Last week, Glastonbury High School boys golf team won a pair of home matches at Glastonbury Hills Country Club. The victories extend the Guardians’ undefeated divisional record to 11-0 and improved the team’s overall record to 16-1.
It’s been both a fruitful and unique year for GHS head coach Tom Zelek, who has five quality seniors playing pivotal roles on and off the links. Senior captain Gavin Kvadus has again been the leader in the clubhouse after finishing tied as the runner-up at the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Championships and third overall at the CIAC State Championships last fall. “The biggest thing is building off of what we did last year,” Kvadus said of the team’s goals coming into this season. “We have the same core of guys this year and we just had to build off that and focus on the points where we weren’t at our best last year.” Behind Kvadus are four solid Class of 2024 golfers in Zachary Durant, Stephen Crouse, Michael Litke, and Dylan Goode – each capable of finishing atop the leaderboard at any given meet. “They are all solid players that rarely make big mistakes,” Zelek said of his seniors. “They are all great kids.” In a win over Newington (163-169) last Tuesday, Durant led the way by shooting a 39, recording seven pars and only needed 16 putts to complete his round. Durant said close meets against a competitive conference opponent like Newington are helpful with the end-of-the-season tournaments right around the corner. “It challenges us,” stated Durant. “We always want to come out and play our best. It pushes us; it’s good practice going into states.” Crouse shot a 40, hitting six greens in regulation and six of the seven fairways to complete his round. “Everyone works together, we get along well,” Crouse said of the well-rounded team. “It makes the team better. Every day we come out and compete and try to make each other better.” Litke, who shot a 41, added that it’s a healthy competition between the seniors during practice and play, adding, “We are all friends. We all have reasons to want to beat each other, so that probably helps, but none of us take it super serious. We all just want to do well,” Goode is the younger brother of Connor Goode, a 2023 GHS graduate in his sophomore season at the University of Connecticut where he was recently named the Big East Co-Golfer of the Week after capturing an individual title at the UConn Invitational. Dylan said watching his brother succeed at GHS and now at UConn had helped him as a golfer, adding his time at the high school has gone by fast. “I’m getting a little nostalgic,” he stated. “Next year I won’t be playing here, so you just have to take in the moment.” The day following the Newington victory, Glastonbury again defended their home course, posting a (160) to beat both Berlin (172) and Wethersfield (185). Kvadus hit six greens, recording a birdie to go along with six pars to fire a round of (+2) 38. Junior standout Derek Thomas also posted a 38. Zelek said that “nobody works harder at his game” than Thomas and added that freshman Chase Robustelli, along with the handful of seniors, have created a force of seven solid golfers that have “risen to the occasion” this fall. Along with winning 16 of 17 regular season meets, the Guardians were also victorious in the Avon Invitational in early-October taking home the team title at the 18-hole tournament in Simsbury. Next up is the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) tournament today (Thursday, Oct. 19). A year ago the Guardians finished fifth overall at the conference finals. The season will wrap up with the CIAC Division I Fall Championship on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at Stanley Golf Course, teeing off at 8:30 a.m. “The biggest thing is going out and trying to win states –– that’s the goal every year,” said Kvadus. “It’s our last year and we just want to go out and do our best.”
