2017-2018 Rare Reminder Area Athletes of the Year

Boys Cross Country: Matthew Lecky (Middletown): The junior trailblazer took his running to another level this year, placing fifth at the Class L finals with a pace of 5:33 and following it up with another solid showing at the State Open. Lecky has one more season with a Middletown cross country program that is making great strides every season.  

Girls Cross Country: Elizabeth Stockman (Rocky Hill): Stockman’s sophomore season was nothing short of spectacular. She started in the fall by winning the Class M championship with a 6:23 place and then placed top-ten overall at the State Open. The crazy thing is that we’ve only seen a glimpse of what could be over the next two years.     

Field Hockey: Maya Mulholland (Wethersfield): The steady senior earned all-state and all-conference honors while helping lead the Eagles to the first tournament appearance since 2009. Mulholland was an integral part of an unforgettable group of seniors that have helped transform the field hockey program at WHS into a serious contender.   

Football: Stone Belzo (Middletown): Belzo proved to be dominant and adaptable during his time in Middletown. As a junior he led the team in tackles on defense and then added quarterbacking to his list of responsibilities as a senior this fall, totaling 22 touchdowns and guiding the Blue Dragons to an undefeated regular season. The two-way talent will continue with gridiron career at Springfield College.     

Boys Soccer: Brendan Berry (Wethersfield):  The senior stud earned all-state honors for the second consecutive season, helping guide the Eagles to a 10-win regular season and another victory in the tournament. Barry was also a three-time All-CCC selection during his time at WHS and is headed to score more goals at Middlebury College in Vermont.    

Girls Soccer: Grace Moore (Rocky Hill): Moore was the senior captain on a team that won 13 regular season games and advanced to the quarterfinal round in the tournament. The 3x All-CCC’er earned all-state honors for her work on defense and was also selected to the High School All-American game in Orlando. Northeastern University in Massachusetts is the next stop for the local soccer star.  

Girls Swimming & Diving: Abigail Francis (Wethersfield):  Wethersfield swimming won all ten regular season meets and Francis was a driving force behind the undefeated season. The junior won the 200 freestyle and placed third in the 500 meters at the Class L finals. She went on to place fourth in the 200 at the State Open and has one more season remaining at WHS to make even more waves.

Girls Volleyball: Amaya Feitel (Cromwell): Feitel was the heartbeat of the Panthers volleyball team, earning all-state honors following a sensational senior season.  The floor general was a team captain and starting setter, leading the Panthers in assists, aces (over one per set), and was second on the team in digs. She starred on both the court and in the classroom, regularly making the honor roll at CHS.     

Boys Basketball: Reese Reyes (Cromwell): Reyes style of play defined Cromwell basketball, sacrificing for the team and doing all the little things for a Panthers squad that won a state title this winter.  The senior earned first-team all-state honors after averaging 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals per game. Next stop, the courts of Western Connecticut State University.     

Girls Basketball: Nikki Lukens (Rocky Hill): Lukens has already surpassed the 1000-point plateau and she still has her senior year to go. As a junior she earned all-state honors after leading the Terriers in scoring while helping guide the team to a semifinal appearance. There’s no telling what she has in store as an encore next winter.  

Gymnastics: Madison Bradbury (Wethersfield): Wethersfield has built a rock solid gymnastics program and Bradbury is the latest high-flying superstar. The junior earned first-team all-state as a junior after terrific performances in the Class M and State Open finals.

Ice Hockey: David Mix (Newington Co-Op): Mix was an all-state selection and was a major reason for the turnaround of the Newington co-op team, which won 13 regular season games and another tourney game. The senior goalie won nine of his starts between the pipes, including a shutout, and sent back 287 shots.   

Boys Indoor Track: George Stoughton (Wethersfield): Wethersfield’s jump man polished off his high school indoor track and field career by winning both the high and long jumps at the Class L finals. Stoughton followed it up with a runner-up finish in the long jump at the State Open.  

