GameTime CT

Connecticut's premier high school sports website

  • GIRLS SPORTS
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
  • BOYS SPORTS
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling
  • Schools
  • Newspapers
    • CT Post
    • The Danbury News-Times
    • Greenwich Time
    • The Middletown Press
    • New Haven Register
    • The Norwalk Hour
    • The Register Citizen
    • The Stamford Advocate
  • Polls
    • Baseball Top 10
    • Boys Basketball Top 10
    • Girls Basketball Top 10
    • Football Top 10
    • Hockey Top 10
    • Boys Lacrosse Top 10
    • Softball Top 10
    • Other Polls
  • Scores & Stats

Torrington's Matzko signs college letter of intent

Gametime CT | November 15, 2013

TORRINGTON >> Surrounded by her parents, administration, teammates and classmates, Torrington softball’s ace pitcher, Sydney Matzko, inked her name on her national letter of intent to play for the University of North Carolina.

“This is something that we’ve been expecting for the last three-to-four years,” said Torrington athletic director, Mike McKenna.

Matzko made the decision to go play for the Tar Heels the summer going to her junior year, and during last season she helped lead the Red Raiders to the No. 1 seed in Class L and a 23-1 record.

“I couldn’t ask for a better school to be going to,” said Matzko. “The school is beautiful, the softball team is great, and the coach is a Hall of Famer.”

The Tar Heels are coached by Donna J. Papa, a Waterbury native.

Matzko is hopeful that she will get a chance to play her freshman year.

“Hopefully, their ace is graduating and there is another freshman pitcher coming in,” said Matzko, who is a lefty pitcher and the other incoming freshman is a righty, hopes that they can form a lethal duo for the Tar Heels.

Chapel Hill, home of University of North Carolina, is a 10-hour drive from Torrington, but that won’t stop her parents Scott and Lisa, from going to watch their daughter play.

“It’s going to be tough. We wanted her to aspire to the highest level,” said Lisa Matzko, Syndey’s mother. “We will go see her, we will make it work.”

On top of being one of the most successful pitchers in state, a 2013 All-State selection by the New Haven Register, with 345 strikeouts last season and a minuscule ERA of 0.27, Matzko is one of the best in the classroom.

“Sydney is an example of what we want all of our athletes at Torrington to be,” said McKenna. “She’s fifth in her class; she has a 100-point grade average.”

Matzko’s signing is one of a few recent string of Division I signings by Red Raider athletes.

Jordan Williams, a 2009 graduate, signed to play basketball at the University of Maryland before going on the play in the NBA for one season, Ray Cswerko, a 2011 graduate signed to swim at the University of Maryland before transferring to Southern Connecticut State University. Sarah Royals, a 2011 graduate stars for the University at Albany women’s basketball team.

“This is the biggest one since, Ray, Jordan and Sarah, these are big deals,” said McKenna. “It’s a combination of all the drives and traveling to play all over the country.”

McKenna talked about how when he would leave baseball practice he would see Matzko stay after softball practice to throw more.

“I would tell her to go home,” joked McKenna. “But she deserves it, she put in the time.”

Because of her hard work and her tenacious effort that she puts into softball, her coach Maryann Musselman wouldn’t wish her luck.

“Good luck? I don’t think that luck will be needed her future,” said Mussleman. “I am so proud. Enjoy every moment of college, it’s going to mold her into an incredible woman.”

After the speakers and after Matzko had signed, there was a small chant from the crowd for her to give a speech, something she had not prepared to do.

“Thank you everyone for coming, thank you to my parents, my mom who catches me every day,” she said. “To my team, thank you for coming, we’re going to have a great season.”

About Gametime CT

Newsletter Signup

Don't strike out on CT high school sports news. Sign up for The Whistle newsletter from GametimeCT

You agree to our Terms of Use. Your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.

Spring Sports Quick Links

Spring Sports Quick Links

BASEBALL 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
SOFTBALL 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
BOYS LACROSSE 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO WATCH
GIRLS LACROSSE: PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
Spring Sports Schedules

Winter 2021 Preview Links

Winter Sports 2021 Links

2021 ALL-STATE TEAMS

CHSCA: GIRLS BASKETBALL | GYMNASTICS | BOYS HOCKEY | CHSGHA: GIRLS HOCKEY

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

BERKSHIRE | CCC | CRAL | CTC | ECC | FCIAC | NCCC | NVL | SCC | SHORELINE | SWC

TeamPlayer Scores and Stats search

Scores and Stats

Video

Podcasts

Fall Sports Quick Links

Fall Sports Quick Links

2021 FOOTBALL COLLEGE RECRUITING LIST
2020 GAMETIMECT ALL-STATE TEAMS
BOYS SOCCER
GIRLS SOCCER
FIELD HOCKEY
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
2020 LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:
Central Connecticut
Fairfield County
Shoreline Conference
Southern Connecticut
South-West Conference

Twitter

Tweets

Polls

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
Follow Us
© Copyright 2017 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC