GHS Modifies Winter Sports Spectator Plan On Dec. 17, the Glastonbury High School athletic department modified the original spectator plan for winter sport. The new guidelines will allow for more spectators during home contests. Attendance at home basketball and wrestling contests will be limited to 400 spectators. Attendance at home hockey games, played at Trinity College, will be open to capacity. Tickets must be purchased online as well. Tickets must be purchased online (links to purchase tickets can be found on the athletics website). Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for senior citizens (ages 65+) and $3.00 for students (grades K-12). Cash will not be accepted at the gate. Booster passes will be honored at the gate. Reminder, booster passes are for the immediate family only and cannot be transferred to extended family or friends. You must have the card in hand at the gate for admission. Attendance at home swimming & diving meets will be open to the public. Attendance for gymnastics meets, at Gymnastics Express Too on Eastern Blvd., will be permitted up to two (2) family members per rostered athlete. Visiting teams will also be permitted two (2) family members per rostered athlete to attend. The school’s athletic department stated that the new plan is fluid and could make additional modifications, either loosening up or becoming more stringent, at any time. Additionally, at all Glastonbury Public Schools athletic events, masks will be required regardless of the position of the venue. GHS Boys Ice Hockey Splits Two The boys hockey team at Glastonbury High School opened the season with a 4-2 victory at Branford and a home loss to East Catholic (4-1). In the season opener, Branford scored the game’s first goal to take a 1-0 lead after the first period. Glastonbury’s Drew Jean tied the game in the second period and less than a minute later, Aiden Adams added another on an assist from Michael Rodriguez. After Branford tied it up late in the second, Zack Caporale scored off an assist from Max Gerisimov and Nick Huempfner, and Alex Rodriguez added an empty net goal to preserve the victory. In the loss to East Hartford, Gerisimov scored the Guardians only goal with an assist from Caporale. GHS Girls T&F Hits Ground Running The Glastonbury High School indoor track and field team opened the season at the Hillhouse Invitational on Friday, Dec. 17 and Saturday, Dec. 18. On Friday, Celina Rodrigues received third place in the freshman 55 meter hurdles with a time of 11.62. Then, several distance runners dominated in the 3200 meters. Annika Hurley came away with second overall with a solid time of 12:03, followed by Lucy Bergin in third with a time of 12:06. In addition to the running events, Cici Ryan performed well at pole vault earning 5th place with a height of 7’6”. On Saturday, Molly Harding got first overall in the 300 meters with a time of 41.84, followed by Riley Carroll in fourth with a time of 43.27. The 4x200 relay team, which consisted of Hannah Caiola, Riley Carroll, Meghan Smith and Molly Harding, clinched first place with a time of 1:48. Following the 4x200 relay, Annika Hurley, Jackie Dudus, Lucy Bergin, and Olivia Dickson ran the 4x800 relay and came away with third place with a time of 10:36. In the distance events, Lila Garbett found success in the freshman 1600 meter and came in third with a time of 6:04. In the varsity 1600 meter race, Brooke Strauss dominated in first place with a time of 5:10, with Ava Gattinella close behind in third with a time of 5:33. Following the mile, Brooke Strauss also came in first in the 1000 meters with a time of 3:07, with Lucy Bergin in fourth with a time of 3:19. To finish up the meet, Emily Smith, Maya Drelichowski, Alex Edwards, and Olivia Dickson competed in the 4x400 relay and clinched sixth place with a time of 4:37. The girls also performed well in the jumping and throwing events. Kate Desousa came in second place with a height of 5’2”, with Tennaly LeClaire and Allie Lips coming in fifth and sixth with heights of 4’10”. In shot put, Anna Morris came in 16th with a throw of 26’10” followed by Layla Spann-McDonald in 17th with a throw of 26’9”. Overall, the indoor girls track team had a solid performance at their first meet and hope to continue their success throughout the season.
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In August, senior Owen Brunk would tell anyone who would listen that the Cromwell/Portland football team had the makings of a state champion.