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Here are the Rivereast Standouts for the Week for the week of Oct. 9 - 15:
Ava Machowski - RHAM High School (Soccer): Machowski, a senior, has continued to light up the scoreboards, scoring three goals in the Raptors 4-0 win over Plainville on Oct. 5. Machowski’s hat trick upped her goal total to 18 through the first eight games as RHAM have won seven of those matches, qualifying them for state tournament. Kiera Stewart - Bacon Academy (Volleyball): Stewart dished out 22 assists as the Bobcats defeated Killingly in four sets on Oct. 6. Stewart, a senior setter and team captain, is coming off consecutive all-state selections during her sophomore and junior seasons on the court. On Tuesday, the Bobcats won a second straight game, defeating Wheeler in three set and next host Waterford today (Friday, Oct 13) at 5:30 p.m. Olivia Correia - East Hampton High School (Soccer): Correia scored a pair of goals as the Bellringers defeated New London 4-3 on Oct. 4. Correia, a freshman, led a Bellringers offensive unit scored their most goals in a game since a season-opening 6-1 win over North Branford/Hale Ray on Sept 9. Marissa Martin and Rachel Boudreau also scored in the win over New London, which snapped a four-game losing streak. The Bellringers next host Bolton on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 3:45 p.m. Ava Maselek - Portland High School (Soccer): Maselek scored a pair of goals as the Highlanders defeated Westbrook 3-0 on Oct. 3. Maselek, a senior, led the offensive charge that also got a goal from Camryn DiMauro. Portland’s defense — headed by Gracie DeRing, Lilly Carroll, Katie Hickey, and Elli Hannah — posted their fourth shutout of the season and then blanked their fifth opponent on Monday, downing East Granby 1-0. The Highlanders travel to Cromwell this Saturday (Oct. 14) for a conference clash with the Panthers at 9 a.m. RHAM senior Troy Miller controls the ball at Rocky Hill High School on Oct. 6. The Raptors fell to the Terriers, but have sense qualified for the state tournament.
Head coach Ray Bell’s message to the RHAM boys soccer team following the Raptors 1-0 loss to Rocky Hill last Friday was simple, yet inspiring. “This is a defining moment,” Bell told his team after the defeat. “This could be good for us as a team,” added Bell. “We’ll have to see how we rebound after this –– that’s the key.” Prior to the loss, RHAM had been exceeding expectations, losing only one game in their first eight contests while racking up five quality wins. Following a scoreless first half at Rocky Hill High School, the home Terriers took the advantage for good when a deep kick from Rocky Hill senior captain David Czubat slipped through the arms of RHAM goalie T.J. Machowski in front of the goal before Noah Kazmierczak scored what turned out to be the game-deciding goal in the 57th minute. Late in regulation, RHAM nearly tallied the equalizer in similar fashion when senior Zuriel Sarosh found the back of the net after the ball slipped out of the hands of Rocky Hill’s goalie Kyle Demarest. However, the goal was waived off after the official determined that Demarest was interfered with while having both hands on the ball at the time of contact. The controversial call kept is a one-goal deficit and senior Troy Miller fired one final desperation shot in the closing seconds that was just off the mark, officially snapping a two-game winning streak and dropping the Raptors to 5-2-2. “This wasn’t an indication of the first eight games of the year. We didn’t really play as a team tonight,” said Bell. “I think we were more worried about officials rather than worrying about our play, and we tried to pick up our intensity the last five minutes when it should have been like that for 80 minutes.” Rocky Hill head coach Paul Horta was impressed with his team’s ability to battle with RHAM, who he called Class M title contenders. “If we play this team ten times they might beat us nine times, but it will always be a battle,” added Horta. Bell credited Rocky Hill for being the more aggressive team, yet said the way RHAM played was not indicative of the first eight games where they played with a sense of urgency and went toe-to-toe with the top teams in the area. The Raptors started the season with a 3-0 win over rival Bacon Academy and also posted victories over Tolland (1-0), Manchester (2-0), South Windsor (3-1), and conference powerhouse Glastonbury (1-0). Miller has been the main force offensively, scoring the game-deciding goals in the pair of 1-0 wins, scoring on a spectacular bicycle against Tolland and hammering home the crucial kick against Glastonbury. Captaining the team on the field are senior defender Alexander Grillo and senior midfielder Jacob Dooley. Bell said his captains are “lead by example” type of players that have set a standard for how to play the right way. The veteran coach also credited Machowski, who has been in net for five shutouts so far this season. “He’s saved our butts plenty of times,” Bell said of his keeper. Following the loss to Rocky Hill, RHAM rebounded with another quality win, defeating Farmington 2-1 on Tuesday, earning win No. 6. Miller scored a goal and dished out an assist, feeding Michael Thatford for the team’s other goal. The victory qualified the Raptors for a spot in the Class M and kept them atop the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) East where they remain undefeated (3-0-1) within the region. RHAM now enters the stretch run of the regular season, playing five of their final six games at home, including a conference bout with East Catholic on Monday (Oct. 19) at 3:45. Bell hopes that his team is consistenly playing with anticipation “rather than reaction” by the time the state tourney starts in November. After competing at a Class L level a year ago, where they won in the opening round of the state tourney and almost upset No. 2 seed Xavier in round two, the Raptors are playing at a Class M level this fall. RHAM senior Ben Fournier, shown competing at the Central Connecticut Conference tournament last winter, will compete in the SUPER 32 Challenge in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 21-22. Photo credit – Glastonbury Sports Photography.
