Here are the Rivereast Standouts of the week for April 3-9:
Grace Baran - RHAM High School (Tennis): Baran has assumed the role as the team’s No. 1 singles player this spring and is thriving, winning her first two matches in straight sets. Baran, a senior captain, won her first match (6-4, 6-3) during the team’s season opening win over Bolton at RHAM High School on April 4 and then won (6-0, 6-1) as the Raptors swept Bloomfield, winning all seven matches, at RHAM on April 5. “She has great game sense and adjusts her play throughout the match when necessary,” RHAM head coach Carol Fish said of Baran. “Her consistency, patience, and strong net game make her a formidable opponent.” Olivia DeMartino - East Hampton High School (Softball): DeMartino opened the spring season by going 4-4 from the plate, scoring four runs and driving in four more as the Bellringers beat Valley Regional 11-5 at East Hampton High School on April 3. DeMartino, a sophomore, powered a line-up that cemented the game with a five-run fifth inning. Jocelyn Gustavson and Emily Jovel each scored a pair of runs, while Kendall Jump, Alison Hebb, and Allison Jacobsen also crossed home plate in the season opener. In the following game, a 2-1 win over Cromwell in extra innings, DeMartino was clutch. She connecting on three hits and scored both runs, including the game-winner in the eighth inning to seal the upset of the defending state champs at Cromwell High School on April 5. Mason Pingree - Bacon Academy (Baseball): Pingree earned his first varsity win, striking out seven over final four innings of relief duty as the Bobcats defeated Stafford 7-3 to win their first game of the season on April 4. Pingree, a sophomore, also had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Senior A.J. Blanchette walked three times and scored two runs as the Bobcats piled up five runs over the first two innings, thanks to six walks and three wild pitches. Ryan LaPila - Portland High School (Baseball): LaPila went 2-3 from the plate, slapping a double and scoring a pair of runs as the Highlanders earned an 8-4 win over Old Saybrook, the reigning Shoreline Conference champs, on April 5. Harrison Collins also connected on two hits and scored a pair of runs, while Austin Vess drove in two more.
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Glastonbury girls lacrosse senior captain Alicia Choquette attempts to split Greenwich’s Emma Abbazia and Kaitlyn Kelly during the Guardians’ season opening loss on April 4.
In the team’s season opener, Glastonbury High School girls lacrosse lost to Greenwich 16-2 on April 4 at GHS. But the discrepancy on the scoreboard was not what GHS head coach Kris Cofiell wanted her team to take away from the game. “I told the team that the team we are today is not going to be the team we will be,” Cofiell said after the defeat. Cofiell added that she purposely schedules tough out-of-conference games and the game against Greenwich—a program that plays in the highly-competitive Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC)—was a good lesson for her young team, featuring only four seniors. Greenwich, a team with 10 seniors, scored two quick goals courtesy of Cece Tauber and Aubrey Roth within the first four minutes of the game. In the early stages, Glastonbury went shot-for-shot with the visiting Cardinals, but the home team’s attempts were just off the mark as Kate McKiernan and Stephanie Koppy had shots ricochet off the post. At the 17:09 mark of the first half, Glastonbury senior captain Alicia Choquette cut the deficit in half with a goal before Greenwich reeled off nine straight points, a run that bled over into the second half. Greenwich’s Emma Abbazia, a junior, scored a game-high six goals and senior Kiera Young added four more. Cofiell said the Cardinals repeatedly beat the Guardians to loose balls, which ultimately put them in an insurmountable deficit. “That is a gut-check-type of game,” said Cofiell, who added that the team can learn from the 14-point defeat. Helping steady the ship for Cofiell is a trio of captains in Choquette, fellow senior Sydney Norman, and junior Avery Olschefskie. Cofiell said her field generals have been “awesome” and “great leaders for this young group.” Several sophomores are playing pivotal roles, including Lola Espirito-Santo, the team’s starting goalie. Greenwich’s high-powered, efficient offense