GHS golfers (from left) Zachary Durant, Dylan Goode, Mike Litke, Gavin Kvadus, Derek Thomas, and head coach Tom Zelek after the Guardians finished as the runner-up at the Division I State Championships on Oct. 24.
Glastonbury High School boys golf wrapped up one of the program’s most successful seasons, placing as the runner-up at the Division I State Championships on Oct. 24. Playing in picturesque conditions at Stanley Golf Course in New Britain, the Guardians posted a championship-worthy score of 295, finishing behind only Fairfield Prep (287). Glastonbury's score was the third-lowest score in nearly 100 years for a team that didn’t bring home the championship trophy. According to the CIAC State Championship records, since 1931 a team score of 295 has only been beaten three other times, across all four divisions combined. “I couldn’t be happier and prouder of the team after posting a team score that would have easily won in most any other year,” GHS head coach Tom Zelek stated. “Regardless that they were playing under the pressure of the State Championship, they rose to the occasion and performed amazingly.” Senior captain Gavin Kvadus led GHS with a (-1) 70, shooting an eagle on 16, while adding a birdie and 14 pars. Kvadus finished fourth overall – behind three players tied for first – out of the 84 total golfers. Junior Derek Thomas shot a (+1) 72, sinking a pair of birdies and adding 13 pars, to finish 7th overall. Mike Litke shot a 73, draining four birdies, finishing 10th and Zach Durant rounded out the Guardians scoring by posting an 80. Along with winning a team title, Fairfield Prep’s Caden Piselli and Robby Rosati each shot a 68 to tie Will Gregware of Conard High School atop the individual leaderboard.
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Glastonbury’s Annelise Manzotti controls the ball as teammates #13 Kiernan Tierney and #15 Skylar Fiske looks on in the background during the Guardians 1-0 field hockey win at Cottone Field in Wethersfield last Tuesday.
Trailing 1-0 late in the first half, Glastonbury High School field hockey had a spectacular 98 seconds that changed the complexion of the game – scoring a pair of goals as the Guardians rallied for a 2-1 win at Wethersfield High School on Oct. 24. “We were kind of frazzled,” senior captain Kiernan Tierney said of the slow start. “We took a step back and took a deep breath, and realized we needed to do it for each other and pushed through.” With 2:48 remaining in the first half, Addison Infante tied the game with a laser shot into the back of the box for the equalizer. Moments later, Allyson Collette rebounded a deflected shot before scoring the go-ahead goal with 1:10 remaining in the half. The pair of goals turned out to be the difference as Glastonbury’s defense held strong in the second half. GHS head coach Maureen Perkins liked how her veteran team responded to the early deficit, particularly against a tough conference opponent on the road. “I’m just really proud of them,” added Perkins. “[Wethersfield]is a hard team to play; they are aggressive and kind of feisty and it forces us to play a way we’re not always comfortable playing, so it took us a little bit to figure it out against their style. I was really proud of how they fought, because they had to fight.” Wethersfield drew first blood when Sadie Ruiz scored with an assist from Brynn Lisella at the 4:32 mark of the first quarter. After the early goal, Glastonbury’s defense was flawless the rest of the way behind goalie Alex Edwards (three saves) and the experienced defensive in front of her that helped thwart several late attacks from the Eagles. Tierney and Skylar Fiske are captaining a defense that has posted seven shutouts and held their opponents to a total of nine goals through the first 13 Games. “We are not typically a physical team, but we’re learning throughout the season how to cope with teams that are more physical,” stated Tierney. “I felt like we did a good job working around that obstacle today.” Avery Olschefskie, who is patrolling the midfield, is the team’s third captain and is fueling a potent offense that fired 10 shots against Wethersfield. Despite the barrage of shots, Wethersfield goalie Tess Parker made some impressive saves down the stretch to keep the Eagles within striking distance. Perkins said that playing a close, physical game against a team like Wethersfield is good preparation for the upcoming state tournament. “Seeing different styles definitely helps us. We also had different players step up today and that makes us better,” added Perkins. “Some newer players also got opportunities today and I think they did a great job. It makes us stronger and it makes us deeper going into the tournament.” The win improved the Guardians to 11-2 overall, the third-best