Ben Fournier, a senior at RHAM High School, is proof that wrestling is a lifestyle. After winning a class title and finishing as the runner-up at the State Open last winter, Fournier has taken the next steps in his wrestling journey by competing in tournament across the country. Earlier in October, Fournier competed at the Journeymen Fall Classic in New York and he now preps for his next stop in North Carolina where he will compete in the SUPER 32 Challenge, one of the nation’s preeminent preseason high school wrestling tournaments set to take place later this month. “This year was obviously a big year because it is my senior year — I wanted to go to all the big tournaments,” said Fournier. “It’s fun traveling and seeing how I can compete and hold up against everyone in New England and nationally.” After exploring a variety of athletic endeavors throughout his formative years, Fournier continued to play football and lacrosse into high school before realizing he had to make a difficult choice. In an effort to further excel on the mats, he chose to forego both field sports prior to his junior year. The decision to wrestle year round yielded immediate dividends as he quickly worked his way up the local wrestling ranks. As a junior last winter, he was crowned the 106 lb. Class M State Champion, defeating Cesar Rodriguez of Platt in the title match. Following his class title, he finished as the runner-up at the State Open, falling to Xavier High School’s Raekwon Shabazz, who was later crowned the New England Region Champion and National Champion in the weight class. Fournier's feats from a season ago have earned him the distinction of being ranked No. 1 in Connecticut and No. 2 throughout New England in the 106 lbs. weight class. To sharpen his skills in the offseason, Fournier invested his time and efforts into training with luminaries of the sport. He spent an intensive two weeks in Pennsylvania training with several NCAA Division I wrestlers; including reigning national champion Pat Glory of Princeton University. This training allowed him to brush shoulders with other top national prospects, elevating his game to new heights. “Before I was [wrestling] just doing it for fun, but it’s cool to get the experience of being able to go places with it — it’s been a lot of fun,” noted Fournier. Fournier said the countless hours of training and preparation that goes into being a year round wrestler can be draining, yet the rewards outweighs the daily grind. “Some days are better than others, but when you get your hand raised after winning the match that is the real goal,” he added. Heading to the national tourney in North Carolina is the next venture in what has been a wild ride since Fournier entered RHAM High School. He had wrestled throughout youth and then had his freshman year at the high school canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He admitted that he was feeling a little “burned out” by the sport at the time but recalled having that spark reignited after RHAM wrestling head coach Ryan Fitch talked with him following a football practice in the fall of his sophomore year. The chat with Fitch would pay big dividends as he rejoined the wrestling team the winter of his sophomore year where he would finish fourth overall in Class M and sixth overall at the State Open in 2022. Fournier says he feels a “night and day” between now and when he first stepped back onto the mats as a second-year high school wrestler. “It’s the small thing that takes you from being good to great at different levels,” added Fournier, who pointed to his improved speed and balance while wrestling. “It doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re on the mat competing