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12/22/2016 11:00 PMThe 2016 spring sports season featured great postseason feats from both of Guilford’s tennis teams. Additionally, Indians’ boys’ lacrosse squad made another appearance in the SCC Tournament final to go along with several other postseason bids from Guilford teams.
Boys’ Tennis
The Guilford boys’ tennis team welcome a new head coach in Rob Messer, whose team finished tied for third place at the Class M State Championship this year.
At the state meet, senior Evan Powell claimed first place in the singles bracket by winning all six of his matches in straight sets, clinching the title with a 6-3, 6-1 victory versus Branford’s Matt Sachs. Powell made the All-Southern Connecticut Conference Division I Team and was a New Haven Register All-Area selection.
Girls’ Tennis
Head Chris Marra and the Indians edged out No. 5 seed North Haven 4-3 in the first round of the SCC Division I Tournament on May 23, after which the Indians lost to top-seeded Amity 6-1 in the semis on May 25.
After that, Guilford won three matches in the Class M State Tournament to reach the semifinal round, where the Indians took a 5-2 loss to Hand to finish at 14-9 overall.
Boys’ Lacrosse
Head Coach Brian White’s Indians notched a 12-4 record for the regular season, earning the No. 2 seeds in both the SCC Tournament and the Class M State Tournament.
Guilford defeated Xavier 13-9 in the SCC semifinals to advance to a championship showdown with Fairfield Prep for the third time in four years. The Indians gave the Jesuits a great game in a 12-11 overtime loss. Then in states, Guilford defeated Masuk 20-2 in the first round prior to a taking 10-9 overtime defeat to New Fairfield in the quarterfinals to finish the year at 14-6 overall.
The Indians saw seven athletes garner All-SCC honors this spring. Making the team for Guilford were Rob LoRicco and Will Dacey on attack, as well as Shane Malloy at midfield, John Jankura at defense, James Bright in goal, Nathan Tepley at long stick defensive midfielder, plus Stephen Page at short stick defensive midfielder. LoRicco and Malloy were also Connecticut High School Coaches Association Class M All-State First Team members. Dacey, Jankura, Tepley, Page, and Bright made the Second Team. Additionally, Bright and LoRicco made the New Haven Register All-Area Team in their senior seasons. Also, Coach White was named the SCC Coach of the Year.
Girls’ Lacrosse
Head Steve Jewett and the Indians were the No. 16 seed in the Class M State Tournament and defeated No. 17 Law 18-5 in a qualifying round match on May 27. Then in the first round on May 31 at top-seeded Hand, the Indians took a 13-4 loss to finish the year at 9-9. Guilford also reached the SCC Tournament semifinals during the season.
Three athletes sealed spots on the All-SCC Second Team in Emma Jewett at midfield, Sarah DeLucia on defense, and Olivia Clarke at attack. Jewett, a senior, was also a New Haven Register All-Area selection.
Baseball
Head Coach Brian White and No. 29 seed Guilford took on No. 4 East Lyme in the first round of the Class L State Tournament on May 31. The Indians lost by the final score of 5-3 to finish their year at 9-12.
Lucian Zingarella, Sean Kellaher, and Noah Rubino made the All-Hammonasset Division Team for the Indians. Zingarella was also named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Class L Team and he and Rubino were both Honorable Mention for the Register’s All-State squad.
Softball
Head Coach Steve Zajac’s Indians took an 8-5 loss to No. 16 seed Hand in the first round of the Class L State Tournament on May 31 and ended the year at 11-11 overall. The Indians returned to states for the first time since 2012 this spring and also made the SCC Tournament.
Amanda King and Lilly Young were All-Hammonasset honorees for Guilford.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
Head Coach Chris Skaggs’s Indians finished seventh at the SCC East Sectional before placing 14th in the SCC Championship. After that, Guilford shined its brightest at the Class MM State Championship by taking 13th place, while advancing several competitors to the State Open, including the 4x400 relay of junior Jordan Lembo-Frey, senior Ben Siciliano, sophomore Will Smith, and junior Sam Sessions, along with Siciliano and junior Finn Davidson in the 1,600.
Siciliano scored all four points for Guilford at the State Open Championship with his fifth-place finish in the 1,600-meter run behind a time of 4:20.39. Also competing for the Indians at the Open were Davidson, who took 10th in the 1,600 at 4:29.75; and the 4x400 relay of Lembo-Frey, Siciliano, Smith, and Sessions, which finished 23rd in 3:32.06.
Siciliano was an All-SCC runner by virtue of his victory in the 1,600 with a time of 4:21.29 at the SCC Championship.
Girls’ Outdoor Track
Head Coach Jon Rivera’s squad went 5-7 for the dual-meet season before placing fifth out of 10 schools at the SCC East Sectional Championship. The Indians then finished 14th at the SCC Championship and 24th in the state meet after learning midseason that they were getting bumped up to Class L.
Meredith Bloss finished in 10th place with a time of 7:50.74 for Guilford at the CIAC Steeplechase on June 13 at Willow Brook Park in New Britain. The Indians’ Kelsi Putnam followed in 18th place with a time of 8:04.98.
Golf
The Indians didn’t compete as a team at the SCC Championship on May 31 at Racebrook Country Club, but representing Guilford were Ben Fazzina and Ethan Bedell, who posted scores of 87 and 94, respectively.
Guilford finished 15th out of 20 schools at the Division II State Championship on June 6 by shooting a 364 at Timberlin Golf Course.