WHS head track and field and cross-country coach Chris Tafelski has been inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame, a statewide honor recognizing coaches who have made long-lasting contributions to high school athletics in New Jersey.
Tafelski, a WHS alum, began coaching in 2004 and became the program’s head coach in the fall of 2012. During his career, Westfield’s track and field and cross country programs have achieved consistent success at the county, sectional and state levels.
Despite the many accomplishments, he views the Hall of Fame honor as a reflection of a much larger group effort.“If there’s a name that gets attached to it, that name is the head coach,” Tafelski said. “But there’s no one person who can do this job.”
He credits the size and strength of the coaching staff, highlighting that track and field is unique in how many athletes and event groups operate at the same time. Tafelski talked about how the success of the program depends on collaboration and shared responsibility among coaches.
Outside of wins and titles, Tafelski said that what he values most is watching athletes grow during their four years in the program. “I like watching kids go through four years and become different people or become better people. For some kids, we see them every afternoon for their entire high school career. We spend so much time together that, of course, we want to see them develop authentically.”
The program does not separate by grade level, so younger and older runners train alongside each other, creating opportunities for mentorship and leadership. “It’s great to see kids who started not really getting it themselves, and then they get it to the extent that they can teach it to somebody else and be a good mentor.”
Current athletes say Tafelski makes a point to build a strong team culture, even with a large roster. “He’s good at making everyone feel noticed,” said Senior Griffin Bach. Senior and Marist University Track and Field commit Brody Toriello added, “He just makes everyone feel at home and makes the team like a big family.”
Tafelski creates a sense of support beyond competition. Toriello said he was a great help when he was injured multiple times. “I’ve been injured a lot in the last, like two years, and coach has really helped me recover and get back to where I am right now.”
Bach has learned a lot from his coach, but one of the core ideas that has stuck with him is that training is not linear. “He has taught us that you won’t get better at the same rate, there are setbacks,” he said.
As his career progresses, Tafelski adapts his coaching strategies to new generations and he continues to evolve. “You can never stop changing,” he said, “Kids change, so it’s a moving target.”
While he acknowledges the championships the program has won, he says his proudest moments come from seeing former athletes succeed beyond high school. “These kids are going off and they’re doing good things with their lives, and that’s what high school sport should really be about.”
