Forget all of the grueling practices in the heat, and juggling academic responsibilities with sports. For Julian Dunn, the hardest part of participating in athletics at Newtown High School was — well … not participating. Dunn had to sit out his senior basketball campaign for college visits and football drills as he was on his way to his next step, playing football at the University of Maine, which is located in the town of Orono.

“I was sitting on the sidelines watching,” Dunn says of going to the Newtown High basketball games in the unfamiliar role of a spectator this past winter. “It was tough going to games and seeing friends I’ve been playing with since I was 7 years old.”

Dunn made the sacrifice to focus on his top sport — the game of X’s and O’s on the gridiron. The Newtown High School record-setting receiver, who also contributed significantly on defense and special teams, is looking forward to the challenge of the game at the collegiate level as he heads to Maine.

Jessica Keller was talked into running track by Coach Doug Russell, and she participated — in part — to keep in shape for her primary sport of soccer. Keller went on to qualify for postseason championship races and help break school relay records. Not a bad resume for an athlete who, until her junior year, hadn’t stepped foot on the track.

“It didn’t hurt,” Keller said of what competing on the track and field team did for her soccer-playing days at Blue & Gold Stadium. “And it was fun.”

With all of the success she had running relay races and sprints, Keller’s soccer career was even more memorable thanks in large part to a state championship, which the Nighthawks earned during her sophomore year of 2012. Keller will continue her soccer career at Saint Francis University, in Loretto, Penn.

Because of all of their success at Newtown High School, throughout the years, and especially in their senior campaigns, 2015 graduates Keller and Dunn are The Bee’s Newtown High School Athletes of the Year.

Most Improved

Marc Kenney, Keller’s soccer coach at Newtown High, says that his All State honoree emerged as a tremendous leader on and off the field, and describes her as the most improved player — in terms of both on-the-field skills and leadership — that he’s had.

She played on the varsity team in all four years, and earned South-West Conference All Academic Team accolades in each season. In her junior and senior campaigns, Keller took home more honors; she was selected to the SWC All Colonial Team last year, and received SWC All Conference First Team and All State honors this past fall.

During the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons, Keller had plenty of success. She helped the indoor teams’ 4x800 meter relay group set a school record in her junior year, then ran a leg on the same relay team that broke its record, in her senior season. What’s more, Keller and the 4x800 team set the outdoor track school record, at the SWC championship meet, in her senior season.

Keller said there was a lot of anticipation as the team members waited to hear, officially, that they had broken the record, making the experience even more exciting.

She qualified for SWC and state championship meets in several events, and also received SWC All Academic Team accolades. Keller and the spring track and field team went unbeaten during the regular season this spring.

Among the toughest moments in her NHS career were runner-up finishes to Weston in the SWC outdoor track and field championships in both her junior and senior seasons. Each time, the meet came down to the final event; and it was decided by just a half a point in 2014.

“It was tough knowing we had been undefeated in the regular season and were so close to winning both years,” Keller said.

Keller, who served as captain for soccer and track in her senior year, says that the friendships that are made through sports — “Just the group of people you would never meet if you weren’t playing sports” — are what she enjoyed most about her Newtown High athletic career.

A recipient of the United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, Keller belonged to the National Honor Society and held high honors all four years.

She looks forward to majoring in Exercise Physiology and plans to pursue a doctorate in Physical Therapy. The soccer forward has been given a workout routine to follow and knows she’s going to have to put in a lot of hard work as she prepares for the fall season.

After college, Keller hopes, there will be more opportunities to play soccer. Having worked with special needs athletes she may also be interested in coaching the game down the road.

“I’d like to play for a long as possible,” Keller said. “I can’t see myself leaving the sport.”

Versatile Athlete

On the football field, Dunn was a receiver, safety, tight end, and punter, and even place kicked when called upon. He also played baseball in his sophomore and senior campaigns, and laced up his basketball shoes in his sophomore and junior seasons. During his career with the Nighthawks, Dunn earned First Team All State accolades in both football and baseball, and earned First Team All SWC recognition for football, basketball, and baseball.

Dunn helped the football team to three straight SWC titles. Among the highlights of his career was being a part of the Nighthawk gridders ending Ansonia’s winning streak at 48 games, just one shy of the state record. Some of Dunn’s toughest-to-swallow moments also came on the football field in state playoff defeats.

On the football field, Dunn broke the school record for most receiving yards and most touchdown receptions in a season during his junior campaign, and broke both marks again in his senior season. Football accolades piled up for Dunn. In his junior year, he was a Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team selection, made the USA Auto Insurance All-Connecticut Football Team, and received the Harold DeGroat Award of Excellence. During his final campaign, Dunn again made the Walter Camp team, and was a Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete.

In his career, Dunn racked up 143 catches, 2,697 receiving yards, 49 receiving touchdowns, and 51 total TDs in 46 games. A third baseman, he batted .354, collected 40 base hits, 23 runs batted in, scored 29 runs, and had a .906 fielding percentage in 41 games over the course of two seasons. On the basketball court, Dunn played 45 games and averaged 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, compiling 658 career points.

“The community support,” and friendships with teammates made his playing days at Newtown High especially memorable, Dunn said. “It’s definitely going to be something I’ll miss.”

Dunn also enjoys sharing what he’s learned with up-and-coming athletes. He’s served as a volunteer coach with Newtown’s youth football league.

“I love being around the young kids and teaching them what I know,” he said.

Dunn scores points in the games, and off the field which Steve George, coach of the NHS football team.

“He’s what I want my kids to be. He’s a good kid, a good student, and an outstanding player on the field,” George said. “I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Dunn says he’s dreamed of playing college football since he was a child. He won’t have to wait much longer. Preseason training will get going in July, and Dunn says he will soon be participating in intense 7 am to 10 pm football-filled days, with only a few hours of break time.

“It’s definitely going to be fun; it’s definitely going to be a test,” Dunn said.

Dunn plans to major in Biology and, at this point, has plans to pursue grad school and a career as a dentist. Coaching football, he hopes, will be also be part of his future

“I want to try to stay around the game as long as possible,” Dunn says.