peppered the first-year goaltender with shots throughout the game, particularly in the first half when they scored 11 goals. Following a shaky start, Espirito-Santo settled in and made a handful of saves in the second half, showcasing poise and toughness in goal. Espirito-Santo began playing lacrosse only a year ago and is replacing Bridget Clarke, who made all-conference as a senior a year ago. Cofiell said Espirito-Santo learned the ropes under Clarke and praised her new goalie for not wavering after the rough start. “She didn’t give up; she kept her head up,” added Cofiell. “I’m really proud of her. The maturity that she showed today was awesome.” Sophomore Abigail Kasper also showcased her talents in the second half, scoring a goal at the 20-minute mark. Cofiell called Kasper “tough as nails” and praised her athleticism. Cofiell added that her sophomore class, which also features McKiernan, Francesca Gionfriddo, and Cora Cwiertniewicz—-a crossover athlete from basketball that is playing lacrosse for the first time—will play a big role this year and beyond. Many of the younger players have excelled in other sports and Cofiell said they are just learning of the nuances of lacrosse. “We have good athletes, they just have to learn the game,” added Cofiell. “We don’t have the fundamentals right now, but that will come. Right now we are just trying to iron some things out.” While the team goes through some growing pains, Cofiell added that it will be important for the younger players to soak up the knowledge of the captains. “It’s that team that listens, and works, and plays with sportsmanship and builds those friendships that comes together,” added Cofiell. “That is my hope with this team, that we keep taking steps forward.” Brady Holzmiller - Rocky Hill (Baseball): Holzmiller went 3-3, including a double, and scored a pair of runs as the Terriers defeated Cheney Tech 12-1 in Manchester on April 3. Senior Tyler Carlstrom put the finishing touches on the season-opening victory with a bases-cleaning triple in the fifth. The following day, Rocky Hill shutout Vinal Tech 16-0 in the team’s home opener behind senior Brendan Whalen, who went 3-3 and drove in four runs. The Terriers improved to 3-0 with a 14-0 victory over East Hartford on April 5 thanks to pitcher Ben Centurelli, who struck out eight and walked none over five scoreless innings. Through the first three games, Rocky Hill has outscored their opponents 42-1.
Jack Wise - Cromwell (Golf): Wise finished as the co-medalist, tying with Portland’s Luke Stennett in the Panthers season opener at TPC River Highlands on April 4. Wise, a senior who is coming off consecutive first-team all-conference selections, shot a team-best 32, on a beautiful, sunny afternoon at the professional venue. Dillon Rozich (36), Ryan Rozich (41), Jacob Salafia (42), and Jay Vaughn (50) rounded out the Panthers golfers that competed. Brianna Gadarowski - Newington (Softball): Gadarowski was 3-3 from the plate, scoring three runs and driving in three more as the Nor’easter defeated Conard 11-7 on April 4. Gadarowski, a senior who plays shortstop, scored another run in the following game, a 17-1 win over Hartford Public. Senior Jaidyn Tucker scored four runs and drove in another in the 16-run victory. Sadie Ruiz - Wethersfield (Lacrosse): Ruiz scored five goals, dished out three assists, scooped up three ground balls as the Eagles defeated Rocky Hill 15-13 on April 3. Ruiz, a junior who is also an all-state field hockey player, helped her lacrosse team knock off the Terriers in a thriller at RHHS in the Eagles’ season opener. Matt Lagace - Newington (Volleyball): Lagace combined for 30 kills as the Nor’easters opened the regular season with a pair of three-set victories. Lagace, a 6’3” senior, hammered home 14 kills in a win over Xavier in Middletown on April 3 and then had 16 kills, three aces, and a block in a sweep on Hall in the team’s home opener on April 4. To nominate someone as an athlete of the week or with sports-related comments, email joshhowardsports@gmail.com Syracuse, a GBA team in town, finished an undefeated season in March. Pictured, top row: head coach Dave Mitchell, Dylan Mitchell, Michael Brennan, Dillon Farina, Connor Gilday, and assistant coach Thom Gilday; bottom row: Aayan Banglawala, Adam Kukulka, Owen Ciaglo, and Greyson Giangreco. Not picture: assistant coach Michael Farina.
