for the athletes to do their best.

“I know I’m running against faster guys, so it makes me run a faster time,” Feinstein said.

Wlasuk has set personal bests and broken his own Newtown High shot put record each week throughout the season until the State Open. His throw of 59-06 in the LL championships on February 12, set a Class LL meet record. A baseball and basketball player growing up, Wlasuk first started throwing when he was in eighth grade. His brother, Pete, missed making the high school team by a few inches in tryouts, so the younger Wlasuk practiced in his yard. His dad even put in a throwing circle so he could practice tossing the 12-pound ball. “He’s the only person I know who has a throwing circle in the front yard,” Russell said.

Wlasuk stands at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds. His size contributes to his success, but the fact is that Wlasuk is not as big, strong, or heavy as some of his counterparts.

“There are guys that are bigger than he is, probably a little bit stronger and all that — but John’s speed, technique,” Russell said, are keys to his success. “And the thing is, John is a student of the sport. He learns, he watches. He takes in everything that someone talks to him about.”

Wlasuk shovels off the circle in his yard to get some technique work in on snow days, and works hard to win. He recently signed a National Letter of Intent to throw at the University of Connecticut.

“It’s going to be fun. I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I’m hoping to win a Big East championship once I get there.” Wlasuk is planning to be an accounting major and wants to study kinesiology too, he said.

“John’s going to go places with his work ethic because that’s what I think has taken him so far, is his work ethic and his dedication — and his commitment to his event,” Russell said.