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05/24/2021 12:00 AMAfter missing out on a canceled 2020 season, both of Branford's outdoor track teams saw the culmination of their hard work during the past year on display at last week's SCC West Sectional Championship. Girls' Head Coach Kevin Connell and boys' Head Coach Bart Wasiolek knew that their respective Hornets' squads were excited to compete in the 2021 postseason, and both of them are impressed with just how much their clubs have grown.
"One of the great thrills are the people you work with and all the coaches you get to see. Some of us go back decades. There was that camaraderie that we needed through this," Coach Connell said. "We were finally having competitions. We made it through, and we were happy we were doing something we couldn't do last year."
Branford's track teams competed at the SCC West Sectional meet at Bowen Field in New Haven on May 18. The boys' squad finished sixth out of nine teams with 68 points scored, while the girls finished eighth out of 10 teams by scoring 35 points.
On the boys' side, senior Mekhi Barnette earned first place in the high jump clearing 5 feet-10 inches for Branford. Barnette also finished second in the triple jump with a distance of 41-9 and placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 20-5. Senior Ryan Hanniford took fourth in the pole vault with a height of 9-6, was fifth in the 110 hurdles by clocking in at 17.38 seconds, and finished 11th in the 300 hurdles at 48.06. Senior Noah Brown placed third in the 400 (53.41), and senior Julio Tozetto came in eighth place (55.48) for the event.
Sophomore Avery Atkinson finished fifth in the javelin (136-7) and seventh in the 300 hurdles (46.58). Junior Patrick Zdunek placed sixth in the 800 (2:07.37), while juniors Wesley Raymond (4:48.68) and Peyton Moriarty (4:49.92) finished 12th and 13th, respectively, in the 1,600. Junior Graham Reynolds placed 13th in the 3,200 (11:20.22).
Sophomore Evan Bouley finished sixth in the pole vault (9-0) and was 14th in the javelin (109-0). Sophomore Ryder Kropiwnicki finished sixth in the pole vault (9-0) and 10th in the javelin (125-10). Junior Andrew Bono placed 11th in the discus (95-07) and 15th in the javelin (102-10).
Branford's 4x400 relay team of Brown, Zdunek, Tozetto, and Moriarty took home third place (3:36.85), while the Hornets' 4x800 quartet of Reynolds, junior Cheng Wu, senior Patricio Banegas, and sophomore Massimo Corrick finished fourth (9:28.25). The 4x100 relay of Brown, Kropiwnicki, and sophomores Colin Donahoe and Chase Barnikow placed fifth (47.35).
This season, the captains for the Hornets' boys' outdoor track team are Brown, Tozetto, Barnette, and Hanniford. The senior class also includes Banegas, Emanuel Acevedo, and Kamryn Holmes. Coach Wasiolek said that his captains have been strong performers throughout the season and feels that all of his seniors have set an excellent example for the underclassmen.
"The captains have been doing an awesome job this year. They have been working hard and have shown great leadership," said Wasiolek. "We're looking to see if Mekhi can possibly win the high jump at the SCC Championships. We're also looking forward to our 4x400 relay team, which has both Noah and Julio, possibly getting top three at the SCCs and possibly a top five at states. All the seniors have been doing an excellent job on and off the track."
All three of Branford's relay teams qualified for this week's SCC Championship meet. Coach Wasiolek said that the Hornets have been working hard on their relays this spring, and he believes that their recent success shows exactly what this squad is all about.
"We're doing great in that part, and it shows what kind of team we have. We have more of a team than just individuals," Wasiolek said. "I thought it would be good to work on the relays this year. We have some solid individuals in the 400 and the 800. It was nice to get all of them to SCCs and, with both the 400 and 800 qualified for states, we're hoping to get the 4x100 there, too."
Branford still has another postseason stop after SCCs with the Class MM State Championship on Wednesday, June 2. Coach Wasiolek is still looking to get as many athletes as possible qualified for the Class MM meet, as well as the State Open.
"I want to end this season by getting as many people to states as possible. From there, take as many people to the State Open as possible," said Wasiolek. "My goal every year is to get as many kids involved in the postseason as possible."
As for the girls' team, freshman Joelle Budz claimed third place in both the 100 (12.81) and the 200 (26.94) for the Hornets at sectionals. Coach Connell is pleased with how Budz has given a spark to the team this year.
"Joelle has brought a renewed energy to the program. The kids notice it at practice—the boys and girls," Connell said. "She gets after it, and she works hard. She has already run so many memorable moments as a freshman. She has been a big breakthrough. She has been waiting for this. She has really shown people what she can do, and her hard work has paid off."
Freshman Tess Wasiolek took second place in the 800 (2:26.54), and senior Ashley Duong finished third in the pole vault (6-0) for Branford. Senior Jennifer Hincapie finished seventh in the javelin (72-8), seventh in the discus (68-11), and eighth in the shot put (24-7.5). Senior Stephanie Toste placed 10th in the high jump (4-2), while junior Katie Laska finished 11th in the 200 (29.18). Senior Noor Issa finished 11th in the javelin (40-10).
Branford's 4x100 relay of Budz, Laska and sophomores Sara Nwagboli and Samanatha Burzynski finished in fifth (54.45).
This year, the Branford girls are being led by five senior captains in Hincapie, Duong, Toste, Issa, and Alisa Gueco, who are the team's only seniors. Coach Connell believes that all five athletes have been crucial for the Hornets in terms of scoring points and providing leadership.
"They were like a link to two years ago. You kind of forget the traditions that go from year to year were interrupted last year. We had a number of kids this year who were first-timers. There was a lot of learning going on," said Connell. "These seniors did a great job in that aspect. They took care of business. They brought a great attitude to practice every day. Those things sometimes get forgotten. They were wonderful."
The Hornets have battled through adversity just to make it back on the track. As Branford hits the home stretch of its campaign, Coach Connell is hopeful that the program will continue seeing success in the upcoming postseason meets, while continuing to build the groundwork for future prosperity.
"My goal every year is to have more kids qualify for states. There have been years where we had kids qualify for every event, but this has been an unusual event," Connell said. "This hasn't been normal, but having some kids qualify for SCCs and move to states is big. It shows the younger kids what it takes to succeed at the highest level."