Head coach David Mitchell said it was a “great group of kids” that allowed his Syracuse team to polish off a perfect season in the Glastonbury Basketball Association (GBA) ACC league. Syracuse, a team consisting of local 7th and 8th graders, swept through the regular season, winning all 13 games, before taking in a pair of playoff games and putting an exclamation point on the season with a 43-24 victory over Villanova in the championship game at Gideon Welles School on March 13. “It starts with teamwork,” Mitchell said of the unblemished season. “[The players] were great listeners, they were great teammates, they were disciplined, and they worked hard.” It was a thoroughly dominant 16-game stretch for Syracuse, who outscored their opponents by over 28 points per game and 450 points overall (783-333). The team both scored the most and allowed the fewest points in the seven-team league. Mitchell said it was the team’s stingy defense that ultimately made the difference. After learning the coach’s full court press and zone defense, the eight players were a defensive juggernaut, holding eight opponents to under 20 points. “We preached defense,” added Mitchell, “We were able to teach them the fundamentals, and the biggest reason for our success was defense.” Handling the scoring load was Mitchell’s son, Dylan Mitchell, who scored over 20 points per game. David Mitchell, who also coaches youth football in town, said his son was a defensive specialist when he coached him in basketball a year ago and came alive on the offensive end this season. “I don’t know what happened to him in the summer. All of a sudden he’s scoring over 20 points per game,” David Mitchell joked about his son’s development on the court. “I didn’t know what I had in my own son.” The team had very few hiccups this year, but Mitchell pointed to a 29-26 win over the UConn team in January as a wakeup call. “Whether we won or lost that game, we needed that game. It showed them that we could be beat,” recalled Mitchell. “It wasn’t hard to keep them motivated after that.” Following the close call, the team steamrolled through the rest of the season, defeating North Carolina 60-22 in the first round of the playoffs and eliminated Butler 49-26 to advance to the championship game. With perfection on the line, Syracuse left little to doubt, jumping out to a 25-3 lead as they cruised to the 19-point victory over Villanova in the title tilt. David Mitchell said the team was notoriously a slow starting team, but said they were all business from the opening tip in the championship game. “It was super exciting,” he added. “We came out extremely fast.” Dylan Mitchell led the way with 22 points in the championship triumph. He completed the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trifecta—winning the league MVP, the finals MVP, and eventually winning the league’s All-State game MVP. Connor Gilday, who added 11 points in the championship win, did a lot of the dirty work down low this season, averaging over 10 rebounds per game. David Mitchell added the undefeated run was a complete team effort, saying every player knew their role. He pointed to Owen Ciaglo, who was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year, as a key piece. Despite Ciaglo’s lack of size, Mitchell said he could guard anyone on the court because to his effort and athletic ability. Dillon Farina was named the team’s best all-around player, starring as the team’s jack-of-all-trades. Greyson Giangreco, Michael Brennan, Aayan Banglawala, and Adam Kukulka also played major roles throughout the season. Making the accomplishment even more amazing was that none of the players had competed on the court together in any official capacity prior to the season. “It was putting a bunch of young men together and hoping it works, but they all had the right attitude,” noted David Mitchell. “They each knew their role and they knew what they were good at, and they knew what they needed to do to win.” The proud coach added that his team also had limited gym time, often practicing only once a week. Therefore they had to learn to play together during games and Mitchell could see his team gelling after only a few games together. “I knew we had something special,” recalled Mitchell. “It’s pretty astonishing how they came together so quickly.” Mitchell added it was the first time he had been involved with an undefeated team in any sport and credited his assistant coaches Thom Gilday and Michael Farina—a 13-year old who was learning the ropes under the two veteran coaches—for helping secure a perfect end to a memorable season. Wethersfield Dylan Aberle looks to pass as he is defended by Newington’s Tyler Mangene. Aberle was one of eight WHS players to score during the Eagles 19-6 victory.
In a physical, scrappy season opener, Wethersfield boys lacrosse outdueled Newington 19-6 at Cottone Field on April 3. All-state senior Wil Bankowski picked up where he left off a season ago, scoring a game-high seven goals as the Eagles jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Head coach Bruce Cutkomp was pleased with how his team attacked from the opening whistle, crediting the team for putting the pressure on Newington’s defense. “Starting off with a rivalry game really gets your blood going,” added Cutkomp. “My guys came in ready to play. We started to really press in transition and we have a really fast and athletic team, so we like to attack. That is our bread and butter.” In what turned out to be a game of scoring runs, Newington’s second-year head coach Chris Siewertsen said the team lost focus of the details in the loss. “There were a lot of breakdowns on those little things and when those little things break down it adds up into the big things,” added Siewertsen. Less than a minute into the game, Matt Ruck found the back of the net for the opening points of the season, before Bankowski scored his first at the 10:03 mark of the first quarter. Luke Whitaker then scored off an assist from Anthony Ruck and Owen Hart made it 4-0 after weaving through defenders and scoring with 7:42 remaining in the first quarter. Cutkomp liked how his team shared the ball and said the hot start was a “reflection of how much work these guys have done over the summer when I’m not here.” Newington responded by scoring four of the next five goals. Paddy Brown scored on a laser shot from straight away and then assisted Everett Hillman on a goal. A minute later, Hillman—who sustained an injury and missed the entire second half¬¬¬––added a second goal before Kyle Bross scored to cut the deficit to 5-4 with eight minutes to play in the first half. Brown, Hillman, and Bross each scored twice in the loss. Siewertsen credited his senior trio with temporarily changing the momentum. “Our seniors helped steady the tide,” added Siewertsen. “We have great senior leadership, on and off the field.” The Nor’easter also got a boost from freshman Heath Weeden, who came off the bench to provide a spark by winning a handful of face-offs. Newington’s momentum was short-lived as the Eagles reeled off the next 11 points to put the game out of reach. Bankowski scored five of his seven during the surge. He