Tech schools adjust to new homes

When Brandon Rodriguez sent a pass through to Joseph Chunir early in the first half and Chunir found the back of the net for a goal, the two had no idea they had just made a small piece of history.

What was likely the first goal of the SWC boys soccer season was scored by a team playing its first game in its temporary conference, Abbott Tech.

This fall, with so many things changing in the world of high schools sports, some might have missed the scattering of technical high schools to conferences throughout the state.

The 17 teams which make up the Connecticut Technical Conference (CTC) were forced to temporarily disband this fall after the realignment of conferences and formation of regional pods due to COVID-19.

The CIAC recommended teams travel only within a 30-mile radius to control the potential spread of the coronavirus. CTC teams reside in every county in the state, often traveling long distances for games.

For example: Wright Tech of Stamford’s closest CTC opponents are BullardHavens 28 miles away in Bridgeport and Abbott Tech 33 miles away in Danbury.

A trip from Wright Tech to Ellis Tech in Danielson is

122 miles, the journey to Grasso Tech in New London is 93 miles and to Wolcott Tech in Torrington is 72 miles.

This fall, CTC teams have joined the FCIAC, ECC, NVL, Berkshire League, SCC and SWC in an attempt to keep them closer to home and limit long bus rides.

The Capital Region Athletic League (CRAL) absorbed the most CTC teams with five programs joining the CRAL.

That has teams accustom to only playing other tech schools during the regular season now matching up

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Abbott Tech’s Michael Candido (21) moves the ball ahead of New Milford’s Yousef Eltoukhy during a boys soccer game on Thursday at Broadview Middle School in Danbury.