ghs sports new & notes

GHS Ski Team Hits Slopes
The girls and boys ski race teams at Glastonbury High School started their ski race season at Mount Southington on Jan. 12.
           
In their first race, the girls team finished in 6th place overall of the 13 teams competing. The girls were led by senior captains Sara Wertsching and Katie Murphy, who finished 14th and 20th of the 174 skiers racing on this night. Contributing were freshman Ainsley Latz (28th overall), sophomore Eva Giliberto and junior Lauren Carlino. 
           
The boys ski race team finished in 10th place overall out of the 14 teams competing. The boys were led by freshman Alex Bulger and senior captain Matt Bulger who finished 7th and 8th respectively of the 203 boys racing. Senior captain Ryan Murphy (37th overall) and junior Nate Zimbelman (38th overall) also performed well. 
           
“Both teams got off to a good start at their first race of our season. Conditions were excellent at the hill and our skiers took great advantage of it,” said head coach Tom Zelek. “We have a good mix of veterans and newer ski racers on the teams and they are all working hard during our dry land training and conditioning sessions. As the season progresses and we get more experience on the race course at Mount Southington, I can see our teams getting higher up the standings with their overall scoring.”
           
On Jan, 19, the teams competed in the second ski race of our season. The girls ski race team finished in 6th place of the 13 teams competing. The girls were led by Wertsching and Murphy, who finished in 14th and 15th place respectively out of the 162 girls racing. Latz (29th) and Giliberto also raced well. 
           
The boys were led by Bulger, who finished in 9th place out of the 208 boys racing on this night. Zimbelman and Murphy also contributed.
           
Zelek added, “Conditions were relatively tough on this night as the course became very challenging because of the large number of skiers on this particular night. The later you go into the race the course becomes harder and it takes a lot more skill and discipline to hold your line. I’m very impressed with how both our teams are doing early in the season.”

GHS Girls Track & Field Excelling
 On Jan. 10, the Glastonbury girls’ track and field team traveled to Southern Connecticut State University to compete in the James Barber Invitational Meet. Four of the Glastonbury seniors led the way in the 1600m with Kylie Hilliard placing 4th (5:27.78), Olivia Dickson placing 6th (5:32.50), Annika Hurley placing 8th (5:40.12), and Sarah Ongley placing 14th (5:51.90). 
           
Zoe Spann-McDonald, who did not disappoint in any of her events, won the 55m hurdles with a time of 8.87, finished first in the long jump with a 15’5”, and then placed 5th in the 55m dash with a 7.78.
           
Jackie Dudus, Alex Edwards, and Kelley MacElhiney raced the 1000m with Dudus placing 5th, MacElhiney 10th, and Edwards 16th. In the 300m, senior Molly Harding finished first overall with a time of 41.68 and Riley Carroll finished close behind with a 43.96, placing her third overall. Meghan Smith ran a 44.65 putting her in 4th and Emily Smith ran a 46.08 putting her in 10th. 
           
Glastonbury also had a dominant 4x200m relay with a team consisting of Alex Edwards, Riley Carroll, Meghan Smith, and Molly Harding. The relay team won with a time of 1:53.04.
           
In the field events, Layla Spann-McDonald also finished first with a big shot put throw of 32’0”.
           
Five days later, on Jan. 15, some distance runners took on the third Hartford Public meet of the year. Six GHS girls raced the 1600m, putting up great times and PRs. Leading the charge was junior Jocelyn Wolf, placing 4th in a time of 6:05, followed by freshmen Isabella Martas-Mayr (8th) and Kaylin Gaudet (10th), running 6:29 and 6:37, respectively. Senior Caileigh Schroeder, placed 15th in a time of 7:14 and rounding out the field were juniors Saanvi Bethi (7:18) and Holly Skripol (7:19).
 
GHS Swim & Dive Tops Middletown, Hall
 Following a loss to Xavier, the Glastonbury High School boys swimming and diving team got right back on the winning track with a home victory against Middletown High School (102-76) on Jan. 18 and a win over Hall High School (96-75) on Jan. 21.
           
Against Middletown, the Guardians won 10 of the 12 events and moved to 15-3 all-time against the Blue Dragons. After losing three meets to Middletown way back in the early 1990’s, Glastonbury has now come out victorious 15 times in a row. Campbell McFall and James Liao both had perfect four-win afternoons. Sean Savidge, Connor Lieu, John Redfern, Jack Watson and Brian Pawlowski all added two wins each. Leo Wong was a single winner. Middletown got wins from Cody Schad (diving) and Andrew Strickland.
           
The meet started with a 1-2 GHS sweep in the 200 medley relay. The relay team of Leo Wong, Sean Savidge, Connor Lieu and Campbell McFall won the event followed closely by the relay team of Donald Newandee, Brian Pawlowski, John Comite and Ryan Lieu. The score was 12-2 and GHS was off and running. The 200 freestyle was a 1-3-4 finish for Glastonbury. James Liao was 1st with a Class LL qualifying time, Jack Watson was 3rd and John Redfern was 4th.
           
The 200 individual medley was a 1-3-5 finish for GHS. Campbell McFall was 1st with a Class LL qualifying time, Myles Murphy was 3rd and Connor Lieu was 5th. The 50 freestyle was 1-2-3 sweep for the Guardians. Sean Savidge was 1st, Ryan Lieu was 2nd and Leo Wong was 3rd. The score was now 46-16 entering diving. Glastonbury was missing all of their divers for this meet leaving Middletown with a 1-2-3 sweep by default. Cody Schad won the event and both him and fellow teammate Diego Carrillo had impressive performances. The score was now 46-29.
           