Three months later, Brunk and the Panthers defeated Bloomfield 21-6 on a fog-filled field at Trumbull High School to win the Class S state championship on Dec. 11. “Nobody worked harder than us in the offseason. We’ve talked about this moment for over a year and to see it happen is crazy,” Brunk said shortly after the final whistle sounded. “I don’t think it has hit me yet, it’s great. This is a great group of guys and we earned this.” It was the program’s first state championship since 2008 and the initial title for the co-op since Cromwell and Portland joined forces in 2015. Senior Teddy Williams wrapped up his storybook season with three more touchdowns, giving him a grand total of 30 trips to the end zone this season. “Teddy has been that guy all year. He’s gone up against the best, he’s dominated against the best,” said Panthers head coach Randell Bennett, “He’s a dominant player in every facet of the game. He can do it all.” From the opening kick it was clear that the Panthers meant business, scoring on the opening possession following a five-play, 72-yard drive. Running back Alex Hair had four straight carries, including a 23-yard run, and then quarterback Cole Brisson connected with Ben Fagan on a seam route. At the six-yard line, Fagan was stripped of the ball, which bounced into the end zone before Williams pounced on it. The unconventional touchdown was an omen for the rest of the game as the Panthers were consistently in the right spot at the right time. Brunk, who had four tackles for loss, said it was the preparation that made the difference, “Our coaches week in and week out put in a great game plan and it’s up to us to execute. When they give us a game plan like they did it makes it easy.” Bloomfield drove into the red zone on their first possession before turning it over on downs at the six-yard line. Four plays later, Williams found the pay dirt again after catching a quick slant from Brisson before weaving his way through multiple defenders and scoring from 46 yards out, providing the Panthers a 14-0 lead with 9:43 left in the second quarter. Bloomfield again moved the ball into scoring position before sophomore defensive end Emeka Yearwood came off the edge and floored freshman quarterback Darrien Foster, causing a fumble that Hair recovered at the 32-yard line. “The tackle didn’t back out to block me, so it was an open sack on the quarterback,” said Yearwood, who also credited the team’s preparation, “We watched a bunch of film and we knew what they were going to do before they did.” Playing with a lead, the Panthers leaned on their defense to shut the door on the state championship. After Foster scored on a quarterback keeper with 3:28 left in the third, C/P’s defense was lights out the rest of the night. Senior Jahid Blake-Singleton sacked Foster to end the third, setting up another heroic moment for Williams, who intercepted a pass and took it back to the house for a 66-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. On the next possession, freshman cornerback Jack Nolan intercepted another Foster pass at the one-yard line, ending Bloomfield’s last legitimate scoring opportunity. The Panthers, who played with confidence and swagger all season, finished the game with the ball after Bennett decided to go for it on 4th and 1 from his own 14-yard line. Brunk converted the fourth down on a run, allowing the team to drain the rest of the clock. The gutsy call earned the fifth-year head coach the nickname ‘Riverboat Randell’. “I’m willing to bet on my guys against anyone,” said Bennett. “This is a product of a relentless pursuit at being the best that you can be.” The state title was yet another phenomenal performance from the Panthers defense. Bloomfield entered the contest with a 12-0 record, having scored 40 points per game. The six points was the lowest scoring output from the Warhawks in over three years, dating back to Nov 2, 2018. Defensive tackle Ethan Philbrick solidified a defensive front that limited Bloomfield's normally reliable rushing attack, “We just wanted it more. We had a lot of things clicking and we played a perfect game today.” Philbrick also started the championship game at offensive guard, teaming with Matt Binezewski, Ray Boudreau, Jackson Williams, and Allen Cohen to control the line to scrimmage from start to finish. Of that group, Philbrick is the only one not returning next year. Bennett said the contributions from the younger guys were on full display in the title tilt, “To be on this stage, these guys just stepped up to the challenge today. I’m happy for these guys and proud of the team.” The championship win wrapped up an undefeated season (13-0) for the Panthers, who now own the state’s longest winning streak at 14 games. By the time the Panthers take the field next September, it will be over 1,000 days since they last lost a game. The winning streak is something Williams and the other seniors take pride in, especially after trudging through a 2-8 season in 2019. “It feels amazing. We’ve been working for this for two years and it finally came together today,” said Williams, who also added 11 tackles in the championship win. “All week on film we knew they didn’t pull a lot, it was mostly zone blocking, so we knew if we played fast and physical we could stop them.” The Panthers historic defense allowed only 97 points in 13 games, intercepting 18 passes, recovering 15 fumbles, and scoring six defensive touchdowns. They did this despite playing a dozen games over a 72-day span and while facing two of the best offensives in the state (Ansonia and Bloomfield) over the final two games. Defensive coordinator Jack Wilson, who is a former player and 2016 CHS-graduate, put it simply after the game, stating, “Defense wins championships.” For Philbrick and the rest of the seniors, the triumph in Trumbull was their championship curtain call. “This is the best feeling that I’ve had in my entire life,” said Philbrick, “This is the same group we’ve had since youth, so to get this championship playing with my brothers feels amazing.” #50 Jackson Williams, #60 Connor Egan, #2 Owen Brunk, and #8 Teddy Williams, along with friends and family celebrate the Panthers Class S championship win over Bloomfield on Dec. 11. RHAM senior Mike Poncini signed his National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Quinnipiac University. Poncini pictured with his father, Tom, and mother, Denise.