was one of three Eagles players to net a hat trick, joining Matt Ruck and Julian Raposo, who each scored three goals. All told, eight Wethersfield players scored with Whitaker scoring twice and Hart, Michael Hughes, A.J. Karanian, and Dylan Aberle each finding the back of the net. Manning the backend for the Eagles is first-year goalie Matt Pacheco, who is replacing all-conference goalie and 2022-graduate Cooper Moreau. In his first start, Pacheco made a handful of saves and showcased poise in net. Cutkomp called Pacheco “an absolute stud” and said he has “chomping at the bit” for his chance this spring. “The way he sees the ball and organizes our defense is really amazing,” added Cutkomp. Cutkomp, now in his third season leading the team, believes the program has morphed into the tough, gritty program he envisioned it could be when he took over. In the previous two seasons, the Eagles won 26 of 29 games in the regular season and captured the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) South championship last spring. The goal this year is for that success to bleed over into the state tournament where Wethersfield has lost home games (opening round in 2021 and quarterfinals in 2022) in each of the last two seasons. This spring marks only the third season that WHS has been competing at a varsity level and Cutkomp credited the town’s feeder system as being one of the reasons that they have had success so quickly. “I can’t talk enough about our youth program. They have given us a ton of feeder players and it is elevating the style of play we want here,” added Cutkomp. “It is making everything easier for me and my coaching staff. The caliber and level of players has increased every year.” Newington is coming off a five-win season and it’s those details that the Siewertsen is looking to fine tune as spring rolls on. “We’ve started to take those steps,” added Siewertsen. “The guys are really buying into the program from everything from academic to offseason preparation, and service off the field.” Siewertsen, who coaches the team Tom Gallagher and Tyler Violano, added, “It starts from the top down and we try to set an example for the guys and they have bought into what we want to do here. We want to change the face of the program, and we’re on our way.” Kyle Bross of Newington attempts to get by Wethersfield’s Kyle Smith at Cottone Field on April 3. PHS boys golf opened the season at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell on April 4. Picture, from left; Quinn Lapinski, Luke Stennett, Joe LaMalfa, Ben Fecteau, and Aiden Peterson
After winning both the conference championship and state title in each of the last two seasons, Portland High School boys golf aims for another double-dip of championship success this spring. Head coach Joe Santavenere said the team has embraced the role as the lead dog, using it as motivation to remain on top. “The good thing about golf is it is a numbers game and you can keep setting higher goals,” said Santavenere. “They are not only competing with everybody else, but also with themselves. We just try to get better as a team and not worry about what is going on outside the team.” Swagger has also been part of the success and they again have reason to be confident this spring with the team’s top three golfers from a year ago returning. Junior Luke Stennett was the co-medalist at both the Shoreline Conference (SLC) championships and Division III state championship last spring, leading the way as the Highlanders easily won both events. The previous season, Stennett shocked the local golfing community by winning the Division IV state championships as a freshman. Santavenere has seen his golfing prodigy grow in more ways than one. “As he’s gotten older he has taken on that leadership role as well, helping the younger guys,” added Santavenere. “He’s all about the team and he wants to get better for himself and for the team. He’s making sure he is bringing everyone else with him to make us one of the best teams in the state.” Fellow junior Quinn Lapinski finished 3rd at the state championships and Santavenere said Lapinski is just reaching his potential, adding, “He’s one of those underrated players. He’s already had an outstanding career and I’m excited for his junior year as well.” Senior Joe LaMalfa is also back following a banner year on the course, earning first-team all-conference with Stennett and Lapinski. Santavenere said he expects even bigger and better things from his returning golfers this spring. “Those three guys are competitive with each other and that trickles down to the other guys that are competing and earn spots,” added Santavenere. “They see how it’s done and they are pushing each other to get better.” Santavenere is looking to fill the team’s coveted fourth slot, vacated by graduate Eli Evison. Vying for the 4th and 5th spots will be Ben Fecteau, Giovanni Discenza, and Aidan Peterson. All three are multi-sport athletes with Fecteau starring on the basketball court, Discenza on the soccer fields, and Peterson playing both basketball and soccer. Santavenere said the trio’s competitive nature has allowed them to hit the ground running this spring and all three are capable of shooting a score of under-40 on any given round. “They have clearly worked at it and it’s been a nice surprise. Having that depth has been huge for us,” added Santavenere, who is in his 11th season leading the program. “Just like our top three guys, those three also push each other every day.” With a handful of state titles under his belt, Santavenere said the keys to the team’s prolonged success is that the golfers that come through PHS genuinely like each other and have a healthy competition in practice. He recalled a particular practice round this spring where Stennett and Lapinski were not happy with their performances, so they stayed on the range afterwards to put in more work. “It’s the kids that are excelling and making the program what is it,” said Santavenere. “They go out on the weekends and play with each other and they are competing with each other, but they are also supporting each other for that perfect balance.” The Highlanders kicked off their quest for a “three-peat” at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, defeating the Panthers 139-151 on Tuesday, April 4. Santavenere said the team was “pumped up” going into the season-opener. They had played at the professional venue a season ago, but didn’t get good weather for the match. In Tuesday’s meet, the weather was sunny and ideal for golf as Stennett finished as the co-medalist, shooting a 32 and tying Cromwell’s Jack Wise atop the leaderboard. Lapinski (34), LaMalfa (36), and Fecteau (37) contributed to the Highlanders scoring, while Peterson shot a 42 to round out the five Highlanders that played. Santavenere said competing with Cromwell, a conference opponent, was a good early-season test. Next up is a conference home match against Old Saybrook on Tuesday, April 18 at Portland Golf Course, teeing off at 2:45 p.m. If you’ve been to any sporting event at Rocky Hill High School over the last five years there’s a really good chance you’ve seen Andrew Abraham.
