Portland High School golf won a second straight state championship at Fairview Golf Course in Harwinton on June 7. Picture (l-r): Hannah Brunk, Owen Brunk, Joe LaMalfa, Giovanni Discenza, Eli Evison, Quinn Lapinski, Luke Stennett, Aidan Peterson, Ty Mazzotta, Ava Hurley, head coach Joe Santavenere.
Perfection isn’t easy, especially in golf. But the golf team at Portland High School hit the equivalent of a hole-in-one this spring. The Highlanders swept through all 16 regular season matches before winning both the Shoreline Conference championship in May and Division III state championship at Fairview Golf Course in Harwinton on June 7. It was the team’s second straight state championship and the program’s fifth title in the past six seasons. Dynasty, anyone? Head coach Joe Santavenere said the program’s success is so much more than what takes place during the tournaments. “I think people assume they are just good at golf. There is a lot of hard work that goes on in practice and on the weekends. They help each other out and they are a really strong team,” said Santavenere. “The team dynamic is great and it’s one of the best groups that I’ve had. That support and camaraderie they have is outstanding.” Sophomore Luke Stennett again shined this spring, tying his close friend Colin Murphy of Coginchaug as the medalist during both the SLC and state championship events. In the state finals, Stennett needed some late magic and shot an eagle on the final hole to finish tied atop the leaderboard. “I had no idea where I was standing and I couldn't really think of a number I needed. I just played it the best I could,” Stennett recalled of his mentality prior to the 18th hole. Stennett pushed his tee shot near the trees and needed to battle around 220 yards uphill into the wind to reach the green. “I ended up having a good lie, but the stance was awkward. My mindset going into it was to try and go left because the entire right is out of board,” recalled Stennett, who used his six-iron for the miraculous shot. “I took deep breaths and told myself to swing smooth. I was hitting irons good all day so I had confidence that I could hit it well.” Stennett crushed the ball, which arched high into the sun-filled sky before dropping and rolling within 10 feet of the cup. He said he was “shocked” at the ball’s eventual location and was confident he could tap in the eagle despite the fact that he had previously struggled on the greens. “I went from my putting being a disaster to knowing I would make that putt. It was the best stroke I had all day and it went dead center into the cup. I’m not going to lie, I did a first pump,” recalled Stennett. It was the second straight year that Stennett had risen to the occasion on the final hole, shooting a birdie to win the tournament outright a season ago. Santavenere called his young golf prodigy “clutch” and added that Stennett had a couple of bad breaks throughout his championship round, but played his best golf when it counted the most. “If you look at what he’s done in these two years, it’s pretty special,” said Santavenere. “He can turn the page and move on to the next hole. He’s grown a ton since his freshman year with that mental part of the game.” Stennett’s eagle putt was exclamation point to another dominant performance from the Highlanders, who bested runner-up St. Paul Catholic by 15 strokes. Quinn Lapinski shot a 75 (+3) to finish 3rd, Eli Evison shot a 78 (+6) to finish tied for 7th, and Joseph LaMalfa shot an 84 (+12) to tie for 23rd. Evison joined the team a season ago and was on the JV team at a junior. Following an offseason of crafting his game on the links, he is now leaving PHS as a state champion. “He committed himself and he wanted to become part of something special and he did it,” stated Santavenere. “That is his legacy and something that you can show the younger player as an example of what you can do. Who wants to be that next Eli?” Evison, who will play college basketball at Eastern Connecticut State University, was one of four multi-sport seniors on the team this season. Twins Owen and Hannah Brunk, along with Ava Hurley provided the team depth on the course and intangibles off of it, which upped the team’s morale. Owen was an all-state football player and wrestler, while Hannah starred on the soccer fields and basketball courts. Hurley played basketball and was normally a star tennis player during the spring season, but chose to join the golf team this spring as she recovered from an injury. Santavenere praised his seniors, calling the Brunks “outstanding leaders” and crediting Hurley with making great strides as a first-year golfer. The four departing players are the latest in a series of impactful senior classes that Santavenere has had during his time at PHS. “All the kids get along and that has been the culture the last five, six, seven years. As a coach, you couldn’t ask for anything more than that,” added Santavenere. “They collectively wanted to do something special and they did whatever they need to do to reach that team goal. I couldn’t be more proud.” Stennett and Lapinksi’s performances at the state championship qualified the duo for the State Open at Black Hall Club in Old Lyme on June 11. Stennett shot a 77 to tie for 8th and Lapinski shot an 86 to tie for 21st. “We’ve been fortunate to have those kids every year that come in and work really hard and they make an impact,” said Santavenere, who has coached the program for a decade. “It’s neat to see that culture carry on from one year to the next.” Stennett said the individual accolades are rewarding, yet it’s the team titles that carry more meaning. He added that prior to each match the players each tell one another, “good luck, play well, have fun.” “Obviously winning the state champions and shoreline is a great team accomplishment but what I think makes it standout for me is the hard work and dedication that went into these matches. We were all working towards the same goals and wanted to accomplish them together.” added Stennett. As for a three-peat next spring? “The goal is to stay there,” said Stennett. “We have to keep trucking along and making a statement that Portland is a small school, but we have some amazing athletes that can do some great things.”
