rare reminder Starting Five: Athletes of the Week

Paul Winbish, Elijah Hill, Lucas Witkowski, and Dylan Bathrick – Cromwell (Indoor Track): The all-sophomore foursome of Winbish, Hill, Witkowski, and Bathrick broke the school record in the Sprint Medley Relay, running a state-qualifying time of 3:57.64 at the Hillhouse Invitational on Dec. 16.
           
Brayden Bayek - Rocky Hill (Cross Country): Bayek was selected All-State after a phenomenal final year on the high school cross-country trails. The senior finished fall by winning the Class M state championship on Oct. 29, placing fourth overall at the State Open on Nov. 4, and then running a personal-best 15:47 at the New England Championships on Nov. 12.   
           
Kathleen Brush - Wethersfield (Soccer): Brush completed the triple crown of awards, getting selected All-Conference, All-State, and All-New England following a year in which she was the main scoring threat for an Eagles team that finished the regular season undefeated and advanced to the semifinals in the Class L state tournament.   
           
Beckham Alderucci - Newington (Soccer): Alderucci earned All-State following a season in which he led the Nor’easters in point (37), scoring a team-high 14 goals and dishing out a team-high nine assists. The senior captain helped lead Newington to the semifinals in the Class LL tourney, winning 14 total games this fall.  
           
​Shayln Smith – Middletown (Basketball): Smith scored a career-high 33 points as the Blue Dragons upended Bristol Eastern 58-57 on Dec. 16. Smith, a junior, opened the season with a 17-point effort in a 55-49 victory over Farmington on Dec. 13 as Middletown has started the 2022-2023 season with back-to-back victories.