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12/26/2017 11:00 PMThe spring of 2017 in the Branford Hornets' sports world saw the girls' lacrosse squad climb to the top of the mountain, while pole vaulter Bridget Wirtz reached some pretty great heights herself. Also, the Branford baseball team had a great year that featured 18 victories this spring.
Girls' Lacrosse
The Branford girls' lacrosse team had a storybook season in 2017, winning its first state championship in program history behind a 15-8 victory versus Pomperaug in the Class M State Tournament final. The Hornets finished the year with a record of 17-5.
Branford went 12-4 for the regular season. In the SCC Tournament, the Hornets edged Guilford 14-13 before dropping a 13-12 contest versus Cheshire in the semis. Then in the Class M State Tournament, Branford earned lopsided wins versus Foran (15-3) and Farmington (18-5) in the first two rounds. After that, the Hornets avenged a pair of earlier defeats by netting a 16-13 win over East Lyme in the semifinals, followed by their 15-8 victory against Pomperaug in the championship game.
Junior midfielder Sophie Spencer scored 90 goals on the season, including nine in the state semis and six in the final. Spencer made the All-SCC First Team, the All-State Team, and the
New Haven Register All-Area Team. She was also named Register's All-Area Most Valuable Player, as well as the Hornets' team MVP. Fellow junior midfielder Autumn McHenry recorded 54 goals with 35 assists and was selected as Branford's Offensive Player of the Year. She also made the All-SCC First Team, plus the All-State and All-Area teams.
Senior captain defender Morgan Gilman was an All-SCC First Team, All-State, and All-Area selection, in addition to being named Branford's Defensive Player of the Year. Gilman captained the Hornets with senior attacker Ashlee Smestad, who led the team in assists with 47.
Junior midfielder Sabrina Torcellini won Branford's Hustle Award, while racking up 55 goals. Torcellini was an All-SCC Second Team and All-State selection, and she also sealed a spot on the All-Area squad. Junior attacker LanLe Crotty netted 45 goals to go with 20 assists.
Sophomore Jill Ciarleglio made 12 saves in the state final and won a share of Branford's Most Improved Player Award with sophomore defender Grace Paleski.
Head Coach Jackie Ceccolini was named the Register's All-Area Coach of the Year, as well as the Class M All-State Coach of the Year.
Boys' Lacrosse
The Hornets put together a solid regular season that featured a record of 11-5 to earn a berth in the Class M State Tournament. Branford then took a 10-7 loss to Stratford in the Class M State Tournament qualifying round to finish at 11-6.
Branford's senior captains were attacker Noah Pantani, midfielder Harrison Smith, and defender Brennan Beauton. Seniors Kordele Brown and Nick Cordero shared the goaltending duties for the Hornets. Pantani, Beauton, and sophomore midfielder Rob Lionetti earned spots on the All-SCC Second Team, and Smith garnered Academic All-American honors for Head Coach Jim May's squad.
Baseball
The Hornets won 12 games in a row to highlight a season that saw the team finish with an overall record of 18-7, while returning to the SCC and Class L State tournaments in their second year with Head Coach Steve Malafronte.
Branford won its last 11 regular-season games to go 15-5, after which the Hornets notched a 12-1 victory versus Hand in the SCC quarterfinals. Branford then took a 2-1 loss to Fairfield Prep in the semis. After that, Branford competed in the Class L State Tournament, posting wins over Cheney Tech (11-0) and Stratford (15-5) before dropping a 4-3 decision to Watertown.
During the regular season, juniors Alphonse Suppa and Carson Mendoza combined to throw a no-hitter when Branford defeated Masuk 8-2. Later in the campaign, junior Zane Kmietek turned in a dominant effort in an 8-2 win against North Haven by coming one out away from throwing a no-hitter, ultimately striking out 12.
Senior third baseman/designated hitter Zach Withington batted .448 with three homers and 32 RBI to earn All-SCC Quinnipiac Division,
New Haven Register All-Area, and Coaches All-State Class L honors. Senior captain shortstop Nikko Liguori and senior captain center fielder Jordan Botte both made the All-Quinnipiac Team.
Softball
The Hornets finished 4-16, posting victories against Wilbur Cross (27-9) and Shelton (11-1), as well as two wins versus Hillhouse (20-4 and 17-5).
Head Coach Chuck Reale's club was led by senior captains Olivia Datre and Hunter Kelly.
Girls' Outdoor Track
Junior Bridget Wirtz turned in an exceptional showing by winning the pole vault with a record-setting performance at the SCC Championship and competing all the way through nationals.
Wirtz started off by clearing 11 feet to win the pole vault at the SCC West Sectional Championship. She then cleared 11 feet-9 inches to take first at the SCC Championship, while setting both meet and school records. Wirtz went on to finish second at the Class MM State Championship, sixth at the State Open, and fifth in the New England Championship, before making an appearance at the New Balance Nationals, where she came in 19th place. Wirtz was selected to the New Haven Register All-Area Team.
Senior Keira Integlia took the javelin title at the Sectional Championship with a throw of 100-9. Sophomore Liante Claude placed third in the 400 at SCCs, was second at states, and 10th at the Open.
As a team, Head Coach Kevin Connell's squad went 6-7 for the regular season and then finished sixth at sectionals, 14th at the SCC meet, and 12th in Class MM.
Boys' Outdoor Track
Sophomore Marzio Mastroianni won the 1,600 at the SCC Championship, before placing second in the 800 at the Class MM State Championship. Branford was in its first year with Head Coach Katherine Reynolds, who took over for longtime coach Rich Biondi.
Mastroianni finished second in the 800 and the 1,600 at the SCC West Sectional Championship. He then won the 1,600 with a time of 4:21.20 at the SCC Championship. Mastroianni later finished second in the 800 at the Class MM state meet and came in eighth place at the State Open.
Sophomore Matt Alexander recorded a third-place finish in the long jump at the state meet. As a team, the Hornets finished ninth at sectionals, 19th at SCC, and 16th in states.
Golf
Head Coach Jen Kohut's squad netted a record of 15-4-1 and earned a wild berth into the SCC Championship, where the Hornets finished eighth. Senior Ryan Sember shot a 77 to place sixth and make the All-SCC Team.
The Hornets then competed at the Division II State Championship and came in 12th place. Junior Liam Deane finished in 17th place with his round of 79. Deane and Sember were both New Haven Register All-Area selections.
Boys' Tennis
Branford won nine of its last 11 regular-season matches to qualify for the Class M State Championship for the third straight year.
The Hornets went 11-7 during the regular season. The Hornets then took a 7-0 loss to Hand in the SCC Tournament quarterfinals, after which they sent their varsity lineup to the Class M State Championship.
Sophomore No. 1 singles player Praneeth Ganedi won two matches in the singles bracket for Head Coach Matt Fraenza's club. Junior Bradley Stutzman and senior captain Aedan Spaar also played singles, with Spaar winning his first-round contest. In doubles, the team of juniors Chris DeLise and Charles Hall posted a victory. Ganedi and Stutzman both earned All-SCC Division II accolades.
Girls' Tennis
After losing its first six matches, the Hornets played better during the second half and finished 5-11.
The Hornets were led by senior captain Lauren Elmasry and junior captain Jen Hwang, who played the No. 1 and 2 singles positions, respectively, for Head Coach Jim Cole's squad.