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RHAM boys’ golf won their first state championship on June 6. Pictured are: (l-r) Preston Duprey, Jimmy Hulland, Jack Luby, head coach Spencer Molkenthin, Carson Waddell, Conner Rabbitt, and Holden Sullivan
RHAM’s first-year boys’ golf head coach Spencer Molkenthin knew his team had a chance to win the Division II state championship, but he didn’t anticipate it being a runaway victory. “We didn’t know we’d win by 14 strokes. We thought it was going to be tighter than that,” said Molkenthin. The Raptors shot a 311 (+23) to tear apart the competition, defeated runner-up Ellington (+37) by the wide margin at Tallwood Country Club in Hebron on June 6. It marked the program’s first ever state championship. Across the board it was an entire team effort, with four players finishing in the top 11 out of 85 total golfers. Carson Waddell and Conner Rabbitt led the way, each shooting a 77 (+5) to tie for 3rd individually, while Holden Sullivan shot a 78 (+6) to finish tied for 7th and Jimmy Hulland shot a 79 (+7) to finish 11th. Bradley Sawka of Ellington won the individual title, shooting 69 (-3). The state championship capped an amazing year for the team as the Raptors won all but one regular season meet. In May, they shot the best overall score at the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) tournament before being disqualified after the tourney because of a misinterpretation of a rule. Because of the DQ, Molkenthin said his team entered the state tourney with “a chip on our shoulder.” A deep and competitive roster was a key factor for RHAM this spring, with the four players taking turns atop the leaderboards. Sullivan finished as the medalist the most times with Waddell, Rabbitt, and Hulland each taking turns atop the leaderboard in multiple meets. “It was a special group,” recalled Molkenthin. “Our top five and six guys can really shoot and throw up a number any day in the 70s. The depth on our team is what sets us apart from most teams in the state.” At the state championships, Hulland—who is one of two seniors—gave the team an early boost by shooting an eagle on the first hole. With the Raptors leading by a significant margin heading into the back nine, Molkenthin turned to his senior striker to help bring home the victory by asking him to play a more conservative brand of golf. Hulland shot even-par on six of the final eight holes. “That shows you how much he’s grown as a golfer. He can always attack and throw up that big number, but on Monday he went into a defense-mode and threw up a lot of pars for us,” recalled Molkenthin. Rabbitt, a freshman, shot a birdie on the third hole and then was incredibly consistent on the back nine, paring eight of nine holes Entering the season, Molkenthin knew of Rabbitt’s potential and was impressed most with how well he adapted to the team. “He’s been very consistent all year and he’s made strides as a teammate,” said Molkenthin. “His whole life he’s been an individual golfer and then all of a sudden he is part of the RHAM family and the seniors and juniors really accepted him. That’s something special to see, that my seniors all the way down to my freshmen are a collaborative family.” Both Sullivan and Waddell were also rock solid at the state meet, with Sullivan birdying the first two holes and Waddell sinking three birdies. RHAM hosts their home matches at Black Ledge Country Club, but entire team was comfortable with the course at Tallwood, which is located off North Street in Hebron. Molkenthin said the familiarity with the course gave the team confidence on the big stage, adding, “We thought we had a pretty good chance at putting up a pretty good number.” Both courses in Hebron were particularly beneficial this spring for the Raptors, who won all nine meet in town this spring. They were also victorious in all but one away meet, with the lone blemish to Tolland on April 25. It was a different story during the state championship where Tolland would finish 5th overall, 23 strokes behind RHAM. Molkenthin added the team gained momentum heading into postseason play when they defeated Killingly––the top ranked team in Division II––on the road in the regular season finale. Because of their performance at states, Rabbitt, Sullivan, and Waddell qualified for the State Open at Back Hall Club in Old Lyme. Rabbitt tied for 6th (76), Sullivan tied for 12th (79), and Waddell finished 24th (88). All three will be back next year for Molkenthin, who took over for longtime head coach Mark Law prior to the season. Molkenthin, who also is an assistant boys’ basketball coach at the high school, said the entire season was “absolutely surreal”, adding, “It’s crazy to think we only have one senior leaving that core group. I think we can make another run at it next year.” Hulland, who will play college basketball at the University of New England, and Michael Leccese will be the team’s departing seniors. Rocky Hill senior Jason Moleiro signs his commitment to play college soccer at Washington & Jefferson. Moleiro is pictured with his younger brother, Mateo, and father, John.