Mike Poncini, a senior at RHAM, has committed to play baseball at Quinnipiac University. Poncini has been a versatile player for the Raptors, serving as an ace pitcher and reliable hitter, and also played in the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League in the summer. “I’m looking forward to all the opportunities that can go with it,” Poncini said about continuing his passion in college. “Hopefully I can play beyond college baseball. That’s what I want to do with my life is play baseball.” Quinnipiac, a Division I program, has become a beading ground for baseball talent. The university has had 23 players drafted by major league teams and 32 players play professionally since 1968. Paul Steiner, who coached Poncini since he was a freshman, said the 6’3” prospect has all the tools to be successful at the next level. “Mike is extremely gifted. He looks to improve all the time and everything that he is getting right now is a process of all the little things; hitting the weight room, trying to stay in shape, getting stronger. These are all things that have allowed him to get to this point,” said Steiner. “I think he’s just hitting the tip of the iceberg.” Poncini is a homegrown product, who grew up in Hebron and chose to attend RHAM even though some of his friends departed for other schools, including private schools. . “I was one of the only ones that stayed here. I definitely don’t regret it. Being able to play with these guys throughout high school is important. I’m glad I stayed here,” said Poncini. After missing his sophomore year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Poncini became a regular starter, pitching in some big spots, and consistently delivering from the plate. His pitching coach at RHAM, Evan Chamberlain, saw a big improvement over the last two years. “His body got bigger, he grew, he got stronger. His velocity started getting better and he developed some of his pitches,” said Chamberlain. “He’s also becoming a leader and someone we look to as a go to guy.” Poncini used the 2020-cancellation to improve both physically and mentally. “I was really close with the 2020 senior class and seeing how disappointed they were not having a senior season made me take my junior season to heart and it’s the same thing going into my senior season.” Prior to starting his final high school season on the mound, Poncini is playing basketball at RHAM for the first time this winter, expanding his horizons and keeping himself in shape for the spring. Bill Eller, who had previously served as an assistant with the program, is back as the new head baseball coach at RHAM. He inherits a team that won a dozen games a season ago. “I think we’ll have a good year. We lost a lot of key seniors, two of which are playing Division III, so it will be tough to fill those spots, but we have some younger kids that can step in,” said Poncini. Next year Poncini will be suiting up with the Bobcats, continuing to live out his baseball dream playing for head coach John Delany, who is entering his eighth season at Quinnipiac. Poncini said the coaching staff, particularly pitching coach Pat Egan, was a big reason he chose the Hamden-based university. “I thought the coaches were easy going at first and I went on an official visit and got to watch a practice and it wasn’t so easy going. I like that in coaches, I like to be pushed,” said Poncini. Newington's Austyn Howe catches a pass over Platt's Brandon Carrion during the Nor'easters 39-22 win over Nov. 5
Newington’s Austyn Howe earned headlines as a star wide receiver this fall. But to define him by a single position would be undervaluing the prolific senior. Howe was the ultimate utility player for the Nor’easters, playing several roles including: receiver, returner, halfback, quarterback, free safety, strong safety and much more. Multiple hats was something that Howe embraced and thrived in, putting up video game-like numbers this season as Newington won seven of ten games. Following the COVID-cancellation of 2020, it was unclear how Newington would fare this season. Howe and his teammates took that personally. “I knew we would have a good team,” said Howe, who enjoyed silencing the doubters. “Everyone was putting us down and didn’t think we’d be that good. We were successful in the passing league and we have some kids that are super dedicated in the weight room, so I knew we would be pretty good this season.” Behind a rock solid offensive line and a slew of talented skill position players, Newington’s offense put up near-historic numbers, scoring 38.3 points per game, which ranks second all-time in the program’s history behind only the 1979 state champion team that scored 41 points per game. Howe credited the team’s success with the offseason passing leagues, the countless hours in the weight room, and the 5:30 a.m. practices on the town’s turf. Once the dust had settled on the 2021 season, Howe had amassed nearly 1,200 yards from scrimmage and scored 21 touchdowns (14 receiving, six rushing, and one on a return). He also threw three touchdowns. Two seasons ago, as a sophomore, Howe was a deep threat who hauled in nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns, including a 93-yarder in an upset of previously undefeated Maloney at Alumni Field. Because of an injury to starting quarterback Nick Pestrichello, Howe played behind center in the team’s playoff game in 2019. The experience from that season carried him through the disappointment of 2020’s cancellation and hardened him for his senior year. “It helped me push my limits and get in the weight room,” stated Howe. “That whole year I was able to work out because we didn’t have football. It gave me that drive and passion knowing it was my last year, and because I missed that year I had some catching up to do.” He added that even though competition was canceled last fall, just being with the team helped him through the ordeal. Once full contact football started back up this fall, Howe and junior quarterback Paddy Brown filled the air with footballs and stuffed the stat sheets. Following a season-opening win over Enfield, the team exploded for a season-high 52 points in a victory over Manchester. Brown threw five touchdowns, three going to Howe, who finished with 224 yards from