Sadie Scurto rounds second base / Rayah Synder throws to first during Glastonbury softball's 17-0 victory over Newington 
 
​Sometimes the bats are cracking and sometimes the gloves are sticky.

Rarely do both happen in the same game but Glastonbury softball experiences the best of both worlds last Monday night, defeating Newington 17-0 in five innings.

“This is the team that I know we can have every single game,” head coach Karen Costes said following the resounding victory, “Softball is a very streaky game, so you don’t always have all of your hitters hitting at the same time but today we did. Every one of our starters got a hit today and that makes it a nice and fun game for us.”

Playing at GHS, the Guardians were spectacular from top to bottom, connecting on 16 hits and playing and error-free game in the field.
​
It was a thoroughly dominant performance from start to finish as the home team pounced early, taking an 8-0 lead after the first inning and extending the lead to 11 after two.

Junior pitcher Brooke Tracy struck out seven, allowing three hits and zero walks, in four innings of work. Freshman Kamryn Herrick pitched a hitless fifth inning to cement the victory.

The pitching duo also shined from the plate. Tracy connected on three hits, scoring a run and driving in two others. Herrick scored three runs on three hits, also sending a baserunner home.

Shortstop Rayah Snyder and catcher Sadie Scurto each scored twice.

Costes complimented Snyder, a sophomore, for stepping into a leadership role this spring, “She’s a great athlete with a great head on her shoulders. She’s very mature beyond her years and that helped set the tone, and that’s why we named her a captain as a sophomore.”

Snyder lost her freshman season because of 2020’s COVID-cancellation, further inspiring her this spring.

“That drove me to play to the best of my ability this year,” said Snyder, who also plays club softball for the CT Eliminators, “Missing out on my freshman year was devastating for me because that’s what I was looking forward to the most in high school. I wanted to get off to a good start and it was taken away. This year especially, I want to play the best that I can.”

Tracy was also highly motivated following last year’s cancellation and was fueled even more after missing the first three games in May because of contact tracing.

“I’m enjoying it more than I probably did before just because I learned to never take any game, any play, any second of it for granted,” stated Tracy, who has an ERA of 1.312 this spring, “I have developed as a pitcher and they have developed behind me. We’ve become more comfortable as the season has gone on.”

During Tracy’s absence, the team lost two of three games.

Costes, whose team started 6-0, welcomed the challenge, “It exposed some of our immaturity and we’ve been working on rebuilding that. Our toughest stretch was in the middle and we had to work through how to play tough teams. It teaches them how to play from behind and how to fight through adversity. Now we are on the up, feeling good and playing confident.”

Costes added that Tracy’s return to the mound brings the team back to full strength, “She pretty much picked up right where he left off. As talented of a pitcher that she is, she doesn’t try and do too much. If things aren’t going her way, she doesn’t go overboard and try and control things that are not in her control. She’s very composed in that way.”

Monday’s lopsided win showcased how dangerous the Guardians can be, especially when they get off to a quick start.

“That’s kind of our mojo. High energy right off the bat, high confidence right off the bat,” stated Snyder, “I think today’s game showed what we’ve been working on. I think our confidence and energy really helped drive our performance tonight.”

That confidence bled over into the following games when the Guardians trounced Avon 15-1 in four innings on Wednesday before finishing the week with an 18-1 dismantling of Farmington on Friday.

Snyder was spectacular in the pair of victories, totaling eight runs and driving in seven more.  

Natalie Lessard scored three runs in each game and Scurto drove in seven runs in the two wins, which improved the Guardians to 12-4.
With the playoffs rapidly approaching, the team is hoping those good vibes continue.

“Confidence is what is comes down to,” stated Tracy, “We’ve been trying to focus on confidence and positive self talk, because our team has the talent, but we just need to work on the mental part of the game.”

Costes added, “This is the team I knew we could be the entire time. They just needed that model to see it for themselves instead of just hearing it from us coaches.”

Captains Brooke Tracy and Rayah Snyder following home victory over Newington 

Mary Norman (far left), pictured this past fall with fellow field hockey seniors #20 Bryn Protheroe, #10 Caitlin Gallagher, #21 Abigail Peterson, and #17 Julia Tuttle

Norman is back on the field for the GHS lacrosse team, battling back from a surgery prior to the season. After a grueling rehab, she made her 2021 lacrosse debut as the Guardians defeated East Catholic 14-5 on May 13.

“I was nervous to go out on the field, but my teammates were all very supportive and kept reminding me that it was going to be okay, and it was great to go out and play,” Norman said her return. 

Last Wednesday, the senior captain scored a goal in a 17-3 victory over Granby Memoria in her first game at GHS since returning.

​Norman is also an All-State/All-Conference field hockey player at the high school and was named to the CHSCA’s All-Academic team in the fall.

Outside of athletics, she is part of Best Buddies, Interact, and Advisory. Next fall, she will be attending Fairfield University, majoring in nursing.   

Nick DiNino (left) and Connor Goode (right) won the 7th annual CT 2-Man Invitational Golf Tournament held at Blackledge Country Club

Goode and DeNino Set Tourney Record
GHS junior golfers Connor Goode and Nick DiNino set a tournament record (65), besting the previous mark of 66, to win by six strokes at the 7th annual CT 2-Man Invitational Golf Tournament held at Blackledge Country Club. Head coach Tom Zelek said that Goode and DeNino were in complete control all day, adding, “There is a bit of strategy necessary to be successful in this 2-Man Best Ball format and Connor and Nick were able to execute nearly flawlessly. We had practiced and talked about Best Ball strategy the day before and these two players obviously not only knew what to do but were able to carry out the plan.” 37 teams competed in this event and another Glastonbury team of senior captain Ethan Kalk and junior Charlie Dolan finished tied for 4th.
 
The Guardians, who currently rank #1 in Division I, went on to win their 12th match of the season at Rockledge Golf Course in West Hartford . Junior Charlie Dolan fired a one under par (35) to be the match medalist. DiNino shot an even par (36), while Goode and Gavin Kvadus contributed, allowing Glastonbury to notch two more victories and a tie. Glastonbury’s team score of 149 was matched by Conard, who also scored a 149, while Hall High shot a 164 and Wethersfield High shot a 172. Entering the week, Glastonbury’s overall record 11-0-2 this season.
 
GHS Baseball Finishing Strong
The Guardians enter this week riding a four-game winning streak, upping their record to 11-6 heading down the home stretch of the regular season. 

The team started the streak with a 10-2 victory over Conard, thanks to a 10-run fifth inning. Sam Benedict, Owen Stephens, Spencer Azzara, Luke Fahey, Jake Benedict, and Ben Curcio all drove in runs during the pivotal inning. Dan Cantafi was on the bump, allowing only two hits and one run over five innings, and striking out four. Fahey led the hitting with two doubles. Benedict stole two bases in the win.

Last Monday, the Guardians crushed rival Wethersfield 11-1. Alex Boucher was an RBI machine, driving in four runs on two hits. Boucher drove in the runs on a double in the third and a triple in the fourth. Glastonbury got on the board when Stephens singled, scoring Curcio. The team added three in the third with Boucher and Kyle Stephens each having RBIs. Dan Beagle had his head in the game, pitching the full five innings, allowing only three hits and giving up a run. Benedict, Boucher, and Sean Borden all managed multiple hits.

Next up was a 5-0 victory over Avon. Stephens pitched a complete game shutout, striking out three, and the Guardians offense got going early, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first. The team scattered eight hits in the game. Jayden Sgro was flawless in the field with six chances and Jake Benedict was 3-4 from the plate, scoring three runs.

The team closed the week with a dramatic 6-5 victory over Farmington. Sgro drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth, scoring Fahey. Cantafi started on the mound, striking out six and walking one. Glastonbury totaled 10 hits in the game with Jake Benedict, Curcio, and Fahey each having multiple hits.

GHS Girls Tennis Remains Perfect
The Guardians won five more meets over the last two weeks, remaining unbeaten (14-0) heading into the final week of the regular season.
The team beat Hall, Avon, Wethersfield, and Southington (6-1), before sweeping RHAM (7-0) last Thursday. #1 singles player Catherine Zak won all five matches, as did the #1 doubles teams, featuring a combination of Mirta Atighechi, Bridget Corey, Sammie Chung, Anna Radulescu, Erin Cabana, and Norah Andersson-Orth.   

Annee Bess Blair, Olivia Lee, Emma Cantor, Emma Miller, and Gabby Canihuante also picked up singles wins.

Four More for GHS Boys Volleyball
Boys’ volleyball won four more matches last week, upping their record to 12-3.

The Guardians started the week with a double-dip victory over Bulkeley, winning a pair of two-set sweeps on Monday.

On Wednesday, they defeated East Hartford in three set behind Liam Scales, who has 15 kills. Setter Paul Gilberto added a game-high 23 assists and six aces.

They closed the week with a three-set of Wethersfield at GHS last Friday. 

Girls LAX on the Attack
Girls’ lacrosse defeated Granby Memorial 17-3 last Wednesday, improving the team to 10-3. The Guardians currently rank top-ten in Class LL with the state tournament on the horizon.