those can make a difference.” Fournier's excellence isn't restricted to the mat. He is also actively involved in his community serving as a volunteer of his local Hebron Fire Department and as BSA Scout where he has a full calendar as he is currently on the precipice of obtaining his Eagle Scout Rank and is currently serving as Troop 28's current Senior Patrol Leader. Along with his outside interests, Fournier also wants to wrestle at the next level and has been in active discussions with local and regional college wrestling programs, exploring opportunities that would cater to both his academic interests in Criminal Justice studies and his refined wrestling talent. Though many institutions expressed interest, Fournier is still currently evaluating his options where he will pursue his future goals and is also considering careers in ROTC and military leadership training. But for now, Fournier is focused on competing in the Super 32 Challenge that will take place October 21-22 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The national tournament will be excellent preparation for the upcoming high school wrestling season as he seeks to repeat as Class M champion and hopes to add a State Open title to his growing list of accomplishments this winter. He also aims to help RHAM bring home their first state team title since 2002 after the Raptors finished as the runner-up last winter, losing to Avon by a ½ point on a controversial call. Zaim Guster - Rocky Hill High School (Soccer): Guster scored the go-ahead goal as the Terriers beat Lewis Mills 3-2 on Oct. 3, scoring what turned out to be the game-winner with an assist from Jason Nadeau in the 53rd minutes to break a 2-2 tie. Guster, a junior, also set up Endi Bregu to break a scoreless tie five minutes into the match. Nadeau scored Rocky Hill’s other goal with an assist from Danny Roach.
Cameryn Hickey - Cromwell High School (Soccer): Hickey continued to light up the local scoreboards, scoring two more goals as the Panthers beat Haddam-Killingworth 2-0 on Oct 6. Hickey also scored Cromwell’s only goal and was one of eight seniors who were recognized on Senior Night during last Wednesday’s 1-1 tie with Bolton. The Panthers next host Portland in a big Shoreline Conference clash this Saturday, Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. Justin Crossen - Wethersfield High School (Golf): Crossen finished atop the leaderboard, shooting a 37 to finish as the medalist during the Eagles battle with New Britain at Stanley Golf Course on Oct. 7. Crossen, a sophomore, parred seven of nine holes to lead the way and was joined by teammates Jack Tenney (40), Jack Berube (41), and Aidan Kamay (42) to score in the meet. Kailey Krusewski - Newington High School (Field Hockey): Krusewski, a junior, scored three goals as the Nor’easters defeated South Windsor 3-2 on Oct 3. Krusewski’s hat trick helped Newington secure their first win of the season and the team next hosts back-to-back games at Clem Lemire Turf Field, welcoming Stafford to Newington tonight (Thursday, Oct, 12.) for a game at 4:30 p.m. and tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 13) for a game with E.O. Smith at 5:45 p.m. Sadie Ruiz - Wethersfield High School (Field Hockey): Ruiz notched a hat trick, scoring three goals as the Eagles took down Morgan 6-0 on Oct. 4. It was also a milestone day for Ruiz, who scored her 50th career goal in the victory, which improved the Eagles record to 5-2 this fall. Ruiz, a senior, has committed to play field hockey at Fairfield University next fall. Rocky Hill High School football captains, from left, Daryl Asante Oleg Korotkyy, and Joey Motes are leading the Terriers on and off the field this fall.