scrimmage and added a rushing touchdown. “After that game we knew we had something special,” said Howe, “We knew we had a lot of playmakers.” Brown would go on to break the program record with 30 touchdown passes, most going to Howe and Josiah Ross. Howe and Ross formed a dangerous receiving tandem that caused fits for opposing defenses. Ross broke a program record with 61 catches, adding 826 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns through the air. Both receivers had a noticeable rapport with Brown, a chemistry the trio created in the offseason. The three had the freedom to change the play at the line of scrimmage if they saw man coverage. Often Brown would throw in Howe’s direction even if he was covered because the 6’1” receiver had a knack for high-pointing the ball and making circus catches. Howe said that his basketball background helped with those 50/50 balls, adding, “It’s something that just came naturally to me. It started sophomore year and it was just about getting that time down with Paddy. He knows when to throw it and where to throw it.” Perhaps most impressively was the 13 two-point tries Howe converted this fall. To put that in perspective, Marshall Faulk has the most two-point conversions in the history of the National Football League with seven, spanning 176 games over his 12-year NFL career. Newington’s two-point specialist converted a majority of those 2-pointers taking direct snaps behind center, following senior linemen Jordan Middlebrooks and Sam Cultera across the goal line. Howe said the statistics were the a product of a team effort and added that he was proud being a part of the “winning culture” that head coach Jason Pace has preached since taking over in 2017. “[The seniors] can leave and the underclassmen can follow those footsteps,” said Howe, who also intercepted six passes defensively this fall. His effort's this fall earned Howe a spot on the CHSCA Top 26 All-State team, which fittingly recognizes the best players in the state regardless of position. Howe, who is involved with several National Honor Societies at NHS, will now turn his attention to baseball season in the spring. He plans to continue playing football in college and is currently mulling his opportunities. One thing is for certain. Wherever Howe goes and whatever role is asked of him, the local jack-of-all-trades will flourish in any setting. Boys Basketball Head coach Jim Vaughan returns for his 22nd year, compiling a record of 283-186 during his tenure. The Guardians, who finished 9-7 during a COVID-shortened winter in 2020, return three starters in 6’4” senior center Jack Hennessy, senior forward Trey Tennyson, and junior guard Adam Molusis, who averaged 10 points and four assist a season ago.. Vaughan will also count on seniors Tyler Huff, Dan Cantafi, Mickey Shea, and 6’6” center Quinn Twombly for experience. Junior Jordyn Sams and freshman phenom David Smith will also be part of a deep rotation. Coach Vaughan said a season-ending injury to sophomore Connor O’Leary, who is one of the better underclassmen in the state, will be a big loss. However, the arrival of Smith and the returning starters should allow the Guardians to compete in the conference. The team’s home opener is Mon, Dec 20 against Middletown. The game tips at 6:45 p.m. Girls Basketball The Guardians are coming off a conference title after defeating Wethersfield 55-21 in a modified CCC tournament during 2020’s COVID-shortened season Sydney Kehl is the only returning starter after the team graduated four senior captains in Jaci Budaj, Rachel Roman, Jillian Margaglione, and Charlotte Bassett. Kehl is one of two seniors, along with Kiley Feeney, on the Guardians roster this season. The team plays Danbury on Sat, Dec 18 at GHS. The game tips at 12:00 p.m. Boys Ice Hockey Head coach Ken Barse is entering his 26 season leading the team. The veteran coach has an experienced team coming back, including key seniors Alex Rodriguez (captain-center), Zack Caporale (wing) and Kayden Hinchey (defense), Aidan Adams (defense), and Nick Huempfner. Sophomores Sean Huempfner (defense), Michael Rodriguez (wing), Max Gerasimov (wing), and freshman goalie Pat Sullivan will be asked to take on key roles. Coach Barse’s outlook, “With 10 seniors we have great leadership and experience that will carry this group into the playoffs. This is a very disciplined group of hard working young men and their mental toughness will be a key in winning the close games.” The team plays their home games at Koeppel Community Sports Center, located at Trinity College in Hartford. Their home opener is Sat, Dec. 18 against East Catholic. Face-off is 7:30 p.m. Girls Ice Hockey: Storm co-op (Glastonbury/East Catholic/South Windsor/Rockville/Tolland) Head coach Frank Usseglio returns to coach the co-op Storm, who finished 6-8-1 last winter and won a Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) tournament game. They return an experienced group, made up of all-conference senior goaltender Maren Riley (2.16 GAA, .916 Save percentage), an all-conference forward in Meghan Croyle (9 goals/13 assists), an all-conference defender in Bella Pacheco, and all-state and all-conference defender in Mary McKiernan (10 goals/6 assists). Four other seniors (Molly Edgington, Olivia Lonski, Katie Fradin, and Anna Pasterick) and five juniors (Norah McCauliffe, Jessica Pollack, Emily Malouin, Leila Espirito-Santo, and Kelsey Kowal) provide a lot of experience on the ice. Add to that a talented mix of underclassmen, including a handful of sophomore (Alexis Pacheco, Mallory Pierz, Audrey Molin, Alexa Wolf, and Maddie Archambault) and a few expected impact freshmen (Liliana Ficaro, Kate McKiernan, Edith Hayes, Maya Fisher, and Karolina Prytko). Thanks to a deep line-up, the Storm could challenge for the CCC’s top spot this season. In addition to the team’s conference schedule, the Storm will also face a very challenging out of conference schedule with games against New Canaan and Darien, as well as out-of-state games against Bishop Guertin (NH), Matignon (MA) and LaSalle Academy (RI). Coach Usseglio believes the formula for the team’s success will be on defense, “We expected to defend well in all three zones, and rely upon our experience on the blue line and in goal to