Fall Sports Are Halfway Home

Carley Wanner-Hyde is leading Newington volleyball 
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It’s hard to believe that we’ve reached the midway point of the season for high school sports this fall. It has been another exhilarating autumn for the local schools, with many of the area’s teams in contention for postseason success.
 
Here’s what you might have missed while raking leaves or picking apples.
 
Cromwell’s Nicole Faucette is again running across the country at an incredible pace. The senior distance runner opened the season with a fifth place finish in the 3-Mile run at the 36th annual Haddad Windham Invitational. She’s looking to close out her high school career with an exclamation point when she participates in the Shoreline Championships (10/16) and Class SS state meet (10/25.)
  
Wethersfield’s Troy Stegman is covering a lot of ground as well. The junior is the Eagles’ best distance runner, finishing sixth in the 5K at the Blue Dragon Invitational in Middletown. He’s averaging a 6-minute mile and is primed for a strong showing at the conference championship (10/15) and state meet (10/25.)
 
In field hockey, Newington head coach Paul Macchi has managed to put his team in contention for a Class L tournament run, despite a young roster. The Indians have relied on fantastic defense play and goaltending to post a 6-4 record. Sophomore sensation Elena Hynes has taken over as one of the team’s leaders and is pacing the team offensively. The team will be a strong contender once the tournament starts on November 15th.
 
Wethersfield has been unbeatable on the gridiron, convincingly winning all five contests. The Eagles have an extremely organized coaching staff, led by big boss man John Campanello. Quarterback Matt Sanzaro is leading a high-octane offense and defensive captains Jimmy Malizia and Patrick Mozzicato have helped form one of the state’s stingiest defenses. The Eagles just missed the Class L postseason in 2013, but are in great position to make a deep run in the playoffs this December.  
 
The Rocky Hill girls have been impressive on the pitch. The Terriers are one of the best soccer teams in Class M, posting a record of 9-2-1. Senior Alex Carreira has teamed with juniors Madison Nastri and Madison Stabile to help formulate a strong nucleolus of players. Veteran coach Annemarie Catania is hoping her girls carry the momentum into the tournament, which starts in md-November.
 
The Wethersfield boys have found similar success on the soccer field. Head coach Rob Jachym may have his best squad since the 2008 Eagles’ state championship team. Senior midfielder Justin Jensen has provided the offensive spark and junior goalkeeper Jimmy Slayton has protected the net.
 
Wethersfield is also the home to a great volleyball team. Girls’ volleyball is the only indoor team sport played in fall and the Eagle spikers have taken advantage of the climate-controlled gymnasiums, posting a 9-5 record. Head coach Debbie O’Brien’s has a talented group of girls led by senior captain Lian Hoffman, who is one of the better setters in the state.  
 
Newington’s volleyball is also in contention for a postseason berth. Junior setter Carley Wanner-Hyde is posting great individual numbers and senior captain Alexis Souza and Natalia Rozio have made the Indians a force to be reckoned with when the volleyball championships start November 15th.
 
In the pool, Caroline Even is in the midst of her senior season and is leading a group of experienced senior swimmers at Wethersfield. Junior Caroline Logozzo is back on the diving board doing what she does best. The two Carolines and the rest of the aquatic Eagles have their eye on the conference championships and state finals, which are less than a month away.

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