So far, it’s been a rocky road for the football team at Rocky Hill High School. A home loss to Bristol Eastern last Thursday dropped the Terriers to 0-4, with three of those defeats coming at McVicar Field. Yet, head coach Rich Dance envisions brighter days on the horizon for his Terriers. “We are a young team and we knew that coming in. We knew there was going to be some growing pains along the way,” stated Dance, who has led the program since 2019. “I tell the kids we are either going to win or we are going to learn after every game, and that goes for the coaches. It’s a learning experience for both the players and coaches.” Rallying the troops on the field through the early-season struggles are captains Daryl Asante, Oleg Korotkyy, and Joey Motes. Despite the record, Asante called the bond with his teammates a “brotherhood” –– both on and off the field. “I see my boys every day and when someone is having a bad day we all lift them up. When you add that aspect, it really is a family,” added Asante. In two of the team’s losses the Terriers held leads in the fourth quarter and a Sept. 15 loss to Northwest Catholic was particularly difficult to handle because the West Hartford-based Lions scored on a touchdown on a circus catch late regulation to steal the looked like a season-opening victory for Rocky Hill. “We know they are tough losses and we fell apart in the fourth quarter,” stated Korotkyy, who plays a variety of positions on both sides of the ball. “We just have to stay motivated and we’ve been working non-stop as a team.” Motes, the team’s junior quarterback, said the offense is close to finding a rhythm, adding, “We are right there on many drives. If we can take advantage of those opportunities, then we can succeed.” Senior running back Saad Khan has been a bright spot for the offense, scoring a pair of touchdowns and averaging over six yards a carry through the first four games. In the latest loss to Bristol Eastern, the Terriers again showed fight, particularly on defense where they forced a pair of fumbles and stopped the visiting Lancers on downs inside the red zone to kill another drive. Juniors Matteo Matarazzo and Eddie Kocaqi each forced a fumble, while junior Jayzair Hall and sophomore Tanoro Edwards had fumbled recoveries. Edwards also had a sack and senior Caden Huddleston tied a career-high with 11 tackles. Unfortunately, a pair of big plays created by Bristol Eastern’s offense and a fumble return touchdown by the Lancers defense made the difference. Asante, a middle linebacker who leads the team in tackles through the first four games, said that the defense has continued to play with an aggressive, attacking nature –– comparing the unit to a pack of bloodhounds. “We all have fun on defense,” added Asante. “We communicate and we have some outstanding players. It’s just about being there for each other as a team.” Dance added that he was impressed with his team’s defensive effort in the loss to Bristol Eastern and liked how his team competed from the first whistle until the last. “The scoreboard wasn’t what we wanted, but what you can control is effort and these guys played all out, all night long, and they never quit even deep in the fourth quarter,” added Dance. “That shows that the team has heart.” It doesn’t get any easier for the Terriers, who play the next two on the road, starting at Platt (3-1) tonight (Thursday, Oct. 12) at Falcon Field in Meriden at 3:45 p.m. Korotkyy said, win or lose, the team has kept the same work ethic throughout practices, noting “Every week is a new week, we’ll keep pushing. It’s non-stop with us –– weight room, field, film, repeat.” “We just have to keep moving forward,” added Motes, “Each person is going to pick each other up no matter what.” Dance expressed that his captains have shown leadership through the adversity, noting their relentless effort both on the field and on the sidelines even in a blowout loss at Joel Barlow earlier in September. “They’ve been an example for the rest of the team,” added the fifth-year coach. “They’ve shown a lot of characters and have showed what kind of leaders they are. I’m really proud of them.” Terriers football takes McVicar Field prior to the team’s game against Bristol Eastern on Oct. 5. Members of the boys cross-country team at Glastonbury High School competed in Maine late last month.