Abraham has been the school’s athletic trainer since October of 2018, wearing multiple hats while helping provide safe and successful sports seasons. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the community,” Abraham said of his five years in Rocky Hill. “The people make the communities and I’ve worked with an incredible group of people here.” Originally from Central Massachusetts, Abraham played ice hockey at Springfield College while obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from the college. His passion for athletics and helping others dates back to his childhood where he was a multi-sport athlete and his mother worked as a physical therapist. Abraham, an employee at Select Physical Therapy who is contracted by the school, has slowly seen his role in athletic arena change from a competitive one to a caring one. “Since I was six years old I was trying to be the best athlete that I could be and now I am in the mode of helping 300 athletes at Rocky Hill,” he stated. His journey at the high school has also come full circle, recently having one of the student athletes that he helped at RHHS graduate and pursue a degree in athletic training from Springfield College. “I might be biased but I’d like to say it’s one of the best athletic training programs in the nation,” Abraham said of his alma mater. March was National Athletic Training Month and Abraham said the job is so much more than what people may think. On a typical day, he arrives at the school in the afternoon to meet with the school nurse, Renee Garrahy, and athletic director, Joseph Horvath, before prepping for any treatments or questions that student athletes may have before heading out for competition. “It is a really important profession that maybe isn’t understood or valued as much as it should be,” stated Abraham. As an athletic trainer, Abraham must fill a variety of roles; from acute injuries to emergency situations and everything in between. They also work as a conduit between physicians, physical therapists, other medical personnel, and parents. They also teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid to coaches at the high school. The importance of an athletic trainer was highlighted earlier this year when Demar Hamlin, a professional football player for the Buffalo Bills, suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during a game in Cincinnati on Jan. 2. First responders on the field performed CPR and used other emergency treatments for 10 minutes before Hamlin was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Following nine days in the hospital, Hamlin was released to rehabilitate at home and the medical personnel that gave him aid on the field have since been lauded for their immediate reactions and life-saving efforts. Abraham admitted that the profession is a lot of watching sports, but stressed that an athletic trainer must be ready on a moment’s notice and that preparation is a key to responding quickly. “We’d love to watch the games and never be needed,” said Abraham. “But I’m ready to go when students need me, whether it is a severe injury or minor injury, I have everything ready to go.” With the spring sports season starting, Abraham is in the beginning stages of his final few months at Rocky Hill. During the pandemic he received his Master of Science in Sports Administration from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and was promoted by Selected Physical Therapy to an Area Director of Sports Medicine. He now oversees 40 athletic trainers from around 40 different schools, along with performing his normal athletic training duties with the Terriers’ sports teams. . Following the conclusion of the spring season, he will begin to solely focus on his new gig and will be replaced by another athletic trainer at RHHS. Leaving the Terriers family will be bittersweet for Abraham, who said he has created many meaningful relationships, in and out of the profession. He was married this past fall and he said the local community had a “big presence” in his wedding. “It has been a second home for me since 2018,” Abraham said of Rocky Hill. He noted that he will still be present in the community, overseeing the new athletic trainer as well as coaching and cheering on the Terriers. Harrison Krause (front) and Dominic Pena are both coming off outstanding performances during winter’s indoor track and field season and now are two of the senior leaders for the Guardians outdoor track and field team.
