This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/22/2016 11:00 PMThe weather might have been cold in the winter of 2015-’16, but the sports season saw the Cougars’ indoor track teams heat up in the postseason. Meanwhile, HK’s wrestling and gymnastics squads turned in great showings at their respective state championship meets.
Boys’ Indoor Track
The Cougars’ boys’ indoor track squad finished second out of 13 teams at the Shoreline Conference Championship this winter. Head Coach Matt Diglio’s club scored 138 points and finished just six points off the winning pace set by Old Saybrook, which had 144.
Then at the Class S State Championship, Haddam-Killingworth finished second out of 26 teams with 65 points. The Cougars’ day was highlighted by wins from Cameron Garrelts in the 1,600 (time of 4:27.95) and 3,200 (9:50.28), along with the 4x800 relay of Michael Callis, Jonah Spector, Andrew Meredith, and Ben Rakowski (8:29.95). For the State Open, Garrelts was second in the 1,600 at 4:22.61. Senior Garrelts was a New Haven Register All-Area selection, while Head Coach Dick Dupuis was named the All-Area Coach of the Year.
Girls’ Indoor Track
Head Matt Diglio’s team came in third place by tallying 97.5 points at the Shoreline Conference Championship.
For states in Class S, the Cougars scored 32 points and finished fourth out of 26 teams at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven. Maddie Brandon took fourth place in the 1,600 with a time of 5:25.98. At the State Open, the 4x800 relay of Mary Coletti, Kelsey D’Amico, Lexie Bouthillier, and Brandon was fifth (9:56.33).
Gymnastics
HK/Hale-Ray/Coginchaug scored 134.575 points and finished as the runner-up to Hand (135.875) at the Class M State Championship.
Then at the State Open, the Head Coach Carl Cavrell’s squad finished third with a score of 136. All-around scores included Karen DeFilippo (35.325, 8th); Erin Figurelli (35.3, 9th); and Michelle DeFilippo (33.725, 17th). The Cougars then finished 10th at the New England Championship.
Wrestling
At the Class S State Championship, HK was fourth out of 32 teams with 123 points. Head Coach Nick Adler’s team boasted a pair of second-place grapplers in Grayson Adler (152-pound weight class, losing 17-5 in the final) and Mackay Revis (160, by 13-8 decision).
After competing at the State Open, Adler represented HK at the New England Championship in Providence. He recorded a mark of 2-2 while wrestling in the 152-pound class. Adler, a junior, was a New Haven Register All-Area selection.
Ice Hockey
Head Coach Rich Minnix and the Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug ice hockey squad won their first game in the Division III State Tournament before being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Lyman Hall/HK/Coginchaug defeated Tri-Town by a 7-1 score in a DIII State Tournament first round contest. In the quarterfinals versus Staples-Weston-Shelton, the Trojans lost 5-3 to finish at 12-8-3 in a campaign that saw the team earn its first conference tournament bid in the SCC/SWC DIII ranks.
Hunter Boileau earned All-Conference First Team honors as a forward with Chris Blanchard making it at defense. Goalie Zach O’Toole was a Second Team selection. Blanchard and Boileau also made the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Division III First Team.
Boys’ Basketball
HK entered the Class M State Tournament and took a 70-53 loss Granby Memorial in the first round on March 8. The Cougars, who were coached by Peter Asadourian, ended the year at 9-12 overall.
Girls’ Basketball
Head Coach Scott Medeiros and the Cougars came up two victories shy of reaching the postseason this winter. HK finished with a record of 6-14 on the campaign.
Boys’ Swimming and Diving
HK finished 15th at the SCC Championship and then came in 18th at the Class S State Championship. The Cougars’ head coach was John MacDonald.
Cheerleading
HK competed at the Class S State Championship and scored 65.3 points to finish in 16th place this year.