rare reminder Starting Five: Athletes of the Week

Brayden Bayek - Rocky Hill (Cross Country): Bayek continues to impress on the cross country trails, winning the 11th annual Connecticut River Invitational, hosted by Cromwell High School on Sept. 17. The senior won the race with a time of 15:53, holding off runner-up Ryan Gagne of Wethersfield by six seconds. Bayek and Gagne will again meet up on the trails at Elm Ridge Park in Rocky Hill when the Terriers host a tri-meet with Wethersfield and Bloomfield on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 3:45 p.m.  
           
J.T. Gallinoto - Newington (Golf): Gallinoto shot a team-best 39 as Newington scored an impressive victory over previously unbeaten Glastonbury (167-171) at Indian Hills Country Club on Sept. 21. The Nor’easter had previously lost to the Guardians in the season opener at Glastonbury Hills Country Club on Aug. 31 and the team was able to flip the script in the rematch. Gallinoto was joined by Jacob DeWitt (41), Tristan Gorman (43), and Evan Oliver (44) atop Newington’s leaderboard in the conference victory. 
           
Jacob Salafia and Danny Tuminski - Cromwell (Soccer): Salafia and Tuminski each scored a pair of goals as Cromwell defeated Coginchaug 6-1 on Sept. 20. The senior scoring duo has help power a Panthers team that has outscored their first seven opponents by a combined score of 25-6. Cromwell now hosts Shoreline Conference rival East Hampton today (Sept. 29) at Cromwell High School, starting at 3:45 p.m.      
           
Ryan Gagne - Wethersfield (Cross Country): Gagne finished as the runner-up at the 11th annual Connecticut River Invitational, hosted by Cromwell High School. The senior, who ran a 15:59, has been the leader of the pack this fall for the Eagles, who host Newington at Wethersfield Cove for the team’s regular season finale on Tuesday, Oct1 11 at 3:45 p.m.  
           
​Ben Fagan - Cromwell (Football): Fagan caught three touchdown of quarterback Cole Brisson’s four touchdown passes as the Cromwell/Portland football team trounced Haddam-Killingworth 35-0 on Sept. 23. Fagan, a senior, leads the team with four touchdown catches through the first three games, in which the Panthers have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 111-0. Next up is a game against Old Saybrook-Westbrook (0-3), who enters Pierson Park this Friday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is 6 p.m.