Branford Hornets 2013 Fall Sports Year in Review
The 2013 fall season featured Branford girls' cross country capturing its first state championship while girls' soccer reached the state final for the first time. In other news, Hornets' boys' cross country, boys' soccer, and volleyball were all Oronoque champions.
Girls' Cross Country
Branford first went 8-1 and 4-0 in the Oronoque to win the division for the eighth year in a row, after which Kevin Connell's squad finished fourth at SCCs and first at the Class MM State Championship. The Hornets' senior captains were Tracy Crookston, Sophie Bysiewicz, and April Simmons (Team Spirit Award), all who competed in the postseason. Junior Jess Lohret gained All-SCC Second Team honors and was Branford's Most Improved Player. Sophomores Cyrene Nicholas and Anneliese Troidle both made the All-SCC with Nicholas making the First Team and also gaining All-State by placing third (19:43) at the Class MM meet en route to the State Open and New England Championship. Nicholas made New Haven Register All-Area and was Branford's MVP. Troidle was All-SCC Second Team and earned the Horents' Desire and Dedication Award. Connell was the Register's All-Area Coach of the Year.
Boys' Cross Country
Branford went 7-1 and was 4-0 in the Oronoque, sealing its fourth straight division crown with a narrow victory versus North Haven. The Hornets then took sixth at the SCC meet and ran to third at states. Junior Luke Arsenault was MVP for Kevin Connell's club and also made the All-SCC First Team. Pat Laske was presented with the team's Desire and Dedication Award and captained the Hornets with fellow senior Dan Jakubiak.
Girls' Soccer
The Hornets posted their best season in program history by finishing 19-3-1, going undefeated in the Oronoque to wear the crown, reaching the SCC final for the second straight year, and then making the Class L final for the first time. In SCCs, Jen Kohut's squad bested Hand 2-0 and Mercy 1-0 before losing 3-1 to Guilford in the title game. In states, Branford beat Bristol Eastern 2-1 in overtime, Wilton 1-0, and Immaculate 1-0 to reach the final and another showdown with Guilford, which the Hornets lost 2-0. Senior captain midfielder Tanya Altrui scored 24 goals to make All-Oronoque, All-State, and New Haven Register All-Area-for which she was also named MVP-along with receiving SCC Player of the Year honors. Altrui was additionally the Hornets' MVP and Offensive MVP. She captained the squad with fellow senior midfielder Izzy Suppa. Senior goalie Becca Vitale was All-Oronoque, All-State, and All-Area. Senior defender Hannah Milles made All-Oronoque, as did junior outside midfielder Rachel Cholewinski, junior center midfielder Emma Pottenger, and sophomore forward Sara Consolo. Cholewinski also earned the Hornets' Heart and Hustle Award.
Boys' Soccer
Branford posted an 11-4-1 regular season record and went 8-0 in the Oronoque to win the division for the third year in a row. In the SCC Tournament, Max Condon scored all five goals in a 5-2 win versus Sheehan, after which Paul Hunter's club lost to Xavier 2-0 in the semis and 2-0 to Windsor in states to finish at 12-6-1. Defender Justin Waters was the team's lone senior captain. Earning spots on the All-Oronoque team were Waters, Condon, senior midfielder/defender Liam Daley, senior Hunter Duval, and junior midfielder Joe Roca.
Volleyball
Branford went 13-7 and 8-0 in the Oronoque during a regular season that saw Eva Esposito's team win its division title. The Hornets then defeated West Haven 3-0 and Shelton 3-0 in the SCC Tournament before losing to Cheshire 3-1 in the semis. After that, Branford notched a 3-1 victory versus East Lyme in the Class L State Tournament and then lost to RHAM 3-0 to finish at 16-9. All four Hornets' senior captains made the All-Oronoque squad and received some team awards in middle/outside hitter Tara Dering (Coaches' Award), setter Lauren Kuhn (Most Improved Player), outside hitter Anna Atkinson, and outside hitter Hannah Zampano (Most Consistent Overall Player Award). Atkinson was also New Haven Register All-Area and All-State Second Team.
Girls' Swimming and Diving
The Hornets went 8-2 and placed fourth at SCCs and third in Class M. Branford's senior captains were sprint freestyler Lauren Rasile; Paige MacNeil, who excelled in the 100 butterfly; and Christina Smith. Sophomore Erika Maercklein won the 100 breaststroke at the SCC Championship. Also making All-SCC was the 200 medley relay of junior Julia Dietz, Maercklein, MacNeil, and Rasile that went on to prevail at the state meet with a time of 1:52.61. Rasile was additionally All-SCC in the 50 freestyle with MacNeil making in the 100 freestyle. Scott Butler's 200 freestyle relay also earned All-SCC honors with MacNeil, sophomore Caitlin Daley, Maercklein, and Rasile comprising that unit.
Field Hockey
Branford went 8-8 and 6-4 in the SCC during the regular season to make both the SCC and state tournaments. The Hornets beat Amity 1-0 in SCCs before losing to Cheshire 4-1 and then dropped a 2-0 contest to Hand in the first round of the Class M bracket to finish at 9-10. The four senior captains for Cathy McGuirk's squad were goalie Jessie Severino, sweeper Jenny Royka, midfielder Natalie Grimm, and forward Michaela Hobbs. Grimm made the All-SCC Second Team with junior forward Caroline Murphy. Junior forward Megan Shea was All-SCC First Team.
Football
Branford was unable to record a victory in John Limone's first season as head coach, finishing the season at 0-11. Senior captain guard/linebacker Tyler MacNeil made 61 tackles and earned All-SCC Division II honors, along with Branford's MVP Award. Also making All-SCC was senior captain lineman Brad Roth. The Hornets' other senior captain was quarterback Devan Hall.