“A picture’s worth a thousand words, but these rings might be worth a little more than a thousand,” said GHS football Head Coach Tony Morello at the start of Monday’s ring ceremony in the Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center.
The Cardinals are the 2022 State Football Champions with a season record of 11- 2.
For coach Morello, who took over as head coach in 2019, the title was meaningful as this group of seniors were freshmen when he took the helm.
Morello said great things can happen when teammates work together and buy-in from day one.
“The stars aligned for this group. They ended up finishing number one in the state,” he said. “We’ve been just flooded with praise the past few months, and you guys deserve it.”
Morello said that when he first took over the program he hadn’t had a head coaching position before.
“The pressures and expectations that come with a program like this are great,” he recalled. “The last thing I wanted to do was let you guys down.”
“You guys had to put up with my struggles, and you still persevered, still conquered and ended up on top. You were the first for this guy – you will always be the first.”
“The expectations that come with a program like this are great,” he recalled. “The last thing I wanted to do was let you guys down.”
“You guys had to put up with my struggles, and you still persevered, still conquered and ended up on top. You were the first for this guy – you will always be the first.”
Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo, BOE Chair Joe Kelly and Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan presented the players and staff with Certificates of Excellence for players for being state champions this year.
“Greenwich has a really proud tradition of football,” Camillo said, adding that the 2022 State Championship team would become legend.
“That’s a tribute to all of you,” he said.
“Greenwich – in the 2022-2023 school – year people are starting to call Greenwich, ‘Title Town CT,'” Camillo added, noting that a Parade of Champions is planned for June 11, with winning GHS teams including soccer, golf, football and crew – and possibly more to come.
A highlight of Monday’s ceremony was to honor football coach, Wayne Gioffre, who is retiring from teaching and as a coach. Gioffre has also been the head coach of the school’s bowling team.
Morello said Coach Gioffre was the longest tenured football coach at the high school.
“The success of Coach Gioffre can be found in the record books, with the amount of tremendous running backs that have come out of this program, all the way back since the 80s.”
“He attended GHS and was a member of the 1981 FCIAC State Championship team, and over past few decades Coach Gioffre has helped dozens of running backs. Over a dozen running backs have made All State under his guidance, and even more have gone on to play college football.”
Morello said that when alumni come back to visit the school, Coach Gioffre is always the first coach that players ask about.
“He really is the culture of Greenwich football,” he said. “It feels like just yesterday when I was a 15-year-old kid in the fitness center hallways, waiting for him to open up the weight room for us, or busting chops in the hallways. I always had great respect for him as a player, and even more so now. He’s been a staple of my GHS experience – not just football but school as well.”
Morello said he’d learned many valuable lessons from Coach Gioffre.
“He taught me the importance of choosing words wisely and using those words at the right time,” Morello said. “He always put the team, student-athletes and their needs ahead of his own. He taught me the the Cardinal football mentality that I still live and breathe. He made me a better player. He made me a better coach.”
“I hope you realize how many athletes’ lives you changed for the better over the last 30+ years. I was one of them.”
Coach Gioffre’s remarks were short and sweet.
‘It’s not the sexiest job in the world, but it’s certainly the most rewarding. I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “Thank you, everyone.”
Gioffre received a standing ovation.
After a video of season highlights, the players were delighted to receive their rings.