Sam Forrest and Joelle Solecki each netted four goals and Bella Acosta added three more goals and an assist. Mary McKiernan dished out a game-high five assists, also scoring a goal, and Christina Guanci added two assists and a goal.  

As she has been all year, Goalie Bridget Clarke was stout in goal.

Girls T&F Continues to Shine
Girls track & field had two more impressive victories, first defeating Hall (102-48) and then dominating Farmington (139-11), improve the team to 5-0 this spring.
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Against Hall, the 4x800m relay team consisting of Kelley MacElhiney, Sydney Huff, Annika Paluska, and Kylie Hilliard, came in first with a time of 10:25. The 4x100m with Hannah Caiola, Alyssa Healy, Meghan Smith, and Riley Carroll also came across the line first with a time of 52.33. Zoe Spann-McDonald dominated the 100m hurdles, finishing first (16.77) followed by Emma Smith (16.88). Hannah Caiola represented in the 100m, finishing first in 13.23 seconds. In the 1600m, Casey MacElhiney and Jackie Caron finished neck and neck (first and second) with times of 5:29.36 and 5:29.40. Jackie Caron and Ava Gattinella finished first and second in the 800m, while Caiola and Carroll went 1-2 in the 200m. Casey MacElhiney blew away the 3200m competition, finishing first with a time of 11:07. Rounding out the running events, the 4x400m consisting of Healy, Emma Smith, Caron, and Meghan Smith finished first (4:07).
 
In the field, Layla Spann-McDonald earned first place in the discus, throwing 98’7”. Mallory Malz placed first in long jump (15’11.75”), triple jump (34’5.5”), and pole vault 11’. High jump was swept with first second and third place finished from Kate Desousa, Brittany LeClair, and Tennaly LeClaire (5’2”, 4’8”, 4’6”).
 
Against Farmington, Jackie Dudus, Annika Hurley, Casey MacElhiney, and Kelley MacElhiney placed first in the 4x800. Caiola, Carroll, Healy, and Emily Smith ran a time of 50.6 seconds in the 4x100. Spann-McDonald and Emma Smith placed first and second in the 100m hurdles, respectively. Caiola won the 100m (12.4), while Annika Paluska, Lucy Bergin, and Kylie Hilliard placed first, second, and third in the 1600m. Molly Harding won the 400m and Emma Smith won the 300m hurdles. Mikayla Nedder and Sydney Huff finished first and second in the 800m, while Caiola won the 200m. Olivia Dickson placed first in the 3200 (12:17.3) and teammate Sarah Ongley placed second (13:25.7). With a great finish to the running events, Healy, Casey MacElhiney, Lola Rotelli, and Emma Smith ran a collective time of 4:11.1 in the 4x400, placing first.
 
On the field side, Anna Morris placed first in javelin (76’9”) and shot put (22’11). Brianna Jordan won the discus, throwing 65’10”, followed closely by Taylor Huff placing second (64’9”), and Anna Morris (57’6”). Malz placed first in long jump, triple jump, and pole vault, while DeSousa placed first in high jump.

Newington shortstop Brianna Gadarowski waits for ground ball as Glastonbury's Sadie Scurto runs to third. Glastonbury won the game 17-0 last Monday. 

Newington softball coach Steve Markie had a tall task this season.

Following a lost year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the veteran coach had to train an inexperienced roster--- featuring only one senior---along with guiding them through the extremely competitive Central Connecticut Conference.   

“We are a young team, so we weren’t sure what we’d have coming back but we’ve got a lot of contributions from a lot of kids,” stated Markie, “Some of the kids have surprised, some kids have improved. We have a long way to go to be consistent, but I like the kids and their work ethic.”

The team entered last week coming off back-to-back statement wins over Bloomfield (22-0) and Hartford Public (24-7) before running into a talented Glastonbury team last Monday, losing 17-0 in five innings.

Playing at home, the Guardians jumped out to an 11-0 lead after the first two innings and rode the strong right arm of Brooke Tracy the rest of the way.

“Today we just didn’t have it,” Markie said following the loss, “After the first inning when we give up eight, we knew it would be an uphill battle. Then we give up another three and we knew it would be tough. We have to be able to overcome that and be mentally stronger.”

Glastonbury did not commit an error in the win, limiting Newington to only three hits. 

Markie’s team, who committed six errors, had very few bright spots but did get a pair of hits from blossoming sophomore Jaelyn Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, whose older sister Cyan Gonzalez was an All-State selection for Markie in 2019, leads the team in hits and RBIs, and is also the team’s starting pitcher.

