Printer Friendly Version - Branford-Guilford Boys’ Swimming 3-0 in First Year as Co-op

Senior Kevin Jin was part of a victorious 200 medley relay when the Branford-Guilford boys’ swimming and diving team moved to 3-0 by beating Foran 95-70 last week. This winter marks the club’s first as a co-op.

The Branford-Guilford boys’ swimming and diving team is 3-0 in its first season as a co-op squad this winter and most recently earned a 95-70 home win against Foran on Jan. 19. Earlier in the season, the Hornets had won at Sheehan (103-72) and Lyman Hall (89-75).

In the victory versus Foran, multiple individual wins for Ray Beaulac’s squad came from junior Corey Gambardella in the 100 backstroke (time of 55.10) and 50 freestyle (22.34), as well as senior Eric Weidman in the 200 individual medley (2:07.65) and 500 freestyle (5:03.59). Also prevailing were Cole Horton in the 200 freestyle (1:57.68), senior Kevin Jin in the 100 butterfly (57.29), senior Thomas Shao in the 100 freestyle (53.03), and junior Paul Rosenberg in the diving competition. Branford also took first in two relays as the 200 medley of juniors Alek Karosas and Kyle Boucher, plus senior Kevin Jin and Shao swam a time of 1:50.37; while the 200 freestyle quartet of junior Aleandro Hanaj, sophomore David Alstott, Shao, and Horton went 1:41.01 in its victory.

Gambardella, Horton, Weidman, and Alstott are the four Guilford students on the team and the other athletes hail from Branford.

The Hornets played two games last week and dropped a 55-52 decision to East Haven before bouncing back with a 35-32 triumph versus another Oronoque Division foe in North Haven. Jake Palluzzi’s squad is now 4-7 on the campaign.

With 4.3 seconds remaining in the North Haven game, Branford went the length of the floor as Richard Jacobson found Jake Sullivan, who drained a 30-footer at the buzzer to lift Branford to the home victory. Sullivan scored 12 points and Jacobson had nine for the Hornets. Also, Kory King recorded four points with six rebounds, Jacob Raffone scored three and added four boards, Andrew Roach grabbed seven rebounds, and Andre Albertini scored two points and thieved four steals to lead the winning effort.

“A much-needed win for the a Hornets, especially with a lot of close games so far this year,” Coach Palluzzi said.

Previously in the East Haven game, Sullivan scored 23 points to lead Branford in the loss.

Senior Marshall Borrus won the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:59.81 to lead the Hornets at the SCC Novice Meet at Floyd Little Athletic Center. Branford recorded 31 points as a team and finished in seventh place. Branford also saw a pair of second-place performances as Harrison Smith took second in the pole vault with a height of 9 feet, while Seraphin Tala was runner-up for the high jump at 5 feet-8 inches. Aidan Kropiwnicki took fourth in the pole vault (8-6), Joe Borst was fifth in the 600 (1:38.69), and Jamia Bird claimed sixth in the shot put at 34-8.5. Head Coach Rich Biondi also pointed out the showings of Tala (41.57) and Dan Lau in the 300 (42.76), plus Kadir Sahin (3:15.36) and Andrew DeBenedictis (3:15.81) in the 1,000.

“I really felt good leaving the field house. The coaches stressed effort and self improvement leading into the meet. Many of our athletes experienced season bests,” Coach Biondi said. “Seraphin Tala had a great meet. Previously, his best high jump was 5-3. He eclipsed that and qualified for states. This is his first season in track and he has done very well. Seraphin is a talented young man, a tremendous student, and he works extremely hard. It has been a pleasure watching him develop week by week. In the spring season ,he is going to be a valuable jumper and relay runner.”

Branford finished in 10th place with 20.5 points at the SCC Novice Meet on Jan. 21. Taylor Brown took second place in the pole vault by reaching 8 feet, while Bridget Wirtz claimed third place (7-6) and Leah Pendl-Robinson was fifth (7-0). Pendl-Robinson also found fourth place in the 55 hurdles by running a time of 10.49 seconds and teammate Wyntre Fries placed seventh at 10.85. Branford’s 4x200 relay of Liante Claude, Brown, Iris Youn, and Charlee Grady came in 12th place behind a time of 2:07.69. Additionally for the Hornets, Claude ran 8.27 in the 55, with Lisa Bryant running 8.47; Grady clocked in at 52.26 for the 300, Omaima Nasry posted a mark of 2:03.85 for the 600, and Kathryn Pollard threw 23 feet-7.25 inches in the shot put.

“This was our only meet of the week due to the snowstorm, so it was important some of these girls got in some competition and they performed well. The pole vaulters had another stellar day, Taylor Brown [set a personal record] with 8 feet and we took five of the top eight places—a real tribute to the work they’ve done this winter,” Head Coach Kevin Connell said. “Liante Claude has been out most of the season, so we’ve been anticipating her return. She ran an outstanding leadoff leg in the 4x200 and ran a very good 55. She will help us during the championship season.”