The boys cross-country team at Glastonbury High School recently traveled to Maine, competing in the Festival of Champions on Sept. 30. Head coach Mark Alexander said the team used the lengthy road trip as both preparation for the upcoming championship season and as an opportunity for a young team to bond. As he has done all season, sophomore Crawford Cauthen led the group of Guardians by placing 23rd overall with a time of 16:29 at the three-mile Course in Belfast, ME. Alexander said that Cauthen showcased a lot of “natural ability” as an all-conference freshman runner last fall and has parlayed that into a successful sophomore campaign thanks to his continued emphasis on logging miles throughout the offseason “Last year he did awesome with very little training and he ran three days a week [in the winter],” added Alexander. “He continued that through the summer — he’s going to do great things.” After graduating a strong senior class a year ago that featured standout runners Harrison Krause and Dominic Pena, Alexander knew it would be a bit of a rebuilding year with a varsity team chalked full of fresh, yet inexperienced legs. Junior captain Raza Malik was second GHS runner to cross the finish line in Maine, posting a time of 16:49 to place 36th overall. Malik said the entire trip to Vacationland brought the team closer together. “It was definitely a new experience, but one a great one,” added Malik. “It was great for team bonding and was really enjoyable.” Malik is captaining the team with fellow junior Robbie Caruso and senior Jace Lewis. Alexander noted it is the “best group of captains” he has had at GHS, adding that the trio soaked in everything that Krause, Pena and the other seniors bestowed upon them last fall. And their times have reflected it. When Malik and Caruso were freshmen in 2021, they were posting times of 30 and 26 minutes, respectively. Two years later, the two have each shaved over 10 minutes off their finishing times. Caruso said that being part of the cross-country team has changed him both physically and mentally. “I came in my freshman year not knowing anything. I was unfit, I was awful, and I knew no one in high school,” added Caruso “I truly don’t know what I would do without this team. It is something that is a part of me and will always be a part of me until I graduate or even past graduation.” Lewis, who also excels as a sprinter for the track and field teams at GHS, is one of only three four-year runners on the roster. He has used that experience to help mentor the younger runners on the local courses. “Cross-country has a unique advantage compared to the other sports because we are all one team,” stated Lewis. “We all run together. There is not a varsity or junior varsity at practice, which allows us to have a more connective feel. That is something that I am going to miss, everyone is equal.” With several new runners and not a single senior competing in varsity races, Alexander said the trip to Maine and the pending championship season will only pay dividends for the future of the program. “It’s a new team and anything they do this year it just extra,” added Alexander. “With each of these races they are getting valuable experience.” Competing in Maine was also refreshing for a team that has had several meets cancelled or postponed because of the wet and uncertain weather that has hit Connecticut over the last month. Even the annual Wickham Invitational, scheduled to take place this past weekend, was cancelled because of unfit course conditions. But in the meets the Guardians have had, they have fared quiet well. They opened the season by placing fifth out of the 20 teams as a team at the 34th Wilton Invitational on Sept 9. Cauthen (8th) and Malik (9th) placed in the top ten out of the 163 runners that participated. Cauthen then finished first at the tri-meet with Hall and Southington, running a 15:11 at Southington High School on Sept. 26. Sophomore Samuel Hageman (15:28) placed third and Malik (15:33) placed fifth as the Guardians took three of the top five spots. Malik said having Cauthen set the pace has made the entire team better, adding, “It’s really helpful, Crawford is what we are all trying to shoot for.” The team is slated to have their final home meet this Friday, Oct. 13, welcoming Conard and Northwest Catholic to JB Williams Park for a race at 4 p.m. It will be the last chance for the seniors to compete on their home course and Lewis admitted he is feeling a bit of nostalgia Caruso said he is thankful for the senior class and the previous one, adding, “It really is a second family. We truly care for each other.” Next up is the championship season, kicking off with the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Championship, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct 17 (4 p.m.) at Wickham Park in Manchester. Senior Allyson Collette scored the game-winning goal as GHS field hockey beat Guilford for the first time.