Fellow sophomore Brianna Gadarowski, who starts at shortstop, lead the team in runs scored.     

Markie said the two, along with junior captains Hanna DeMarco and Elisa Taylor, stabilize the program going forward, “It’s huge, just getting these types of experiences. Our two captains have done a great job at leading us. It bodes well for the future, but we just have to learn how to compete against the higher quality teams, game in and game out.”

The team’s only senior, Amanda Akerley, has been both productive and adaptable. 

“Amanda works really hard, she leads by example. For the most part of the year, she was one of our better hitters,” said Markie, who played musical chairs when the team had injuries to both the starting and backup catcher earlier this season, “At that point it was all hands of deck and Amanda stepped up.”

The team also has a pair of freshmen in Ella Stair and Ava Johnson that have been thrust into the lineup and are excelling this season. The pair have scored the fourth and fifth most runs for the team.

Following the loss to Glastonbury, Newington fell to Rocky Hill (14-5) last Tuesday. The Terriers exploded for 11 runs in the final two innings, erasing a 5-4 deficit. Nicole DesRoches scored four runs, Maddie Dillon scored two more and drove in four, and Christina DeNovellis added 3 RBIs in the victory.

Newington rebounded to win their final two games last week, downing New Britain 13-1 in five innings and avenging the Rocky Hill loss with a 9-5 victory.

Against New Britain, Gonzalez struck out six on the mound and drove in five runs from the plate. Gadarowski added four runs on three hits.
Gadarowski scored three more runs, while Taylor and Jaiden Tucker each drove in a pair against Rocky Hill, helping Newington improve to 10-8.

​Markie said he hopes to see more consistency before the state tournament starts, “Our biggest improvement has to be our defense. We know we are capable at doing it and we just haven’t consistently done that. If we can give [Gonzalez] some defense behind her, that will be the key in the tournament.” 

 Kya Mayo- Middletown (Basketball): Mayo announced her committed to play basketball at Eastern Connecticut State University. Head coach Rob Smernoff said this about his senior captain, who averaged 10 point per game last winter, “The one thing that has always stood out with Kya, besides her clear ability, is how resilient she has been. Kya was an honorable mention all-conference player as a sophomore and then prior to her junior year missed the season due to a torn ACL. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she worked hard to come back stronger than ever and was one of the best leaders our program has had.  Most players returning from that type of injury focus on themselves, but her first concern this year was her teammates and team goals (and she did make all-conference).  Eastern is getting a great player, but even better person.”

Nick Aderhold- Rocky Hill (Baseball): Aderhold connected on three hits, scoring a run and driving in two others as Rocky Hill clinched a playoff spot with a 10-4 victory over Wethersfield last Wednesday. Fellow senior Dennis Machial earned the win on the mound, striking out five and also scoring a run on his two hits from the plate. Tyler Carlstrom (who picked up the save) and Matthew Gwara each had two hits and scored in the victory.

Sierra Judson- Wethersfield (Lacrosse): Judson had two goals as Wethersfield celebrated Senior Night with a 14-1 victory over E.O. Smith last Tuesday. The senior’s goals upped her season total to 28 goals and the win was the Eagles eighth straight. Head coach Nicole Silva said this of her co-captain, “She exemplifies what a true leader is. She represents Wethersfield High School, the athletic department and our lacrosse team with dignity, integrity, and selflessness. Her determination and work ethic are impressive. The team is stronger having her lead this past year, not just with her words but by her actions.” Off the field, Judson had achieved high honors all four years at WHS and starting next fall she will play Division I soccer at Merrimack College as she starts an honors program as a health sciences major before heading to chiropractic school.

Morgan Hellman- Newington (Lacrosse): Hellman scored five goals as Newington pulled off a wild win, scoring in the final minute to beat Windsor 13-12 last Monday. The junior’s efforts help seal the team’s sixth win this season.

Brian Radziewicz- Cromwell (Baseball): Radziewicz had back-to-back standout games, scoring two runs and driving in seven more in Cromwell’s final two regular season games. The senior had a run and three RBIs in an 8-1 win over Hale Ray on Monday and then followed it up with a run and four RBIs in a 11-1 victory over Portland on Wednesday.

​The University of Hartford’s athletic program will soon be changing from Division I to Division III. It was a shocking move, particularly after the men’s basketball team recently earned a berth in the 2021 NCAA tournament, before losing to eventual-champion Baylor in the first round. 

The university announced its intent to fully transition to Division III status by the fall of 2025, citing financial reasons and an emphasis on academics. 

