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01/04/2020 11:00 PMBoys’ Ice Hockey
The Branford boys’ ice hockey team improved to 5-1 on the year after picking up four victories in its last five matchups.
The Hornets started off recent action by netting a 6-3 home win over Woodstock Academy at Northford Ice Pavilion on Dec. 21. Branford trailed 3-2 after the first period, but scored two goals during the second period and two more in the third to get the victory. Senior Spencer Engstrom had two goals with an assist, while freshman Matt Morgan also scored two goals for Branford. Senior Zach Jones and junior Daniel Farricelli both scored a pair of goals in the victory. Seniors Jack Manware, Chris Donadio, and Jake Rivera added one assist apiece.
Two days later, Branford claimed a 3-0 road victory against Trumbull at the Sports Center of Connecticut. Manware and Farricelli each had a goal with an assist for the Hornets. Engstrom handed out two assists, and Jones scored a goal.
Then on Dec. 28, the Hornets defeated Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe by a 3-2 score at the Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport. Donadio, Manware, and Engstrom scored the goals for Branford in the win. Junior Sawyer Moriarty had two assists, while Farricelli and junior Connor Erickson both contributed one assist.
Two days after that, Branford took a 4-2 home loss to Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug. Farricelli and Morgan had the goals for the Hornets, who received assists from junior Billy Linder, Jones, and senior Blake Kustra.
Branford finished off the week by earning a 4-2 win versus West Haven in a home game on Jan. 4. Kustra netted two goals for the Hornets, who also received goals from Manware and Farricelli. Engstrom had two assists, while Donadio, Morgan, and Manware all contributed one assist.
Girls’ Ice Hockey
The Branford-North Branford-East Haven (B-NB-EH) girls’ ice hockey team picked up two recent victories to move to 2-4 on the season.
On Dec. 21, the Wings took a 3-2 home loss to Hand-Coginchaug-Valley Regional-Old Lyme at Patsy DiLungo Ice Rink. Two days later, B-NB-EH earned its first win of the season with a 6-2 road victory over Trumbull-St. Joseph at the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton.
Then on Dec. 28, the Wings defeated Notre Dame-Fairfield/Law/Foran/Weston/Pomperaug by a 6-2 final in a home game. B-NB-EH finished off its week by dropping a 3-2 home game versus Suffield-Ellington-Enfield-Granby-Canton-Windsor-Northwestern on Jan. 4.
Boys’ Basketball
The Hornets are off to a 3-2 start to the year after winning three of their first five games.
On Dec. 19, Branford began its season by notching a 49-34 victory in East Haven. Then on Dec. 21, the Hornets lost a 63-52 contest against Amistad in a home game.
Two days later, Branford got back in the win column with a 74-46 home victory versus Bullard-Havens. The Hornets made it two wins in a row when they defeated Bethel 74-57 on the road on Dec. 30. Branford then hosted North Haven and lost a 61-60 contest against the Indians on Jan. 3.
Girls’ Basketball
Branford took a few defeats in recent action to move to 1-5 on the year.
The Hornets hosted Shelton and lost to the Gaels by the score of 37-23 on Dec. 20. Three days later, Branford took a 57-17 home loss against Sacred Heart Academy.
On Dec. 26, Branford dropped a 54-34 decision to Law at Foran High School. The following day, the Hornets took a 41-37 defeat at Foran. Then on Jan. 3, Branford took a 63-26 loss against East Haven in a road game.
Boys’ Indoor Track
The Hornets began their campaign by competing at an SCC Developmental meet at Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven on Dec. 23.
Senior Nolan Scott finished third in the 600 (1:30.78) and placed fifth in the 1,000 (2:49.32) for the Hornets. Senior Andrew Wirtz took fourth in the pole vault (9-6), while sophomore Cheng Wu placed fifth in the 600 (1:30.78).
Scott and Wu both qualified for the Class M State Championship in their events. Also making states with their performances at the meet were junior Mekhi Barnette in the long jump (19-6), junior Julio Tozetto in the 600 (1:32.68), and the 4x200 relay of Barnette, junior Noah Brown, Wirtz, and Wu (1:40.92).
Wrestling
Branford started off its season by shutting out New Haven in its opener and then taking first place at a couple of tournaments. The Hornets finished in first place at the Ludlowe Invitational, after which they won four matches to take the title at the Glastonbury Duals.
Branford earned a 76-0 home victory over New Haven in its season opener on Dec. 18. Junior AJ Robinson rallied to get a pin against one of New Haven’s top wrestlers in the 160-pound bout. Senior captain Minsok Lee earned a pinfall win versus returning State Open champion Kaylin Houston in the 285-pound bout.
On Dec. 21, Branford claimed first place at the Ludlowe Invitational at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, winning the meet by an 81-point margin. Senior captain Cody McHenry took the championship in the 195-pound division, while Lee won the title at 285 by beating Houston for the second time in a week.
Freshman Jake Elpi finished second in the 106-pound weight class. Also placing second for Branford were junior Luke Volpe (138), junior Peyton Tracy (152), Robinson (170), and senior Sean Kelly (182). Sophomore Patrick Zdunek finished third in the 132-pound division. Freshman Carter Burgess (113), junior Anthony LaFogg (160), and freshman Drew Schwartz (185) all took fourth place in their respective weight classes.
On Dec. 27, the Hornets sent several wrestlers to compete at a JV tournament at Glastonbury High School. Schwartz won the championship in the 182-pound division for Branford. Freshman Greg Kealy placed second at 152, sophomore Josh Berdon finished third at 126, and LaFogg (160) and sophomore Nate Mathis (195) both finished fourth for the Hornets.
The following day, Branford captured first place at the Glastonbury Duals by defeating Glastonbury on a tiebreaker in the championship match. The Hornets had defeated Middletown, Norwich Free Academy, and Hall to advance to the final. The win over Middletown marked Branford’s first victory against the Blue Dragons in program history.
McHenry took first place at 195 and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. He also achieved a personal milestone by recording his 100th career victory during the tournament. Lee finished first in the 285-pound division for Branford.
Junior captain Justin Osler picked up several key wins in his first meet of the season. Sophomores Jace Korab, Inderpreet Behal, and Zdunek all wrestled up one weight class and came away with critical victories. First-year junior Wayne Claude also had a great showing for the Hornets.