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03/05/2017 11:00 PMBoys’ Swimming and Diving
Senior Teddy Zeng captured his fourth SCC diving title behind a record score to help the Hand boys’ swimming and diving squad post its all-time best finish at the SCC Championship. The Tigers scored 722 points and came in third place at the conference meet.
Zeng totaled a meet-record mark of 637.80 points in his victory at the SCC Diving Championship, which was held at Hamden High School on Feb. 28. Also at the championship, Delcan Maloney dove to fifth place (329.05), Callahan Henry placed 11th (263.90), and Jessica Murphy came in 18th (216.25) for Hand.
The following night, the Tigers swam at the SCC Championship at Southern Connecticut State University. Chris Wu was the runner-up in the 100 backstroke with a time of 53.79 seconds, only placing behind Fairfield Prep’s Liam Colleran (52.32). Wu also finished third in the 200 individual medley (1:56.82). Hand’s 200 medley relay of Wu, Paul O’Connor, Michael Healey, and Dylan Merritt finished seventh (1:43.95). In the 200 freestyle, Tyler Merritt was seventh (1:52.01), Will Porter followed in eighth (1:52.34), and Nate Imbergamo was 10th (1:52.74).
Dylan Merritt finished 14th in the 50 free (23.51); Healey was 19th in the 100 butterfly (59.49); Porter swam to 12th in the 100 free (51.70); O’Connor finished ninth in the 500 free (4:57.84); and Tyler Merritt followed in 10th (4:58.23). O’Connor also finished 10th for the 100 breaststroke (1:03.49). The 200 free relay of Porter, Healey, Dylan Merritt, and Tyler Merritt was fourth (1:33.59); and the 400 free relay in Porter, O’Connor, Tyler Merritt, and Wu also finished fourth (3:22.65).
Additionally, it was recently announced that Tigers’ Head Coach Christina Forristall was named the SCC Coach of the Year for boys’ swimming and diving.
Girls’ Basketball
The Hand girls’ basketball team is on its way to the quarterfinals of the Class L State Tournament after recording a pair of victories in its first two games. No. 2 seed Hand kicked off the state tourney with a 78-30 rout of No. 31 Law in the first round at home on Feb. 27. Hosting No. 15 Windsor in the second round on March 2, the Tigers prevailed by a 52-34 final.
Versus Law, Emma Sullivan scored a career-high 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting, while adding five steals and four assists. Gabby Martin racked up 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and five steals. Sara Wohlgemuth chipped in 11 points, including three from long range. Halle Freund grabbed nine rebounds, blocked seven shots, and dished out three assists. Gabby Egidio posted seven steals, six rebounds, and four assists, plus Kaitlyn Martin grabbed 14 rebounds for the Tigers.
Hand jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes. The Eagles scored five of the next seven points before the Tigers finished out the quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 21-7 lead. Sullivan led the charge early by scoring eight points, including a pair of threes, in the opening period. The Tigers ramped up the intensity in the second, forcing multiple turnovers and getting out on the break. Sullivan kept up her hot shooting with another eight points. Martin got in on the act with seven points, and Wohlgemuth knocked down two from long distance as Hand took a 46-12 lead into the locker room. Law opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run before a Tigers’ timeout. After the timeout, Martin stepped up again by scoring eight points to lead a 21-5 run to finish the third with the hosts comfortably ahead, 67-24.
“Law has a very young and talented team that is capable of putting a lot of points on the board. They have an All-SCC performer in sophomore Fallon Andriolas, who hit six three-pointers against us the last time we played. Perhaps most importantly, we knew they would be playing with nothing to lose, so we would have to be ready to go,” said Head Coach Tim Tredwell. “I think our kids were more than up to the task. We looked like we were trying to make up for our loss to Mercy last week. Our defensive energy was fantastic, we moved the ball well, and our fast-break was firing on all cylinders. Emma, Gabby, and Sara were hitting shots. Halle and Gabby Egidio seemed to get their hands on every ball defensively and Kaitlyn was cleaning up every miss. It was another solid team effort and a great way to open up the State Tournament.”