be the foundation for this year’s group. Our goal has been, and remains, to be a difficult opponent for whoever we play.” The Storm play their home games at the Newington Ice Arena and will next host Mercy/NW Catholic on Wed, Jan 5. Face-off is 5:10 p.m. Wrestling Wrestling was the winter sport that was most impacted by last season’s COVID restrictions. The “high-risk” sport was limited to practice/conditioning only. Head coach Jake Jones brings back three returning wrestlers in senior Mikey Maciolek, junior Nathaniel Post, and junior Andi Jano. Coach Jones outlook, “We are looking forward to actually having a season this year, as we were cancelled completely last year. We have a young team, but are looking to develop our young talent for the future, while staying competitive in the present.” The team is slated to have a home meet against Manchester on Wed, Jan 5 at 6:00 p.m. Girls Indoor Track Head coach Brian Collins is back to guide an indoor track and field group that missed out on competition and postseason play last winter. However, the Guardians return plenty of athletes who were part of the outdoor track & field team that won the conference and state championship in the spring. Lucy Bergin, Hannah Caiola, Jackie Caron, Riley Carroll, Sarah Christina, Kate DeSousa, Olivia Dickson, Jackie Dudus, Haley Evans, Ava Gattinella, Molly Harding, Anna Hilary, Kylie Hilliard, Annika Hurley, Tennaly LeClaire, Kelley MacElhiney, Anna Morris, Sarah Ongley, Annika Paluska, Cici Ryan, Emily Smith, Meghan Smith, Layla Spann-McDonald, Zoe Spann-McDonald, Brooke Strauss are back following either contributions last spring or strong performances in cross country this fall. Coach Collins outlook, “We have a strong returning group that could help us repeat as CCC and Class LL champions. We did lose some very talented athletes from two years ago (no indoor track season last year) but we return some very talented athletes from our LL Championship Outdoor Track team and LL Championship Cross Country team this year. We additionally have some new athletes on the team this season who could possibly help make us stronger and give us more depth. We're hoping that most of the events will be covered and we have depth in each area.” Boys Indoor Track Head coach Mark Alexander returns a well-rounded group that is looking to hit the ground running following the restrictions last season. Seniors Joseph Accurso (distance), Michael Sardo (sprints), Jack Schaffner (jumps), Cody Stone (distance) Thomas Ryen (jumps), Alex George (throws), Will Haddad (distance), and Kevin Clarke (jumps/sprints) provide experience. Juniors Dominic Pena (mid-distance), Harrison Krause (distance), Kalym Richards (sprints/jumps), Jonathan Wihbey (jumps), Cameron Colletti (distance), Jackson Boyd (sprints), Ben Yalof (mid-distance) will provide depth, while newcomers Kevin Graziosi, Will Greelissh and Davian Rivera bring even more talent to the table. Coach Alexander’s outlook, “This year’s team is young and eager to prove themselves this season after last year’s season was cancelled. Small group of seniors, but their strong leadership skills will help guide the team.” Gymnastics Yvette Sima enters her 13th year coaching and will manage a team with a loaded roaster. Sima will count on returning seniors and captains Sarah McKinney and Amanda Steckler, but said she will count on the entire team to fill roles this winter after restrictions dampened the enthusiasm level a season ago. “There’s so much more excitement this year. Last year, with the exception of one meet, we didn’t travel at all. Visiting teams didn’t come to us, we videotaped and recorded everything and had to submit it. It’s going to be a whole new experience for most of these girls,” said Sima. “We have some new girls that are coming in that are very strong and we have some returners that are very strong too. What it comes down to is how clean they are during the event and their consistency. I think we could have a very strong year.” The Guardians home meets take place at Gymnastics Express Too on Eastern Blvd. The first home meet is scheduled for Jan. 15 against South Windsor. For a complete list of all the GHS sports team’s rosters and schedules, visit ciacsports.com Kaitlyn Parent, a senior at Glastonbury High School, has committed to play field hockey and continue her education at Southern Connecticut State University next fall.
“Super excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career playing D2 field hockey as SCSU,” Parent stated upon making her decision on Nov. 5. “Thank you to all my family, friends and coaches who helped me get to where I am today.” Parent made her commitment official at the GHS National Letter of Intent ceremony on Nov. 10. She recently wrapped up her final field hockey season at GHS, starting in goal for the Guardians who won a dozen regular season games and advanced to the Class L semifinals. It was her first season starting in goal for Parent, who developed into an extremely reliable keeper. She combined with a strong defensive front to shutout 13 teams, including two in the tournament this fall. “It was our first time all playing together and as we started winning, we started getting more comfortable on the field,” Parent said of the defensive chemistry. Over the last two years, GHS field hockey head coach Maureen Perkins has seen Parent grow into the position, “Kaitlyn has become a much more vocal goalkeeper. As the last line of defense she has a unique perspective on the game as the play is moving down the field and Kaitlyn has really embraced this aspect of her game which will be really important at the next level where the speed of the game is so much faster.” Back-to-back (10-0) wins over Hall and Hamden early in the season provided the first-year goalie confidence and a tie against powerhouse Wilton in mid-October was the point that Parent said the team believed they could make a deep tournament run. Her best performance may have been her last in a GHS uniform. Parent was phenomenal against a relentless New Canaan attack, stopping 10 shots, as the Guardians nearly upset the state’s #1 Rams in the Class L semifinals. Beyond the games, leaving the program in good hands was a priority for Parent, who said, “We have eight seniors