By D.M.Livingston|TWTSportsDesk|Published Jan 31 2026

Waterbury- After dispatching Holy Cross by 20 points in a statement win, the undefeated Woodland Hawks now stand at the center of the NVL spotlight—and the question is no longer if they’re for real, but how far this run can go.

Next up: a home date with the defending NVL champions, Waterbury Career Academy.

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Yes, the Spartans arrive at 4–9, a record that looks strange next to the banners they’ve raised over the last four seasons. But records don’t erase pedigree. WCA is still the standard—three straight NVL titles, a 2023 state championship, and a program that knows how to win when it matters.

And as the saying goes: to be the best, you have to beat the best.

If Woodland truly wants the crown, the path begins this Saturday at home. Beating WCA wouldn’t just be another win—it would be a symbolic passing of the torch, proof that this undefeated start isn’t just about momentum, but about legitimacy.

And the road ahead doesn’t get any easier.

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Following the Spartans, the Hawks face a rematch with Watertown, a team more than capable of turning familiarity into danger. Then looming in mid-February is what could become a monster cross-league showdown—an undefeated North Haven squad waiting to test Woodland on a much bigger stage.

That matchup has the makings of a litmus test not just for Woodland, but for the NVL as a whole.

Right now, the Hawks are checking every box: confidence, cohesion, and the ability to put away elite opponents. But undefeated seasons aren’t judged in January—they’re defined by how teams respond when the target grows larger and the pressure tightens.

The table is set.

Whether Woodland runs it—or learns how hard it is to stay on top—starts now.

Waterbury High School Sports News