Girls Outdoor Track and Field Head coach Brian Collins returns to lead a squad that is aiming for a three-peat after winning back-to-back Class LL state championships in 2021 and 2022. With a slew of talent returning and new athletes joining the mix, Collins said this group has the potential to be even deeper than last year’s title team. “With the hard work, determination and dedication of these athletes, they have a great opportunity to have an outstanding season,” added Collins. “As always, one of the big keys is to stay healthy.” The team is again loaded on both the track and in the field, with an abundance of athletic ability at each and every level. Alyssa Healy, Riley Carroll, Alayna Taylor, Kelsey Landers, Mackenzie Landers, Celina Rodrigues, Azariah Santavenere, and Alissa Thompson-Webb make up a lightning fast group of sprinters. Jackie Caron, Alex Edwards, Mikayla Nedder, Annika Paluska will provide the power in the mid-dances, while Brooke Strauss, Jocelyn Wolf, Jackie Dudus, Lila Garbett, Ava Gattinella, Kelley MacElhiney, Lucy Bergin, and Abby Mathew will handle the longer distances. In the field, Anna Morris and Brianna Jordan will be the team’s primary throwers. Anna Hilary, Sarah Christina, Eloise Mulready, Mackenzie Rinaldo, Maija Adams, and Cici Ryan will handle the jumping events, along with Jenna Fradin, who is also a sprinter. Collins said the team’s goal is to again win the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) and the state meet, leaning on an experienced group of leaders on and off the track. “We’re very fortunate to have many good leaders on the team to help the new and inexperienced girls learn from,” added Collins. “Hopefully we’ll get better each day and each meet, but it starts each day at practice.” Boys Outdoor Track and Field Head coach Mark Alexander returns a vast and experienced group from last year, featuring all-conference athletes Harrison Krause (distance) and Dominic Pena (mid-distance). The pair is part of a strong senior class that also features Jackson Boyd, Deandrea Williams, Kalym Richards, Max McCurdy, Jonathan Wihbey, Gage Haines, Ben Yalof, Cam Colletti, Alexander Howarth, and Owen Peterson. Juniors Tye Karpicky, Nate Lawrence, Adam Pardo-Nasto, Aiden Katzman, Jace Lewis, Emmet Dickinson will help lead the charge. Alexander said that this is the most student athletes the program has had since the team won the state championship in 2019, with a deep and talented underclassmen group highlighting a bright future. Sophomores Robbie Caruso, Ryan Jackson, Gabe Kvadus, Raza Malik, Christian Miclette, Austyn Neidel, along with freshmen Diego Aguilar, Crawford Cauthen, Kyle Hageman, Sam Hageman, Alistair Mihalko, and Josh Smith lead a young group. “The team is working hard, wanting to get better and qualify for the state championships,” added Alexander. “In between the indoor and outdoor season a large amount of guys were running on their own to get ready for the season. I am looking forward to an exciting season.” Softball Head coach Karen Costes returns to the dugout to lead a Guardians squad that won 18 of 20 games a season ago. The team lost all-conference players Sadie Scurto (catcher) and Brooke Tracy (pitcher), but welcomed back all-conference honorees Rayah Snyder and Natalie Lessard. Snyder, a University of Connecticut-commit and two-time all-state selection, will again bat leadoff and play shortstop. She will captain the team with Lessard (CF), Nabia Crawford (RF), and Molly Doherty (LF)––giving Costes plenty of leadership in the outfield. After getting time behind Tracy a season ago, junior Gabby Lambert takes over as the team’s ace. Replacing Scurto at catcher will be sophomore Taylor Page. Costes said the rapport between Lambert and Page has looked good in the team’s scrimmages, adding that Lambert “put in the work” in the offseason and Page’s transition to starter catcher has been a “smooth one.” Junior Lily Woodworth, who played baseball for her first two years in high school, switches over to softball and is expected to bat early in the lineup. Costes said the team will lean on a stout defense early in the season while they get comfortable offensively, but added that with added depth they could potentially have a more balanced lineup this spring. “We have the players to get it done,” added Costes, who added the team will have a tough conference schedule because of their strong records over the last two years. “It will help us figure out who is varsity ready.” Baseball Head coach Dennis Accomando returns to lead a team that won 14 regular season games and a pair of state tourney contests last spring. Returning all-state stud Drew Curto will head a senior class featuring seven players, six that saw significant action on varsity a year ago. The team graduated three pitchers who are now playing college baseball, so Accomando will rely on a trio of juniors to assume the load on the hill. Cody Heselton earned a couple of wins a year ago and slated to be the team’s ace, with Graydon Vyse and Anthony Michaud in the rotation. Accomando credited all three with putting the work in the offseason, adding, “They all have a ton of potential and we’re looking forward to what they can do for us.” Vyse is a 6’4 “ prospect that is deadlift 500 pounds and, in general, power could be a strength for the team this year as Accomando said this may be the biggest and strongest groups he’s had in his eight years. “They have worked incredibly hard. I give the kids a lot of credit for dedicating themselves in the offseason,” added Accomando. “They may not have a ton of at-bats and experience from a game standpoint, but they know what it takes.” Girls Lacrosse Head coach Kris Cofiell graduated four all-conference players in Bridget Clarke, Hannah David, Christina Guanci, Mary McKiernan, but returns a young and talented roster as the team is looking to follow up on another double-digit win season last spring. Senior Alicia Choquette (midfield) and Sydney Norman (defense) will captain the team along with junior captain Avery