After the break, Glastonbury came storming out of the gates with a 1-2-3 sweep in the 100 butterfly. James Liao was 1st with a Class LL qualifying time, Sean Savidge was 2nd and Brian Pawlowski was 3rd. Middletown would get its 2nd win of the meet in the 100 freestyle as Andrew Strickland impressively won the event with a sub-50 second time. GHS would place 2-3-4 to out-point MHS. John Redfern was 2nd, Connor Lieu was 3rd and Niall Easton was 4th. The long distance 500 freestyle would be a 1-2-5 finish for the Guardians. Jack Watson was 1st, Ben Boisoneau was 2nd and John Comite was 5th.
           
The 200 freestyle sprint relay would be a 1-3 finish for GHS. The relay team of Campbell McFall, Connor Lieu, John Redfern and James Liao sprinted to victory as the relay team of Leo Wong, Nick Roberts, Alex Wong and Sean Savidge placed 3rd. The clinching event of the meet would be the 100 backstroke where GHS turned in a 1-2-3 sweep. Brian Pawlowski was 1st with a Class LL qualifying time, Myles Murphy was 2nd and Ethan Hipsky was 3rd. The score was now 102-51 and Middletown could no longer catch up. GHS would swim the last 2 events exhibition.
           
Glastonbury touched 1-3-4 in the 100 breaststroke. Campbell McFall touched 1st, Ryan Lieu touched 3rd and Derek Lui touched 4th. The final 400 freestyle relay would see GHS touch 1-3. The relay team of James Liao, Jack Watson, John Redfern and Brian Pawlowski touched 1st while the relay team of Ben Boisoneau, John Comite, Daniel Gorenbeyn and Myles Murphy touched 3rd. James Liao turned in a Class LL qualifying time in the 100 freestyle with his lead-off leg in the final relay. The final score of the meet came to 102-76.
           
In the win over Hall, GHS won 9 of the 12 events. The victory improved the Guardians record this season to 5-1 and 28-2 all-time against Hall. After going 2-2 back in 1991-1994, the Guardians have won 26 meets in a row. Hall holds the distinction of having the most meets against Glastonbury as they have competed 30 times. Campbell McFall had a perfect four-win evening. Sander Silverman and James Liao each added three wins. The double winners were Brian Pawlowski, Jack Watson and John Redfern. The single winners were Sean Savidge and Myles Murphy. Hall got two wins from Carson Raisner and one win from diver Jonah Genser.
           
The meet started with a season best time in the 200 medley relay for GHS as they placed 1-3. The relay team of James Liao, Brian Pawlowski, Jack Watson and Sander Silverman won the event by 4 seconds while the relay team of Donald Newandee, Sean Savidge, John Comite and Ryan Lieu placed 3rd. The score was 10-4. The 200 freestyle was a 1-2-3 sweep by the Guardians. Campbell McFall was 1st, Myles Murphy was 2nd and Ethan Hipsky was 3rd. Myles Murphy qualified for the Class LL Meet with his time.
           
The 200 individual medley was also a 1-2-3 sweep for GHS. James Liao was 1st, John Redfern was 2nd and Sean Savidge was 3rd. The splash and dash (50 freestyle) was a 1-3-5 finish for Glastonbury. Sander Silverman was 1st with a new Class LL qualifying time, Brian Pawlowski was 3rd and Ryan Lieu was 5th. The score entering the diving event was a lopsided 46-16. Diving was a 1 on 1 battle between Jay Shah and Jonah Genser. Both displayed some excellent diving and Jonah just out-scored Jay by 8 points to win the event.
           
After the break, GHS went 1-2-4 in the 100 butterfly. Jack Watson was 1st, John Comite was 2nd and John Redfern was 4th. Carson Raisner from Hall impressively won the 100 freestyle. GHS would place 2-3-4 to out-point Hall in the event. Brian Pawlowski was 2nd, Myles Murphy was 3rd and Sander Silverman was 4th with a new Class LL qualifying time. The long distance 500 freestyle was a solid 1-2-3 sweep for GHS. Campbell McFall was 1st, Ben Boisoneau was 2nd and Alex Wong was 3rd.
           
The 200 freestyle sprint relay would be the clinching event for the Guardians as they swept the event by going 1-2. The relay team of Sander Silverman, John Redfern, Brian Pawlowski and Campbell McFall won the event while the relay team of Myles Murphy, Nick Roberts, Leo Wong and Ryan Lieu placed 2nd. The meet score was now 96-37 and Hall could no longer catch up. Glastonbury would swim the last 3 events exhibition.
           
Carson Raisner was back in the pool and won the 100 backstroke. GHS would place 2-3-4. James Liao was 2nd, Jack Watson was 3rd and Donald Newandee was 4th. The 100 breaststroke was a 1-2-3 sweep for GHS. Sean Savidge was 1st, Isaac Shen was 2nd and Connor Lieu was 3rd. The final 400 freestyle relay was a 1-3 finish for GHS. The relay team of Campbell McFall, Myles Murphy, John Redfern and James Liao easily touched 1st while the relay team of Ethan Hipsky, Niall Easton, Alex Wong and Derek Liu touched 3rd just 0.35 of a second behind the Hall relay anchored by Carson Raisner. The final score came to 96-75. 
           
​The upcoming schedule has a home meet on Thursday, January 27th against East Catholic High School at 3:45 PM. There is also another home meet against downstate power Amity High School on Tuesday, February 1st at 5 PM. The Amity meet is not to be missed as it will be one of the best meets of the season. Remember that all home meets (and some away meets) are live-streamed on Facebook. To get the live stream, send a friend request to Glastonbury HS Swimming and Diving as attendance in-person is still limited to 2 family members of the athletes. Contributed by Steve Hoyt.