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01/16/2019 11:00 PM

Sensational Senior Six Sees Three State Titles with Hand Boys’ Soccer


Six members of Hand boys’ soccer team played for the Tigers during all three of their Class L state championship runs these past three seasons. Pictured are Trey Doktorski, Charlie Sullivan, Lee Wildermann, Clay Knibbs, Tommy LaTorre, and Ethan Gulcicek. Photo courtesy of Joe Doktorski

The Hand boys’ soccer team won its third consecutive Class L state title during the 2018 fall season. Six of the senior athletes who competed for the Tigers were on the squad for each of their three championship campaigns. Trey Doktorski, Ethan Gulcicek, Clayton Knibbs, Tommy LaTorre, Charlie Sullivan, and Lee Widermann are the six athletes who were a part of Hand’s three-peat for all three years. The last time a high school boys’ soccer team in Connecticut had won three state crowns in a row was when Guilford did so from 1976-78.

All six players have been on the same team since the 4th grade, when they joined the Madison Youth Travel (MYT) soccer program coached by Michele Volpe, Tom Caruso, and Erol Gulcicek. When the boys were in 7th grade, the coaches passed the reins over to Paul Sullivan and Glen McSweeney, who are still active in the MYT program. Doktorski played center midfielder and striker for Hand, while Gulcicek played left fullback, Knibbs served as the Tigers’ goalie, LaTorre played center fullback, Sullivan was a right midfielder and a right fullback, and Wildermann played center midfielder and striker.

The six players from Hand have also competed for the Shoreline FC Premier soccer team during their four years of high school, winning many Premier tournament championships throughout the Northeast. They also serve the MYT program by assisting in youth camps and training programs.

Information courtesy of Joe Doktorski