2020 High School Lacrosse Seniors

This week we recognize the local lacrosse seniors. Information is provided by the school’s athletic departments and team coaches. Best of luck to the Class of 2020!
 
Cromwell Boys
 
Anthony Lombardo was a force on the field, shining as a junior in 2019 when he scored the third most points on the team. Lombardo will continue his academic and lacrosse career at Rivier University in New Hampshire.

Andy Park was a four-year member, excelling on the defensive end.

Connor Anderson was another four-year member that was expected to have a big role this spring. Anderson was also a regular on the honor roll at CHS.

Middletown Boys

Message from head coach Weventz Valery, “This 2020 season we would have celebrated our seniors as they take the field at home and away for the last time. They are best known as the backbone for kick starting Middletown’s 1st year as a varsity program in 2018. The spring of 2020 will forever be known as the great season that never happened.”

Joseph Chiappetta started his lacrosse career with Middletown Youth Lacrosse before being a consistence force and captain in high school. As a junior Chiappetta was relentless on the attack, leading the team with 30 goals, 17 assists. Chiappetta will be attending Bryant University.

Kristian Glemaud also started in Middletown Youth Lacrosse before becoming an unstoppable force at midfield and occasionally playing attack. Glemaud was known for his great athleticism and his ability to control the game tempo with his speed and ability to create opportunities for his teammates. Glemaud will be attending Western Connecticut State.

Brady Foster was a defensive captain that excelled thanks to his great stick skills and relentless man-to-man defense. His speed at clearing the ball created many fast break opportunities that resulted in scoring opportunities for the offense. Brady, who was also an All-State football player, will be attending Western New England.

Eric Byrd was a captain and the overall leader on the defensive end where he was a force that dominated his opponents. He was quick on his feet and a natural stick handler that took pride in covering the best offensive players, limiting them to minimal offensive opportunities. Brady started his lacrosse career with Middletown Youth Lacrosse, and also played premier travel, and has now committed to play lacrosse at Eastern Connecticut State.

Matteo Parent was a defensive captain that played defensive midfield. As a junior Parent lead the team in face off wins, averaging 76% in 2019. He teamed with Foster and Byrd to form a dynamic shutdown defense, which limited opposing offenses. Parent also started in Middletown Youth Lacrosse and has committed to playing lacrosse at University of Saint Joseph (Conn.).

Ethan Foligno was a hard-working, team leader as a goalie who also started with Middletown Youth Lacrosse. As a junior, Foligno lead the team in saves despite having his season cut short with an injury. 2020 was going to be his comeback year to lead the defense. He is well known for his endurance with the ability outrun anyone on the field. Foligno will be attending The University of Harford to study computer science and engineering.

 Justin Walker was very comfortable playing a supporting role on defense and enjoyed the bond with his defensive mates. As a junior Walker was new to the sport, but worked tirelessly to improve his stick skills and was looking forward to getting more field time in the 2020 season. Walker will be attending Middlesex Community College.

Newington Boys
 
Jacob Cultrera was expected to have an expanded role in 2020. Cultrera, who also played soccer at NHS, will be attending the University of Rhode Island to study chemical engineering and to play club lacrosse.  
 
Owen Freeman is a four-year lacrosse player, finishing third on the team in goals (25) in 2019. Freeman will play lacrosse at Western Connecticut State University and study criminal justice.
 
Jordan Alexander was another four-year member, playing in every game a season ago and was expected to make an even bigger impact in 2020. Alexander’s will now begin his carpentry apprenticeship.
 
Newington Girls
 
Reagan Pelton was as an all-state candidate this spring after an all-conference selection in 2019 in which she scored 34 points, including 27 goals as a junior. Pelton was also an all-conference soccer player and part of the indoor track team. Off the field, she was part of five National Honor Societies, as well as the school’s marching band and jazz band, and received a CIAC scholar athlete award. Pelton will be attending University of Connecticut where she will continue her lacrosse journey.
 
Samantha Giudice was a four-year member and earned the Most Versatile Player award. Giudice was also was a captain for the field hockey team, where she earned all-conference this past fall. She will be majoring in human development and family studies at the University of New Hampshire. 
 
Chloe Mamaclay was another four-year member, also playing field hockey and track. Off the field, Mamaclay was part of DECA, National Honor Society, and Student Council Social Chair. She’ll be attending Fairfield University to study marketing.
 
Sarah Hurwitz was part of the lacrosse program all four years and was a high-honors field hockey player. Hurwitz was also part of Chamber Choir and Orchestra, as well as a member of English, Math, History and Spanish National Honor Society. She will be attending the University of Michigan to study psychology.
 
Mackenzie Beebe was primed for a bigger role on the lacrosse team in 2020 and was also a cheerleading captain at NHS. 
 
