Printer Friendly Version - Mendonca Sets Backstroke Record at SCCs; Football Gets by Cheshire, 20-12

Kayla Mendonca won the SCC title in the 100 backstroke and also broke a record for the SCC Championship in the event to help the Hand girls’ swimming and diving team finish fourth at the meet on Nov. 1. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Source

Kayla Mendonca took first place in the 100 backstroke with a meet record time at the SCC Championship to help the Hand girls’ swimming and diving team finish fourth as a squad.

Mendonca took the backstroke title behing a time of 56.98 seconds to set a new record for the event at the SCC meet, beating out runner-up Laura Rosado of East Haven-Cross (57.93) at Southern Connecticut State University on Nov. 1. Mendonca also finished third in the 200 individual medley at 2:12.06.

Elsewhere, the Tigers’ 400 freestyle relay of Ruby Redlich, Erin Reilly, Mendonca, and Allie Mascia finished third (3:41.98), while the 200 medley relay of Mendonca, Gabby Wira, Case Porter, and Mascia finished fifth (1:55.13). Mascia was third the 100 freestyle (54.29) and swam to fourth in the 50 freestyle (24.70), Ruby Redlich placed fourth for the 200 freestyle (1:59.22), and Porter came in seventh for the 100 butterfly (1:00.95). Additionally, Hand’s 200 freestyle relay of Wira, Reilly, Ava Keane, and Redlich came in ninth place (1:46.50), Wira was 16th in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.77), Kylie Scarpellino placed 17th in the 500 freestyle (5:39.50), and Grace Lavin finished 24th in the Diving Championship with a score of 241.8.

The Hand football team earned a 20-12 win over Cheshire at the Surf Club on Nov. 3 to improve to 7-1 for the season. The Tigers are now ranked fourth in the Class L State Playoff rankings in which the top eight squads qualify.

Phoenix Billings completed 10 of 17 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers in their win against Cheshire. He also rushed for 36 yards on 13 attempts. Delvantae Hutton rushed for 69 yards on 18 carries, plus Brian Casagrande gained 62 yards on 10 rushes. Hand’s defense had nine tackles for a loss on the night.

The Tigers took a 7-0 lead when Billings found Chris Bartosic on a 4-yard TD pass. However, Cheshire (5-3) responded by getting a safety on a tackle in the end zone and then added a 27-yard field goal. The Rams then took a 12-7 lead in the second quarter on a 15-yard interception return. The Tigers used their defense to regain the lead thanks to a Colin McCabe fumble return for a touchdown following a botched snap on a punt. In the fourth quarter, Hand padded its lead as Billings connected with Ian Butler on a 52-yard TD reception. Butler also grabbed an interception on defense in the victory.

The Tigers will next travel to New Haven to face Cross (6-2) for a SCC Tier 2 matchup on Saturday, Nov. 11 at noon. Hand is 4-0 in Tier 2, while Cross is 3-0.

The Tigers had one representative compete at the State Open Championship at Wickham Park in Manchester on Nov. 3. Anna Steffen finished 82nd place by posting a time of 21 minutes and 41 seconds for the Tigers.

Michael Tarantino and the Hand football team hosted Cheshire on Nov. 3 and defeated the Rams 20-12 to move to 7-1 on the year. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Source