Versus Windsor, Gabby Martin posted 12 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Egidio added 10 points, five rebounds, and a pair of steals. Freund racked up nine points, 10 rebounds, five steals, and three blocks. Hand struggled offensively in the first quarter, hitting just four shots, but got to the foul line enough to take a 13-6 lead after one. The host Tigers continued to search for rhythm in the second quarter as the Warriors continued to stay within striking distance. An Egidio steal led to a Wohlgemuth lay-up at the close of the period to give Hand a 23-14 lead at the half. The Tigers showed some signs of settling down in the third as Freund started to assert herself offensively. The junior forward scored four of her nine second-half points, and Hand had a 38-24 lead going into the final frame. The Tigers stretched their lead to more than 20 in the fourth and, although Windsor ramped up its defensive pressure and converted some turnovers into easy buckets, Hand came away with a 52-34 win to advance to the quarterfinals.
“At this point in the season, every game is a challenge. We had a couple good scouts on Windsor, but it’s still difficult when you haven’t seen them play. They were athletic and very tough. Fortunately, we had enough in the tank to get the job done,” said Tredwell. “I think everyone on the Hand sideline breathed a sigh of relief when that final buzzer sounded. We really struggled to make shots in the first half and our defense was a little too lethargic. In the second half, we started hitting, but we didn’t take care of the ball as well as we can. I’m very happy to still be playing at this point in the season, but we definitely have to clean some things up if we want to keep going.”
Hand hosted No. 10 Woodstock Academy (14-8) in the quarterfinals on March 7 (after press time). The winner faces either No. 3 Pomperaug or No. 22 Sacred Heart Academy in the semis on Friday, March 10.
Girls’ Indoor Track
The Tigers’ Caroline O’Neil competed at the New England Championship at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on March 4. O’Neil raced to third place in the 300-meter dash with a time of 40.10 seconds at the meet. Alyssa Madden of Oakmont, Massachusetts won the event in 39.72.
Wrestling
Hand was represented by a pair of athletes at the New England Championship that took place on March 3-4 at the Providence Career and Technical Center in Rhode Island. Mike Burchell finished third in the 285-pound weight class, while Mark Hartmann competed in the 120-pound bracket for the Tigers. Burchell pinned Michael Gaboardi of Danbury at the 1:30 mark of the third-place match for the consolation bracket.
Gymnastics
Hand finished in fourth place with a score of 135.1 at the State Open Championship on March 4 at New Milford.
For the vault, Lily Spencer scored an 8.55, followed by Erin Naclerio (8.45), Olivia Finke (8.225), and Grace Rogers (8.1). On bars, Naclerio netted an 8.725 and following her were Spencer (8.625), Rogers (8.175), and Marisa Padelli (7.25). For the beam, Naclerio led Hand with a 9.3 and she was followed by Spencer (8.3), Noelle Bergere (8.2), and Mary Huminski (8.125). Finally, on the floor, Spencer and Naclerio each landed an 8.9, while Bergere (8.85) and Finke (8.425) also competed for the Tigers. In the all-around scores, Naclerio scored a 35.375, while Spencer had a 34.375, Bergere posted a score of 32.3, and Rogers scored a 24.275.
Naclerio qualified on the beam for the New England Championship, which is on Saturday, March 11. Joining Naclerio as an All-State First Team selection is Spencer, while Rogers made the Second Team.
“As a team, we were fourth as expected. We knew coming in that it was likely we would be fourth and we’re very happy with how the meet went. We are still excited from the states win and wanted to have a good day to end the season on a high note. We weren’t perfect, but we did well, and, most importantly, we enjoyed the day,” said Head Coach Kelly Smith. “The Open is about the best of the best in high school gymnastics and we’re honored to be included in that field. We also love watching the other gymnasts from around the state. Our team was excited to watch a tough individual competition and happy to compete as a team. All in all, it was a great way to end our season as a team. We’re also so excited for Erin and her qualification to New Englands. This was something she had as a goal all season and we competed beam last. It’s her best event, but it is a challenge to finish a competition on beam and, despite a rough warm-up, she went up there and did exactly what she’s done all season for us there. She nailed it. It was a great end to our competition and a nice exclamation point to have her qualify to next weekend.”
Boys’ and Girls’ Fencing
Chloe Moulin finished second in the girls’ foil competition at the Individual State Championship on March 4 at Hopkins. Moulin garnered All-State First Team honors by virtue of her performance.
Cheerleading
Hand competed at the Co-ed State Championship last week. The Tigers came in fourth place with 147.8 points at the meet, which was held at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven on March 3.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
Hand (9-10-1) earned the No. 11 seed in the Division II State Tournament and opened up with No. 6 Cheshire (11-9) at Wesleyan University on March 7 (after press time) in the first round. The winner faces either No. 3 New Fairfield-Immaculate (15-4-2) or No. 14 Conard (7-12-1) in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 10.