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01/14/2014 11:00 PMWrestling
Hand began the week with a 59-12 victory at Fairfield Prep on Jan. 6. The Tigers then defeated East Haven 65-7 two nights later at home to improve to 6-2.
Against the Jesuits, wins came thanks to Connor Sakmar (106; via pin), Michael Elias (113; 7-3 decision), Lucas Mendicino (120; pin), Liam Sullivan (126; 7-1 decision), Ken Farrelly (132; pin); Owen Gottlick (138; 18-1 decision), Ashton Gyneizs (145; 16-0 decision), Zack Santoemma (152; 5-2 decision), Ben Onofrio (160; pin), Luke Bernardo (170; pin), Eric Bloomfield (182; 11-0 decision), and Justin Dwyer (195; pin). Facing the Yellowjackets, Hand collected five forfeit victories while, for matches that took place, Sullivan (16-0 decision), Gyenizs (pin 1:11), Santoemma (pin 0:58), Bernardo (pin 6:43), Dwyer (pin 1:10), and Peter Elias (220; pin 3:13) scored triumphs.
Boys' Basketball
The Tigers were home for two contests and prevailed in both, defeating East Haven, 63-34 on Jan. 7 and then Foran 53-33 on Jan. 10 to sit at 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the SCC Hammonasset Division.
Hosting the Yellowjackets, the Tigers managed a 6-5 lead behind field goals from Brendan Hughes (11 points) and Jack Driscoll as Hand adjusted defensively and took a 25-12 edge into the half. The Tigers finished the third with a 13-5 run before Sam Jablonski's 10-point fourth helped cap a 21-6 run to end the game. Jablonski led with 16 points while Andre Frederick added 10. Against Foran, Frederick led a balanced scoring attack, notching a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds as Jablonski contributed 11 points and Phil Crampton 10.
Girls' Basketball
Tim Tredwell's squad began the week with a 39-36 loss at Amity on Jan. 7. The Tigers then defeated Foran 62-32 on Jan. 10 to improve to 6-4 (3-0 in SCC Hammonasset Division).
Against Amity, Cori Ouellette led the Tigers with nine points while Lily Taylor scored eight points. Gege Catalano scored seven points and grabbed 10 boards as Hand was outrebounded for just the second time this year, 39-37, and went 9-of-16 from the line. At the Lions, Cassidy Wygonik (17 points) scored nine in the first quarter, pushing the Tigers to a 17-9 lead after one and 28-12 at the break. In the third, Catalano (10 points, 9 rebounds) scored 10 points in stretching the lead to 22. For the final frame, it was Michelle McCloskey's turn, scoring all of her 12 points in the quarter to cap off the 30-point win.
Gymnastics
The Tigers began the season 3-0 thanks to a tri-meet sweep of Law and Trumbull on Jan. 7 at Law before prevailing against Stonington on Jan. 9, 134.45-110.8.
In the tri-meet, Hand earned 138.2 points to Trumbull's 129.9 and Law's 116.9. Stefani Taschner scored nine or above on every event and nailed a 36.5 all-around score while Kendall Jerzyk had 35.15 for the all-around, including a 9.0 for the floor. Abby McGuirk collected a 34.2 all-around tally with an 8.8 on vault and 8.7 on floor, Maria Iennaco had an 8.3 on beam, and Erin Maxwell notched an 8.1 on beam and 8.0 on floor. Hosting Stonington, Taschner scores were 35.5 in the all-around, 9.3 for floor and vault each, and 9.2 on bars. Jerzyk's totals were 34.95 all-around, 9.0 on floor, and 8.9 on beam. Ashlyn Thompson contributed with 8.4 on floor and 8.3 on vault. Finally, Iennaco scored 8.5 on beam, plus Genevieve Geller and Julie Keenan each tallied 8.2 on vault. Earlier, the Tigers opened the campaign strong on Jan. 4 by taking the 13-team Pomperaug Invitational. McGuirk won both the all-around and beam while Taschner won the floor competition.
Fencing
The Tigers hosted Guilford and competed strong. Boys' novice won 5-4 with losses taken by boys' (8-1) and girls' (9-0) varsity, boys' and girls' JV (both 6-3), and girls' novice (5-4). Against East Hampton, wins were compiled by girls' varsity (3-1), JV (9-0), and novice (7-2) while the boys' JV fell (5-2), but the novice group prevailed 7-2. For the épée, Hand won 5-1 with David Lazor (1-1) and Alina Dess (2-0) faring well with a new weapon. Hand was also a part of the JV Invitational Tournament at North Haven and was led by Erin Schroeder (6th) and Emily Syvertsen (7th).