Over the years, many local athletes chose “UHart” to stay close to home and play at a Division I level. One of those is former Wethersfield High School standout Jimmy Slayton, who was an All-State soccer goalie and three-year starter at WHS before graduating in 2015. 

Following graduation, he chose to live out his DI dreams and attend the University of Hartford, earning numerous accolades during his four years as the Hawks starting goalie. He earned Rookie of the Year as a freshman, led the conference in saves as a sophomore, was selected All-Academic as a junior, and again earned All-Academic and was the men’s soccer scholar-athlete as a senior. During his tenure, he tied a school record with 21 shutouts, including a single-season school-record 10 in 2019. He graduated with a degree in Business – Entrepreneurial Studies after making the American East Commissioner’s Honor Roll (3.5+ GPA) in each of his four years.        

Slayton, who is currently playing professionally for the Real Monarchs in Utah, was one of the many former and current UHart athletes to speak out against the university’s announcement in early May. 

In a statement, Slayton wrote, “With all the recent news regarding Hartford Athletics and the potential move from D1 to D3, I’ve been thinking of what Hartford Athletics mean to me. When I found out that such a move was actually happening, I was incredibly disappointed not only for the current staff, athletes, and students, but also the Alumni, and more importantly, the future student-athletes that would be able to represent the Hawks. College athletics are such an important part of American sports culture and every community that is fortunate enough to have a team represent them at the Division 1 level benefits from that. While it’s a devastating blow to the Neighborhood, and the entire CT college sports culture, it’s also an even more devastating blow to all those who were going to have doors opened to them. 

In my youth career, I didn’t have the most exciting, eventful recruiting experience. I was not an athlete that was viewed as a National star or a top recruit. I was a high school athlete that was hungry for an opportunity, hungry to prove myself, and get the chance to earn a scholarship to better myself as both a student and an athlete. The majority of high schoolers looking to play at the D1 level are just that, people who want to keep playing the sport they love, open doors for themselves, and help the program reach their goals. Coach Tom Poitras and Coach Mike Kulas knew exactly what they wanted for a mid-major program: to get back to the national stage by bringing in kids that wanted to be part of something special. Every single day, I am extremely thankful that they saw that in me and wanted me to be part of their process. Once Hartford began speaking to me, I was hooked on their aspirations and goals as a team, but they also wanted to lay out their plan for me to help me reach my individual goals. I wanted to be a pro, I wanted to climb to the highest level of soccer I could and while I was overlooked by many programs, Coach Poitras and Coach Kulas saw something in me and told me it was possible. They inspired me by taking a chance on me and from that moment on, all I wanted to do was get them to where they felt this program could go. These coaches had a way with every single one of their players where they could get the most out of them. There was never any doubt that they wanted to develop us into the best players we could be, but the best young men we could be. Coach Poitras and Coach Kulas are both a massive part of the reason I believed in myself and the University, and they’re a huge reason why I have been able to achieve my dream of playing professionally.

Every coach I met in my time at Hartford gave everything they had to us student-athletes. They would do anything they could to help us achieve our dreams. It’s truly a family when you’re involved with Hartford Athletics. I was lucky enough to wear Hartford on my shirt for 4 years, and I am far better off because of it. Hartford Athletics supported me every step of the way and I wouldn’t be who I am, or where I am today without the experience I had. This decision to go D3 is going to take these opportunities to chase their dreams for so many. This decision is going to hurt so many people and make them lose faith in process and themselves. The work that everyone, past, present, and future, has put in has been pushed aside and discredited. Everyone has tried to pave the way for others to come through Hartford and create greatness, for themselves and the school, and now our leadership has told us that it was all for nothing. President Woodward wasn’t an active part of that family. President Woodward didn’t even give us the courtesy of ensuring our department was running smoothly by hiring a proper athletic director to oversee athletics. President Woodward couldn’t be bothered. I am ashamed to even call him the president of the university at this point because he is not worthy of holding such a position. He not only couldn’t help athletics by offering us the resources we needed, but he couldn’t even listen to all the thoughts and ideas over this difficult time period. For the first time, President Woodward decided he wanted to partake in something related to Hartford Athletics and he decided his action would be to transition from D1 to D3. How could someone who only showed up to games when he had to partake in a pregame ceremony of some sort, make such a call? President Woodward has been, and will forever be a thorn in the side of the University of Hartford. He will be remembered only as the President who took away a huge part of the university, the president who hurt so many student-athletes rather than trying to give them the best college experience possible. Speaking as someone who spent 4 years trying to help our school grow, academically and athletically, I hope that your tenure as President of the University of Hartford ends so that you can’t hurt the school, students, and staff even more than you have already.”