Girls Indoor Track: Elizabeth Stockman (Rocky Hill): Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, winning is what Stockman does. She won the 3200 meters at the State Open and Class M finals, and also took home first place in the 1600 at the class finals.   

Boys Swimming & Diving: Blake Fulton (Wethersfield): Fulton won the Class M state championship in the 100 freestyle and took home second place in the 100 backstroke. The senior all-state swimmer was also part of the Eagles 200 medley relay team, which finished as the runner-up. 

Wrestling: Elijah Cyr (Middletown): Cyr is proof that dynamite does come in small packages. The junior took the 106-lb division by storm, winning 31 of 34 matches in the regular season and then placing fifth in both the Class L and State Open.   

Cheerleading:  Megan Pare & Abigail Lee (Cromwell): Normally an individual wins these awards but cheerleading is the ultimate team sport and Pare and Lee are the ultimate teammates. The two seniors each made all-state while helping lead the Panthers to a top-ten finish at states.

Baseball: Jimmy Sullivan (Wethersfield):  Sullivan earned his second all-state recognition following another highly productive season. The senior saved his best performance for his final in an Eagles uniform, blasting a pair of homeruns and two triples in a championship triumph. The diamonds at the University of Virginia await the local baseball prodigy.   

Boys Golf: Ismael Garcia (Wethersfield): Garcia was one of the team leaders on a talent group of golfers at WHS. The senior shot a team-best 82 at the CCC finals and then shot an 81 at the Division II state finals.   

Girls Golf: Emily McKenna (Wethersfield): McKenna placed third individually at the conference finals as the Eagles took home first place in the CCC. The junior followed it up with a solid performance at the State Open and next year will be a senior leader on a group that has a chance to win the whole enchilada. 

Boys Lacrosse: Connor Brennan (Newington): Brennan was a force on the football field and equally impressive on the lacrosse field, helping guide the Indians to a 10-win regular season. The senior captain was a point-producing machine on the offensive end, scoring 36 goals and dishing out 28 assists. His lacrosse journey will continue at St. Michael’s College in Vermont.     

Girls Lacrosse: Maya Gajowiak (Newington): Gajowiak has played high school lacrosse for three years and has earned all-conference honors in all three seasons. As a junior, she assumed a bulk of the scoring load and will head a talented, young group coming back next spring.

Boys Outdoor Track: DeAaron Lawrence (Middletown): Lawrence is one of the best athletes to ever walk the halls at MHS. The senior was a star football and basketball player before taking home two state titles in his final season on the track, winning the high and triple jumps at the Class L finals. Stonefield College is getting a special talent.   

Girls Outdoor Track: Elizabeth Stockman (Rocky Hill): By the time outdoor season rolled around Stockman had already displayed her greatness as a distance runner. She kept adding to her list of accomplishments in the spring, winning the 1600 and 3200 meters at the class finals and then placed first and third in those events at the State Open. What. A. Year.

Softball: Dominique Highsmith (Middletown): Highsmith is also an accomplished basketball player, but softball is where she rose above the competition. The senior capped her high school career with an all-state selection and will now play collegiately at Central Connecticut State University. Forks Up.

Boys Tennis: Arian Gokhale (Rocky Hill): Gokhale wrapped up an incredible four years at Rocky Hill with a quarterfinals finish at the Class S finals. The graduate is headed to Northeastern University as a Finance Major.     

Girls Tennis: Reva Shah (Rocky Hill): Shah earned her third straight all-conference selection and made her second straight appearance in the State Open following an awesome senior season. Her talents and optimistic attitude will be missed at The Hill.

Boys Volleyball: Leonel Caceres (Newington): Newington volleyball produces some of the best players in the state and Caceres is as talented as any player that has come through the program. As a junior he led the team in kills (361) and aces (45), and was a vocal leader for an Indians team that won their fourth title in five seasons. The volleyball dynamo and his mates will be back and better than ever next spring.