Rocky Hill senior Jason Moleiro will see some familiar faces at his next destination. “I am extremely excited and thankful to announce my commitment to Washington & Jefferson College,” Moleiro announced on March 7. “I would like to thank my parents, friends, teammates, and coaches who have gotten me to this point.” At W&J, Moleiro will again join forces with his older brother, Michaeljon, who graduated in 2021, and Jake Rajotte, who is a 2020-RHHS graduate. The three played together on the 2019 team and now the trio of Terriers will reunite with the Presidents in Washington, Pennsylvania. Moleiro said playing with his brother again was going to be “amazing”, adding, “The soccer team is really good. I toured other schools, but the atmosphere at W&J was better than others.” This past fall was a memorable year for Moleiro, who netted a dozen goals and dished out 13 helpers as the Terriers finished 8-3-4 and made the Class M state tournament. He earned both all-state and all-conference for a second straight season. Head coach Paul Horta said Moleiro was a “team-first player”, praising him for commitment to the program. “When your best player thinks the way he does, it’s very easy to get the other guys to buy in,” recalled Horta. “He’s a pleasure to have on the team and he understands what a leader’s role is. Not just talking about it, but doing it.” Horta, who has coached various teams around the area, called Moleiro a “gym rat” and recalled having to kick a young Moleiro off the practice fields when Horta and his travel teams would show up for practice. Moleiro's unwavering dedication to the sport allowed him to grow into one of the state’s best players. The past two seasons have been fruitful for Moleiro, yet it was a moment during his sophomore season that he recalled as his most memorable. The young attacker scored both of the team’s goals during a 2-0 shutout of Southington at RHHS in October of 2019. Horta added that Moleiro’s commitment and adaptability will allow him to flourish at the next level where he will join a Presidents’ team led by longtime coach Ian McDonald. McDonald has been coaching the program over three decades, guiding the team to five Presidents’ Athletic Conference championships. Moleiro said he is looking forward to the increased competition the most and is excited to play with both his Rocky Hill brothers again, adding, “I’ve had a very good experience [in Rocky Hill]. The atmosphere here is great and everyone gets along well. That’s something I will miss.” Cromwell softball defeated a pair of conference rivals last week to win a Class S state championship, ousting Old Lyme and North Branford to capture the program’s first title.
It was a perfect ending for a Panthers team that got the ultimate revenge. Following an 18-win regular season, Cromwell softball was upset by Old Lyme 3-1 in the Shoreline Conference (SLC) semifinals on May 24. Exactly two weeks later, the Panthers avenged the loss with an identical 3-1 victory over their conference rivals from Old Lyme in the state tourney semifinals at West Haven High School on June 7. Junior Lily Kenney struck out 10 from the mound and connected on a key double in the 4th inning to propel the Panthers. With the game scoreless in the bottom of the 4th, Kenney was facing a full count and delivered a shot down the left field line to reach second base. Kenney said she used her experience as a pitcher to help her at the plate. “I knew that as a picture I wouldn't want to walk a batter, so I was looking for a strike. I put all my power into that at-bat,” recalled Kenney Catcher Victoria Wiatrak then slapped a double, driving Kenney home for the go-ahead run, before Grace McFarlin stepped to the plate and duplicated the feat by hitting a double of her own, sending Wiatrak home. McFarlin would later score later in the inning following a double from Samantha Smith. Both Wiatrak’s and McFarlin’s 4th inning hits came on first pitches. Prior to the decisive inning, Cromwell’s lineup had struggled with Old Lyme pitcher Madison Grady, so Cromwell head coach Angelo Morello wanted his team to attack. “Any good picture is going to try and get a head of the count and we wanted to jump on her fast ball. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but that 4th inning was key,” stated Morello, “We forced them to make some mistakes out there and in this environment you can’t make mistakes and they made a couple more than us tonight.” Cromwell’s willingness to sacrifice life and limb enabled the gritty team to maintain the lead. In the top of the fourth inning, Malena Signorello ran over from first base to make a miraculous catch in foul territory as she collided with the fence. Signorello’s snag was the third out and brought the well-traveled Cromwell faithful to their feet. “I heard people saying it was out and I knew it was not so I just kept going,” Signorello said of the wayward ball. “I didn’t really care if there was a fence or not, I just needed to get the out.” McFarlin and Kenney then each took a turn with clutch catches in the sixth inning. McFarlin ran up from left field and made a sliding snare to rob Anna Eichholz of a hit before Kenney went face first into the dirt to make a diving grab of a short bloop from Ava Roth. “Those are big time plays in big time games and we had to have them tonight,” Morello said of the team’s highlight-reel catches. Cromwell had defeated Old Lyme twice in the regular season prior to being upset in the SLC tourney. Kenney said the conference loss was still fresh in the player’s minds prior to the game, adding, “That is all we talked about. We used it to fuel our drive in this game and we were so pumped and ready to play them.” The semifinal win advanced the Panthers to the title game where they would face the Thunderbird of North Branford, who had beaten Old Lyme in the SLC championship game. Playing at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame field in Stratford, the Panthers again leaned on Kenney’s arm and pair of home runs from Signorello and Wiatrak in a 3-0 win on June 11. Kenney went all seven innings, allowing only one hit and striking out 11 to earn the championship game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). She praised the defense protecting her, adding, “I have all the trust in my defense and I know they have my back. I love them with all my heart.” Signorello again provided the boost needed, but this time she cleared the fence instead of running into it. In the top of the fourth inning, Signorello connected on a two-run homer to deep left, sending home Wiatrak. Wiatrak then sent one over the same fence in the 6th inning to give the Panthers a three-run cushion heading into the final frame. Both home runs came with two outs and Morello said the timely hitting was a reflection of his team’s mental makeup in tight spots. “It’s a relaxed bunch, a loose bunch, a confident bunch,” said Morello. “It’s amazing, anytime we step on that diamond it doesn't matter who we play.” The triumph in Stratford was extra special for the team’s four seniors, who had graduated high school the day before–June 10–-and were able to help deliver the program’s first state title. Jaime Anderson, Madison Tessmer, Stephanie Esposito, and [Samantha] Smith all played vital roles during the title trek. The foursome had to endure a lot of setbacks over the past four years, particularly as sophomore when the entire season was washed away because of the COVID-cancellation. “It was really tough losing a season. We just had to come back and be leaders and show the younger girls what to do,” reflected Anderson, who was the team’s center fielder. “It’s a great feeling. I couldn't ask for anything better to be honest. Throughout the whole year we got no ink, nobody would talk about us, but now we’ll be talked about.” Tessmer, who started at shortstop, said she got emotional out on the field knowing it was her last high school game, adding, “We have been on many little league teams together and this is a family-based team. I love them so much. The journey definitely took a lot of hard work and it all paid off.” Tessmer will continue her softball career at Bay Path University. But for Esposito and Smith, the championship game was the ultimate curtain call. “This team means so much to me,” said Smith, who played third base. “There is no other way I’d like to go out.” Esposito, who played second base, added “This championship means so much to not just the seniors, but the entire softball program. We worked so hard for this.” Many former Panthers softball players were in attendance to watch the program make history and when Morello was addressing his team following the win he reminded them that this championship was not only a reflection of this season, but also a tribute to the previous players that set the foundation. Morello, who just wrapped up his ninth season with the program, added, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Glastonbury High School’s Molly Harding was down, but never lost hope this year.