winning percentage in Class L, and a perfect 7-0 record within the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC). After returning 17 players from a year ago, including three all-conference players (Infante, Fiske, and Olschefskie), the team has been solid on both ends – outscored their first 13 opponents by a total of 44 goals. “The kids that have been playing together for a while and they know what each other likes to do. There a chemistry,” Perkins said of her experienced roster. “We’re working in some newer players and we have a lot of options that we didn’t have before, so it’s all good for us in the end.” Tierney added that, because of the continuity, the players had a built-in comfort level since the first game of the season. “We were able to start off the season strong and we’ve kept with it,” added Tierney. “We’re learning how to fix the little mistakes we’ve made throughout the season and I think we’re progressing throughout every game and every practice.” The team will close the regular season today (Thursday, Nov. 1) at Southington at 3:45 p.m. It will be the final official tune-up for the state tournament, slated to start next Wednesday (Nov. 8). Ava and TJ Machowski have helped lead both of RHAM High School’s soccer teams into the state tournament this fall. On the left, TJ and Ava are pictured at RHAM High School earlier this month and, on the right, Ava (four years old) and TJ (three years old) are pictured while playing soccer for the town of Marlborough in 2010.
RHAM High School has a set of siblings playing major roles for the school’s soccer programs this fall as Ava and TJ Machowski, a sister-brother duo from Marlborough, have the entire field covered. Ava is the leading scorer for the girls teams that recently won eight straight games and TJ is the starting goalie for the a boys team that has held nine opponents scoreless this fall. As of Wednesday, the two teams have a combined record of 19-5–5 with each team in line to host at least one game in the upcoming Class M tournaments, which begin in November. “It’s nice that we both have something to feel happy about with our teams and something that we can be proud of,” said Ava, who is a year older than TJ. Ava is in her final season at RHAM, starring as a senior striker that has racked up a team-high 22 goals and dished out a handful of assists. Matt Cameron, the head coach of the girls soccer team at RHAM, stated that Ava’s work on and off the field is “exemplary” and that she “puts the team before herself and gives everything she has each day.” “Ava is arguably the most coachable player, capable leader I’ve ever worked with,” added Cameron. “She sets the bar in terms of standards and pushes her teammates to be their best.” Behind Ava’s production, which includes a four-goal performance against Platt, the Raptors used an eight-game winning streak that spanned Sept. 23 - Oct. 13 to solidify a spot in the state tournament. “I think we’ve all clicked really nicely; we’re all very close,” Ava said of the team featuring eight seniors. “We keep it serious on the field and keep any drama off the field.” TJ, a junior, took over as the starting goalie for a Raptors team that has been consistent throughout the season and finished undefeated (5-0-1) in the CCC - East Region. RHAM boys soccer assistant coach Tim Berry, who works with the keepers, said TJ brings an “infectious energy” and “positivity” to the team. “He’s extremely coachable and immediately applies feedback,” added Berry. “He’s a physical presence in net and reads his position well.” TJ credits the chemistry with his defensive mates in front of him for the success this fall. “The defensive backline is really good and we work together,” the first-year starting goalie said. “We play from our defense to offense and it just kind of flows – that’s how we’ve been winning these games.” When they are not helping their respective high school teams in the fall, the siblings are playing club soccer in the offseason with Ava playing for Oakwood Soccer Club and TJ playing for Connecticut Football Club (CFC). Their love of soccer stems from their father Todd Machowski, who played collegiate soccer at Keene State and is a graduate of RHAM High School — as if their mom, Corinne Machowski. With the encouragement of their parents, the two started playing at an early age with Ava having a knack for making plays in the field and TJ finding his calling as a protector of the net. Their position choices are ideal for practicing together as Ava said “it’s beneficial” having a brother she can practice taking shots against at home. TJ added that the two aren’t necessarily competitive with one another, yet they “push each other” to be better. “If I take a bad shot he’s not afraid to tell me or if he misses a save