Detours along the trail
Postgrads Shirden, Dunn prepping in different ways
Jaden Shirden says he had a little apprehension over what about his postgraduate year at Cheshire Academy would look like as the COVID-19 pandemic hit Connecticut.
The former St. Joseph all-state running back and Walter Camp Player of the Year, who amassed 5,529 yards and 94 touchdowns and won three-consecutive state championships during his four-year career, was hoping to boost his recruiting profile at the high-profile prep school.
But as late as last month, he — like many other Connecticut postgraduates — wasn’t quite sure he’d get to play a down there.
“As far as my career and my future, I was kinda like, man… football’s the game I love and this stinks,” said Shirden, who’s 5foot-9, 183 pounds and, so far, has offers from Albany and Monmouth. “I was hoping I could get to play. There’s still more I want to do and that’s why I’m here: To show schools I can do more.
“I just kept working hard, honestly, no matter what. I didn’t take anything for granted.”
His concerns were allayed this month when Cheshire Academy released a tentative, shortened schedule against other prep schools, beginning Oct. 10.
Turns out he’ll get to play, after all — although coach David Dykeman says nothing is guaranteed during this pandemic.
“I knock on wood every day, man,” he said. “The hope is getting 4-to-6 games. We speak weekly with schools, myself, my athletic director… everybody’s involved. Right now, we’re still on track to play. But that could change.”
Dykeman, the associate head of school, is also Cheshire Academy’s COVID-19 response coordinator. He says he’s been on the front lines in keeping his football players focused on their mission: Staying responsible and healthy for the privilege to play games.
Cheshire Academy — which mixes boarding and commuter students — tests weekly and pays close attention to students exhibiting symptoms, isolating them if any issues arise, Dykeman said.
“I was a little bit more involved than the typical high school coach,” he said. “They all know what’s expected of them and they’re doing a great job with it.”
Even if Cheshire Academy doesn’t play, Dykeman promised his players they’d get ample recruiting film from practices and team scrimmages. Cheshire Academy even held a college combine last month. “We’re filming every day,” he said. “Even though the NCAA extended the dead period, our kids can still create a highlight film every week.”
While Cheshire Academy and a handful of other state
prep schools are determined to play, those in the nearby Founders League — Taft, Choate Rosemary Hall, Avon Old Farms, Loomis Chaffee, Kent, Hotchkiss and Trinity-Pawling (NY) — haven not been as fortunate.
In July, the league announced it would not conduct fall sports in 2020. That’s left Founders League postgraduates like Newtown’s Jared Dunn at the Taft School, anxiously hoping for a springtime reprieve.
“It’s been tough for everyone,” said Dunn, a 6-3, 225pound linebacker who was first-team All-State for Newtown’s 2019 Class LL championship team. “I so want to be playing because you see all these high school teams on ESPN playing, even some of the youth teams of Connecticut are playing, but we can’t. It’s a mess.”
But Dunn, a boarder student at Taft, says weekly practices, workouts and school work have kept his mind off what he can’t control.
“Everyone’s looking at this as: What can I do now to be better than yesterday? How can we get seen by college coaching staffs?” he said.
Taft coach Tyler Whitley says he’s staying optimistic that his players might get to play at some point. In the meantime, he’s focused on getting his players copious amounts of film from practices and workouts.
On Oct. 10, the same day Cheshire Academy hopes to play its first game, Taft will
be holding its own college combine, where Whitley will compile more film on his recruits to send to college programs.
“It’s hard to see, obviously, some schools playing,” said Whitley, whose school adheres to strict guidelines like maintaining socially distant workouts and practices. Taft has maintained a cautious approach, Whitley said, “and rightfully so. We’re in a boarding environment.”
He hopes the restrictions eventually will lessen enough to allow for more involved practices.
“Everybody’s itching to get into competitive action rather than skill work,” Whitley said. “We’re taking it a day at a time and staying positive.”
Taft’s situation serves as a reminder for Shirden and his Cheshire Academy teammates — which includes Cheshire High’s Will Bergin, Berlin’s Zach Hrubiec, Avon’s Ian McCutcheon and Waterbury’s Jonathan Velasquez — that they’re fortunate just to get a game.
“We definitely lucked out,” Shirden said. “I’m very excited I’m going to be able to play. It’s motivation for me.”
And if not, Dykeman’s sure to drive it home. “We talk about it all the time,” he said. “Take a look around. How do your friends feel now at other schools? These guys recognize that privilege takes responsibility. It’s not easy, but you have to do what you need to keep yourself focused.”