Sadie Scurto rounds second base / Rayah Snyder tosses to first base during Glastonbury softball's 17-0 victory over Newington. 

Sometimes the bats are cracking and sometimes the gloves are sticky.

Rarely do both happen in the same game but Glastonbury softball experiences the best of both worlds last Monday night, defeating Newington 17-0 in five innings.

“This is the team that I know we can have every single game,” head coach Karen Costes said following the resounding victory, “Softball is a very streaky game, so you don’t always have all of your hitters hitting at the same time but today we did. Every one of our starters got a hit today and that makes it a nice and fun game for us.”

Playing at GHS, the Guardians were spectacular from top to bottom, connecting on 16 hits and playing and error-free game in the field.

It was a thoroughly dominant performance from start to finish as the home team pounced early, taking an 8-0 lead after the first inning and extending the lead to 11 after two.

Junior pitcher Brooke Tracy struck out seven, allowing three hits and zero walks, in four innings of work. Freshman Kamryn Herrick pitched a hitless fifth inning to cement the victory.

The pitching duo also shined from the plate. Tracy connected on three hits, scoring a run and driving in two others. Herrick scored three runs on three hits, also sending a baserunner home.

Shortstop Rayah Snyder and catcher Sadie Scurto each scored twice.

Costes complimented Snyder, a sophomore, for stepping into a leadership role this spring, “She’s a great athlete with a great head on her shoulders. She’s very mature beyond her years and that helped set the tone, and that’s why we named her a captain as a sophomore.”
Snyder lost her freshman season because of 2020’s COVID-cancellation, further inspiring her this spring.

“That drove me to play to the best of my ability this year,” said Snyder, who also plays club softball for the CT Eliminators, “Missing out on my freshman year was devastating for me because that’s what I was looking forward to the most in high school. I wanted to get off to a good start and it was taken away. This year especially, I want to play the best that I can.”

Tracy was also highly motivated following last year’s cancellation and was fueled even more after missing the first three games in May because of contact tracing.

“I’m enjoying it more than I probably did before just because I learned to never take any game, any play, any second of it for granted,” stated Tracy, who has an ERA of 1.312 this spring, “I have developed as a pitcher and they have developed behind me. We’ve become more comfortable as the season has gone on.”

During Tracy’s absence, the team lost two of three games.

Costes, whose team started 6-0, welcomed the challenge, “It exposed some of our immaturity and we’ve been working on rebuilding that. Our toughest stretch was in the middle and we had to work through how to play tough teams. It teaches them how to play from behind and how to fight through adversity. Now we are on the up, feeling good and playing confident.”

Costes added that Tracy’s return to the mound brings the team back to full strength, “She pretty much picked up right where he left off. As talented of a pitcher that she is, she doesn’t try and do too much. If things aren’t going her way, she doesn’t go overboard and try and control things that are not in her control. She’s very composed in that way.”

Monday’s lopsided win showcased how dangerous the Guardians can be, especially when they get off to a quick start.

“That’s kind of our mojo. High energy right off the bat, high confidence right off the bat,” stated Snyder, “I think today’s game showed what we’ve been working on. I think our confidence and energy really helped drive our performance tonight.”

That confidence bled over into the following games when the Guardians trounced Avon 15-1 in four innings on Wednesday before finishing the week with an 18-1 dismantling of Farmington on Friday.

Snyder was spectacular in the pair of victories, totaling eight runs and driving in seven more.  

Natalie Lessard scored three runs in each game and Scurto drove in seven runs in the two wins, which improved the Guardians to 12-4.
With the playoffs rapidly approaching, the team is hoping those good vibes continue.

“Confidence is what is comes down to,” stated Tracy, “We’ve been trying to focus on confidence and positive self talk, because our team has the talent, but we just need to work on the mental part of the game.”

​Costes added, “This is the team I knew we could be the entire time. They just needed that model to see it for themselves instead of just hearing it from us coaches.”

Captains Brooke Tracy and Rayah Snyder following home win over Newington

Entering this week, the boys’ tennis team at Glastonbury High School ranks second overall in Class LL having won 11 of 12 meets this spring.

“This year was new in terms of getting to know the guys. We pretty much got a brand-new team,” said head coach Chris Vozzolo, who is coaching the Guardians with assistant Scott Daniels, “But credit to the guys. We got a fresh start and we’ve had great leadership, so it’s reinvigorated our program a little bit.”

The coaches have a gifted group, blended with youth and experience.

Sophomore Christian Kaverud is handling the #1 singles duties, showcasing a poise that is rare for an underclassman in a prominent position.