I won’t go easy on him,” Ava said with a smile, “We know we can make each other better.” When the two are not playing in opposing venues, they attend each other’s games and noted that their time away from the fields are still filled with soccer, whether it’s talking about it at home or traveling for club soccer. “It’s always a game or something,” added Ava. With her final season at RHAM winding down, Ava noted that she is feeling a “little nostalgic”, yet is ready to see how the final month plays out. “It’s coming to close a lot faster than I thought it would, but I’m excited to see far we can get in tournament,” she added. Ava and her team play their regular season home finale this Saturday, Oct. 28 when they welcome South Windsor to RHAM for a match at 9 a.m. TJ and the boys wrapped up their regular season home schedule with a 2-0 win over Middletown on Tuesday. For the ninth time this fall, TJ kept the net clean. Now that it’s tourney time, the Machowski siblings have a chance to further leave their collective mark on the local soccer fields. Middletown quarterback (#4) Colin Skene is joined in the backfield by (#6) Maxim Ellis and (#9) Zy'kie Askew. Askew ran for a pair of scores as the Blue Dragons beat Wethersfield 18-13 last Friday.
Senior running back Zy’kie Askew ran for two touchdowns and the Blue Dragons defense added a pair of scores as Middletown beat Wethersfield 18-13 on a rain-soaked Cottone Field on Oct. 20. Second-year head coach Josh Rosek liked how his team competed on a wet night in Wethersfield last Friday. “One of the key things we try and focus on is being a gritty football team. That has been one of our main mottos since I took over,” said Rosek, “I tell the kids that sometimes it’s not going to be pretty. We’d like to execute a little bit better, but when it comes down to it you have to find a way to win the football game.” The host Eagles struck first, using a 12-play drive on the game’s opening possession that culminated with an 18-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mikel Lleshi. The lengthy drive drained nearly half the time off the clock in the first quarter. Facing an early deficit, Middletown began to turn the tide on special teams and defense. Blue Dragons punter Anthony Nanfito placed consecutive punts inside the ten-yard line, both eventually turning into defensive scores as Middletown’s defense registered a safety following both boots. The first two-pointer was caused by a hit by Tyree Scharborough, who jarred the ball loose from Lleshi before Wethersfield recovered the fumble in their own end zone, resulting in a safety. Then with 11:34 to play in the first half, Maxim Ellis sacked Lleshi in the end zone, cutting the deficit to 7-4. Rosek said his defense “settled down” and responded following Wethersfield's initial scoring march. “We got back to the basics and I thought [the players] did the things that we talked about at practice,” added Rosek, who credited assistant coach Andy Mulh for the team excelling on special teams. “We take a lot of pride in special teams and they did a great job tonight. They have been awesome all year” Askew scored on touchdown runs from 19 and 3 yards out in the second quarter, giving the road team an 18-7 lead at halftime. Following a scoreless third quarter, Lleshi threw a 10-yard touchdown to Jova’n Hill with 6:17 to play in regulation. Wethersfield’s defense then forced a three-and-out on the next possession, but — as the rain intensified — the home team’s last chance was foiled when they turned it over on downs near midfield with less than two minutes to play. It was an extra special victory for Middletown, who avenged a heartbreaking loss to Wethersfield from last season when the Eagles blocked an extra-point to preserve a 7-6 victory in Middletown. The loss dropped the Eagles to 0-6, yet head coach Matt McKinnon said the team has not lost their belief in one another. “This group of guys have been going hard every single game and our record might not show it, but I’m proud of how hard they have been playing,” added McKinnon. The Eagles have battled a tough schedule –– featuring three playoff teams from a season ago –– and an injury to junior captain Cam Righi, the team’s starting quarterback and strong safety who has missed the last three games. “We have a month left to set a tone for the program going into the next season,” stated McKinnon. “They have so much heart, but we have to put it together for a whole game. I’m confident in them.” For Middletown, it’s been a tale of two seasons this fall. After starting with three consecutive losses, the win at Wethersfield marked their third straight. The streak started with a 12-7 win over Manchester on Oct. 6 before posting a convincing 34-7 over Conard as the Blue Dragons tallied a season-high in points behind Askew, who ran for 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Senior quarterback Colin Skene also threw for a pair of touchdowns – both to Josh Ferguson – and ran for another. “We had a tough stretch in the beginning, but the kids have come back and never wavered what we are trying to do here,” added Rosek, who led the team to a 6-4 record during his first season last fall. “We’re excited. We got three in a row and all we care about now is if we can get four in a row.” Middletown aims to keep streak alive again at Newington High School when they play the Nor’easters (1-5) this Friday, Oct. 27. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. McKinnon’s squad looks to get on track the same night at Bristol Central, visiting the Rams (1-5) at 6 p.m. “We need everybody doing their job every single game,” added McKinnon. “We just have to keep working, we just have to get it done.” Wethersfield players look to the sidelines in the second half during a driving rain at Cottone Field on Oct. 20. The Eagles aim for their first win this Friday when they travel to Bristol Central. Rocky Hill junior Daniel DiTunno ran a 17:14 to finish first overall in the Central Connecticut Conference - North as the Terriers captured a conference crown as a team.
DiTunno led the charge as the Terriers captured five of the top six spots in the CCC-North. Brian Smith (17:18) finished second, Corey Christensen (17:20) placed third, Ayden Collura (17:57) finished fourth, and Logan Simons (18:02) took sixth. The handful of Terriers paved the way as Rocky Hill easily bested the six other teams in the conference, beating runner-up Wethersfield by a wide margin (19-79), and placing third overall in the entire conference. Next up for Rocky Hill is the Class M State Championship, set to take place Saturday, Oct. 28 at Wickham Park, starting at 11:20 a.m. Anthony Jr. Napoletano - Newington High School (Soccer): Napoletano scored a goal and dished out an assist as the Nor’easters went on the road and defeated Wethersfield 2-0 in a driving rain on Oct. 20. Through the first 14 games, Napoletano leads Newington with 10 goals. The Nor’easters close the regular season tonight (Thursday, Oct. 26) at Hartford Public, starting at 3:45 p.m.
Dylan Bathrick - Cromwell High School (Cross-Country): Bathrick placed sixth overall at the Shoreline Conference (SLC) championships, running a 16:22 at Hammonasset Park on Oct. 19. Bathrick, a junior, bested 62 other runners as the Panthers placed fifth overall as a team at the conference clash. Next up for Cromwell is the Class SS State Championship, slated for this Saturday (Oct. 28) at Wickham Park in Manchester, starting at 10:45 a.m. Max Hoon - Wethersfield High School (Golf): Hoon was a medalist, shooting a 38, as the Eagles took down Rocky Hill (162-177) on Oct. 17. Hoon and his teammates then had a top-ten showing at the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) championships with Tatum Skruk posting a team-best 80 at Stanley Golf Course in New Britain on Oct. 19. Katie Bohlke - Newington High School (Cross-Country): Bohlke finished as the runner-up at the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Championships at Wickham Park in Manchester, crossing the finish line in 18:38, which bested 190 other competitors on Oct 17. Bohlke, a senior, will now race in the Class L State Championships, set to take placed on Saturday, Oct 28 at the same venue, starting at 2:05 p.m. Sabrina Schuster - Wethersfield High School (Swimming): Schuster won two individual events (500 freestyle / 100 backstroke) and teamed up with Milena Brodowicz, Sophia Klementon, and Jilian Pitchell to win the 200 medley relay as the Eagles defeated Windsor 87-70 on Oct. 17 to win the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) - North Championship for the 15th straight season. Schuster is also one of six seniors that were recognized prior to the team’s win over Suffield on Oct. 13. Glastonbury resident Alex Norstom crosses the finish line at the 30th running of the Hartford Marathon on Oct. 14. Along with winning the local marathon, Norstrom posted an Olympic Trail qualifying time. Photo Credit - Steve McLaughlin Photography
