Cheshire Academy’s Wilfredo Aybar named Gatorade Connecticut Football Player of the Year

Shawn McFarland, Hartford Courant
·2 min read
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Cheshire Academy junior Wilfredo Aybar was named the Gatorade Connecticut Football Player of the Year, the company announced Thursday.

Aybar, a four-star defensive end recruit, is a Fall River, Massachusetts native who transferred to Cheshire Academy in 2018 and repeated his freshman year. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior is ranked as the nation’s No. 112 recruit in the Class of 2022 by ESPN.com and holds scholarship offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame and Florida among others.

“He’s Chase Young,” Cheshire Academy head coach David Dykeman said of Aybar last month, referencing the former Ohio State standout drafted second overall by the Washington Football Team in last year’s NFL draft. “This is what he is. It’s the same frame, the same ability. Is he that good, who the hell knows. But I’ll tell you what, he’s pretty damn good. In the prep school landcape, [Suffield Academy alum and Miami Dolphins player] Christian [Wilkins] was the most dominating player I’ve ever coached against. This kid, I think, is similar. He’s a pro.”

Connecticut public high schools did not play football games this fall after the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference prohibited them due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although prep schools were allowed. Aybar and Cheshire Academy played just three games before Gov. Ned Lamont announced a ban on high-risk sports in November. Aybar recorded 39 tackles and four sacks during the abbreviated fall season.

Aybar is the second Gatorade Connecticut Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Cheshire Academy.

He maintains a B-plus average in the classroom and wants to study engineering or physics in college.

“I think my ability to balance the extremes of both football and academics [sets me apart],” Aybar told The Courant. “Outside of the physical traits, character and the ability to lead goes a long way. I give my all every practice and game even though some days you’re not going to feel your best.”

Shawn McFarland can be reached at smcfarland@courant.com.