‘Really tough week’

West Haven football team honors fallen teammate

NEW BRITAIN— The coin toss prior to the CIAC Class LL title game was as emotional as the pregame ritual could be.

Walking out with their arms locked with the West Haven captains, were family members of Christopher Fidalgo-Pugh, a sophomore lineman who died Tuesday morning at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital.

Christopher’s mother, Tashema Fidalgo, brother Ivan, aunt Tanislu Fidalgo and cousin Tanasia Fidalgo walked out with the West Haven captains.

After the coin toss, Tashema Fidalgo hugged West Haven coach Rich Boshea as the players jumped around beside them.

“This week was a really tough week to get through but these guys persevered,” Boshea said. “I’m disappointed that we couldn’t figure out a way to get that last bit. I wanted to win it for the kids and win it for Chris’ mom. I wanted to get that ring to give to her. All I can say is that every kid out there gave it everything they got. It was a great game but we came up short. I am sorry for Chris’ mom. She lost a lot more this week than a high school football game.”

Staples defeated West Haven 21-20 to win the Class LL title at Arute Stadium on Central Connectict State University’s campus, denying Boshea the chance to give a championship ring to FidalgoPugh’s family. “It’s very hard what the kids have been through this week. We tried to just continue to do what we would do but at the same time, give the kid the honor he deserves,” West Haven athletic director Mike Anquillare said before the game. “The kids have been pretty good about how they have handled it. He was a sophomore so he has been in the building for a couple of years... We will try to get through the game tonight and honor him in this way. I know

the kids are fired up not just for the game but for him too.”

Listed at 5-foot-8, 260 pounds, Fidalgo-Pugh was a reserve player who dressed in the team’s final regular season game vs. Fairfield Prep Nov. 22 but was not in attendance for the team’s two state playoff games prior to his death. According to coach Boshea, Hidalgo-Pugh was in intensive care in the week before he died.

Both West Haven and Staples honored FidalgoPugh with a moment of silence before the national anthem and West Haven players wore “70” stickers on their helmets, Fidalgo-Pugh’s number.

“I can’t say enough about the administration and the athletic department at the high school,” West Haven Superintendent of Schools Neil Cavallaro said prior to the game, hoping Boshea’s team could pull off a win to honor FidalgoPugh. “They really stepped up and did a good job keeping the kids focused. It’s a very difficult situation. Unfortunately, these things happen from time to time. We have to be prepared and have to support the kids the best we can. We brought in extra counselors but we also used Bridges (Bridge Family Center) for counseling services.”

In addition to the pregame ceremony, the school will be hosting a pasta dinner to help raise money for the family to offset the cost of medical bills and the funeral. “He was a young player and student with a bright future,” Cavallaro said. “But he was a Westie. He had come up through our elementary schools as a family, played in the Pop Warner League, played at the high school. It’s not only the football community that was impacted, it was the whole school.”