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12/30/2013 11:00 PMThe bright spring season yielded many shining performances from the Guilford Indians as many of them made both the SCC and state tournaments-including a boys' lacrosse team that reached its first conference title contest since the turn of the century-along with a girls' tennis squad that reached the state semifinals and a boys' tennis team that was a state runner-up.
Boys' Tennis
Off the heels of a SCC Division I Tournament semifinal showing, the Indians compiled a stunning Class M State Tournament push that saw Coach Andy Raucci's club finish a close second to Avon while being in contention for the title until the bracket's semifinal round.
Guilford was led to these achievements by three seniors in co-captains of No. 2 doubles competitor Conor Remington and No. 1 doubles athlete Cavin Amble (17-5), along with No. 3 doubles player Bennett Lovejoy.
Boys' Lacrosse
Concluding their campaign 14-6 overall (8-1 in SCC action; 2nd in Tier 1) after a tough 7-6 loss to New Fairfield at home in the Class M State Tournament quarterfinal round on June 1, the Indians also reached their first SCC Tournament final since 2000 before falling to three-time defending champion Fairfield Prep 13-6 on May 23.
Guilford was led by a trio of senior captains in attackers John Lisitano (Second Team All-State, First Team All-SCC) and Andrew DePatie (Second Team All-SCC), along with Zach Cattaruzza on defense (All-American, First Team All-State, First Team All-SCC, team MVP).
Rounding out the senior class were attacker Kevin Carregal and defender Mark Lisitano (Second Team All-SCC); plus midfielders Mike Ring (First Team All-State, First Team All-SCC), Tyler Nelson (Most Improved), Patrick Saunders, Mike Serra, and Dylan Mitchell.
Girls' Tennis
After a 14-5 regular season, the Indians reached the SCC Division I Tournament semifinals before capturing three matches in a four-day span prior to a 7-0 loss at Wilton in the state tournament semifinal round on May 30.
The Indians were led by lone seniors and co-captains in No. 4 singles player Molly Louis (19-4 record) and No. 2 doubles competitor Amanda Lynn.
Girls' Lacrosse
Head Coach Lou Monaco's team took the leap to SCC Tier 1 this spring and concluded the regular season 8-7 with a Tier 1 mark of 6-4, which was strong enough for both SCC and Class M tournament appearances. While it fell to Hand in the conference bracket's semifinal round 13-11 on May 21, Guilford rebounded in the state tournament to knock off No. 3 seed New Fairfield 13-12 in first round action on May 28. Yet their run ended with a loss to eventual state runner-up Wilton 18-5 in the quarterfinals two days later.
Guilford was led at the top by captain and senior midfielder Riley Smith (First Team All-State, First Team All-SCC) with additional senior sparks from attacker Sara Duggan, midfielder Anne Kalfaian, attack/defender Tess Cianciolo, midfielder Halle Altieri, attacker Alexa Brand, and junior varsity goalie Erin Conner.
Other spots were filled by junior attacker Marnie Jacobs (Second Team All-State, Second Team All-SCC), sophomore midfielders Edy Moritz (Second Team All-SCC) and Katrina Niedziela, along with junior defender Grace Ireland (First Team All-SCC).
Baseball
The Indians finished the regular season a strong 11-9 for a berth in the Class L state bracket. Once there, 18th-seeded Guilford scored a road upset of No. 15 seed Tolland 7-4 on May 28 in first round action. But their ride would end the following day in a 9-1 defeat to eventual state finalist Waterford.
Leading the charge through Guilford's dozen victories were senior co-captains in outfielder Ben Monte (All-SCC Hammonasset Team; .406 batting average, 16 RBI, 10 stolen bases) and catcher J.P. Peters (.277 batting average, 10 RBI), while additional seasoned seniors were outfielder Dante Parisi (All-SCC Hammonasset Team; .370, 10 RBI, 9 stolen bags), shortstop Zach Battipaglia (.322 hitter), second baseman Matt Brockett (.305 average), first basemen and pitchers Ryan Fraser and Andrew Kelly, along with hurler Mike Albergo.
Girls' Outdoor Track
While Guilford finished the dual meet season at 2-10, it had more than half its team qualify for states with three girls reaching the State Open in senior Fiona Doolan for the 800, senior captain Carolyn Duman (3,200), and junior Sofia Moscovitz (pole vault) on June 3 at Willowbrook Park in New Britain.
Doolan took home SCC All-Sectional Team and team MVP accolades, as she additionally captured the 800 crown at the SCC Eastern Sectional Championship on May 14 with a near school-record time of 2:20.10. The Indians' lone captain in Duman also made her mark with a 22nd-place showing at the State Open (12:11.85) for the 3,200 after finishing fifth in the same event (11:58.10) at the Class MM State Championship on May 29 at Middletown.
Other departing seniors for Guilford were Erin Strait, Anna Kwochka, and Ellen Page.
Softball
At the top of the senior lineup, the Indians (5-15) were captained by outfielder Gabie Lanouette (All-State, All-SCC Hammonasset Team; team MVP). One solo spotlight for Guilford belonged to senior pitcher Francesca Zuppardi, who tossed a no-hitter on April 19 in an 11-0 blanking of Career in which she struck out 10 Panthers.
Boys' Outdoor Track
Guilford was led by four senior captains in distance runners Zach Demarco and Nick Landock, along with sprinter Jared Glasser and thrower Josh Cash. At the Class MM State Championship on May 29 in Middletown, it collected nine points to come in 23rd.
For that day, the entire point production came from the showings of Tim Kenefick (4th) and Sal Siciliano (5th) for the 3,200. At the SCC Championship on May 20, Guilford finished 19th thanks to Kenefick in the 1,600.
Crew
Under Head Coach Will Thompson, Guilford was led by 14 seniors in Nico van de Bovencamp, Cameron Goss, Alex Horvath, Morgan McMahon, Ethan Murray, Court Chapman, Anna Goodridge, Michelle Fikrig, Virginia Gresham, Alyssa Occhiboi, Ali Ludington, Isabel Thompson, Marley Slade, and Rylie Ayles.
Golf
After its 13-5 regular season run, Guilford saw a sixth-place finish (shooting a 334) at the SCC Championship on May 28 before an 11th-place spot for the Division II State Tournament (335) on June 10.
Art Fonicello's team was led by senior co-captains Ryan Moore (New Haven Register's All-Area Team) and Nate Misbach, along with additional junior captain Sienna Fucci, while fellow seniors Noah Criscuolo (Comeback Player Award) and Luke Summerlin also yielded contributions.