Glastonbury resident Alex Norstrom won the 30th running of the Hartford Marathon on Oct. 14, crossing through the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Hartford with an Olympic Trials qualifying time. Norstrom finished in 2:16:53, besting the runner-up (Kiplangat Terer) by nearly five full minutes, and will now race in Florida next February for a chance to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in France. The 27-year old said preparation was the key to both winning and posting his personal-best time. “It’s always the months and days leading up that really make it successful," noted Norstrom. “My training for the race was by far the best I’ve ever done for any race or event in the past.” It marked the second time that Norstrom won the annual 26.2 mile race in the Capital City, also breaking the tape in 2021 with a time of 2:20:40. Since his victory two years ago, he had always eyed an Olympic Trials qualifying time — 2:18:00 and under — but an injury to his lower back nearly derailed his chances. Last winter, Norstrom was forced to miss miles and scale back on his training following a fracture in the base of his spine that he discovered while he was out on a run. But through his dedication to the sport and his strong mental makeup, Norstrom returned better than ever after strengthening some “deep core muscles” that helped correct his form. “Sometimes it takes an injury like that to figure out your body and to prevent injuries from happening,” stated the optimistic distance runner. “Maybe it is one of the reasons why everything worked out.” The change in training paid dividends as Norstrom was able to log up to 140 miles per week without issue, combining his long runs with strength training and the proper amount of recovery. “I stayed healthy — never missed a mile, never missed a workout, never got sick or hurt and that is really huge when it comes to running,” recalled Norstrom. Norstrom journey from an aspiring young runner growing up in Coventry to a two-time winner of the local marathon featured a stop at Central Connecticut State University, which he said really helped him hone his craft. It was in New Britain where Norstrom’s desire to eclipse long distances began to take shape, excelling in the 10,000 meters, among a variety of other challenging distances while competing for the Blue Devils. “Every year you learn more about training or how your body can handle certain things and my time at CCSU was big in figuring out who I was as a runner,” recalled Norstrom. “I always had thought that the marathon and longer distances was something that I could take beyond college.” Eric Blake, who coached Norstrom at CCSU, called him a “tough competitor” and “one of the most committed athletes that I have ever coached.” “At Central he was one of those guys that could push through those hard days. In a sense he did things the hard way; he never wanted to take the easy way out,” added Blake. “His talent was his ability to work hard and his willingness to work hard.” Norstrom’s ability to outwork his competitors is even more impressive considering he works a full time job at American Radio Relay League in Newington. In preparation for the marathon, a typical day for Norstrom is waking up well before sunrise — usually around four in the morning — for a training run before putting in a full day’s work and returning home for his evening run. “I’m either at work or doing something running related,” stated Norstrom, who has a journalism degree from CCSU and is also currently helping coach the Blue Devils cross-country team this fall. Norstrom also didn’t take the easiest path to the Olympic Trials in choosing the Hartford Marathon, notoriously one of the more difficult marathons to post faster times. Yet that didn’t stop the speedster from averaging 5:13 per mile pace. Norstrom said accomplishing the feat in his home state was also rewarding. He had family and friends — included several from CCSU — on hand to witness the win. “What I do essentially affects my friends and family, and they see what I do and they get excited,” stated Norstrom. “That is something that drives me, the ability to bring my family together.” Many of his family and friends plan to follow him to Florida on Feb. 3 where he joins a select group of runners that have also posted Olympic Trials marathon times in certified marathons. Norstrom and the other qualifying runners will take on the 26.2 mile course through downtown Orlando for a chance to represent Team USA The top three male and top three female finishers from February’s race will qualify for the Summer Olympic Games, which are set to take place in Paris during the summer of 2024. With three months to prepare, Norstrom will continue to do most of his training around town where he likes the contrast of flat, paved sidewalks throughout downtown Glastonbury and the rolling hills of South Glastonbury. “I love it here,” added Norstrom. “Glastonbury is such a great town. Running-wise there’s a lot of cool places to go for a run.” The seven senior players from the Glastonbury High School’s girls soccer team were victorious on Senior Night. Pictured: top (l-r) Sam Cole, Caleigh Sullivan, Emily Smith; bottom, Hailey Moriarty, Angela Chavez, Jenna Fradin, and Chloe Griffin are leading a team that has qualified for the state tournament starting next month.
