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06/09/2017 12:00 AMGirls’ Outdoor Track
Caroline O’Neil won the 100-meter dash and took second in two other events to help the Tigers’ girls’ outdoor track squad score 28 points and finish fifth at the State Open Championship at Willow Brook Park in New Britain.
O’Neil claimed the top spot in the 100 with a time of 12.14 seconds, beating out Kathryn Kelly of Lauralton Hall (12.36), to claim 10 points for Hand. O’Neil was also the runner-up for the 200 (24.92) to Hamden’s Aisha Gay (24.59), and she additionally placed second in the 400 (55.60), with Gay (55.55) winning that event, as well. O’Neil tallied eight points for the Tigers with each of her second-place finishes.
The Tigers’ 4x400 relay of Megan Phillips, Abby Walton, Heather Whelahan, and Harmon came in seventh place (4:04.76) to score two points. Also for Hand, Gabby Harmon finished ninth for the 400 (59.22), while Erin Naclerio came in tied for 18th place in the pole vault (9-0).
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Hand girls’ lacrosse team was eliminated from the Class M State Tournament by dropping a semifinal contest against Pomperaug last week. The 3rd-seeded Tigers faced No. 2 Pomperaug in a Class M State Tournament semifinal at Guilford High School and took a 12-9 loss on June 6.
Scoring goals for Hand were Glenna-Kate Gies (3), Emma Sullivan (3), Taylor Scully, Caroline Jenkins, and Riley Kokoruda. Scully also recorded five assists, and Kokoruda added one. Caitie Harvey made six saves for the Tigers, who were outshot 18-15.
Hand finishes the year at 16-5 overall after winning its third straight SCC Tournament title and 12th league crown overall.
Girls’ Tennis
The SCC and Class M state champion Tigers saw two doubles teams compete at the recent State Open Tournament.
The team of Sam Riordan and Anna Lang earned All-State honors and wound up reaching the semifinals for Hand. Riordan and Lang defeated the 3rd-seeded team Maegan Varley and Bridget Fox of Berlin, 8-1, in the first round, after which they beat Cromwell’s Jacque Culmone and Hannah Gamer, 8-4, in the second round. In the third round, Riordan and Lang faced 14th-seeded Eden Baker and Alexa Desaulniers of Glastonbury and won 6-4, 6-0. They then made their way to the semifinals by earning a 6-3, 6-3 win over the No. 6 seed team of Hannah Bjorkman and Gabriela Vega of Staples. After that, Riordan and Lang faced 2nd-seded Devon and Taylor Yaghmaie of Stamford in the semis and lost 6-1, 6-2.
Also for Hand, Grace Squitiero and Renee Tracy bested Libby Bennett and Greer Hanley of Nonnewaug, 8-4, in the opening round and then took an 8-2 loss against the No. 4 seed team of Margretta Hartman and Kim Lao of Glastonbury.
Boys’ Tennis
The Tigers had a few athletes compete at the State Open Tournament at Amity on June 3.
In singles play, Kyle Fay took first round defeat (7-6 [13-11], retired) against Matt Sidney of Weston. Justin Pace lost by a 6-2, 2-6, 10-7 score against Max Zimmerman from Staples in his opening contest.
For the doubles bracket, the team of Alex Bueno and Rob Israel dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to Jake Greenwald and Jack Tooker of Staples in the first round.
Boys’ Golf
Hand finished in eighth place by shooting a score of 336 for the Division II State Championship at Tallwood Country Club in Hebron on June 5.
Carter Chapman recorded three birdies and shot a 79 to lead Hand. Additionally for the Tigers, Matt Pellatt and Michael McKeon (1 birdie) both shot an 84, Aidan Stuart had a score of 89, and Luke Lanza (1 birdie) shot a 92.
Girls’ Golf
Hand shot a total score of 390 to finish tied for 10th with Staples and Newtown at the State Championship on June 6 at Tashua Knolls Country Club.
Competing for the Tigers at the meet were Gabby Martin, who had a score of 80 that included a birdie, along with Emma Boey (96), Angie Balzano (106), Josie Anderson (108), and Erickson Richard (115).