February Frenzy: Tourney Action

Cromwell cheer won a second straight conference title, winning the Shoreline Conference championships on Feb. 11 in Westbrook. 

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it produces some fantastic results in the early winter sports tournaments. Here are some of the highlights that you may have missed.
           
Girls Indoor Track
Newington junior Katie Bohlke broke the Class L record in the 3200 meters, running a 10:50.06 to shatter the previous mark (10:58.29) set by Kaleigh Roberts of Mercy in 2014. Bohlke was facing a stiff field at this year’s class meet as Hannah Andrejczyk of Shelton finished as the runner-up, also besting the previous mark by running 10:54.89. 
           
Bohlke, junior, took home two state championships at the class meet, also winning the 1600 meters and would duplicate that feat at the State Open the following weekend by running a personal-best 4:57.10 to edge a field full of the best runners in the state.
           
Also in Class L, Wethersfield’s Delaney Speed placed fifth in the long jump.
           
In Class M, Mercy has a pair of third-place finishers in Sarah Roberts (1000 meters) and Clara Romero (3200 meters). Roberts also teamed with Ella Barone, Julia Salley, and Julia Lelko for a fourth place finish in the 1600 Sprint Medley. Beatrice Perrault also placed fourth in the 1600 meters. Marie Kane placed fifth in both the 55 meters and 300 meters.  
           
Boys Indoor Track and Field
Xavier High School won a state title, holding off runner-up Windsor (74-68) and a strong Class L field.
           
Nick Cassarino (600 meters), Owen Martin (1600 meters), and Hunter Feitel (pole vault) took home individual state titles for the Falcons. 
           
Also in Class L, Wethersfield’s Jayson Burchell (long jump) placed third in the long jump, Ryan Gagne placed fifth in the 1600 meters, and Alejandro Rodriguez placed sixth in the pole vault.
           
Cromwell’s 4x200 relay team of Paul Wimbish-Sperrazzo, Jared Semper, Daevyon Lovelace, and Jaden Wynn won the Class S championship. 
           
The Panthers 1600 Sprint Medley of Paul Wimbish-Sperrazzo, Kai McLarney, Lucas Witkowski, and Dylan Bathrick finished as the runner-up in the class finals. 
           
Wynn (300 meters) and Bathrick (1000 meters) also had fourth place showings, while Michael Anderson placed fifth in the 55 meter hurdles. 
           
The Panthers placed 4th overall as a team.
           
Also in Class S, Rocky Hill’s Daniel DiTunno placed fifth in 3200 meters. 
           
Wrestling
Xavier High School won the Class LL title for the third time in a row, capturing the program’s fifth class championship overall.
           
Raekwon Shabazz (106 lbs.), Braylon Gonzalez (113 lbs.), Kevin Kasperowski (120 lbs.) Kyle Levesque (132 lbs.), Anthony Basile (138 lbs.) and Charles Weidman (182 lbs.) won the six individual state titles for the Falcons.
           
In Class L, Newington’s Zachary White (160 lbs.) and Middletown’s Jesse Baldwin (182 lbs.) each finished second in their  respective brackets.
           
Middletown’s Derek McMahon (138 lbs.) finished fourth.  
           
In Class S, Cromwell’s Matt Gish (152 lbs.) finished as the runner-up, while Rocky Hill’s Chris Adamczyk (220 lbs.) also placed second and Alex Muniz (170 lbs.) placed fifth.
           
Cheerleading
Cromwell High School won a second straight Shoreline Conference (SLC) championship. Senior Emily Sousa was named the Player of the Year and joined senior Bridget Russ and sophomore Maya Tomczyk on the SLC First-Team. Panthers head coach Sierra Vasquez was also named the SLC Coach of the Year.