Things looked bleak last Tuesday night for the girls soccer team at Glastonbury High School. Playing on Senior Night, the Guardians trailed visiting Avon 2-1 with time ticking away in the second half before senior Emily Smith provided the spark the team needed. With ten minutes to play in regulation, Smith received a perfect lead pass from Brynn Barbieri and fired a blast into the left side of the net to even the match. “I needed to place it well; I needed to finish it for the team,” recalled Smith, who got behind the Avon defense and was one-on-one with the keeper. “I just needed to calm down and put it to the corner.” Head coach Mark Landers said that Smith “stepped up” when the team needed her, adding, “She came through for us tonight.” Less than two minutes after Smith’s equalizer, the Guardians scored the go-ahead goal when junior Maddy Handrahan headed in a free kick from Corey Anderson in the 72nd minute. Anderson pooched the ball over a crowd of players, which Handrahan skipped off her head into the net before being mobbed by teammates in celebration. The Guardians defense held strong the final eight minutes to preserve the team’s seventh win on the season. After being held to a single goal for nearly 70 minutes, Glastonbury’s two goals in a matter of 89 seconds proved to be the difference on a night in which the Guardians celebrated seven senior players. Smith, Hailey Moriarty, Chloe Griffin, Jenna Fradin, Caleigh Sullivan, Samantha Cole, and Angela Chavez were all recognized prior to the game before all seven started the game on the field. Early on, the Guardians had a few point blank shots go awry and Avon grabbed a 1-0 lead when Kate Loparco dropped in a kick over the top of Faith-Anne Grunwald exactly eight minutes into the match. At the 7:53 mark in the first half, Anderson tied things up when she hammered home a shot after getting an assist from Rebecca Donovan. Avon’s Emma Loparco broke the tie by booting a lefty kick into the right hand corner of the net, providing the visiting Falcons a 2-1 lead midway through the second half. Landers noted that he was impressed with how his team responded to the adversity, crediting his players for carrying out what the coaching staff has been preaching into practice. A few weeks prior, the Guardians lost in similar fashion to Berlin and flipped the script in the win over Avon. “We talk about the importance of set pieces all the time and to get a header on a set piece for the game-winning goal says a lot about what we are trying to do,” stated Landers.” You need to have in-game examples of what you practice to make the kids understand how important those situations are.” Landers was also pleased with his offense, which hadn’t scored more than two goals in six games, dating back to a 3-0 win over Wethersfield on Sept. 23. With only one goal at the half, Smith said her and her fellow seniors talked about capitalizing on their opportunities. “We needed to connect on our passes and calm down because we were a little frazzled,” recalled Smith, who added the team was extra hyped up with it being Senior Night. “We need to communicate more and play our game.” Landers added that the Senior Night triumph was important on many levels, as Avon — a Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) rival — entered GHS with a record of 9-2 and was riding a four game winning streak. It was also another solid performance form the Guardians defense, which has carried the team through most of the season, allowing more than two goals only once and holding seven opponents scoreless behind a strong back end headed by Grunwald. Despite losing three one-goal games over the last month, Landers said the team has continued to grind. “We haven’t lost our belief in each other and that important,” added Landers. “We haven’t lost that belief in how we play. We are playing good soccer and we’re moving the ball well, we just have to continue to stay true to who we are.” Two days following the victory over Avon, the team tied Southington 1-1 thanks to a spectacular goal from Anderson. Entering the week, the Guardians have posted a record of 7-5-2. They closes out the regular season today (Thursday, Oct. 26) welcoming Simsbury to GHS for a match at 3:45. The Guardians will be seeking to avenge a 2-0 loss at Simsbury from Sept. 20. With the Class LL tournament starting in early November, Landers said each test going forward is important and credited his seniors for steering the ship. “All seven of them have been nothing but exceptional in their character,” Landers said of the Class of 2024 players. “The seniors always make sure the other [players] understand their value and make them part of the group. It might not come from the tactical or technical parts of the game, but more like aspects of having a good locker room and having people feel good about being together.” This fall, Portland High School’s volleyball program created history by competing at the varsity level for the first time.