this year and it was important for us to be connected to the underclassmen especially but they were all connected because when we leave it will be on them. We tried to get everyone to bond.” Coach Perkins added that Parent’s selfishness was one of her best attributes, “Kaitlyn has been an excellent big sister to our younger varsity goalie Alex [Edwards]. Kaitlyn has been a great support and role model for Alex, showing her the ropes and being that constant support. Kaitlyn took this responsibility very seriously and it was so great to see the bond that developed between Kaitlyn and Alex this fall.” It’s been a rapid accent for Parent, who played soccer her entire life and didn’t start playing competitive field hockey until she was a freshman. She went to a field hockey clinic in the sixth grade but admitted that she hated playing in the field and moved to goalie once she was in high school. The move turned out to be a wise choice for Parent, who began playing club field hockey to sharpen her skills over the last four years. “My confidence has really grown as a goalie,” said Parent, who began receiving college offers this year. “I never really imagined playing Divisions II. I had couple of DIII schools reach out, but once I got the offer from SCSU It boosted my confidence that much more.” Prior to the interest from Southern, Parent considered all her collegiate options but is glad to be staying in the Nutmeg State. “In the beginning I was looking more out of state but then over the summer I was on vacation I realized that I wanted to be closer to home,” recalled Parent. “The more time I spent away, the more I realized I’m a homebody. It’s perfect because it’s only 45 minutes away so I can have a life outside of Glastonbury but I can still come home when I want.” When she’s not honing her goalie skills, Parent is part of Interact, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and most recently a new program called Letters to our Elder, where students become pen pals with residents of nursing homes. At SCSU, she is leaning towards majoring in elementary education as she joins and Owls team that is led by longtime head coach Kelley Frassinelli, who will be entering her 27th season at Southern. Perkins added that her now former goalie is an incredibly hard worker and is self-motivated, which are traits that should allow her to excel at the next level. “I’m excited that I get the opportunity to play four more years. I started as a freshman and people that I know have been playing since the third grade, so I feel like I missed out a little,” stated Parent. “I’ve met so many people through field hockey. Some of my best friends I met through field hockey and now I’ll get the opportunity to meet so many people and play the sport that I love.” RHAM volleyball seniors (l-r) Leah Bahamonde, Zoe Parkinson, and Grace Nieszczewski following state championship victory over Simsbury on Nov. 20
Girls volleyball at RHAM High School defeated Simsbury in the Class L state championship on Nov. 20, avenging an earlier loss and capturing the program’s eighth title since 2007. The championship triumph was the cherry on top of a memorable season for the Raptors, who won 23 total matches. Leah Bahamonde, Zoe Parkinson, and Grace Nieszczewski were the only three seniors on a roster loaded with talented youth and depth. Bahamonde, who captained the team with Parkinson, said the beauty of the team was that everyone was look at as an equal. “We didn’t pay attention to age. Everyone was treated the same,” said Bahamonde. “It was our bond that made us special. We had freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors playing. We were all such close friends that it worked.” It was an early-season trip to play a tournament in New York that matured the team. “When you play teams that are really good you learn a lot about your own team. You see where you struggle or where you excel and in New York we found some weaknesses on both offense and defense,” stated Bahamonde. “New York was a really great experience for us to learn about ourselves.” Upon returning from New York, the team dropped a game at Southington before reeling off 18 straight wins spanning from Sept. 15 to Nov. 1. “We came together. In the Southington game we were a team physically, but emotionally we weren't as connected as we should have been. It was more just six players playing individually,” added Bahamonde. “After that we connected and built friendships and we kept winning.” Juniors Sarah West and Ally Hadley controlled the front of the net for the Raptors. West teamed with Parkinson to form a strong middle. West led the team in kills with 276 and finished second in blocks (64). Parkinson finished with a team-high 76 blocks and added 176 kills. Hadley and sophomore Lani Fecho played as outside hitters, finishing with 276 and 159 kills, respectively. Hadley also served up a team-high 88 aces this fall. Junior Lauren Feige set up the powerful front line, dishing up 721 assists as the team’s steady setter. Following 18 consecutive wins, the team suffered a loss for the first time in 46 days in the second round of the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) tournament when #9 Simsbury upset the top-seeded Raptors in five sets on Nov. 2. The loss derailed the winning streak, yet refocused a team that set their sights on a bigger prize. “Our coach talked about how that loss might have been necessary. He talked about how you have to lose to know how to win,” Bahamonde said of head coach Tim Guernsey’s message following the conference loss. Thanks to an 18-1 regular season record, RHAM earned a first round bye in the Class L tournament. They proceeded to beat New Milford in three sets in round two, eliminated South Windsor in four sets in the quarterfinals, and ousted North Haven in three sets in the semifinals, serendipitously setting up a rematch against Simsbury in the championship match. “As soon as we won our semifinals game we got on the bus and all anybody could talk about was playing Simsbury,” Bahamonde said of the rematch, “We had no fear. You would think since we lost we might be scared but everyone was so excited and pumped up. I actually have never seen our team so calm and it was pretty ironic that it was before the