Commitment carries Naugatuck’s Seeger

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Naugatuck High School senior Aren Seeger excelled on the pitch and track for the Greyhounds. He will attend Southern Connecticut State University in the fall where he will play soccer and track. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN ARCHIVE

NAUGATUCK — Naugatuck High’s Aren Seeger has been part of some memorable sports moments in his high school career. It’s not hard to understand why after seeing the senior’s commitment to athletics as a soccer and track star for the Greyhounds.

Over two seasons in goal for the boys soccer team, Seeger allowed just six goals during NVL play. Last fall, Seeger helped guide the boys soccer team to the Class LL state championship game for the first time since 2002.

While Seeger made his name on the pitch on defense, it’s a goal he scored that will go down in Naugatuck sports lore.

Few will forget the free kick in last fall’s Naugatuck Valley League title game. Seeger was called on to deliver a free kick in the second overtime period against Watertown. The lanky goalie wound up and delivered a kick that soared 60 yards into the upper 90 of the net to stun the crowd and provide the winning margin for the Greyhounds’ fifth straight NVL title.

Seeger has made his mark on the track as well.

Last year, Seeger placed third in the 300 hurdles at the New England championships before finishing seventh in the event at the high school nationals.

The senior earned the Most Outstanding Hurdler award at last week’s NVL outdoor track and field championships after finishing second in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. He also won the 200-meter dash.

Seeger followed up his NVL performance by winning a state championship. He won the 110 hurdles (14.90) at Tuesday’s Class L state meet at Middletown High School. He also finished second in the 300 hurdles (40.44).

“Aren is a very special athlete and an outstanding young man,” Naugatuck track and field coach Ralph Roper said. “He carries a presence about him that makes those athletes around him play that much better. He is going to do some good things in college.”

Seeger will attend Southern Connecticut State University in the fall where he will play soccer and run track.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenges that are ahead of me as a collegiate athlete,” Seeger said. “I feel the training and the coaching I received at Naugatuck will have me prepared to meet those challenges.”

Seeger described playing two sports in college as an amazing opportunity.

“It doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for anything else but it’s all about the commitment to the sports, and I’m happy to be a part of that,” Seeger said.

Seeger won’t only be committed to sports. He plans to major in criminal justice at Southern.

“I just felt that Southern was a good fit for me,” Seeger said. “They have a good soccer program and a very good track and field team. I feel I can do well there while getting my degree in the field I’m looking to get into after college.”

But before Seeger leaves high school behind, there are still some opportunities ahead for him to add more memories with the state track open, the New England championships, and perhaps another shot at nationals.