Head coach Mary Tobias said her Highlanders have grown leaps and bounds since they first started as a junior varsity team in the fall of 2021. “To see the growth in them is why you coach,” added Tobias. “They’ve grown into the sport and they understand the skills and have gotten better at the skills.” When the team took the court for their first official varsity game on Sept 7, it was the payoff for a project that was started three years ago by Bella Hettrick-Rivera. Hettrick-Rivera grew up around the sport of volleyball, but the high school didn’t have a team, so she took matters into her own hands — using her Capstone Project as an opportunity to bring a volleyball program to Portland High. “The idea came my junior year and originally I thought it would be too late to make my Capstone, but I wanted to compete it anyways because I wanted to play,” recalled Hettrick-Rivera, who had previously played club volleyball outside of school. “I wanted to bring that community to Portland high School.” After numerous meetings with school administrators and sending a proposal to the Connecticut Interscholastic Association Conference (CIAC) — the governing body of high school sports — Hettrick-Rivera’s dream became a reality the fall of her senior year when the Highlanders made their debut, playing a handful of road games at the junior varsity level. “I knew it wouldn't be the level I was used to, but I was totally okay with that. I was just excited to have that kind of experience with my fellow classmates,” recalled Hettrick-Rivera, who graduated after the initial season. Following another season at the junior varsity level in 2022, the Highlander took on a varsity schedule this fall with a roster full of eager players aiming to elevate the program to the next level. Elvira Medunjanin, Katie Laverty, and Ella Royea have been with the program since day one and have now assumed the captain’s chairs for the initial varsity team. Along with being the most vocal player, Medunjanin is the lone senior captain, using her outgoing personality and positive attitude to influence the team. “Being the only senior captain is cool, it gives me a feeling of leadership,” stated Medunjanin, who added that her goal this fall was to get the team to communicate more. “Everyone gets more connected. It helps us out on the court and in school, and everywhere.” Laverty and Royea, both juniors, said that Medunjanin has influenced the entire team in a positive way. Tobias agrees, adding, “Elvira is always positive. No matter what anybody does on the court, she finds that positive piece. She is our cheerleader for sure — the girls really look up to her.” When building a program, experience is always tough to find and Laverty, who plays club in the offseason, is using her knowledge to help the team. She said being a varsity captain is something she takes seriously. “I feel honored,” added Laverty, a starting setter. “We are the ones that are encouraging everyone on the team and inspiring them — we try to make the sport fun for everyone.” Now having nearly three full seasons under their belts, Royea said it is the connection between players that is the biggest difference on the court this fall. “We have a lot more chemistry as a team on the court and off the court.” added Royea. “I think we have more knowledge of how the game works and for a lot of people it’s the first time playing, so we’ve been able to bring everyone together.” Tobias, who was previously an assistant volleyball coach at CHS, has been heading the program since day one. The third-year head coach credited Hettrick-Rivera for laying the groundwork and added that the early days in the fall of 2021 were a learning experience as the team didn’t have much of the equipment needed, forcing the team to use makeshift nets and play all road games. She added that her three captains are the perfect trio for a program building for the future, saying they each bring something different to the table. “They are the best kids. I couldn't have asked