rare reminder Starting Five: Athletes of the Week

Madison Rhodes, Emily Sousa, and Bridget Russ - Cheerleading (Cromwell): Rhodes, Sousa, and Russ were selected All-State and then the Cromwell cheer team won the 2021-2022 Shoreline Cheerleading Competition. The Panthers finished as the runner-up in 2020 (the last time cheerleading conference champions were held) and this winter they leapfrogged East Hampton, who had won the previous two conference crowns. Rhodes is one of three seniors, along with Rebecca Lewis and Makaela Wasik on the Panthers cheer squad, while Sousa and Russ are juniors who will be back next year.  
           
Mazur Twins - Wethersfield (Ice Hockey): Ryan and Shane Mazur, twin brothers on the WHS ice hockey team, combined for three goals in the third period as the Eagles downed Glastonbury 6-1 on Feb. 19. Ryan scored two goals and Shane netted a third in the final period, adding to previous goals scored by Colby Quinn, Jay Socha, and Jack Millen as Wethersfield improved to 12-3-2, which is the third-best winning percentage in Division II. 
           
Will Lubas - Newington (Swim & Dive): Lubas won the 500 meters as the Nor’easters defeated Rocky Hill in the pool during a pivotal conference meet on Feb. 15. Lubas was joined by Michael Bohlke (100 freestyle) and Bryce Turner (100 breaststroke) for individual wins in the meet and both medley relay teams at Newington also took first place to preserve the win over the Terriers. 
           
Eamon Burke - Xavier (Track & Field): Burke had an incredible State Open, winning the 1000 meters with a blistering time of 2:33.67, defeating Tyler Bartlett of Fairfield Ludlowe. The senior then anchored the 1600 Sprint Medley team---combining with Owen Peska, Owen Miller, and Chase Vitale---as the Falcons held off runner-up Prince Tech by nearly two seconds. Xavier finished sixth overall at the competition held at the Floyd Athletic Center in New Haven on Feb. 19. 
           
​Bela Cucuta - Newington (Basketball): Cucuta had her most productive week as a high school basketball player, scoring 52 points in three games last week for the Nor’easters. The prolific freshman scored 15 in a win over Wethersfield to close out the regular season last Monday, 22 points in a Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) tourney victory over Bristol Eastern on Thursday, and 15 more points in the CCC quarterfinals victory over Enfield on Saturday.