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12/22/2016 11:00 PMThe winter sports season saw Hand gymnastics repeat as SCC and state champions, while the girls’ basketball team took its first conference crown with a thrilling win versus Mercy. In other news, diver Teddy Zeng continued racking up the postseason victories and the Tigers’ co-ed cheerleading squad won another conference title.
Gymnastics
The Tigers’ gymnastics team powered its way through the regular season behind a mark of 18-2 with the only blemishes coming to Fairfield Ludlowe and Haddam-Killingworth/Hale-Ray/Coginchaug, after which Hand claimed the school’s eighth straight SCC championship. The Tigers scored 135 points to win the SCC title, edging out runner-up Law, which had 128.
Then at the State Championship meet, the Tigers scored 135.875 points to defeat both of the squads they had lost to en route to taking home their fourth consecutive Class M crown and 17th state title overall. Hand also finished fourth at the State Open with a score of 131.425. This was Kelly Smith’s 10th season as head coach of the Tigers.
Making the All-SCC Team for Hand were Erin Naclerio, Noelle Bergere, Erin Maxwell, Grace Rogers, and Genevieve Geller. Senior Maxwell, junior Bergere, and sophomore Naclerio made the New Haven Register All-Area Team and Smith was selected as the All-Area Coach of the Year.
Girls’ Basketball
Head Coach Tim Tredwell’s Hand squad finished the regular season at 16-4, while also claiming its third consecutive SCC Hammonasset Division crown.
Then in the SCC Tournament, Hand dispatched Cheshire, Guilford, and East Haven before dethroning defending champion Mercy 48-46 in a rematch of the 2015 title tilt to claim the program’s first conference championship. Hand later made the Class L State Tournament quarterfinals for a second straight year before losing to New London.
Gabby Martin and Paula Materin were All-Hammonasset selections with Martin also named the Most Outstanding Player of the SCC Tournament. Materin, a senior guard; and Martin, a junior guard, were additionally chosen for the New Haven Register’s All-Area Team and were Honorable Mention for their All-State Team.
Boys’ Basketball
In Head Coach Frank Rossi’s final year with the team, Hand had finished 11-9 for the regular season before defeating Cheshire in the SCC Tournament and then losing to finalist Hillhouse in the quarterfinals.
In states, the Tigers traveled to E.O. Smith and scored a 73-71 road victory in overtime. In the second round, the Tigers took a 70-62 defeat Notre Dame-West Haven and finished the year with a record of 13-11.
Patrick Kerins and Nasir Williams both made the All-Hammonasset Division Team with Keirns, a senior forward, additionally earning a spot on New Haven Register’s All-State First Team, plus its All-Area Team.
Cheerleading
The Tigers captured their second straight title in the Co-ed Division at SCC Championship this year. Hand later came in third place at the Co-ed State Championship.
Max Honorof made the All-SCC Team for the Tigers, who were coached by Licia Ciotti.
Boys’ Swimming and Diving
Junior diver Teddy Zeng continued his exceptional career with the Tigers by claiming his third consecutive SCC, state, and State Open crowns in 2016. Zeng earned a spot on the New Haven Register All-Area Team.
Head Coach Christina Forristall and the Tigers finished seventh for the SCC Championshi and the Class L State Championship.
Wrestling
At the SCC Championship, Head Coach Michael Docker and the Tigers finished third as Connor Sakmar took first place in the 106-pound weight class by winning a 24-9 decision in the final. Luke Bernardo also claimed a conference crown with a 6-3 victory via decision in the 170 bracket. Hand also had one runner-up in Michael Burchell, who took second at 220. All three athletes earned All-SCC honors.
For the Class L State Championship, Hand took eighth place. Liam Sullivan was a state champion for the Tigers by defeating Charles Schultz of New Milford 5-4 in the finals of the 132-pound weight class. Also placing for the Tigers were Mark Hartmann (113-pound weight class, 3rd place, prevailing with a pin at 1:43 in his consolation match); Burchell (220, 3rd, winning with a pinfall at 1:43); and Sakmar (106, 4th, 1-0 loss in the consolation bout).
For the State Open, competing for the Tigers were Sakmar (106-pound weight class, finishing 4th after a 2-1 loss in the consolation final); Mark Hartmann (113, going 3-2 for the draw); Sullivan (132, 1-2); and Burchell (220, 2-2). Sakmar advanced to the New England Championship, where he went 3-2. Sullivan and Sakmar, both seniors, were New Haven Register All-Area selections.
Boys’ Indoor Track
Head Coach Tim Geary’s Tigers finished 10th at the SCC Championship this year and Devon McShane claimed the pole vault crown for the Tigers by clearing 13 feet-3 inches.
Hand then placed eighth for the Class L State Championship as McShane again took first place in the pole vault with a height of 13 feet. McShane, a junior, was a New Haven Register All-Area selection.
Girls’ Indoor Track
Hand and Head Coach Steve Swift finished sixth at the SCC Championship as Caroline O’Neil took first place in the 55- and 300-meter dashes. O’Neil made the All-SCC First Team in both events, while Gabrielle Harmon made the Second Team with a runner-up finish in the 300.
The Tigers then placed seventh at the Class L State Championship, where Caroline O’Neil took home a state title in the 55 with a time of 7.19 seconds. O’Neil also captured the state championship in the 300 at 39.98 and she went on to take the 300 title at the State Open with a time of 40.36. O’Neil continued her excellent postseason run by representing the Tigers at the New England Championship, where she took third for the 300 with a time of 40.01 seconds and was fifth in the 55-meter dash at 7.31. O’Neil ultimately made the New Haven Register All-Area Team.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
Head Coach Ken Mitchell and Hand took a 3-2 loss to North Haven in the first round of the Division II State Tournament. The Tigers led 2-0 with goals from Tristan Sorensen and Luke Brown, but the Indians scored three straight goals and went on to the win. Hand finished the year at 8-11-2.
Jeff Rider made the All-SCC/SWC Division II First Team at defense for the Tigers. He also made the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Division II First Team.
Girls’ Ice Hockey
The Tigers faced West Haven-Sacred Heart Academy in the semifinals of the SCC Division Tournament and took a 2-0 loss. Head Coach Tad McGwire’s club finished the year at 7-13-1 overall.
Boys’ and Girls’ Fencing
Head Coach Rich Fisler and Hand finished in third place at the Team State Championship this year.
Chloe Moulin took third place for girls’ foil to make First Team All-State for the second year in a row at the Individual State Championship the previous week