Olschefskie (midfield), who is coming off all-state and all-conference recognition as a sophomore. Joining Choquette and Olschefskie on the midfield will be sophomore Kate McKiernan, the team’s breakout freshman last fall. “What we lack in lacrosse experience, we make up for in athleticism,” stated Cofiell. “[The] team is full of multi-sport athletes who have excelled in other sports and now look to take that experience on to the lacrosse field.” Following the departure of the team’s top two attackers in Guanci and Mary McKiernan, junior Steph Koppy will anchor the unit as the only returning starter on the attack end. Juniors Gianna Calciano and Sydney Shaw, both returning starters, will join Norman in the defensive end. Sophomore Lola Espirito-Santo takes over in goal after learning behind Clarke as a freshman. The team is aiming to regain conference supremacy after failing to win the conference after 13 straight years of being on top. 15 of the last 16 years they have finished undefeated in conference. “Our overall team speed has improved in 2023,” added Cofiell. “We have a tough front loaded schedule with two top FCIAC teams in the first three games that will show us what it will take to compete in our league and beyond.” Boys Lacrosse Head coach Scott Hinchey welcomes back an experienced team that is aiming to repeat as conference champs following a Central Connecticut Conference (CCC)-South title last spring. “We return a good senior class that has played together for a long time,” said Hinchey. “It’s a veteran group and we played a bunch of freshmen last year that got bigger, stronger, and faster as sophomores.” Returning all-conference captain Brady Stone will head a potentially potent offensive attack that will also feature fellow senior Liam Doyle, who is returning from an injury a season ago. Seniors Ryder Harmon and Jack Carducci will head a stout defense that brings back most of its depth. Hinchey said that goalies Drew Hazard (senior) and Cayden Infantino (junior) will compete for time in net. “It’s a good, healthy problem to have. We have two guys that are capable of stepping in and playing” Hinchey said of his goalie situation. “They worked well together and we have confidence in both those guys.” Hinchey pointed to two-way player Jack Anglim as being a key this spring, saying the senior Swiss army knife “does a little bit of everything.” “I think we can be very athletic, with a lot of speed and balance,” added Hinchey. Boys Tennis Scott Daniels, a previous assistant coach under Chris Vozzolo, assumes the head coaching duties. Daniels is joined by assistant coach Rob Bernard, taking over a program that won 14 of 15 regular season contests a year ago. Senior Christian Kaverud returns as the team’s No. 1 singles player following state open qualifications in each of the last two years. Sophomore Andrew Risinger, the team’s No. 3 singles last season, and senior Elliot Kim, the No. 4 singles player a year ago, also return to compete for major roles. Niteesh Kalangi and Nick Bonaiuto each played doubles a year ago and will compete for singles spots this spring or again star in doubles. Sophomore J.D. Landry played some singles a year ago and will look to solidify a singles spot this year. Girls Tennis Following a 14-1 season last spring, head coach Sharon Murphy said this season will about fitting new pieces together after the team graduated nine seniors, including their top three singles players. Senior co-captains Nora Anderson-Orth and Emma Miller are stepping in as the No. 1 and No. 2 singles players. Other returning starters are Leila Azimov, Sarah Zhang and Jasleen Kaur. Murphy said the key is finding the right combination to fill the ten starting positions (four singles and six doubles players) of the 24 players on the roster. “One of the obstacles we face in the beginning of the season is coming up with the right combination of doubles teams,” stated Murphy. “It’s going to be a challenging season, but I’m optimistic that the team is up for it.” Girls Golf Ken Barse is back for his second season leading the Guardians, aiming to follow up on a conference title and strong showing at the state competition last spring. “We have an experienced team returning with the addition of a talented freshman,” stated Barse. ”These girls are a dedicated group who have worked hard in the off-season and are up for the challenge of the April winds and weather.” Junior Morgan Peterson was the medalist at the Central Connecticut Conference championships and returns as a team captain. Peterson is joined in the captain’s chair by junior Maya Manzotti, the team’s No. 2 golfer. Juniors Riley Savage, Kara Anderson, and Neeyor Devtale, along with sophomore Sofia Cirillo and freshman Annelise Manzotti provide a deep lineup. “The great part of this group is how close they are and no matter what challenges they face, they support each other and are so much fun to be around,” added Barse. “It is an honor to be coaching this special group.” Boys Volleyball Donald Colebrook, a former all-conference volleyball player at GHS and 2012-graduate, takes over as the head coach of a team that finished the regular season undefeated and won a conference title. The Guardians lost a good chunk of their starting lineup to graduation, including a handful of all-conference players, so the new coach will lean heavily on senior captain Kyle Annecchino to help lead an up-and-coming group. “This group lacks a lot of varsity experience but I believe has the right attitude to get past that and perform as needed,” stated Colebrook. “I'm looking forward to working more with this capable, focused group as the season goes on.” GHS senior Rayah Snyder will return to play shortstop and bat lead-off for the Guardians following an all-state season as both a junior and sophomore. WHS senior Vanessa Venditti signed her college commitment to play basketball at Rhode Island College. Venditti is surrounded by her parent’s Marco and Maria, along with WHS head coach Alexis Kaufusi and assistant coach Ryan Alger.