Glastonbury High School senior Allyson Collette has become a force offensively for a Guardians field hockey team that is making history. On Sept. 30, Collette scored the game-winning goal as the Guardians defeated powerhouse Guilford (1-0) at GHS. It marked the program's first ever victory over Guilford. Collette broke a scoreless tie in the fourth quarter after Addison Infante sent the ball into the circle before Deirdre McKiernan fed Collette for the decisive goal. “I told myself I wasn’t going to let it leave the circle at that point without crossing the goal line,” recalled Collette. Head coach Maureen Perkins said that Collette has become both a productive player and vocal leader, taking her game to another level this fall. “She always embraces her role and has always done what we needed her to do,” added Perkins The game-winner against Guilford capped a great week for Collette, who tallied a hat trick, scoring three goals as the team hammered Newington 7-0 at NHS on Sept. 27. Collette credited increased confidence and the team’s chemistry on the field for her success this fall. “The team has done such a good job at getting the ball to me,” she added. “I couldn’t have gotten those goals if they weren’t constantly feeding it to me.” Collette added that she felt she felt she has “grown into the position” and has embraced her senior status. “I’ve found my voice on the team,” she added. “I’ve gotten a lot better at communicating that has helped me become a leader in that sense.” This past week, Collette continued to light up the scoreboard with seven more goals in three games, including a four-goal performance in a win over Enfield last Thursday. Perkins added that Collette has thrived playing on the right wing, a notoriously difficult position to master. “She’s got really good footwork and a really good stick,” added Perkins. “She’s worked hard at it.” After graduating three seniors, including a pair of all-conference players, Perkins said the returning group banded together to fill those voids and are using the experience they gain from last season to drive forward. Entering the week, the team stands at 9-2 and Collette said the wins are a product of a strong connection on the field. “We’ve had so much fun together and really enjoy spending time with each other as a group. That makes it so much easier when we’re on the field,” added Collette. “We really do care about each other as a team.” The Guardians are scheduled to play consecutive home games next week, starting with a conference test against Northwest Catholic on Tuesday, Oct 17 at 3:45. They welcome Massachusetts-based Longmeadow High School to GHS for their annual out-of-state game on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. “This is a particularly close group,” Perkins said of her squad, which features six seniors. “They played varsity for a number of years together, so we’ve seen how they’ve developed and I think it’s finally coming together.” Here is a double dose of Rivereast Standouts of the Week for the week of Sept. 25 - Oct. 1:
Nina Jobes - RHAM High School (Volleyball): Jobes has been a sensational setter for the Raptors volleyball team that entered the week ranked No. 4 in the Connecticut Volleyball Coaches Poll. Jobes, a junior, dished up 30 assists in the team’s three set win over Newington on Sept. 26 and then added 27 more helpers in a three set win over E.O. Smith on Sept. 29. On Monday, the Raptors beat Platt to up their record to 9-1 overall and have a match against Central Connecticut Conference rival Southington coming up this Monday (Oct. 9) at Mohegan Sun Arena at 3 p.m. Caden Bellmore - RHAM High School (Football): Bellmore was a standout in all three phases of the game as the Raptors defeated E.O. Smith 14-7 on Sept. 30. Bellmore, a junior, caught what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown from 28-yards out in the fourth quarter and also posted a pair of tackles for loss on defense and recovered a fumbled punt on special teams. The win improved RHAM to 2-1 and this Friday (Oct. 6) the team travels to Meriden to face Platt (2-1) in an important Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Tier III showdown at 6:30 p.m. Colby Butterfield - Bacon Academy (Soccer): Butterfield scored two goals and dished out a pair of assists as the Bobcats beat Windham 7-1 on Sept. 28. Butterfield, a senior, led an offensive charge that produced a season-high in goals with Sam Melino netting two, while Troy Johnson, Jean-Paul Fougerouse, and Edward Hageman each finding the back of the net once. Goalie Zach Carroll saved all but one shot in net as Bacon’s defense held a second straight opponent to a single goal. Alyssa Blanchette - Bacon Academy (Soccer): Blanchette scored the only goal of the match as the Bobcats beat Ledyard 1-0 on Sept. 28. Blanchette, a sophomore, supplied the offense and the defense blanked their fourth opponents this season with junior goalie Arianna Pennington in net. As on Monday, Bacon Academy is