“So far it’s been good, the transition has been great,” said Kaverud, who won his first four high school matches, “I’ve been playing since I was three years old and have a lot of experience with tournaments and competitions, so I knew I would have a good shot at playing #1. I was looking forward to the team environment and now that I am a part of it, it’s been great.”

Playing against the state’s top players, Kaverud has more than held his own by winning 9 of 11 matches.

“Christian has had a great tennis experience. He’s worked under some great coaches, so he came in his sophomore year well prepared,” stated Vozzolo, “Also his teammates have been awesome with him, they support him. We have guys here that can give him battles every day at practice.”

Kaverud is following in the footsteps of his sister Ava Kaverud, who was a key contributor on the girls’ tennis team at GHS that won a state title in 2017 and finished with the 2018 regular season undefeated. He credits his older sister and father, Jayson Kaverud, for teaching him the ropes.

He is also grateful for the guidance he’s received from the team’s four seniors; Luke Vredenburg, Dhanush Kalangi, Liam Kelleher, and Matt Guasta.

“They’ve been great, I couldn’t have asked for better teammates,” Kaverud said of the seniors, recalling a match from early in the season, “I was playing a match down 1-5 and Luke said, ‘you have to play one point at a time’. It allowed me to calm down and breath, and I was able to come back and win that set 7-5.”

Vredenburg, the #2 singles player, is just happy to be playing competitive sports again, “I was pretty excited. This being the first time I was able to play on the high school [tennis] team, I didn’t really know what to expect. It really has defied all expectations. We’re solid all the way throughout and it’s been fun trying to teach he younger kids, while also competing.”

Kalangi is serving as the #3 singles player, while Kelleher and Guasta have teamed up to form an unbeatable #1 doubles tandem.

“We didn’t know a lot of kids coming in but we did some preseason get-togethers to meet some of the kids that were trying out for the team and we could tell from then that we’d have a pretty good year,” said Kelleher, who has been playing since his freshman year, ”We’re just happy to be here and playing. It’s been a lot of fun.”  

Guasta is playing competitively for the first time, “I played tennis with Liam growing up all the time over the summer. I thought it would be fun to join the team. I’m really glad that I did, it’s been fun getting to know the guys and getting better every day.”

Kelleher said that Guasta has picked up the sport quickly, adding that the two have great chemistry from their time playing soccer together.

Guasta added, “Liam definitely helped me out and at first I looked to him to handle a lot of the tough balls and he took control. As it’s gone on, I’ve picked up what I’m supposed to be doing and I think we’ve gotten better each day,” 

“I had no doubt they were going to be able to mesh very quickly. We put chemistry guys at that position because we know it’s important. We know how valuable being able to work with a partner is in doubles. It’s not easy,” Vozzolo said of his #1 double pairing, “They play great competition and those leadership qualities come out during those tough spots in matches.”

Vozzolo added that all four seniors have been invaluable, helping transition the team back to competitive tennis after a season lost in 2020.

“These four guys are unbelievable. They all do things a little bit differently but together they are unbelievable leaders. Luke and Matt, being first-year guys, have just mixed in with the rest of the guys and helped. Liam and Dhanush have that big match experience. They’ve been to the Opens and States before so they know what’s coming down the road for us. I’m hoping they will be the guys to help the kids understand how the postseason is going to pan out.”

The Guardian won their first ten matches this spring before dropping one to undefeated Avon (3-4) last Wednesday. They quickly rebounded with a resounding sweep over New Britain on Friday, improving to 11-1.

Kaverud (6-0, 6-0), Vredenburg (6-0, 6-0), Josh Souder (6-1, 6-1), and Nate Azimov (6-1, 6-0) picked up singles wins. Matt Daniels/Niteesh Kalangi (6-0, 6-0), Brendon Wagner/Justin Nascimento (6-0, 6-0), and Arthur Cao/Nick Bonaiuto (6-0, 6-0) won doubles matches.

Vredenburg, who has won every match this season, believes the team can make a run if they keep working towards a common goal, “We knew after tryouts that we were going to be a good team. We just have to keep our heads on straight and take it one match at a time.”

​The Class LL tournament will start at the end of this month and Vozzolo likes how his team is shaping up heading into the postseason, “These guys have done an amazing job at buying into the team aspect. They help each other out on the court, and they help each other out off the court. We are super well rounded, not only by our abilities but also by grade level. We have all four levels competing. We feel like we are mentally and physically prepared.”   

