Segalla makes Mountaineers history in senior season

FALLS VILLAGE —Hanging in the Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS) gymnasium is a plaque that represents the elite 1,000 Point Club.  In the 83 years of school history, only 10 HVRHS athletes have achieved this, the latest being senior Sydney Segalla.

Segalla, a 5 foot 11 inch center, has had ample time to work toward this accolade, playing as a starter for the Mountaineers since a freshman and passing 500 points by sophomore year.

“It honestly feels amazing,” she said. “I remember freshman year, looking up [at the plaque] and joking about being on it, so it still feels surreal.”

Segalla hit the 1,000 point mark during an away game against Litchfield High School on Monday, Jan. 31, at the free throw line. After making the shot, the game was paused and Segalla was given a celebratory basketball. She finished with 24 points that night, and currently sits at 1,019 total points.

“I think it was such a big deal for me because everyone knows me for soccer, so then to show that I can do this in basketball too — I was really happy,” Segalla said. “I wasn’t always planning on playing [basketball] for all four years, because of soccer, but I’m really happy that I did.”

HVRHS Athletic Director Anne MacNeil said the school will have a celebration at the next Mountaineers home game, on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2:30 p.m.

“What we’ll do is immediately after the first point that [Segalla] scores in our next home game, we will stop the game, we’ll hand her a ceremonial ball and take some pictures with her family,” MacNeil said. “Then, whether it’s at our winter season awards or senior awards, I do want to hand her a ball that has been decorated to honor her accomplishment and have her total points on that ball.”

Segalla’s achievement  comes while balancing basketball with her club soccer team, Connecticut Football Club, which is based out of Bethany, Conn. Planning with her basketball coach, Steve Dodge (who also coaches Mountaineer soccer), Segalla sometimes has to miss a basketball practice for a soccer game or vice versa.

“It’s a lot of homework in the car, and going straight from basketball straight to soccer, which is tiring but it’s definitely worth it,” said Segalla, who has committed to attending Boston College this fall to play soccer.

Currently, the Segalla-led Mountaineers are in good shape with a 10-3 record. With six regular season games left, as well as the Berkshire League Tournament and the opportunity to play in the state tournament, Segalla has time to add to her point totals.

“It’s like an achievement for the school,” said Segalla. “I’m just happy to represent Housy with this accomplishment.”