The recently-graduated senior, who will run track and field at Yale University, tore her labrum in late January and had surgery in mid-February. At the time, doctors told Harding that the shoulder injury would end her athletic career at GHS. “I was very upset that I wouldn’t have an outdoor season and as a senior in high school you never want your senior season to be taken away.” recalled Harding. “It was awful. This was the last chance that I would have to compete in my high school career.” Undaunted, Harding began to rehab with an unwavering determination to compete with the Guardians’ again. Track and field head coach Brian Collins said the team didn’t anticipate Harding coming back this spring, adding, “She recovered a lot quicker than expected. She could have just rested on what she had done early in the season and what she did in the past.” Harding was cleared for competition in May and immediately made an impact, showcasing the speed and explosiveness that had previously made her a state champion. Despite having less than a full month to prepare, Harding finished as the runner-up in the 400 meters at the Class LL championships and then anchored the 4x400 relay team that crushed the competition, winning the event by nearly 10 seconds over runner-up East Hartford on May 31. A week later, the 4x4 team duplicated the feat by winning the State Open, running two seconds faster than the class meet time. Juniors Alyssa Healy and Riley Carroll carried the team the first two legs before senior Meghan Smith blazed the third leg to give the team a slight lead. “We knew we were in a good position when Molly got the baton. We knew if we had a lead, we should not be caught,” recalled Collins. As she had done many times before, Harding effortlessly pulled away from the field, crossing the finish line again before celebrating the State Open champion with her trio of relay partners. “To be able to run it with a team that I love and have wanting to run with for a while now was a special experience,” said Harding. The relay team then pulled the championship trifecta, winning the event at the New England Championships on June 11 and breaking the school record in the process by running a 3:54.37. Hannah Caiola, who will run at Southern Connecticut State University, replaced Carroll at the New England regional as the foursome set the new mark at Willow Brook Park in New Britain. Harding added that the 4x4 relay is her favorite event because it’s the ideal distance and the “team aspect” makes winning it more fulfilling. Prior to her shoulder injury, Harding was no stranger to injuries. As a junior, she had her outdoor season cut short with a hamstring injury. Last spring’s setback combined with the recovery of the torn labrum gave her a new outlook and appreciation of the sport she will continue in college. “It’s really hard on your mind, but I think it really helped my mentality and it pushed me to be my best,” said Harding. “I have battled through an injury before and I knew this was my last shot to complete, so I just worked every day. I couldn't take it for granted.” The Guardians won the Class LL title as a team and finished the State Open in 5th place. Harding’s return was a big reason for the overall success. Collins was not only impressed with her speedy recovery, but also her ability to get up to speed with the top athletes in the state. “[When she returned] she was way behind all the other kids. Not just our kids, but with the kids around the state. What she did the rest of the season in that short time span says a lot about her,” said Collins. Harding has had plenty of success on the track over the past four years, along with being an all-state field hockey player in the fall. She also excelled in the classroom, earning high honors during her time at GHS. Both her athletic and academic prowess will serve her well at Yale. She hopes her next stop in New Haven is as memorable as her hometown experience. “I’m going to miss the teammates and the support I've gotten over the years,” reflected Harding. “No matter what, they have supported me and we always support each other as a team. It’s that mentality that I will miss the most.” Guardians volleyball after defeating New Britain to finish 14-0 at GHS this spring.
The boys’ volleyball team at Glastonbury High School won every game at home this season, capping the undefeated mark at GHS with a three set (25-16, 25-17, 25-21) win over New Britain in the second round of the Class L tournament on June 6. Senior middle hitter Eric Rose led the way with 13 kills and four blocks as the Guardians won their 14th home game. “It could have been our last game, so we put it all out there,” said Rose. The No. 2 Guardians, who finished 18-0 in the regular season, held off a talented No. 10 Golden Hurricane’s squad that came out of the gates like a ball of fire. Feeding off the energy of a boisterous visiting cheering section, New Britain scored five of the first seven points to take an early advantage. GHS head coach Tony Sanith called a timeout to remind his team of the pre-game strategy, adding, “We start off slow a lot. We are very skillful but we don't always apply the game-plan early.” Glastonbury responded, scoring nine of the next 12 points, highlighted by a six-point run. Ryan Hoffman started the scoring surge with a thunderous spike. On the ensuing point, Stephen Dayton and Ryan Barcikowski each made diving saves before Paul Giliberto