Goode is leading a boys' golf team at Glastonbury High School that is top ranked in Division 1. Through the first eight matches, Goode has the lowest score of anyone competing, earning match medalist three times and has finished no lower than second place in the other five matches. He’s had a round of two-under par (-2), a round of one-under (-1), and twice finished par. He leads the Guardians in birdies, pars, fairways hit, putts, and is second on the team in greens hit in regulation.  Amongst all 35 teams competing in Division 1 golf, Goode is ranked in the top-ten statewide.

Head coach Tom Zelek said of Goode, “Connor has been a consistent player all season in a sport that is very difficult to be consistent in. He is very strong in the physical aspects of the game - distance and accuracy, especially his short game skills. In addition, Connor possesses many other traits just as important as the physical ones including patience, confidence, concentration, focus and course management. He demonstrates a strong desire to play well and backs that up spending the time practicing. At the end of a golf match Connor will undoubtedly be seen heading back to the putting green, driving range or back out on the course to play more holes. As a coach I couldn’t be happier to have Connor being an excellent role model for all other players on our team. His demeanor, temperament and ability to handle pressure maturely not only has taken his game to the next level it is a great example for all our players to aspire to.”

​Off the course, Goode has also been playing football (quarterback and cornerback) since the second grade, also competing in rec. basketball through the town. Goode, who is a junior, said he’s been on the golf course as long as he can remember, spending his adolescence on the course with his father, Shannon Goode. After graduating next spring, he plans to continue playing golf at the next level and is currently talking to 10-15 potential colleges.

GHS Girls T&F Wins Invite
The girls’ track and field team at GHS won the Greater Hartford Invitational on Friday, May 6.
 
Zoe Spann-McDonald won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.62 seconds, followed by Emma Smith in third place with a time of 16.69 seconds. Casey MacElhiney achieved first place in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:20.00 and Jackie Caron earned took first place in the 1600M a time of 5:10.08.  In the 3200M event, the Guardians claimed first and second place. Ava Gattinella took first place with a time of 11:33.46, followed by Kelley MacElhiney in a close second with a time of 11:33.72. The 4x400 meter relay team of Riley Carroll, Meghan Smith, Alyssa Healy, and Emma Smith won first place with a time of 4:08.45. 
 
Other relay teams that performed well were the 4x800 (Annika Paluska, Mikayla Nedder, Haley Evans, and Olivia Dickson), which placed second with a time of 10:20.63. The 4x100 meter (Hannah Caiola, Alyssa Healy, Meghan Smith, and Riley Carrol) also placed second with a time of 51.90.  
 
In the field. Mallory Malz won both the long jump with a jump (17’3.5”) and the pole vault (10’6”), followed by Sophia Urban in third (8’6”). Monica Robinson finished second place in the javelin with a thrown of 86’3”, followed by Anna Morris in third place with a throw of 80’8”. Layla Spann-McDonald earning second place in the discus with a throw of 89’2”. Brittany LeClair and Tennaly LeClaire tied for third in the high jump, clearing 4’8”.
 
Guardians Softball Takes Two of Three
GHS softball rebounded following a rough start to May, winning two of three games last week.
 
Junior pitcher Brooke Tracy returned to the mound, striking out 13, and freshman Gabby Lambert drove in three runs in a 6-3 road victory over Manchester last Monday.
 
Following a 6-0 loss at Southington on Wednesday, the Guardians returned home to celebrate Senior Day with a win over Conard (9-4) last Friday. Seniors Maggie Dunn, who will attend St. Mary’s College in Indiana next year, and Destiny Johnson, who will attend Albertus Magnus College, were recognized as the team picked up their ninth win of the season.
 
In the win over Conard, Tracy fanned 14 more batters and allowed only two hits, also helping from the plate by drilling sac fly to get the scoring started. Rayah Snyder connected on two hits, scoring threes times, and Sadie Scurto drove in three runs on a pair of hits. Scurto, Alyssa Myers, and Natalie Lessard all drove in runs in the 5th inning, which proved to be the difference maker.  
 
2nd Annual GHS Baseball reunion Alumni Game May 23rd
​Attention former GHS Baseball players! Please join us for the 2nd annual baseball alumni reunion game on May 23rd at Riverfront Park at 1pm (warm-ups and batting practice start at noon).  We are highlighting last year's eight seniors who lost their season due to Covid-19 and hope we get a great turnout.  

Fees are $50 and includes a catered BBQ lunch with a fully umpired game. Portions of monies raised will go to the GHS 2021 Safe Grad program.  If you are interested, please RSVP to Head Baseball Coach Dennis Accomando at CoachaccGHS@gmail.com.  For more information on the event, you can also reach out to the GHS Friends of Glastonbury Board at ghsfriendsofbaseball@gmail.com