SEYMOUR – Longtime Seymour High School volleyball coach and educator Cathy Federowicz, who has netted more than 500 career wins, is scheduled to be honored Thursday (Sept. 4) for her nearly three decades of dedication to Seymour athletics.
Community members, alumni and friends of the volleyball program are invited to celebrate the official dedication of the SHS gymnasium court, which has been named “Coach Fed’s Court.”
A ceremony is set for 5:30 p.m. in the school gym, just prior to the varsity game against St. Paul. Light refreshments will follow after the game in the school cafeteria.
Federowicz, an SHS Class of 1980 alumna, is currently serving her third year as the school’s athletic director. She began her teaching career at SHS 29 years ago, where she has taught math ever since, and has been coaching volleyball here for 27 years.
Federowicz’s current volleyball record stands at 515-85. She and her Wildcats have scored numerous accolades over the last 27 years, including nine Naugatuck Valley League titles and three state championships.
“I always wanted to coach. I never thought it would be volleyball though. I’m so thankful for the telephone call I received in August of 1999 from a parent asking me to please coach the volleyball team because they didn’t have a coach. It changed my life. I have a large extended family of daughters as a result of that call,” she said.
SHS assistant athletic director and English teacher Deirdre Sponheimer encouraged folks to join in the celebration of Federowicz’s career.
“When you look at Cathy’s career, there really is no equal,” Sponheimer said in an email. “She has devoted so much of her life to Seymour athletics—first as an athlete during the early years when opportunities for female athletes were limited, and then as a teacher, coach and athletic director. The legacy she leaves behind is unmatched, and there is no one more deserving of this honor.”
Sponheimer said naming the court ties in with Federowicz’s 500th career win last September, right around the same time a new gym floor was installed.
Federowicz, a mom of three boys, was inducted into the Connecticut Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2022. She was recently notified that she will be inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. That is scheduled for May 2026.
Federowicz said she was honored to learn about the court being named on her behalf.
“I was very surprised and humbled,” Federowicz said. “We always talk about trying to add a number to the banner on the wall, so when we walk into the gym we can look up at it and say, ‘I was a part of that.’ Seeing my name on the floor the first time when I walked into the gym this year made me very proud and grateful for all the girls who worked so hard at Seymour to make the volleyball program successful.”
Sponheimer added that Federowicz is an inspiration to her and others, shining both on and off the court.
“Beyond her records and achievements, Coach Fed’s impact is defined by the care, compassion and belief she has shown in her students and athletes, shaping their character and building lasting relationships. Naming the court “Coach Fed’s Court” is a lasting tribute to her championship spirit, her unwavering commitment and the profound impact she has made on Seymour High School and the entire community. She knows what it means to be a Wildcat. She walks the walk and talks the talk.”