ended the point with a kill. Later in the set, Hoffman—who finished with eight kills—had another monstrous spike that caromed off a New Britain player and flew into the stands. Giliberto ended the opening set with one of his team-leading three aces. New Britain’s senior captain Jose Anthony Alemeda, who finished with a game-high 21 kills, took over early in the second set with consecutive spikes to again give the road team an advantage. The Guardians would once again rally, scoring 16 of the final 24 points to secure the set. Giliberto served out the set with a pair of winners. In the third set, Glastonbury controlled the tempo for a majority of the frame until New Britain made one final push, scoring three straight to narrow the deficit to 21-19. Sanith called one more timeout, knowing the importance of finishing the match in three sets. “I didn’t want New Britain to have any momentum winning a set because they clearly have a lot of talent this year and I don’t want to overlook anything,” said Sanith. The team responded as Dayton had a pair of winners before Rose ended the set and the match by blocking a kill attempt. Rose said the team talked about neutralizing New Britain’s outside hitters, adding, “We were just trying to focus on blocking them.” Barcikowski, who played libero and led the team with seven digs, said the team adjusted to New Britain as the game went on. “Each of them hit a little differently. Some hit deep, some hit shallow, and we just had to know who was hitting. We just didn’t want the ball to hit the ground,” recalled Barcikowski. The home win turned out to be the last victory of the season as the Guardians, who lost the following day to No. 3 Trumbull in four sets during the Class L semifinals at Southington High School. It ended a banner season for a team that was unblemished in the regular season and then swept through the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC)—defeating Simsbury, Southington, and Enfield to win the CCC crown. The 23 total wins marked a new high and the semifinal appearance was the programs first since 2015. Along with winning every regular season game, the team won an astonishing 54 of 60 sets during the 18 games. Sanith will lose six of their seven starters and eight players total. Rose, Hoffman, Dayton, Giliberto, Barcikowski, Matthew Herrera, Jack Niland and Shawn Kaufhold will be the departing seniors. Rose (262), Dayton (192), and Hoffman (128) led the team in kills, each averaging over two per set. Rose and Hoffman also combined for over 100 blocks this spring. Giliberto had a team-high 72 aces, averaging one per set, and led the team with nearly 500 assists. Barcikowski led the team in digs and was one of three players (Dayton and Giliberto) to surpass the century mark in digs. Sanith said the seniors helped the program pick up the pieces after the lost season to Covid in 2020, adding, “They put Glastonbury volleyball back on the map, at least at our school, so hopefully more athletes come in and see that this could be a good program for the long run.” “These seniors are a great group of guys and you can tell they are super close on and off the court,” added Sanith. “You can’t ask for more than these seniors.” 2018-RHAM graduate Alex Heline was a member of WPI’s varsity eight+ rowing team that won the Division III National Championship on May 28. Pictured are: back row (l-r): Melissa Bazakas-Chamberlain, Heline, Logan Rinaldi, Emily Adams, Ashley Schuliger; front row: Megan Tupaj, Caitlin Kean, Lilly Earley, and Maren Cork.
When Alex Heline graduated from RHAM High School in 2018, she had never rowed competitively in her life. Four years later, Heline is a national champion rower. Heline, a senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), was one of nine girls who powered a boat that won the varsity eight+ Division III NCAA rowing championship at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla. on May 28. It marked the first national championship for the program and the rowers joined the 1986 men’s golf team as the only national champions in school history. “When we crossed that finish line it was almost disbelief,” recalled Heline. “It was an incredible feeling, working with those eight people in that boat. There was a level of trust in each other that we could do something like that, but it was insane to see that outcome happen.” It was a miraculous accomplishment for Heline and her team, who didn’t qualify for the national tournament a season ago and were ranked 4th heading into the championship weekend. WPI rowing head coach Jason Steele referred to the title team as “a Cinderella story.” In the boat with Heline were senior Melissa Bazakas-Chamberlain, senior Caitlin Kean, senior Ashley Schuliger, senior Emily Adams, junior Lilly Earley, junior Maren Cork, sophomore Megan Tupaj, and junior coxswain Logan Rinaldi. The well-rounded team held off runner-up Wellesley for the championship triumph, finishing the grueling 2,000 meter race in 6:55.265, three seconds faster than their conference and state rivals. They also finished over eight second ahead of top-ranked Ithaca College, who had previously beaten WPI by a wide margin in an event just a few weeks prior to the national championships. On May 27, WPI edged Ithaca in the trial heat, which Heline said gave the team confidence they could compete against the best-of-the-best in the grand finale the following day. Heline, who