All-Rare Reminder: 2021-2022 Athletes of the Year

Newington High School's brother and sister runners, Michael and Katie Bohlke, both made the All-Rare Reminder team for their excellence on the cross country trails in the fall. They both excelled during the indoor and outdoor track season as well.

Another fantastic year is in the books for the local high school teams and athletes. The five local public schools (Cromwell, Middletown, Newington, Rocky Hill, and Wethersfield) each brought home team titles, individual titles, or both. Here is a look at the most outstanding athletes in the area for the 2021-2022 school year. 

Boys Cross Country - Michael Bohlke (Newington): Bohlke won the Wickham Invitational and then placed 4th overall at the State Open to kick off a memorable final running season at NHS. The senior won the 1600 meters and 3200 meters at the Class L outdoor track finals in the spring and ran a personal best (14:39.94) in the 5k to win the CT Distance Festival in April. Bohlke will now run cross country and track at George Washington University.

Girls Cross Country - Katie Bohlke (Newington): Bohlke, the younger sister of Michael Bohlke, placed 6th at the Class L championship in the fall. The junior would go on to shine during the indoor and outdoor track season, including winning the 800 meters at the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) championship by running a personal-best 2:22.08.

Field Hockey - Molly Bowers (Wethersfield): Bowers was named all-state after helping captain an Eagles team that won 15 regular season games and advanced to the state title game for the first time since 1980. The senior’s unselfish play and great field vision allowed Wethersfield to outscore their opponents by 55 goals in the fall.

Football - Teddy Williams (Cromwell/Portland): Williams was named one of the Top 25 football players in the state by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association after starring as a three-way player for the Panthers, who won the Class S state championship. Whether it was offense, defense, or special teams, Williams excelled – scoring 30 touchdowns, including a dozen end zone trips during the team’s four-game championship march through the playoffs.   

Boys Soccer - Christian Amaral (Newington): Amaral scored 36 points ­– 14 assists and 11 goals ­– earning an all-state selection for a second straight season. The senior was clutch when it mattered most, dishing out two assists as the Nor'easters defeated Wethersfield in the regular season finale to capture their first conference crown since 2002. Amaral will now play soccer for American International College (AIC).

Girls Soccer - Cameryn Wilkinson (Wethersfield): Wilkinson earned an all-state after captaining an Eagles team that won a Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) crown and advanced to the Class L quarterfinals after knocking off Foran and upsetting No. 3 seed Suffield in the second round. The senior, who was also selected All-CCC the past two seasons, will play college soccer at the University of Hartford.

Girls Swimming - Alanna DePinto (Wethersfield): DePinto was a standout at WHS her entire four years, culminating with a sensational final season in which placed 2nd in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100 freestyle at the Class L finals. The departing senior earned all-state status, all-conference, and high honors in the classroom during all four of her years at the high school. She will now swim at Stoney Brook University. 

Girls Diving - Layla Solberg (Middletown): Solberg was one of the most accomplished divers in her conference, placing 11th at Class L state meet in the fall. The junior is also a terrific tennis player and honor roll student at MHS. 

Girls Volleyball - Olivia Boling (Newington): Boling was a captain on the court, playing terrific all-around volleyball for a Nor’easters team that won ten regular season games and qualified for the state tourney. The senior led the team in aces (49), also finishing second overall in digs and fifth on the team in kills. She will next play volleyball at Johnson & Wales as she studies nutrition and dietetics in Providence, RI.

Boys Basketball - Gianluca Albert (Cromwell): Albert was the Shoreline Conference (SLC) Player of the Year and was named all-state after captaining the Panthers to a SLC championship following a 19-1 regular season. The senior did it all for Cromwell offensively – scoring, rebounding, distributing — and was a stout defender. He will attend Quinnipiac University this fall.

Girls Basketball - Lilly Ferguson (Newington): Ferguson earned her second straight all-state selection after helping the Nor’easters advance to the state championship game for the first time since 1993. The senior, who will play basketball at The University of Massachusetts, led the team in points (16 per game), rebounds (6.2), and assists (2.4).

Gymnastics - Adrianna Kenny / Sammy Charbonneau (Wethersfield): Both Kenny and Charbonneau were named all-conference following a successful winter season for the high-flying Eagles.

Boys Ice Hockey - Shane Mazur (Wethersfield): Mazur was named first-team all-state as he helped guide the Eagles to a state championship this winter. The senior was particularly spectacular in the state tournament where he scored the game-winner in overtime to secure a win in the quarterfinals and then combined to score five goals with his brother, Ryan, helping send Wethersfield to the state title game where they would defeat North Haven.

Girls Ice Hockey - Nicole Partridge (Wethersfield): Partridge earned all-conference and was named the Most Valuable Player on the conference championship games as the Nighthawks (multi-school hockey co-op) defeated Hall/Conard to capture the CCC crown. The junior was a major scoring threat, including netting four goals over the first two games of the state tournament.

Boys Indoor Track & Field - Bryan Martinez (Rocky Hill): Martinez finished 3rd in the 1600 meters at the Class S Outdoor Track & Field finals this winter. The senior capped off his high school career by finishing first in the 800 meters at the CCC-North championships and ran a personal-best in the mile (4:34.58) at the CT Distance Festival this spring. Martinez will attend the University of Connecticut.  

