Printer Friendly Version - North Haven Boys’ Swimming Gets First Two Wins

Junior Marcus Zikaras turned in lifetime-best performances in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke to help the North Haven boys’ swimming and diving team earn wins versus Foran and Law last week.Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier

The North Haven boys’ swimming and diving team got on the board by recording its first two victories of the year last week to even its record at 2-2 for the season. The Indians collected their initial victory by prevailing 89-76 at Foran on Jan. 10. Three days later, North Haven doubled up with a 96-65 win over Law in another meet at Foran High School.

Head Coach Martha Phelan said that North Haven made great progress with multiple personal-best performances throughout the week. One of them came from senior Kyle Duby, who recorded a season-best diving score of 202.20 points. Also on the week, junior Albi Koleci swam lifetime-best times in the 100 freestyle (59.68 seconds) and the 100 butterfly (1:07.35). Other lifetime-best performances came from junior Marcus Zikaras in the 200 individual medley (2:50.81) and 100 backstroke (1:21.32), sophomore Kevin Powers for the 100 fly (1:06.37) and 200 IM (2:30.08), and sophomore Tommy O’Connor in the 50 free (27.26) and 200 free (27.26); as well as sophomore Will McCleery in the 100 freestyle (54.60), freshman Stephen Borelli in the 200 free (2:41.56) and freshman Carlo Frunzio in the 500 free at 5:43.58. Also, junior Riley Powell recorded a season-best time of 1:13.93 in the 100 breaststroke for North Haven.

Senior Sarah Vanacore and sophomore Erica Marriott both recorded victories for the Indians at the Elm City Relays on Jan. 7 at Floyd Little Athletic Center.

Vanacore prevailed in the shot put behind a distance of 38 feet-0.75 inches, which bested the mark of 36-6.5 from runner-up Teaira Edwards of Hillhouse. Kayla Rodriguez finished fifth in the event for North Haven at 29-2.75.

Meanwhile, Marriott recorded her second win in a week in the 55-meter dash. Marriott ran a time of 7.59 seconds for the preliminaries and then went a 7.52 in the final to defeat Career’s Brooke Joyner (7.78).

Additionally at the meet, North Haven’s 4x800 relay of Maily Tran, Macey DiCarlo, Elya Paolillo, and Elise Symon notched a fifth-place finish with a time of 10:59.19.

North Haven was at Floyd Little Athletic Center for the second SCC Developmental Meet of the season on Jan. 9.

The highest finisher for the Indians at the developmental was Eric Milliard, who claimed fourth place in the shot put with a throw of 40 feet-6.25 inches. In the 55-meter hurdles, Josh Bryson sped across the finish line in a time of 8.57 seconds to take fifth place. Also posting a fifth-place finish was Omar Gebril, who did so by clearing 5 feet-4 inches in the high jump.

Two days earlier, the Indians competed at the Elm City Relays at the same site and saw some solid performances. Bryson posted a time of 8.67 to finish fifth in the 55 hurdles. Also, North Haven had a big day in the shot put as Milliard placed third (41-4.5), Carson Tebbetts finished fourth (40-8), and Dustin Byrnes came in fifth place (40-3).

North Haven was on the ice for two games last week, dropping a one-goal contest against West Haven before losing versus New Milford.

The Indians started off things with a home game against West Haven on Jan. 11 and lost by a 3-2 score against the Blue Devils, who play in SCC/SWC Division I. North Haven grabbed a 2-0 lead just eight minutes into the game on an unassisted goal from Corey Reilly, followed by CJ Kenny’s goal from Sam Pethick. However, West Haven made it 2-1 after one, tied it in the second period, and scored the go-ahead goal four minutes into the third for the 3-2 win. John Reilly made 40 saves in net for the Indians.

Three days later, North Haven was back at Northford Ice Pavilion for a clash with fellow SCC/SWC Division II squad New Milford and took a 4-2 defeat to drop to 1-6. North Haven trailed 2-0 before Jamie Montesi scored from Andrew Carmody and Kenny on the power play to make it a one goal game through one. The second period was scoreless and then New Milford made it 3-1 by scoring early in the third. Mike Gambardella scored a goal to cut the deficit in half with 1:54 remaining, but New Milford’s empty-netter with 44 seconds left sealed the 4-2 win. Reilly had 28 saves in goal for the Indians.

The Blades dropped a 4-1 home decision to West Haven-Sacred Heart Academy (WH-SHA) at The Rinks at Shelton on Jan. 12. The loss put the team’s record at 6-4 on the year.

With the Blades trailing 2-0 in the third period, North Haven freshman Melissa Montesi assisted Grace Kosch for a goal that cut the deficit in half. The game stayed 2-1 until WH-SHA scored two goals late in the third period.

The Indians lost three contests last week and are now 1-9 for the season. On Jan. 9, North Haven took a 66-39 to Wilbur Cross at home. Two days later, the Indians faced Oronoque Division opponent Hand on the road and lost by a 68-14 final. North Haven closed the week with a divisional home game against Lyman Hall and lost 51-28.