Wethersfield High School senior Vanessa Venditti is leaving WHS with a slew of athletic accolades, along with setting some lofty records on the courts. Venditti, all-conference athlete in multiple sports, has committed to play college basketball at Rhode Island College (RIC) in Providence, RI. Venditti called her next journey a “new path”, adding “It’s a fresh start for me to continue my career in basketball and it’s very exciting.” During her time at WHS, Venditti made it rain triples on the local basketball courts, breaking the program’s all-time record for career three-pointers (181). This past season, she set a new single-season mark by canning 65 shots from beyond the arc, including a record seven in one game. She could score in multiple ways, evidenced by her 933 career points, and she would have easily eclipsed 1,000 career points without the Covid-19 shortened season in 2020-2021. First-year WHS head coach Alexis Kaufusi said that Venditti made her transition into the program a smooth one. Kaufusi, who played college basketball at Brigham Young University, could relate with Venditti because she too had a new head coach during her senior year in high school. “I told her the first or second day of practice that it is never easy to get a new coach during your senior year, but she bought into the program and she bought into the changes,” recalled Kaufusi. “She brought the team together and it was fun to see her become a leader of the group. She took that role as a senior captain and did an awesome job with it.” Along with her excelling on offense, WHS assistant coach Ryan Alger said that Venditti was also fearless on the defense end, noting she holds the program’s “unofficial” record for most charges taken. Venditti also starred on the soccer field, serving as a captain and all-conference goalie for a program that won three conference titles over the past four seasons. This past fall, she helped shutout 10 opponents as the Eagles achieved an undefeated regular season. Playing for her hometown has been extra gratifying for Venditti, whose brothers Gianmarco and Christian Venditti were also star athletes for the school. “I have been very involved in sports, whether it’s youth soccer or youth basketball,” stated Venditti, who was born and raised in Wethersfield. “My name is known because of my two older brothers and it’s been exciting to play for the town. It has meant more having Wethersfield on my chest.” Protecting the net for the Eagles on the soccer fields was a bonus, but basketball was her first love. From the age of three, Venditti had a basketball in her hands and has used the sport as both an avenue to college athletics and as a way to destress. “If I’m having a bad day or something is going on, I can always go outside and shoot some baskets,” stated Venditti, who also played club basketball for the past six seasons. “It’s been that outlet. I don’t need anyone else, I just have myself and basketball has me.” At her next stop, Venditti will be joining an Anchorwomen program that is coming off a Final Four appearance in the Division III NCAA tournament after winning 28 of 32 games this past season. Kaufusi said that Venditti’s “competitiveness” and natural basketball abilities will allow her game to translate to college hoops, adding, “The game comes so natural to her. She does things that she doesn’t even realize she is doing and I think that is going to be huge for her as the next level. She will find ways to really help the team out.” For Venditti, a four-year all-academic recipient, leaving Wethersfield will be challenging. “I love the culture and community here,” she said. “If you have a good game, everyone hears about it and the next day you come into school and it’s really nice how everyone supports you.” Luckily, she will be joining another welcoming culture in Rhode Island, playing for a program led by head coach Jenna Cosgrove, who has guided RIC to a handful of conference titles and won over 70% of her games since taking over the program prior to the 2017-2018 season. “I’m excited, it’s a new chapter,” said Venditti, who will study sports sciences. “It can be fearful, but I am looking forward to it because it’s a new team, new teachers, new coaches and you get to adapt. Life is all about changing.” |
AuthorSports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin Archives
April 2024
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