Juliana Cordeiro played for three years and was also expected to have an increased role in 2020. Off the field, she was a member of Spanish and English National Honor Society, as well as Spanish Club. Cordeiro will major in health science at the University of St. Joseph.
 
Gabriella Gray played both lacrosse and soccer all four years. Gray was part of both Student Council and Stop the Stigma club. She’s pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
 
Rocky Hill Boys
 
Liam Sullivan was a captain and a returning all-conference long stick defensive midfielder, where he was an integral part on the defense end. Sullivan will continue playing lacrosse at Wheaton College. 

Jeremy Walker was a captain and the backbone of the defense since he took over as the starting varsity goalie as a sophomore in 2018. Walker will be attending Central Connecticut State University. 
 
Austin Bouchard was named captain and was expected to be one of main offensive contributors in 2020. He was a natural leader and a versatile player, playing multiple positions. Bouchard will be attending Gateway Community College and plans to join MDC in the future.
 
Logan Donovan was named captain in 2020 and was a force to reckon with on the defensive end. Donovan has a passion for cars and will be attending Porter and Chester to become an automotive technician.
 
Benji Smith has an undeniable dedication to the sport of lacrosse, earning All-State as a short stick defensive middle 2019. Smith is known for his great attitude and work ethic, and will continue his lacrosse career at West Virginia University. 
 
Nicolas Capasso was consistently one of the strongest and fastest players on the field, brining fun and excitement to the game over the last four years. Capasso, who also starred on the football field at RHHS, plans to work for MDC. 
 
Eric Callahan transitioned from goalie to long stick defense during his time with the program. Callahan was a force on the field, excelling at clearing the crease.
 
Alex Calcagni started playing as a sophomore and quickly showed his multi-sport athleticism, becoming a great fit for the sport of lacrosse. Calcagni will be going into the Elevator Union.
 
Patrick Conlan was a multi-sport athlete that used his experience in other sports to find success on the lacrosse field. Colon will be attending Roger Williams University.
 
Jason LaTorra was an enforcer on the field and the added talent of being a DJ at team events. LaTorra added fun to the locker room and the excitement on the field. LaTorra, who was also a captain of the football team at RHHS, will be attending Southern Connecticut State University. 
 
Wethersfield Boys
 
Kyle Anderson played all four years and was a member of the first Wethersfield High School lacrosse team, which was set to make their varsity debut this season. Anderson played long stick midfielder.
 
Ryan Berasi is a three-sport athlete, earning all-conference in football, excelling at swimming and was an original member of the school’s lacrosse team where he was a tenacious defender. Berasi will be attending Temple University.
 
Andrew Cascio played all four years and was a two-sport athlete, also playing an important role on the ice hockey team.
 
Jack Healy also played both lacrosse and hockey, earning all-conference on the ice. Healy will be attending the University of Tampa.
 
Logan Lichatz played midfield and was another four-year member of the team.
 
Kieran Moller also played midfield and was a four-year member who will be attending Plymouth State in New Hampshire to play lacrosse.
 
John Rumley was an attacker, who was also an original member of the program. Rumley will continue playing lacrosse at Clarke University in Iowa.
 
Jake Whitaker played attack and was another original member of the lacrosse program. Whitaker was also an All-State football player and will continue his gridiron career at Anna Marie College.
 
Max Karkos was best known for as a 2x all-conference soccer player. Karkos will continue to play soccer at Endicott College in Massachusetts.
 
Matthew Stearns was set to play a role during the team’s first varsity season and also wrote for the WHS news source ‘The Eagle Eye’.
 
Wethersfield Girls
 
Message from head coach Nicole Silva, “We were going to have our first CIAC recognized Varsity season this year.  These girls started playing when Wethersfield had only a Recreational program in 7th or 8th grade.  Their commitment  and dedication to the sport allowed for the growth of the program. The 19-20 season would have been their first CIAC Varsity recognized season. I cannot imagine how these girls are feeling about missing their season but I hope they know that we could not have come so far without them. Their dedication to the growth of the sport paved the way for future players to have a recognized varsity level program. I will greatly miss my them all!”
 
Kaitlyn Sousa was a three-year goalie and slated to spend her senior season protecting the net again. Sousa will continue her education at Manchester Community College.
 
Katherine Pierce was a reliable attacker and is off to Quinnipiac to continue her education. 
 
Cristina Lynch played defense and is now headed to the University of Connecticut.
 
Christine Vittner also played defense and will be attending the University of Saint Joseph.
 
Alexis Almada was an attacker and is also off to the University of Connecticut
 
Katherine Bridges was a defender who will be attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida to study engineering.
 
Abbey Riberio played defense and will attend Simmons University in the fall.

WHS senior student athletes Sam Odell, Matt Bagdasarian, Jake Whitaker, Eric Denz, Kyle Edman, Jimmy Luiz during last week's graduation. Photo credit- Tammy Luiz