After playing pivotal roles for Greenwich’s football team this past fall, the foursome of Dominic DeLuca, Jake Kiernan, Matthew Trimmer and Jack Wilson will have added responsibilities during the 2022 season.

At the team’s recent season-ending banquet, they were recently named/elected captains of the Cardinals football team for the 2022 season. As juniors this past season, they helped lead Greenwich to a record of 7-4 and a berth in the CIAC Class LL Tournament. They are each looking forward to helping lead the squad as senior captains next fall.

“Being a Greenwich football captain is something I’ve wanted my whole life,” said Trimmer, also a member of the Cardinals’ hockey and lacrosse teams. “Especially with this group of guys, these captains that we have here. I’m really excited about what we’re going to do.”

An offensive lineman, Kiernan was recently named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Football Team – a team voted by the football coaches of the CHSCA. He was a CHSCA All-State Class LL Offense selection.

“It’s an honor,” Kiernan said of being named to the CHSCA All-State Team. “I was ecstatic when I found out and to know that I played well enough for other coaches to vote for me is such an honor.”

He’s honored to be named as one of the four captains of the Cardinals, a role he’s eagerly anticipating and already preparing for.

“As a whole, the offensive line, we try to work every day to try to get better,” said Kiernan, an offensive tackle, who also received First Team All-FCIAC accolades for Greenwich, which lost to Fairfield Prep in the quarterfinal-round of the Class LL Tournament, 21-14. “We didn’t finish business in the postseason, so we want to come back hungry and ready to play better than ever. We’re working every day in the weight room and on the field, so that we can finish that business that we can take care of in the postseason.”

Like his fellow captains, Kiernan regarded the Cards’ 34-28 overtime win against Staples in the regular season finale -a win that qualified the team for the Class LL playoffs – one of the 2021 season’s main highlights.

“The way it came down to the wire and we were able to pull through at the end, it was just an awesome team win I thought,” Kiernan said.

Wilson recently concluded his junior season as a member of the Cardinals – his first as the squad’s starting quarterback. He passed for 1,543 yards and threw 19 touchdown passes, while starting every game at quarterback for Greenwich.

“It feels great to be recognized as a leader of such a great organization, it’s a privilege,” Wilson said.

Greenwich’s signal-caller gained valuable experience this past season, which saw him navigate the offense.

“It was great, especially being a quarterback, I have some experience being a leader, so that definitely helped a lot,” said Wilson, who received All-FCIAC Honorable Mention recognition. “The upperclassmen, especially the captains from last year did a lot by leading by example and teaching us how captains are supposed to act.”

An All-FCIAC First Team Defense selection for the 2021 season, DeLuca emerged as an imposing presence from his defensive end position. He helped key Greenwich’s defensive unit, which was solid throughout the season.

“We had the same mindset,” DeLuca said of the team’s defense. “We were going after the running backs and quarterbacks every play.”

He entered the 2021 season primed to make an impact, which he did.

“The work I put in the offseason and the work I continued to put in at practice helped me improve,” said DeLuca, who also plays on the Cardinals’ basketball team. “I earned respect from my teammates and it boosted my play on the field.”

Trimmer, who made his mark as a junior linebacker, felt the togetherness and chemistry Greenwich had right from the beginning of the season.

“Coming off a COVID season where we weren’t able to bond together, I feel like when we started, we hit the gates right away,” Trimmer said. “We had a bunch of team dinners, we got after it in the summer and preseason and we put ourselves as a family for the rest of the year. It kind of set the tone.”

Indeed, in 2022, Greenwich will seek to improve upon this past season’s accomplishments.

“Seeing those guys, the seniors that we built a family with, walk off the field for the last time – that makes you want to go in the weight room, go in the film room – it makes you determined to be even more hungry for the guys who can’t come back next year and put the pads on,” Trimmer said.

“I definitely think we can build off it,” noted Wilson. “We have a really big class coming up, a lot of talent, so it’s super exciting and encouraging going into the season.”