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12/30/2014 11:00 PMIn the fall of 2014, the Valley Regional/Old Lyme football team exemplified the importance of never relenting while facing adversity and the result was a state championship that proved the exclamation point of an undefeated season. Elsewhere, Valley volleyball had one of its best seasons in recent memory with both soccer squads and the field hockey team qualifying for the postseason.
Football
Valley Regional/Old Lyme put together a campaign for the ages by claiming the first state championship in program history with a 21-20 victory versus Ansonia in the Class S Large Division final. The Warriors finished their campaign with a mark of 13-0 and ranked No. 8 in the Top 10 polls for both The Day of New London and the New Haven Register. Coach Tim King’s squad also won the Pequot Sassacus Division title for the second straight season at 9-0. Among the Warriors’ notable regular season victories were a 31-7 win against North Branford, a 6-0 win over Morgan, a 17-9 triumph at Avon, a 37-14 win against Hyde, and a 49-7 win versus Haddam-Killingworth for the Principal’s Cup. Then in the State Playoffs, Valley blanked Bullard Havens Tech 34-0 before rallying from a 20-7 deficit late in the fourth quarter against Ansonia that culminated with senior captain quarterback Chris Jean-Pierre’s game-tying 4-yard TD rush on 4th-and-goal from the 4, followed by junior Jared Roche’s go-ahead extra point kick with 22 seconds remaining.
The Warriors saw numerous athletes earn spots on the All-Pequot Conference squad in Jean-Pierre at quarterback, senior wide receiver Evan Smith, senior captain Dan Figuenick at center, Roche as a kicker, senior captain Tyler Cheverier at defensive end, senior captain Justin Cheverier at linebacker, junior captain nose tackle Jack Giaconia, senior Tajhay Marshall at linebacker, and senior Andrew Tuscano as a defensive back. Junior Matt Robertson gained Honorable Mention on the offensive line. Jean-Pierre was also First Team All-State at defensive back and Roche and Justin Cheverier (for defense) sealed spots on the Class S All-State Team. Jean-Pierre threw for 1,203 yards with 20 TD passes, ran for 1,256 yards with 19 touchdowns, returned two punts for scores, and also recovered four fumbles and made 89 tackles on defense. Smith rushed for six scores, caught six TD receptions (including one in the state final), and had three picks on defense. Figuenick recorded 100 tackles while notching three interceptions and forcing a pair of fumbles. Roche kicked 48 extra points with six field goals and also had two sacks. Tyler Cheverier had 108 tackles with 44 for a loss, plus 13 sacks and two interceptions, one which he returned for a TD. Justin Cheverier had 204 tackles (with 40 for losses) that included 21 in the state final to cap his career with 683, which is the most in Connecticut high school football history. He also forced two fumbles, recovered three, posted 6.5 sacks, ran for seven TDs on offense, caught three passes for scores, and took back a punt to the house. Giaconia made 32 tackles and had 1.5 sacks. Marshall made 107 tackles to go with two sacks and three fumbles recovered and one rushing score. Tuscano ran for three TDs, had 505 receiving yards, caught 11 touchdowns, recorded 69 tackles, and also had six interceptions with one going for a TD. Robertson made 31 tackles.
In terms of team awards, Jean-Pierre and Justin Cheverier were named Valley/Old Lyme’s co-Most Valuable Players with Jean-Pierre winning the Offensive Player of the Year Award and Justin Cheverier earning the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Figuenick and Tuscano shared the Warrior Award, Tyler Cheverier was selected as Lineman of the Year, Marshall won the Coaches’ Award, Roche and Smith shared the Special Teams Award, senior Christian Marroquin (2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries) was named the Most Improved Player; senior Justin Burgess (79 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 forced fumbles) received the Unsung Hero Award; senior Christian Warzecha-Perron claimed the Never Give Up Award; seniors Tyler Boland (1 interception, 1 fumble recovery) and Hunter Linfesty (1 receiving TD) both collected a piece of the co-First Year Player Award; and sophomore Matt Sapere (1 passing TD, 1 interception on defense) took home the Warrior Tough Award.
Boys’ Soccer
Coach Mike Fearon’s Warriors totaled a record of 10-3-3 during the regular season, after which Valley lost to Cromwell 1-0 in the Shoreline semis, beat Litchfield 1-0 in the Class S second round, and then saw their season end with a 1-0 defeat to Cromwell in the state quarters. Senior captain goalie Michael Castelli and defender DJ Berardis were both Second Team All-Shoreline honorees. Senior midfielder Kevin Cole made First Team All-Shoreline, Class S All-State, and New Haven Register All-Area. Senior forward Ben Ferrucci was First Team All-Shoreline and senior midfielder Brian Patterson was selected to the Second Team.
Girls’ Soccer
The Warriors went 8-4-4 for the regular season to earn the No. 19 seed in the Class M State Tournament. Yves Noiset’s squad then dropped a 4-1 decision at
No. 14 seed Weston in the first round of the state bracket to finish the campaign with an overall mark of 8-5-4. Sophomore Claudia Dalterio scored the lone goal for Valley Regional in its state tourney contest. During the season, Valley posted victories against North Branford (2), Hale-Ray Westbrook, Old Lyme, Portland, Lyman Memorial, and Coginchaug.
Volleyball
The Warriors recorded a mark of 14-6 for the regular season to earn spots in the Shoreline and state tournaments. Valley then defeated Coginchaug and lost to Haddam-Killingworth in the conference tourney before beating Wheeler and losing to Coventry in states. When the dust had settled, Coach Kathy Scott’s club finished at 16-8, which marked the most victories for the Warriors in her tenure. Valley’s senior captains were Leah Sopneski, Leah Harger, and Jenna Tiezzi, along with Kenna Campbell. Sopneski was the team’s setter and wound up collecting a host of accolades in Valley’s Most Valuable Player Award to go with making First Team All-Shoreline and First Team All-State. Junior outside hitter Sadie Swap earned a spot on the Second Team All-Shoreline squad.
Field Hockey
Valley notched a mark of 7-8-1 during the regular season and then took a 2-0 home defeat against Canton in the qualifying round of the Class S State Tournament to finish at 7-9-1 overall. Coach Beth McCabe Powers saw senior captain defender and team MVP Amy Zuse make First Team All-Shoreline and Second Team All-State with sophomore forward Francesca Daniels earning Second Team for both and junior defender Brianna Adams gaining Honorable Mention for the Shoreline Conference, as did junior forward Lindsey McKeon, junior midfielder Katie Amara, junior forward Natalie Rosenberg, junior midfielder Christine Donovan, and senior captain goalkeeper Paulina Adams. The Warriors’ other senior captains were midfielder Lily Anderson and Amanda Baldwin.
Girls’ Cross Country
Valley finished in eighth place at the Shoreline Conference Championship and then came in 13th at the Class SS State Championship. Leading the pack at Shorelines were freshman Addie Byars in 17th place and senior Holly Riccitelli in 21st. Then at the state meet, Byars ran to 29th place with Riccitelli in 32nd.
Boys’ Cross Country
The Warriors posted an 11th-place finish in the Shoreline Championship and then took 18th for the Class SS State Championship. At the Shoreline meet, senior Daniel Russo came in 35th place with sophomore Richard Pittsinger in 39th. In the Class SS competition, Russo led the Valley pack with his 64th-place performance.