Dave Wilda

Dave WildaDavid Wilda
(Football, 1968)


Dave Wilda was the first football defensive star of the Gus Edwards era. As a two year starter he was selected to the News- Times All Area team in 1967 and was both the team MVP and winner of the prestigious Kiwanis Club award. He was also a two year starter on the DHS baseball team. After graduation in 1968 Dave went on to star at Southern Connecticut State College. While at Southern Dave was a three year starter and was a winner of the All East Coast Player of the Week Award. For his accomplishments at SCSC he was inducted into the SCSU (it is now a university) Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. Upon graduation Dave was unwilling to hang up is football cleats and he played two years for the Hartford Knights here he was a middle linebacker. He had free agent tryouts with the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles and eventually signed a contract with the Memphis Southmen of the WFL but was released due to injury. After completing his playing career, Dave was defensive coordinator for Mattatuck Community College which won the Club Football National Championship.