Girls Indoor Track & Field - Nyasia Dailey (Middletown): Dailey won the 55-meter dash at Class L Outdoor Track and Field finals and then went on to run a personal-best (7.17) at the State Open, where she finished as the runner-up. The recently graduated senior will attend Quinnipiac University and will walk-on for the Bobcats track team. 

Wrestling - Jesse Baldwin (Middletown): Baldwin won a state title, defeating John Portley of Daniel Hand to win the 170-pound division at the Class L state championships in February. The junior will be back next year for a Blue Dragons team that will return a strong nucleus. 

Boys Swimming – Andrew Strickland (Middletown): Strickland wrapped up a great swimming career at MHS by placing as the runner-up at the 100-yard freestyle and 4th in the100 yard breaststroke at the Class M championship. The senior, who also excelled at baseball, set the school’s record in the breaststroke during his high school tenure in the pool and will now swim for Wagner College as he studies finance and economics.

Boys Diving – Cody Schad (Middletown): Schad placed 3rd in the Class M diving finals and then went on to complete at the State Open. The sophomore, along with junior Diego Carrillo and freshman Nathan Ivans, give the Blue Dragons a formidable trio returning to the boards this winter.

Cheerleading - Emily Sousa (Cromwell): Sousa was named the Shoreline Conference (SLC) Cheerleader of Year and captained a Cromwell team that won the conference outright. The junior also earned all-state as the Panthers finished 5th overall at states.   

Baseball - Shaun Callahan (Newington): Callahan was a captain and multi-tool player for a Nor’easters team that won 17 of 20 regular season games and advanced to the Class LL quarterfinals. The senior, who will play baseball at the University of New Haven, earned all-state after leading Newington from the plate and showcasing a powerful pitching arm from the mound. 

Boys Golf - Jack Wise (Cromwell): Wise continued his success on the links, earning first-team All-Shoreline Conference (SCL) for a second straight season. He capped his junior season with a 5th place showing at the Division III championship and a top-12 showing at the State Open.

Girls Golf - Glorianne Pinote (Newington): Pinote followed up her fabulous first year in high school with an equally impressive sophomore season, placing top-ten at CCC championship and shooting an 88 at Division I championships. She will once again be one of the state’s top golfers heading into her junior season in 2023. 

Boys Lacrosse - Wil Bankowski (Wethersfield): Bankowski eclipsed the 100-career goal mark this spring, again finishing as the team’s leading scorer as the Eagles won a conference crown after winning 12 of 15 regular season games. The team captain made all-state and is again primed to be one of the state’s best players as a senior next spring.

Girls Lacrosse - Morgan Hellman (Newington): Hellman was a senior captain on a Nor’easters team that won 12 of 16 regular season games. She surpassed the 100-career goal mark this spring, making her second straight all-conference team, and she is now headed to Franklin Pierce University to continue her lacrosse journey.

Boys Outdoor Track and Field - Holden Speed (Wethersfield): Speed ended his high school career with a bang, winning a trifecta of titles and sweeping the Class L championship, State Open, and New England championships in the high jump. The recent graduate, who also excelled on the football fields, will continue jumping competitively at Merrimack College.

Girls Outdoor Track and Field - Marina Perry (Rocky Hill): Perry saved her best for last, winning the shot put at the conference championships, Class M championships, and the State Open. The senior swept the throwing competitions at the CCC-North championships, winning the aforementioned shot put, along with setting personal-bests in both the javelin and discus to win those events as well. Perry will now attend and throw for Central Connecticut State University. 

Softball - Lily Kenney (Cromwell): Kenney made all-state for a second straight season, serving again as the pitching ace for a Panthers team that won the Class S state championship. Kenney was simple outstanding, finishing 21-2 from the mound and striking out 226 batters while allowing only 75 hits and 19 earned runs. The junior was equally impressive from the plate, leading the team in RBIs (39) and hammering a team-high five home runs. 

Boys Tennis - Marko Karpyuk (Wethersfield): Karpyuk served as Wethersfield’s No. 1 singles player this spring, helping the Eagles win 13 or 16 matches in the regular season. The play of the departing senior earned him a stop in the State Invitational, where he would defeat Lane Fiason of Shepaug in straight sets in the opening round to move on round of 32. 

Girls Tennis - Suhani Sheth (Rocky Hill): Sheth again shined as the Terriers No. 1 singles player, playing in the State Invitational for a second straight season and helping Rocky Hill earn a share of the conference crown. After serving in the Terriers top-spot the last two season, the departing senior will attend Indiana University. 

Boys Volleyball - Trey Guest (Newington): Guest was named all-state and was named an Elite Senior for the All-Star game after leading the Nor’easters with nearly five kills per set, totaling 405 total kills and adding a team-high 36 aces 36 (36). The departing senior will continue to play volleyball at Emmanuel College as he studies physical therapy. 

Lily Kenney was named to the All-Rare Reminder team after leading Cromwell to a softball state championship this spring.   ​