most important game. I think that came from the fact that we knew we could beat them.” Not only did the team avenge the conference loss, they destroyed Simsbury, winning in straight sets (25-21, 25-16, 25-20). Hadley was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, starring in the championship match with a team-high six aces, seven kills, and adding 14 digs. Bahamonde, who started at libero all season, also added 14 digs in the championship match, upping her team-high total to 453 digs this season. It was her first year in the defensive position, moving over from outside hitter to fill a team need. “It’s a really amazing feeling because as a freshman I remember all I wanted to do was help this program have success and I feel like I’ve done that in my final year,” said Bahamonde, who reflected on what the championship meant to her and the fellow seniors. “We’ll always be a part of it. It’s something that can’t be taken away.” Defensive standout Ethan Philbrick runs off field after the Panthers stopped an Ansonia drive during a 46-7 win at Pierson Park on Dec. 5
Junior quarterback Cole Brisson took to the skies and delivered a championship-worthy performance during Cromwell/Portland’s 46-7 victory over Ansonia in the Class S semifinals on Dec. 5, advancing the Panthers to the Class S title. Playing inside the friendly, picturesque confines of Pierson Park, Brisson threw for a career-high six touchdown passes, five going to Teddy ‘TD’ Williams, who hauled in a mind boggling 332 receiving yards. ' “We saw they were playing a lot of man defense on film and we knew as a team we could beat man,” said Brisson. “Our receivers were awesome today. They got open and I just had to get them the ball.” Brisson found Williams for three scores and added a fourth to Emeka Yearwood in the first half as the Panthers took a commanding 26-0 lead into the break. The lefty field general continued to slice and dice the Chargers secondary in the second half, finishing with a 502 passing yards, also a career-high. “Anytime we saw man-to-man this year, we’ve had really good days,” said C/P head coach Randell Bennett, “[Ansonia] stayed in that man all year long and we knew that would be the game plan. Our guys just had to make plays.” Williams was the main benefactor of the single coverage, hauling in touchdown passes of 90, 21, 58, 26, and 64 yards. He also had a 72-yarder negated because of a holding penalty. William’s 332 receiving yards is the fourth highest single game total in the history of Connecticut High School football. Interior lineman Ethan Philbrick powered a defense that limited a Chargers offense that entered the semifinals averaging 30 points per game. “We had full confidence. We knew we had to play with more aggression than them. We needed that swagger that we had against Coginchaug and Morgan,” Philbrick said. “We played like we wanted to win and we did.” The playoff win sets up a Class S championship game against Bloomfield. The title tilt will feature teams with identical records (12-0), who have each been thoroughly dominant on both sides of the ball. The Panthers have outscored their first dozen opponents by 377 points while the Warhawks from Bloomfield have outscored their dozen opponents by 408 points. It will be the first game between the schools since the 2016 Class S quarterfinals when Bloomfield defeated a short-handed Panthers team 28-14. Bennett knows it will be a challenge going up against the Warhawks, who will be playing in the Class S championship game for the third straight season. This year’s Warhawks feature a dynamic offensive backfield led by the prolific running back duo of Dallas Rose and Cornellius Patrick. “I’m confident in our coaches to come up with a game plan to stop the things they want to do and we’ll see what we can do on offense on the other side. We’ll be ready,” stated Bennett. Brisson added, “We just have to prepare like we did this week and we have to bring energy. I think we can beat anybody in the state no matter who it is.” The championship bout is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 11 at Trumbull High School. Kickoff is 11 a.m. Ten years ago, the Panthers fell to Holy Cross in the 2011 title game. They are looking to capture their first football state championship since they beat Ansonia, 14-12, in 2008. Philbrick believes the team has the talent and the desire to bring a trophy back from Trumbull. “It’s two undefeated teams in the state championship. It’s all about who wants it more,” said the 6’5” defensive tackle, “And I think we want it more.” Wethersfield senior Noah Terzo with WHS baseball coach Mark Bagdasarian on his left and mom, Valerie Smith, to his right. Terzo has committed to play baseball at Keene State College
Noah Terzo, a senior at Wethersfield High School, will continue his baseball journey at Keene State College in New Hampshire next fall. “I am excited to announce that I’ve made the commitment to continue my athletic and academic careers at Keene State College playing for the Keene State Owls. I’d like to thank all of my coaches, teammates, and most importantly my mom who has been the most supportive baseball mom I could ever hope for. I can’t wait to start this next chapter,” Terzo stated. Terzo is a two-year member of the Eagles baseball program and also earned varsity letters while at Newington High School. He began his career in the Newington Little League system and has been a member of the Connecticut Capitals the past two years. Terzo said the best part about playing baseball at WHS is how close the team is, adding, “We’re family who have each other’s backs every second on and off that field. Those are my brothers.” He’ll be back on the hill this spring as part of the Eagles talented rotation. He says wants to stay consistent and would like to see the Eagles, “make it to states and make a good run, and hopefully bring home the championship.” Off the field, Terzo was part of WHS Choralaires and outside of WHS he works as a little league umpire during the spring. At Keene, he plans to pitch and play outfield for an Owls team led by head coach Justin Blood, who is entering his first season with the program after serving as the head coach at the University of Hartford for the past decade. Terzo said that Blood, along with the scenic and amazing campus, were the major factors in choosing Keene, saying “To get the chance to play for him in a re-building program was a great opportunity in itself.” In New Hampshire, he plans on majoring in kinesiology as he embraces the challenges of collegiate baseball. “The most exciting thing about playing at the next level is the competition,” stated Terzo. “It takes a lot of work and talent to play college baseball. So many of the other teams will be filled with some really good, tough competition and that’s something I love about sports, the competitive side.” Panthers quarterback #11 Cole Brisson along with right tackle #64 Matthew Binezewski and right guard #54 Ray Boudreau during the team's 29-20 win over Notre Dame-Fairfield in the Class S quarterfinals