was one of five seniors in the championship boat, joined the Engineers’ rowing squad her freshman year along with Adams, who was her roommate during her first year at WPI. Heline credited the seasoned seniors, who had years of rowing experience prior to college, for showing the two newbies the ropes, adding, “Athletes like Ashley, Caitlin and Melissa were someone to look up to.” Heline played multiple sports during her childhood before specializing in tennis while at RHAM, becoming a two-time all-conference player on the courts Hebron. Once in Worcester, she played club tennis before reaching out to Steele midway through her freshman year and the rest is history. “[Alex] began as a complete novice and now stands as a National Champion,” said Steele. “The reason for this improvement is her commitment to the process and a true understanding the goal is pursuit of one’s potential.” Steele added that Heline’s possessed all the tools needed to be a champion rower, saying, “Alex is a powerful athlete and a determined competitor. She has brought significant high-end athleticism and great focus on race day.” Despite the restrictions of the last couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team began to find their rhythm prior to the championship in Saratoga. Heline said “trust” was the key factor in the team’s chemistry, adding, “Knowing that when each person steps in that boat they are going to put everything in motivates you to put everything that you have into each practice, each race.” The team first started focusing on a potential national championship run in the spring of last year. They were at the WPI campus during the 2021 national championship and set their sights on a return to the big stage. 12 months later, the team was crowned champions thanks to a focus on the smallest details, which Heline said made the difference. Heline recalled that Steele would always ask the rowers to give feedback after races and practices. She added the strategy bonded the team and improved the trust within the boat. “That was a constant theme throughout the season. We wanted to make sure that we didn’t leave anything behind,” added Heline, who called the race “exhausting” and said each of the rowers reacted differently following the win—ranging from screaming to doubling over in disbelief to hugging and crying. “That realization that we won was just crazy,” added Heline, “We may not have expected it to turn out this way but it was very special that it did.” It was a busy month for Heline, who graduated from WPI with a degree in mechanical engineering on May 15. She will soon be heading back to Connecticut to start an engineering job with Pratt and Whitney in July, but is currently overseas finishing up her rowing career at WPI by competing in London as part of the program’s trip they take to England every two to three years. Whether or not rowing is part of Heline’s future plans is undecided for now. However, she said she will miss competing and would love to stay involved in the sport in some capacity. Bacon Academy junior Jake Martino won the Class M state title in the discus at the Class M championships in New Britain on June 2.
Here are the Rivereast Standouts of the Week for the week of May 30 – June 4: Jake Martino - Bacon Academy High School (Track & Field): Martino won the Class M state title in the discus, besting runner-up Matthew Smith of Lewis Mills by over 14 feet, at Willow Brook Park on June 2. Martino’s victory highlighted of a great day of throwing for the Bobcats as senior Peter Walsh placed 2nd in the javelin on the boys’ side and Jen Whipple placed 3rd in the shot put and 4th in the discus on the girls’ side. The boys placed 8th overall as a team and the girls finished 15th. Shawn Laverty - Portland High School (Track & Field): Laverty ran a personal-best 5:25.96 to finish 4th overall in the 1600 meters at the Class S outdoor track and field championship at Willow Brook Park in New Britain on May 31. The senior, who will run for the University of Vermont, also teamed with Ariana Hettrick-Rivera, Abbey Pickel, and Lillian Tabellione for a 3rd-place finish in the 4x800 relay as the Highlanders placed 15th overall as a team. Jordan Murphy - East Hampton High School (Track & Field): Murphy did it all last Monday, scoring in three events during the Class S outdoor track and field championships at Willow Brook Park in New Britain on May 31. The junior, who also stars on the volleyball and basketball courts at EHHS, excelled on the track and in the field–finishing 3rd in the high jump, 4th in the triple jump, and 5th in the 100 meter hurdles. The Bellringers placed 5th overall at the state meet, scoring 37 team points, 11 contributed by Murphy. Liam Calhoun - RHAM High School (Track & Field): Calhoun added another medal to his ever-growing list of accomplishments by winning the 3200 meter race at the Class MM outdoor track and field championships at Willow Brook Park in New Britain on June 1. The seniors, who will run for Wesleyan University, destroyed the field and won the two-mile distance race by nearly eight seconds. To nominate someone as an Athlete of the Week, or with questions or comments on sports-related topics, email joshhowardsports@gmail.com The track and field team at Portland Middle School had a record-setting day at the 14th annual Connecticut Middle School Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Manchester High School on May 28.