riding a six-game winning streak and has an overall record of 6-1-1. Eric Medvecky - Portland High School (Soccer): Medvecky, the team’s goalie, had a key save on a penalty kick and stopped all but one shot as the Highlanders beat New Britain 3-1 on Sept. 30. Medvecky also has a rare assist from his goalie position, helping a balanced offense that received goals from Alex Dawson, Gio Discenza, and Tyler Quinn. As of Tuesday, Portland is riding a five-game winning streak and next plays at Coventry High School on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. Hayden Burke - Portland High School (Cross-Country): Burke placed fifth overall at the Shoreline Conference Small Schools League Meet at Old Lyme High School on Sept. 27. The sophomore finished the course in 18:43 — the fastest time of any underclassmen in the event — and his twin brother, Breckin Burke, was the second fastest underclassmen, placing seventh with a time of 18:55. Mackenzie Player - East Hampton High School (Volleyball): Player was both productive and consistent last week as the Bellringers swept three games, defeating Coginchaug Regional, Old Lyme, and North Bradford. Player, a senior, combined for 16 kills, 15 digs, and 12 aces in the three games, in which the Bellringers won all nine sets. To close the week, Player had a season-high six aces in the win over North Branford, which improved the Bellringers to 9-1 this season with a home match slated for today (Friday, Oct. 6) against Hale Ray at 6 p.m. Jocelyn Gustavson - East Hampton High School (Cross-Country): Gustavson finished sixth overall at the 64th Nonnewaug XC Invitational in Woodbury on Sept. 30. Gustavson ran a 21:03, beating out 46 fellow competitors and finishing with the fastest time of any sophomore who competed. The Bellringers will next host a meet, welcoming Morgan and Portland to East Hampton High School next Wednesday (Oct. 11), starting at 3:30 p.m. GHS soccer captains, from left, Timothy McGuire, Patrick Butler, and Collin Martin are leading the way for a group of Guardians that has found its rhythm as the second half of the season is getting underway.
The boys soccer team at Glastonbury High School is starting to click on all cylinders, showcasing timely offense and another strong defensive effort in a 3-0 win over Northwest Catholic on Sept. 26. Senior captain Collin Martin said the team’s “mentality” is vastly different from the team’s season opener, a 1-0 loss to Hall on Sept. 12. “We've come ready to play.” added Martin, who is captaining the team with juniors Timothy McGuire and Patrick Butler. “Against Hall we were timid, but we’ve sharpened things up all the way around and we’ve come together as a family.” The home victory over Northwest Catholic marked the fourth time in the last five games that Glastonbury scored multiple goals. With just over two minutes to play in the first half, junior Griffin Szakiewicz broke the seal when he finished off a perfectly-placed corner kick from junior Shane Keenan. Keenan sent a line drive from the left corner, which Szakiewicz headed into the back of the net. Derrick Li added an issuance goal in the 67th minute off a defection. Li found Nicholas Lacaprucia with a pass in front of the net and Lacaprucia shot was swatted away by Northwest goalie Griffin Krupp before Li booted in the ricochet. In the 76th minute, Nicholas Daigle polished off the scoring after receiving a great lead pass from Jack Shaheen. McGuire said the offense has been more aggressive after being held scoreless in the opener. ”We are just putting together some more passes and having more of a junkyard dog mentality,” added McGuire. “We’re hungry, we have a desire to score and put the ball in the back of the net. We’ve worked on that in practice a lot and done a bunch of finishing drills.” It was also another outstanding effort from the Guardians defense, which held a second straight opponent scoreless, also blanking Rocky Hill 2-0 three days earlier. Butler, who in his second year protecting the net, said discipline between the players on the backend has been the key. “We’ve figured out our shape and where we want to push the offense,” added Butler. “Mainly it’s just being connected with communication, that’s been the biggest thing.” Last Thursday, the Guardians made it three in a row with a third straight shutout, blanking Farmington 3-0. Following the shaky start, McGuire said the captains have worked hard to steady the ship, saying, “The guys look up to us and we have to be the face there for them in tough times.” Coming into the week, the Guardians have a record of 4-2-1 and welcome Hall to GHS for a pivotal conference rematch today (Thursday, Sept. 28) at 4 p.m. Martin said the game against Hall is another chance to show how much the team has improved over the last month and for the players to “keep connecting as a family.” |
AuthorSports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin Archives
April 2024
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