Cromwell/Portland football advanced to the Class S state championship game for the first time since 2011 following wins over Notre Dame-Fairfield in the quarterfinals on Nov. 30 and Ansonia in the semifinals on Dec. 5. In the quarterfinals victory, the Panthers led from start to finish before holding off the visiting Lancers 29-20 on a bitter cold night at Pierson Park. “We always have 100% effort,” said junior Ben Fagan, who scored a touchdown offensively and forced two turnovers defensively, “We just never stopped, we never let off the gas pedal. “ Following a field goal from Allen Cohen late in the first quarter, C/P upped their lead to 10-0 on a 32-yard touchdown run from Teddy Williams with 11:05 to play in the first half. Fagan then hauled in a touchdown from quarterback Cole Brisson with 4:21 left in the third, giving the Panthers a 19-7 advantage before Notre Dame made one last push to save their season. Lancer quarterback Jailon Denny connected with Bailey Coleman for a second scoring strike and then Denny threw a throwback screen to Tayshawn Dixon, who sprinted 44 yard to the end zone, narrowing the home team’s lead to 22-20 with 9:47 to play in regulation. Then Williams, who played through cramps in both calves in the second half, pulled one more rabbit out of his hat. Williams caught a screen pass at his own 10-yard line and split two defenders before galloping 75 yards to the Notre Dame 15-yard line, setting up a decisive touchdown run from Alex Hair. “I saw great blocking up in front of me and made a couple of cuts and just tried to take off,” Williams said of his crucial catch and run. On the following possession, Fagan recovered a Denny fumble, ending any threat of a comeback. Fagan also had a first-quarter interception, his seventh this fall. “Ben Fagan is a guy that knows where he is supposed to be and knows what he needs to do,” Panthers head coach Randell Bennett said. “He’s always coaching guys up to make them better and he might be the quarterback on the defense.” Fagan said the win was a collective effort. “All the guys stepped up. The d-line and linebackers were penetrating. It was a team effort tonight.” Emeka Yearwood caused a third turnover early in the fourth when he jarred the ball loose from Denny, which was recovered by Jack Williams. Cromwell also won the special teams battle. Cohen made all three of his field goals (35 yards, 17 yards, and 33 yards). Bennett joked, “We don’t have goal posts on our practice field so I don’t know how he’s able to be accurate on his kicks, but we needed all three of those tonight.” In the semifinals, the Panthers completely dominated the visiting Chargers from Ansonia on a picturesque sunny afternoon at Pierson Park. Brisson tossed a career-high six touchdown passes, five going to Williams, who hauled in a mindboggling 328 receiving yards. “We saw they were playing a lot of man defense on film and we knew as a team we could beat man,” said Brisson. “Our receivers were awesome today. They got open and I just had to get them the ball.” Brisson and Williams hooked up for three scores in the first half as the Panthers took a commanding 26-0 lead into the break. Brisson continued to slice and dice the Chargers secondary in the second half, finishing with a 502 passing yards, also a career-high. “Anytime we saw man-to-man this year, we’ve had really good days,” said Bennett, “[Ansonia] stayed in that man all year long and we knew that would be the game plan. Our guys just had to make plays.” Interior lineman Ethan Philbrick powered a defensive that limited a Chargers offense that was averaging 30 points per game entering the semifinals. “We had full confidence. We knew we had to play with more aggression than them. We needed that swagger that we had against Coginchaug and Morgan,” Philbrick said. “We played like we wanted to win and we did.” The playoff triumphs set up a Class S championship game against Bloomfield. The title tilt will feature teams with identical records (12-0), who have each thoroughly dominant all season. The Panthers have outscored their first dozen opponents by 377 points while the Warhawks from Bloomfield have outscored their dozen opponents by 408 points. Bennett knows it will be a challenge going up against a Bloomfield team who will be playing in the Class S championship game for the third straight season. This year’s Warhawks feature a dynamic offensive backfield led by the duo of Dallas Rose and Cornellius Patrick. “I’m confident in our coaches to come up with a game plan to stop the things they want to do and we’ll see what we can do on offense on the other side. We’ll be ready,” stated Bennett. Brisson added, “We just have to prepare like we did this week and we have to bring energy. I think we can beat anybody in the state no matter who it is.” The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 11 at Trumbull High School. Kickoff is 11 a.m. Ten years ago, the Panthers fell to Holy Cross in the 2011 title game. They are looking to capture their first football state championship since they beat Ansonia, 14-12, in 2008. Philbrick believes the team has the talent and the desire to bring a trophy back from Trumbull. “It’s two undefeated teams in the state championship. It’s all about who wants it more,” said the 6’5” defensive tackle, “And I think we want it more.” |
AuthorSports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin Archives
December 2023
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