Haydon Burke broke the school record in the 800 meters, running a 2:16.00 to soundly defeat runner-up Jake Cenatiempo of Woodbury. Haydon’s brother, Breckin Burke, teamed with Nate Dietrichsen, Brady Daggett, and Josh Rosado to break the school record (4:13) in a 4x400 relay victory. The Burke brothers then joined forces with Daggett and Dietrichsen to win the 4x800 meter relay. The 4x100 relay, consisting of Connor Libby, Brody Quinn, Kylon Martinez, and Ryan Farley finished as the runner-up. On the girls’ side, Cristina Austin set a new school mark in both the 800 meters (2:38.10) and the 1600 meters (5:46.73), finishing 8th and 11th, respectively. Head coach Deborah Rooth said it was a core group of kids that made it a successful meet, adding, “I’m not easy on these kids, we train hard.” The boys finished tied for 4th overall at the event, yet that doesn’t tell the entire story because the meet was officially canceled —due to weather concerns—before all the events were completed. The teams were permitted to return the following day to finish the meet, but those events did not count towards the overall team score. The following day, May 29, Haydon won the 800 meters and the boy’s 4x400 relay was also victorious. If those events had counted towards the overall score, Portland would have finished in sole possession of third place. Portland also went toe-to-toe and outperformed schools that were much larger than them. The top three finishers—Sage Park (Windsor), Illing (Manchester) and Timothy Edwards (South Windsor)—are all at least three times the size of Portland Middle School, which houses a little over 200 students. At the championships, each athlete is allowed to compete in only two events and Rooth said the team emphasized relays, adding “Putting ourselves in relays makes us more competitive than running as individuals. That is where our strength is.” A total of 56 public schools and club teams competed at the state championships, featuring track and field teams from all over the state. Rooth, who coaches the middle school team with Mike Pelton, is also the indoor track and field coach at Portland High School during the winter months. “I love to see these kids in both middle school and high school,” added Rooth. “It’s great seeing them grow into great athletes.” Rooth said the middle school has been an ideal feeder system for the high school, which has become an annual contender in both the Shoreline Conference (SLC) and the Class S level at the state meets. The PHS boys finished 3rd and the girls finished 5th at the SLC championship and both placed top-16 at the state meet this spring. In previous years, the middle school track and field program has yielded as many as 80 kids and had 56 come out this year. “[The program] gets a reputation. The other kids see the track kids winning and getting trophies and they want it too,” said Rooth. Glastonbury's Colin Hersom attacks against New Canaan's Ty Groff in the opening round of the Class L tournament at GHS on June 1.
Glastonbury High School boys’ lacrosse fell to New Canaan 14-4 in the first round of the Class L state tournament on June 1. Playing at Glastonbury High School, the No. 6 ranked Guardians started slowly against the No. 11 Rams, who scored a pair of backbreaking goals late in the first half to build a nearly insurmountable 9-2 lead at the break. “I think early on we just made some mistakes and maybe it was some nerves. We weren’t crisp getting our passes up field,” GHS head coach Scott Hinchey said. “Early in the game they were a little more polished than we were and that was the difference. We had a chance to get some ground balls, but they played a little tougher than we did today.” New Canaan had ten players score, led by Doster Crawell and Carter Connors, who scored three goals apiece. Glastonbury didn’t go down without a fight and battled valiantly in the second half but were never able to sustain an offensive rhythm. Senior captain Kayden Hinchey scored a pair of goals for the Guardians, while Jack Carducci and Luke Lavery each netted one. The loss ended a successful season for the Guardians, who won 11 games in the regular season and a pair in the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) tourney, which culminated with a CCC-Central title win over Simsbury on May 25. It was both a championship-worthy and emotional spring for the Guardians, who dedicated the season to Avery Hersom, the younger sister of players Colin Hersom and Max Hersom. Avery passed away in March at the age of 12 after battling Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome (AGS), a rare genetic disease. The players wore ‘A’ decals on the back of their helmets to honor Avery this season. Coach Hinchey’s message to his team following the loss to New Canaan was simple, saying, “Hang your heads high.” “I love the senior class; I love this team. They were a great group,” added coach Hinchey. “Today stinks; if it doesn’t go your way it’s not a fun day.” After Hinchey and his assistant coaches spoke to the disappointed team, the seniors lined up and were greeted by of the returning players, who each gave the departing players a hug and some words of encouragement. [Kayden] Hinchey, [Colin] Hersom, Zack Caporale, Aidan Januario, Cole Cummings, Warren Channing, Ryan Bell, and Tyler Heaney then stepped off the field at GHS one last time in defeat, but not defeated. “They are great leaders and they played fearless. Their effort on and off the field was great,” coach Hinchey said of his seniors, who he has coached since youth lacrosse. “They carried the underclassmen and they did a lot of great work off the field to make those kids understand what our program is all about. I’m proud of that and I am proud of them.” |
AuthorSports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin Archives
December 2023
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