Date: Fri 17-Nov-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Brian-Wassman-Feature

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Brian Wassman Feature

B Y T.W YATT

When Brian Wassman was a 14-year-old freshman, he led the Newtown High School

soccer team in scoring. Wass, as his teammates called him, was second on the

team in scoring as a sophomore and although he underwent a junior-year scoring

slump, Brian ended his four-year varsity soccer career last week by becoming

the third-consecutive NHS soccer player to be named All-State after scoring 12

goals in his senior campaign and climbing to near the top of the NHS all-time

scoring list.

" Wass had an exceptional career here, " said NHS coach Larry Ashmore. " He

had three great years for us. He's not the most skilled player I've ever had,

but he's an example of what people have to do to succeed at anything. We all

have our shortcomings. The good ones are able to compensate for their

deficiencies and maximize their positives. Brian doesn't have the finest

control skills with his feet, but he's very athletic and he works harder than

anybody else on the soccer field. He's always been a hard worker. That's part

of his package. "

Though Wassman has always been characterized as aggressive and hard-working,

it wasn't out of necessity. Since he began playing soccer and basketball - his

two favorite sports - Brian was stronger, faster, and more physically mature

than the other players his age.

The biggest man on the basketball court; offenses were built around Wassman

all the way from the rec leagues through middle school hoops. On his premier

soccer teams, he was nearly impossible to stop.

Wassman entered Newtown High School in the fall of 1992 as the most

highly-touted athlete in his class. Coaches and athletes at NHS knew that they

would someday see great things from Mr Wassman. They just didn't know how

soon. " Sometimes you struggle with the decision on whether or not to bring up

a freshman, " said Newtown varsity soccer coach, Larry Ashmore. " With Wass,

there was never a question. He was going to be on the varsity from day one,

and you could tell, right from the beginning, that he was going to have an

impact on the program. There was something special about him that just stood

out. "

Ashmore chose Wassman as the only varsity freshman that autumn, and by

midseason he was starting at forward.

Wassman would not only lead that year's team (11-5-3) in scoring, but his six

goals set a freshman record (under Ashmore) as did his 13 total points.

" I didn't think I'd make the team in my freshman year, " Wassman remembers. "

I thought I would play jayvee. I was a little surprised when coach picked me,

but I wasn't intimidated. "

Wassman came back as a sophomore to score eight goals, which was second on the

team, and played a primary role in Newtown's advancing to the Class L state

championship game for the second time in four years. At the championship,

against perennial power Daniel Hand, Wassman escaped on a breakaway and scored

in the game's early seconds to give his team a 1-0 lead.

The Indians lost 4-1.

In Brian's junior year, Newtown struggled to score goals. As All-State sweeper

Greg Gallagher led the Indians in scoring, Wassman, the team's most seasoned

scorer, managed to find the back of the net only once. At midseason he asked

off the front line.

" I just felt I wasn't helping the team in front, " he remembers. " I was

getting opportunities but wasn't finishing. I just couldn't put the ball in

the net. I was getting down on myself, so I volunteered to go back and played

D. "

" Wass was having an off year and he was frustrated, but it wasn't his fault.

" Ashmore said. " He's not the type of player who will beat two or three guys,

go to the goal, and shoot. He's the kind of player who's going to be up there,

breaking in behind defenders. We didn't get the ball up there enough last year

where he could be successful. "

Upon moving back to the defense, Wassman didn't disappear though. Instead, he

stood out, using his speed and aggressiveness to thwart several enemy attacks.

His finest hour came in Newtown's 1-0 state tournament loss to Jonathan Law

where he made countless runs from the back.

" That's the role that I see Brian assuming in college, " Ashmore said. " He

can be very good there because he's fast, has great stamina, and a great work

ethic. Not only will be a good defensive back, but a good attacking defensive

back. "

Despite his instant success on the defensive half of the field, after being

named tri-captain for the 1995 season Wassman moved back up to forward to try

and shoulder the new season's scoring load.

He and junior David Miller did just that, combining for 27 goals (12 by

Wassman) which allowed Wassman to finish his varsity career with a total of 27

goals and 67 points.

Though a complete all-time NHS scoring list does not exist, Wassman's total

goals leave him second all-time during coach Ashmore's 15-year regime. The

only player to have scored more; John Ball.

" It's an honor to be mentioned up there with players like John Ball, "

Wassman said. " He was the best there was. I've never thought of myself in

that way. I always just wanted to win. "

On The Hard Court

While he received the majority of his athletic accolades on the soccer field,

the other half of Brian Wassman's passion was inside of doors . . . on the

basketball court.

A perennial success on the hard wood, Wassman starred for his Park and Rec

teams, and was one of only two sixth graders to make the Newtown Middle School

team. After a three-year middle school career which saw him blossom into the

undisputed league MVP, Wass took his act to high school where he starred for

the jayvee team for two years.

" There were some better players on the varsity, so I didn't mind playing

jayvee, " he said. " I figured I'd wait my turn. "

In his junior year, last winter, Wassman's turn came. Though he had stopped

growing at about six-foot-one, he still was able to earn a starting position

in the Newtown front court where his old blue-collar soccer characteristics

again helped him find success.

Wassman helped guide Newtown to the WCC championship averaging eight points

per game in addition to being one of the team's top rebounders.

He'll return this season as one of the team's cornerstones, along with fellow

team captain Mike Storms.

And though Wassman loves playing basketball as much as he loves soccer, this

season will be his last. As he currently pares down his expansive college wish

list, Wassman is seeking a good business school with a good soccer team.

" I'd like to play at D-one or D-two, " he said. " I want to play for a pretty

good team, too, but academics will be the priority. I don't know if I have the

skills to play forward in college, but I'd like to. If not, I'll be happy to

play defense. "

Wassman will be playing with and against the state's best senior soccer

players in the CIAC Senior Bowl on Friday, November 24. There, he will be

further scouted by some of the college coaches who have expressed interest in

his services.

" I'm going to wait to make my choice until after the Senior Bowl, " said

Wassman who plans to study either business, oceanography, or some other type

of environmental field. " Then I can concentrate on just playing basketball. "