Rare Reminder’s 2018/2019 All-Area Athletes of the Year

(Left) Cromwell's Lauren Wolak was the named the Rare Reminder Cheerleader of the Year, pictured with coach Beth Sarnacki - (Right) Wethersfield's Derek Tenney was named Rare Reminder's Baseball Player of the Year. Pictured with his parents, Daniel and Isabel, during his University of Hartford signing

Boys Cross Country: Samuel Geisler (Newington): Geisler burst onto the scene with a strong sophomore season, finishing sixth overall with a time of 16:33 at the Class L championships. The blossoming underclassman also had a solid showing at the conference championships and State Open and will continue blazing the trails near Newington for the next two years.  

Girls Cross Country: Elizabeth Stockman (Rocky Hill): Stockman added to her long list of accomplishments by winning the CCC championship and the Class M championship. The junior earned all-state honors for her efforts of endurance and will seek the three-peat in the class championship next fall.

Field Hockey: Zoe Kleeblatt (Wethersfield): Kleeblatt was the heart and soul of an Eagles team that won nine games and made the state tournament. The junior earned all-state honors and all-conference recognition for her work on the field this fall and was also a force on the softball diamond in the spring.  

Football: Bryce Karstetter (Cromwell): Karstetter set a new standard at Cromwell, putting up video game numbers and helping guide the Panthers to nine wins and a berth in the postseason.  The senior was the unquestioned leader on the offensive side of the football, totaling 33 touchdowns and nearly 3000 yards during his all-state season.   

Boys Soccer: JJ Tracy (Cromwell): Tracy was an offensive assassin this fall, scoring goals in bunches and setting the tone for a Panthers squad that advanced to the quarterfinals in the state tourney. The senior’s production earned him all-state for the second straight season, and he also excelled on the basketball court and the track during his tenure at CHS. 

Girls Soccer: Megan Keleher (Wethersfield): Keleher was a brick wall in goal for Wethersfield and a major reason the Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals in the state tourney, blanking Barlow in the second round. The senior was honored with an all-state recognition and will continue goaltending collegiately at Central Connecticut State University.

Girls Swimming & Diving: Abby Francis (Wethersfield): Francis wrapped up an incredible career at Wethersfield by winning the 200 IM and 100 Breaststroke and was part of the first-place 200 Freestyle Relay at the Class L championships. Following multiple all-state selections, the graduating senior is set to test the waters at Davidson College in North Carolina.   

Girls Volleyball: Sadie Budzik (Cromwell): Budzik owed the courts in Cromwell this year, winning a state title as the floor general for the basketball team and earning all-state honors for her brilliant work on the volleyball courts. The junior was an uber-productive and versatile star for the Panthers, leading the team in kills, aces, and digs.

Boys Basketball: Gabe Charleston (Cromwell): Charleston took his game to another level this year, dominating the middle for a Panthers team that finished the regular season with a perfect 20-0 mark. The well-rounded junior earned all-state after averaging 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals per game, the appetizer for what should be a sensational senior season next winter. 

Girls Basketball: Nikki Lukens (Rocky Hill): Lukens closed out an illustrious high school career at Rocky Hill by becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer while helping lead the young Terriers to the tournament. The senior was selected all-state for the second straight season and earned a third straight all-conference honor.

Gymnastics: Madison Bradbury (Wethersfield): Bradbury was an all-state recipient following a strong performance at Class M finals. The senior also competed at the State Open and is leaving WHS as one of the school’s most accomplished gymnasts.

Ice Hockey: Ethan Ranger (Newington/Cromwell Coop): Ranger helped elevate the Indians hockey team to another level this season, shining on a team that won 15 regular season games and came within inches of playing in a state title game. The senior earned all-state following a 39-point / 21-goal season, both team highs.

Boys Swimming & Diving: Hadden Gaunt (Wethersfield): Gaunt stole the show on an extremely balanced and strong group of swimmers and divers at WHS, winning both the conference championship and the Class M championships in diving. The sophomore has two more years to further showcase his abilities at Wethersfield.

Wrestling: Elijah Cyr (Middletown): Cyr proved once again to be the best in his weight class, winning both the Class L championship and the State Open in the 113-pound division. Along with being named all-state, the senior grappler was also a Fargo Greco All-American and an NHSCA All-American.

Cheerleading: Lauren Wolak (Cromwell): Wolak became a leader for a young Panthers squad that competed valiantly at the state tournament. The sophomore earned all-state recognition for her efforts and is a perennial honor roll student in the classroom. 

Baseball: Derek Tenney (Wethersfield): Tenney followed up last season’s championship campaign with another monster year on the diamond, earning all-state and being named all-conference for a second straight season. The graduating senior was superb from both the plate and in the field and is now prepping to play college ball at the University of Hartford.

Boys Golf: Anthony Milluzzo (Wethersfield): Milluzzo led a good group of Eagles golfer, often finishing as the medalist during the regular season. The senior also earned an All-CCC selection following solid showings at the conference championships and the state finals.   

Girls Golf: Emily McKenna (Wethersfield): McKenna was the leader of an Eagles squad that finished the regular season undefeated and won the CCC championship. The senior shot a course-best at the conference championship and then had another solid showing at the State Open, resulting in her fourth straight all-conference selection.

Boys Lacrosse: Chris Conlan (Rocky Hill): Conlan was a three-sport star at Rocky Hill, ending his tenure with an all-state selection in lacrosse. The senior midfielder helped lead a talented group of Terriers that won nine regular season games and a dramatic tournament game.

Girls Lacrosse: Maya Gajowiak (Newington): Gajowiak wrapped up an incredible high school career with an all-state recognition following a team-high 103-point / 63-goal season. The graduating senior was a four-year starter, making all-conference in each of her four seasons, and is now off to Marist College in New York.

Softball: Dominique Highsmith (Middletown): Highsmith closed out her high school career with a second straight all-state selection following another highly productive season. The graduating senior, who also starred on the basketball court, was also named all-conference for a third straight season and will now showcase her softball skills at CCSU.

Boys Tennis: Ishan Sheth (Rocky Hill): Sheth was splendid this spring as the #1 player for the Terriers and entered the Class S tournament as the #12-ranked player overall. The junior advanced to third round, defeating two opponents in tourney, and returns as one of the state’s top contenders next spring.

Girls Tennis: Suhani Sheth (Rocky Hill): Sheth wasted little time getting comfortable with high school tennis, taking over as Rocky Hill’s #1 singles player and winning a majority of matches this spring. The freshman phenom’s momentum carried over into the postseason where she won her opening round match in the State Open.   

Boys Track & Field: Matthew Lecky (Middletown): Lecky won both the 1600M and 3200M at the outdoor conference championships, crushing the competition. The senior followed it with a third-place finish in the 1600M at the class championships and is graduating Middletown with a long list of accomplishments on both the track and the cross country trails.

Girls Track & Field: Elizabeth Stockman (Rocky Hill): Stockman continued to stockpile wins, winning the 1600M at the class championships and finishing second in 3200M at the same event. The soon-to-be-senior is setting a new standard on running excellence in Rocky Hill.

Boys Volleyball: Leonel Caceres (Newington): Caceres proved to be the state’s most adaptable volleyball player, switching positions this season and becoming the voice and heartbeat of Newington’s latest title. As a junior in 2018 he was a dominant outside hitter, leading the team in kills, and this past season he was one of the state’s best setters, racking up 795 assists (nearly nine per set) as the Indians won a third consecutive state title.