for better mentors for the kids coming in,” noted Tobias. “They are leaders for sure; they are enthusiastic and positive,” Coming into the week, the Highlanders are winless in the first 13 matches this fall, yet wins and losses are not what will define the program’s initial season at a varsity level. Instead, Tobias said that the team resembles a legitimate varsity team that has used the experience of the last couple of seasons to create a winning locker room. “They are now playing as a team and putting in actual plays. It’s really nice to see,” added Tobias. “We’re trying to build a culture of sportsmanship and they have taken that to the nth degree. It’s wonderful to see their growth.” For Hettrick-Rivera, seeing her Capstone project morph into a varsity team has been an “amazing experience.” “It makes me feel like I left my mark on the school and there is some legacy there,” added Hettrick-Rivera, who is currently studying aerospace and mechanical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “I’m so glad those girls get that opportunity now.’ The Highlanders have three matches left this season, including consecutive home dates, starting tonight (Friday, Oct. 20) against Coginchaug. They also host Cromwell this upcoming Monday, Oct. 23 in their home finale. Both matches start at 5:30 p.m. Julia Laabs - Wethersfield High School (Volleyball): Laabs has been a leader on the court for a Wethersfield team that has qualified for the state tournament with a recent five-game winning streak. Laabs, a senior captain, was instrumental during the five games, racking up a dozen kills in a win over Enfield. She also posted six aces and another eight kills, six aces, and three blocks in a win over East Catholic. The Eagles host Newington this upcoming Monday, Oct 23 before closing the regular season with a home match against Norwich Free Academy on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Both matches start at 5 p.m.
Brian Smith - Rocky Hill High School (Cross Country): Smith placed third overall as the Terriers won the Small School Division at the 11th Annual Winding Trails XC Invitational in Farmington. Smith, a sophomore, ran a 17:02 to finish ahead of 84 other competitions at the invite and was one of four Terriers to place in the top-eight. Corey Christensen (5th / 17:21), Ayden Collura (6th / 17:24), Nathan Peskin (8th / 17:28) rounded out the top four Rocky Hill runners as the Terriers easily bested the 12 other schools to win the competition. Ben Burdick - Cromwell High School (Soccer): Burdick scored late in regulation to secure a 2-1 win over Old Lyme last Monday. Burdick, a freshman, scored the decisive goal and junior Ethan Went got things started with a first-half goal to help Cromwell pick up their fifth win. The Panthers next host Valley Regional tonight (Thursday, Oct. 19) for a match at 6 p.m. Anaya Farmer - Newington High School (Volleyball): Farmer had a career-high seven aces as the Nor’easters beat Rocky Hill in three sets last month. Farmer, a junior who leads the team in blocks this season, then had seven kills and a pair of aces in the following match – a four set victory over South Windsor as Newington picked up win No. 5. Tess Parker - Wethersfield High School (Field Hockey): Parker, a senior goalie, made 15 saves as the Eagles knocked off powerhouse Hall 3-2 on Oct. 10. WHS head coach Colleen Budaj praised the performance of Parker and fellow senior Sadie Ruiz — who scored a pair of goals — while senior Brynn Lisella added the team’s only goal. Wethersfield starts a four-game home stand this Saturday, Oct 21 when they welcome Enfield to Cottone Field for a game at 12 p.m. They also play host to Glastonbury (Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 3:45 p.m.), South Windsor (Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m.), and Newington (Monday, Oct. 30 at 3:45 p.m.) |
AuthorSports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin Archives
April 2024
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