This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
01/14/2017 11:00 PMCheerleading
The Branford cheerleading team competed in its first meet of the season on Jan. 14 and finished in first place in the Co-ed Division. The competition was a chance for Head Coach Melissa Mansi’s team to prepare for the upcoming SCC Championship, which will take place at Shelton High School on Saturday, Feb. 4.
As part of Branford’s victory, freshman Bella Miranda took first place out of 10 competitors in the Top Gun Jumper Division. Also for the Hornets, Charles Longway, Miranda, Riley Carroll, and Chloe Scott won first place in the Longest Held Lib Contest. To top it off, Branford was named the grand champion of the event by posting the highest overall scored out of every team.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
Branford split two games last week to stand at 3-4 for the year. First, the Hornets lost to Guilford 6-2 at DiLungo Rink on Jan. 11. Three days later, Branford hosted Amity and won 5-2.
The game against Amity was tied 2-2 before the Hornets scored a trio of third period goals. Zach Withington had already scored the first two and then he completed a hat trick to Branford a 3-2 lead early in the final period. Later in the frame, Max Bunton scored from Scott Klouda and Max Manware. Withington put a bow on the win by netting his fourth goal, with Klouda getting the assist.
Girls’ Basketball
After opening the week with a win over West Haven, the Hornets dropped a pair of contests in Hammonasset Division action and are now 3-6. Branford stared off with a 50-43 home victory against West Haven on Jan. 9. On Jan. 11, Branford hosted Mercy and dropped a 46-25 decision. The following night, the Hornets went to Guilford and took a 46-34 defeat.
Branford trailed West Haven 14-7 after the first quarter, but outscored the Blue Devils 12-3 in the second to take a two-point lead to halftime. The Hornets were down a point entering the fourth quarter and then won the final frame 19-11 for the victory. Adrienne DiGioia scored 22 points, while Emma Pierson had 14 points and Karly King scored eight.
DiGioia scored nine points for the Hornets in the Mercy loss.
In the Guilford game, Branford was down 22-20 at halftime before getting outscored 24-14 in the second half. Pierson scored 11 points, DiGioia had nine, and King scored six points.
Boys’ Basketball
The Hornets took three defeats last week to move to 3-5. Branford lost in West Haven (60-42) on Jan. 9, at Amity (58-43) two nights later, and at home against Career (42-26) on Jan. 13.
Playing at West Haven in a Quinnipiac Division matchup, Jake Sullivan scored 13 points to lead Branford, while Trevor Brown had 10 and Sam Roach scored eight. The Hornets were down 41-33 entering the fourth quarter, which West Haven won 19-9.
In the Amity game, the Hornets trailed 33-27 at halftime and were outscored 25-16 in the second half. Sullivan and Damien Maniscalco both scored 16 for Branford, which also received eight points from Ryan Sember.
Branford closed the week by hosting divisional opponent Career and lost 42-26. Maniscalco scored 10 points and Sember had eight points.
Boys’ Indoor Track
Branford was at Floyd Little Athletic Center for the second SCC Developmental Meet of the season on Jan. 9.
The Hornets saw their best overall performances in the 300-meter dash. Aidan Kropiwnicki ran a state-qualifying time of 39.88 seconds for Branford. Matt Alexander ran 40.69 and CJ Miller went a 41.68. Alexander also had a solid showing in the long jump by reaching 18 feet-2 inches.
Wrestling
Branford took a 55-16 loss at Hand on Jan. 10 for an overall record of 5-7 with a mark of 2-2 in the SCC.
Branford’s winners were Noah Pantani, who prevailed 6-4 in the 120-pound weight class, along with Giancarlo Giannini (160 class, 5-2 decision); Jackson Seward (195, 12-0); and Kyle Zalewski (220, pin at 5:40).
Boys’ Swimming and Diving
Branford-Guilford (Bfd-Gfd) lost a pair of contests last week to drop to 1-4.
On Jan. 10, the team hosted Amity and lost 96-70. Corey Gambardella prevailed in the 200 individual medley (1:59.10) and the 100 freestyle (47.76), in addition to swimming on the triumphant 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Aidan Henry and Alek Karosas also swam on each of those relays. Bfd-Gfd’s other individual winners were Paul Rosenberg in the diving (138.60) points), Harrison Kent in the 500 freestyle (5:05.80), and Kyle Boucher for the 100 breaststroke (1:11.13).
Later in the week, Bfd-Gfd traveled to Albertus Magnus College to face Notre Dame-West Haven and took a 84-67 defeat. Gambardella was victorious in the 200 free at 1:44.13 and the 100 butterfly with a time of 51.41. Gambardella also swam on the first-place 200 and 400 freestyle relays, as did Abdalla Syed. Henry won the 100 backstroke (1:01.04) and Andrew Orce was first in the 100 breaststroke (1:24.15).