Zack McCasland, a 17-year-old Naugatuck High School senior, is deserving of praise for his accomplishments and future goals. 

There have been many Challenging moments in McCasland’s career, as he always found room to improve. His freshman year was when COVID-19 was in action, impacting the learning of many students. McCasland went out of his way to email his counselor, asking if he could come to school every day to gain that true learning experience. 

 “I take a lot of pride in my hard work, especially the things that I’m passionate about,” states McCasland. “I just applied to Penn State to further my academic career.” McCasland should hear back by the end of December.

The acceptance rate to get into Penn State is 49.1%. Having to meet a GPA of 3.58 is a main requirement as well. 

In 5 years McCasland states how he sees himself as a ¨college graduate hopefully on the path to a 

well-deserving job.¨

As for his high school years, McCasland is very grateful for his running experience. He will soon have to put an end to this chapter as he will focus academically majoring in sports psychology.

A track and field moment McCasland remembers very fondly was when he states, ¨My sophomore year was when we as a relay won the 4x400m state title during indoor, as we four trained and worked incredibly hard.¨

Jason Sonski, Naugatuck High School track coach, will truly miss this senior. Sonski and McCasland have known each other for a total of 4 years. Within those 4 years, Sonski recalls how “McCasland is a true example of hard work on and off the track team”. 

Sonski describes McCasland as a very encouraging human being who is a huge supporter of all school events and sports. When asked about McCasland’s future, Sonski states ¨I’m sure he is going to do great in college academically and socially, he has an extroverted personality like none other.¨ 

Sonski will, unfortunately, have to say goodbye as McCasland graduates this year. ¨ You need people on your team, and in life who are always happy to be there, we are very lucky to have McCasland .¨ Sonskis states.

 Childhood best friend Danny Anderson, who is now also a senior at Naugatuck High School, speaks on his outlook on McCasland and his accomplishments in an interview with The Greyhound. ¨Zack is a great friend and person who has a lot of perseverance and works for what he wants.¨ 

¨I feel like Zack’s mustache is very reflective of his running career,¨ stated Anderson, ¨His mustache is that main symbol representing him and his determination to strive in the things he does.¨

Anderson sees Penn State in McCasland’s future. Not only as a student but as a friend to all, keeping that tradition of running the student section, just like he does here.

Jason Costa, a Naugatuck High School junior, is not only a  teammate but a friend with McCasland. ¨I  am very proud of Zack, he is a seriously hard worker in everything he does,¨ states Costa.

Costa explains the very one million personality Zack has.”Zack is very much a people person who will never fail to include other people as his way of words is always very inspiring.¨

As a result of multiple people’s votes and opinions, McCasland has received MVP as this year’s superlative along with one of his best friends, Autumn Tansley, who is also a Naugatuck High School senior as well. 

As McCasland’s career at Naugatuck High School comes to a close, it is clear that both his personality and athletic ability have left an impact on so many people.