Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

Immaculate High School Receives “Sportsmanship Superhero” Award

Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Bestows Statewide Honors

Danbury, CT – The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) awarded Immaculate High School a “Sportsmanship Superhero” honor at its High School Sportsmanship Conference October 3. Athletic Director Nelson Mingachos accepted the award on behalf of the school at the Aqua Turf Club event in Plantsville.

The CIAC honored Immaculate as a Fred Balsamo Sportsmanship Award recipient for founding a “Class Act Council” which will adhere to and promote principles of good sportsmanship. Balsamo was a longtime athletic director and executive director of CIAC. Mingachos was accompanied by Principal and Acting President Wendy Neil and several Immaculate athletes at the event.

“We are humbled by this award and greatly appreciative,” said Mingachos, who was promoted to athletic director in 2019 and is an Immaculate alumnus. “But much of this credit goes to an amazing team of coaches, to our faculty and staff who support athletics and, of course, to our Mustangs who make my job fun!”

“We are thrilled to be recognized for promoting good sportsmanship here at Immaculate,” said Neil. “It’s something that’s part of our culture, we take pride in and we instill in every single student-athlete.”

Niche just ranked Immaculate #8 Best High School for Athletes out of 249 schools in Connecticut. The school is home to 27 varsity sports and has a tradition of athletic excellence that includes 48 conference championships and 37 state championships.

About Immaculate High School

Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. A continued commitment to our 60-year tradition of being a value-based, student-centric, outcomes focused Catholic high school, has driven our rising trajectory as evidenced by our exemplary Niche ratings. In 2024 it was once again ranked #1 Catholic Co-Ed Day School in Connecticut and also moved up four spots to become #4 Best Catholic High Schools in the state. Immaculate was also honored as #8 Best High Schools for Athletes. Learn more here: Immaculate High School in Danbury, CT – Niche

Photo Caption: From left to right: Immaculate High School Athletic Director Nelson Mingachos and students Ryan Hatcher ‘25 of Sherman, Abiel Morales ‘25 of New Milford, Kristina Asmani ‘25 of Norwalk, Eva Balzano ‘24 of Bedford, Caitlyn Mascetta ‘24 of Danbury, Deirdre Dwyer ‘25 of Bridgewater and Isabella DiNatale ‘25 of Sherman.