Casey Mulligan didn’t become one of the greatest athletes in Woodland history all by herself. It was all in the family.
A sibling rivalry with older brother D.J., who just finished his sophomore year as a diver at the University of Maine, and a close relationship with mom Dana, a former Fairfield University basketball player and longtime assistant principal at Woodland, helped pave the way.
“My brother and I have always been very competitive, which has fueled me to do my best,” Casey said. “My mom goes to every game and is always supporting me and giving me advice. She was a collegiate athlete and knows what it takes to be great, and she passed that on to me thankfully. It’s gonna be hard not seeing her every day at school.”
It’ll be just as tough for Casey’s teammates and coaches not to see her in black and gold anymore, but the recent graduate left a legacy rivaled by few in school history, culminating in her selection as Woodland’s CIAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Mulligan became Woodland’s all-time leading scorer in basketball, amassing 1,425 points in a four-year career that saw her earn All-Naugatuck Valley League honors four times and All-State accolades as a senior. She also set the school’s single-game scoring record with 39 points against Oxford last December, and she was the MVP of the 2024 Connecticut High School Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game.
On the soccer field, Mulligan earned All-State honors as a senior goalie and was a two-time All-NVL pick who helped the Hawks reach the 2023 Class M semifinals.
“Going into high school, I committed time to both sports outside school and had more expectations for basketball,” Mulligan said. “But that obviously changed and I ended up committing myself to soccer once I got there.”
Soccer ended up being the core of Mulligan’s favorite memories. She recalls the frantic celebration after Woodland beat Holy Cross to win the 2021 league championship at Municipal Stadium as a highlight when fans stormed the field.
“The Woodland community is very supporting and always going above and beyond to appreciate and recognize its students,” Mulligan said. “Being a Woodland athlete the past four [years] has [played] a big part in who I am. I had another family with my teammates and coaches, and they always pushed me to be great, and I’ll miss them. I always felt loved by the fans and staff at Woodland. They all cheer me on and go out of their way to congratulate me when something big happens.”
The biggest round of congratulations came when Mulligan committed to continue her soccer career at Sacred Heart University, where she will embark on a career as a physician’s assistant.
JIM SHANNON REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN Casey Mulligan, center had a terrific four years on and off the fields and courts of play at Woodland.
“Being goalie can be a stressful position as I’m the last line of defense, but I love the adrenaline and being able to make crucial saves in big games,” Mulligan said. “The coaches at Sacred Heart are awesome and culture of the team drew me in. I’m excited to be a part of the growing campus.”
With her eyes on a challenging program, Mulligan knew she had to prioritize academics throughout her career.
“Academics definitely came first for me, so sometimes I would have to sacrifice my social life to make sure I was all caught up on schoolwork that I would miss because of sports,” Mulligan said. “It was hard to balance at some points, but my parents definitely helped me, along with the teachers at Woodland who are very understanding of my busy schedule.”
And for girls aspiring to be the next Casey Mulligan, her advice is simple.
“Work hard at everything you do,” Mulligan said. “Chances aren’t handed out, they are earned.”
