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06/27/2019 12:00 AMComing into the 2019 campaign, Haddam-Killingworth’s boys’ and girls’ outdoor track teams had to answer some questions after graduating so many key people from the previous year. However, H-K saw many veteran and underclass athletes step up at the right time to help both Cougars’ clubs peak during the postseason this spring.
Led by Head Coach Matt Diglio, each of H-K’s teams finished with a record of 6-0 during the regular season. The boys went on to take first place at the Shoreline Conference Championship, marking the Cougars’ first conference title since 2013. The girls also turned in a solid showing at Shorelines by finishing in third place. When it came time for states, the boys’ team finished in fifth place at the Class M State Championship, while the girls turned in an eighth-place showing.
Coach Diglio said the H-K boys made great strides as the campaign unfolded and delivered their best performances at the postseason meets by scoring plenty of points in multiple event.
“We graduated a ton of scorers and leaders from last year, but we became more well-rounded as a group. We scored points in 17 of the 18 events at Shorelines. The seniors finished second three years in a row at Shorelines, so they were amped up, and it was a complete team effort,” said Diglio, who completed his 13th season as head coach of both teams. “They performed well and deserve the credit. We had great leaders and captains. They then put in another all-around performance at states.”
The script of the season for the H-K girls followed a similar narrative as the boys’ squad. Despite several losing several solid athletes to graduation, the Cougars used their dedication and diligence to gain great respect throughout the conference and state.
“We lost big point scorers with the girls, too, but the girls stepped up and contributed. They were a hard-working group like the boys,” Coach Diglio said. “We knew we wouldn’t be the top team at Shorelines, but we came in a solid third. They really stepped up that day. They took that momentum into states. The girls had an outstanding year, and there were great examples set by the captains.”
The H-K boys’ team was led by five fantastic senior captains this season. The Cougars’ captains were sprinter Dalton Brown, thrower Colton Lavoie, mid-distance sprinter Kyle Criscuolo, sprinter Seth Freeman, and pole vaulter Tyler Knapp.
“Dalton was previously a top sprinter and had a good start to this year, but he pulled his hamstring early on and missed the rest of the year. But he still came to practice every day,” said Diglio. “Colton was a hard worker and dedicated as one of the top throwers in the Shoreline. Kyle had a great attitude and work ethic. Seth was an outstanding young man and great leader on and off the track. Tyler took control of the pole vaulters and had a great year.”
The girls’ team was also bolstered by some exemplary leadership. The captains for the H-K girls were distance runner Emma Anziano, relay runner Autumn Coady, and sprinters Elena Boyington and Sadie Strom.
“Emma is a great kid who overcame many injuries. Autumn worked hard since day one of freshman year and got faster,” said Diglio, whose assistant coaches were Dick Dupuis, Sean Gallagher, and Leah Pfrommer. “Elena is such a nice kid and is willing to do whatever the team needs. Sadie was a terrific girl who was smart and athletic.”
H-K was also represented at the State Open Championship this year. Sophomore Matt Jennings took fifth place in the 1,600 at the Open to qualify for the New England Championship, where he placed second in the event with a time of 4:19.13. By virtue of those performances, Jennings earned All-State and All-New England distinction.
The Cougars also saw several athletes garner All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors as a result of finishing first in their respective events at the Shoreline Conference Championship. For the boys, Lavoie achieved that feat in the shot put, while the 4x400 relay team of Criscuolo, junior Owen Howes, junior Dmytri Mallon, and junior Luke Sodergren also made the First Team.
Earning Second Team accolades by taking second at Shorelines were Jennings in the 1,600 and 3,200, junior Seth Regan for the 200, Mallon in the 400, Lavoie for the discus, sophomore Eamon Sweeney in the high jump, plus the 4x800 relay of Criscuolo, Jennings, Freeman, and junior Christian Uzwiak.
Senior Amanda Minervino was an All-Shoreline First Team honoree in the javelin. H-K’s 4x800 relay team of Anziano, junior Julia Callis, senior Hailey Cassidy, and Minervino also earned First Team recognition after winning the event at the conference meet. Making the Second Team by achieving runner-up status were Anziano in the 800, Gabby Lester for the shot put, and the 4x400 relay of Coady, Boyington, Callis, and junior Ashley Duncanson.
Coach Diglio was pleased that so many people came out to compete for his program this season. While both teams are once again saying good-bye to some great athletes, Diglio feels optimistic that H-K can follow up this year’s success with another quality campaign in 2020.
“With both teams, it was the biggest group we’ve ever had. Since the first day of practice, they were enjoyable to coach and hard-working,” said Diglio. “They kept improving and got better. To have our biggest meets in the postseason says a lot about these kids and the captains. We will miss our seniors tremendously, but we will try to do the best to replace points. I’m extremely proud of both teams this year.”