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| Mowatt (WCSU athletics) |
A majority of the time, HIGH 5 OF THE WEEK focuses on the athletic accomplishments of local college athletes.
This one, however, starts with not an Athlete of the Week or Rookie of the Week, but a hero. That hero is from Waterbury, went to Holy Cross, and his name is Jonathan Mowatt. Jonathan and older brother Joshua were waiting for the ferry to take them from Manhattan to Staten Island for Thanksgiving with extended family.
Instead, the Mowatts noticed a struggle occurring on this Wednesday before Thanksgiving. As it turned out, a man was trying to take his own life.
After hesitating for a second, the Mowatts sprung into action and kept an unknown stranger from committing suicide.
Jason Harlow, Jonathan’s head coach on Western Connecticut State University’s men’s basketball team, wasn’t surprised by what Jonathan did.
“Jon is a selfless individual,” said Harlow, who was at one time the head coach at Litchfield High School in neighboring Litchfield County. “You would be hard-pressed to find someone saying anything negative about him. He is a wonderful young man who is always kind, courteous and respectful. He comes from a terrific family.”
Jonathan and Joshua performed a selfless act, something to be admired and praised. Jonathan is a modest kid and didn’t want credit for what happened. He did speak to Joe Palladino of the Waterbury Republican-American.
The days around Thanksgiving are times for families to get together. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the Mowatts showed caring and compassion to a complete stranger and saved his life.
Trai Weaver, Anna Maria College football
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| Weaver (Anna Maria athletics) |
The former Holy Cross standout got a chance to show what he could do in front of NFL and Canadian Football League scouts this past weekend.
Weaver participated in The National Bowl, a game focused on Division II and III football players that is played each year in Daytona Beach, Fla. The game, which was played at Bethune-Cookman University, finished up its fourth year and is an annual event. The National Bowl is a subsidiary of the FCS National Bowl, held for schools at that level.
Weaver was noticed in his time on the White team.
“Slot WR Trai Weaver (Anna Maria College) has the best hands on the White team @National_Bowl,” read a Tweet from NFL Draft Blitz on Dec. 9. “He is also so smooth in and out of his breaks.”
Weaver enjoyed his time, and posed for a photo with former Wilby standout Tyrell Zimmerman, which you can see on the Anna Maria football website.
“It was a great experience to play with players from so many schools around the country,” Weaver said in a story on the AMCATS website. “It was privilege to play in front of so many scouts and represent Anna Maria College on a national stage.”
Weaver had a tremendous senior season and would love to play professionally, but he is ready to go to law school after he graduates from Anna Maria. AMCATS head coach Dan Mulrooney, a former Holy Cross standout, heaped praise on Weaver.
“I am proud of Trai and all of his accolades as a player,” Mulrooney said in the story. “Trai brought a work ethic every day that was infectious and I’m happy his hard work has been recognized. He left his signature on this program and it will last for years to come and sets the bar high for AMCAT football.”
Brigid Johndrow, Utica College basketball
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| Johndrow (Utica athletics) |
The freshman and former leader at St. Paul earned an Empire 8 Conference honor after a solid performance.
Johndrow made her seventh straight start in as many games, and she contributed four rebounds and a team-high three assists in a 67-55 loss to SUNY Poly on Dec. 9. For her effort, Johndrow was named Rookie of the Week by the conference.
Johndrow is averaging 19 minutes per game and scoring 2.1 points. She is fourth in rebounding (29) and assists (8). Her season-high for points is six against Misericordia on Dec. 2, and her top total for rebounds is also six, which came in her debut against SUNY Potsdam on Nov. 15.
Johndrow is a Psychology-Child Life major.
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| Sands (Westfield State athletics) |
Ty Sands, Westfield State basketball
Sands had an impact at both Crosby and Kennedy in Waterbury, and now he’s doing it for the Owls.
The freshman guard was named Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week after strong performances. Sands averaged 14.3 points, seven rebounds and 2.7 assists in three games.
He had a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds — plus three assists — in a 70-63 loss to sixth-ranked Williams College. Sands put together a statsheet-filling efforts against Western New England University, tallying 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 92-83 defeat. In his last game of the week, Sands put up 11 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal in a 79-72 loss to Pine Manor College.
Kim Hylan, Sacred Heart University swimming and diving
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| Hylan (Sacred Heart athletics) |
The sophomore and former St. Paul standout had a season-best effort in two events in the recent 2017 ECAC Winter Championship on Long Island.
The multi-day event was held at Nassau County Aquatics Center, a place Hylan hopes to revisit in February. The same facility will host the Northeast Conference championships.
Sacred Heart finished fifth as a team at the meet. As for Hylan, she took a seventh place finish in the 200-yard backstroke and helped the 400 freestyle relay A team to ninth place.
Hylan swam a 2:09.68, her top time of the year. In the 400 freestyle relay, Hylan started the race with a split of 54.59 seconds. That split was her best of the season.
Hylan won’t have a chance to better those times until Jan. 13. That’s when Sacred Heart returns to dual action, after the winter break.
Statistics and information compiled from the team website of each athlete.
