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07/26/2021 12:00 AMThe East Haven girls’ outdoor track team put together an excellent 2021 campaign that saw the Yellowjackets claim the SCC West Sectional title and post multiple first-place finishes at its postseason meets. Head Coach Rusty Dunne said that all 15 athletes on the squad made great strides this spring and have the program’s future looking bright.
Heading into the year, the Easties were low on numbers while coming off of lost season in 2020 due to COVID-19. Coach Dunne wasn’t sure what to expect, but after a few more people joined the team, the Easties quickly started firing on all cylinders.
“We lost that 2020 outdoor season. It was terrible for the program and the kids. We lost contact with the kids, because they weren’t in school for a while,” Dunne said. “I was kind of down going into the outdoor season, but then we had a few more girls join. We only had 15 girls, but they were really good. They had a great attitude, and we had great athletes. It started to click.”
East Haven finished with a record of 5-0 for the regular season. Coach Dunne said that the team’s performance in technical events like the javelin, discus, and the shot put proved crucial to the Yellowjackets’ success. He credited boys’ outdoor track Head Coach Jim Vicario for the work that he put in with the throwers. After his team earned an 82-64 win over North Haven on April 20, Coach Dunne felt that the Easties could defeat any opponent.
“We won those five meets on technical events. After our first two meets, I told Coach Vicario that we could beat anyone,” said Dunne said. “Beating North Haven was huge for us. They had to have 40- to 50 girls. We had nine. If we could beat them, I thought we could beat anyone.”
On May 18, East Haven competed at the SCC West Sectional Championship. Dunne and Vicario looked at the seedings the night before and didn’t think that the Yellowjackets could score enough points to win. However, as the meet was coming to an end, Assistant Coach Bob Davis told Dunne that the Easties had a chance to win the whole thing. When the last event was completed, East Haven had done just that by scoring 124 points to take home the first sectional title in school history.
Senior Kisha Francois won the 100-meter dash (12.45), the 200 (25.56), and the long jump (18-0) for East Haven at the meet. Sophomore Alice Stettinger claimed first place in the javelin (122-9), the shot put (35-5), and the discus (105-2). Stettinger’s throw in the javelin set a new SCC West Sectional record and an East Haven school record. Junior Morgan D’Auria placed first in the triple jump (33-9) to help the Yellowjackets capture the West Sectional crown.
“I couldn’t tell you how exhilarating of a feeling it was. It was just so cool,” Coach Dunne said of winning sectionals. “Mercy and Sacred Heart have a ton of girls. There were so many good teams there with a lot of girls. For that to happen was just so nice.”
East Haven next competed at the SCC Championship and finished in fourth place with 59 points scored. Francois took first in the 100 (13.17) and the 200 (25.99) to go with a second-place performance in the long jump (17-3.5) on her way to being named the Most Outstanding Athlete of the meet. Stettinger finished first in the javelin (118-7) for the Yellowjackets. D’Auria came in second place for the triple jump (35-0).
The Easties went on the participate in the Class MM State Championship, where they finished in sixth place with a team score of 51. Francois won the 100 (12.81), the 200 (26.32), and the long jump (18-7.25) to lead East Haven. Stettinger took first place the javelin (118-10) and also finished seventh in the shot put (32-9.5). D’Auria finished third in the triple jump (35-0) for Coach Dunne’s club.
“Francois swept all three of her events at the class meet. That is almost impossible to do. It was huge,” said Dunne. “Stettinger never touched a javelin coming in. She is a phenomenal athlete and has Division I potential. It’s a testament to Coach Vicario and the work they’ve put in together.”
“Since her freshman year, Morgan has scored well over 100 points,” Dunne continued. “Coach Davis said she has the potential to go 38 feet in the triple jump next season.”
All three athletes wound up advancing to the State Open to finish off East Haven’s 2021 season. Francois placed third in the long jump (18-4.5) and was sixth in the 100 (12.49). Stettinger took fourth place in the javelin (118-6), while D’Auria finished 11th in the triple jump (34-10.25) at the Open.
Francois served as East Haven’s senior captain this season. Throughout her time with the Yellowjackets, she has set numerous school records, recorded a slew of postseason victories, and earned All-State honors all four years. Francois, who led East Haven with 176.75 points this season, will be attending Southern Connecticut State University on a scholarship. Coach Dunne said that Francois’s achievements in East Haven put her in elite company in Yellowjackets’ history, and he feels that her potential is limitless as she enters college.
“Kisha is a dynamic athlete. I would put her in the same conversation as Tamara Highsmith, who went to the Olympic Trials and was a Big East champion with UConn. She was an All-American. I think the sky is the limit with Kisha,” Dunne said of Francois.” Kisha is the type of kid who comes around only ever 20- to 25 years. She is a pleasure to coach, and I will miss her, but I’m looking forward to seeing what she does in college.”
While Francois is leaving big shoes to fill, East Haven is slated to return the bulk of this year’s team next season. This includes Stettinger, who scored 136 points for the Easties this season; and D’Auria, who was right behind her with 124 points. Sophomore Jessica Urban (62.75) and junior Zayuri Castaneda (59) rounded out East Haven’s top point scorers for the campaign.
Overall, 12 athletes scored at least one point for East Haven this year. Coach Dunne feels that his returning athletes will have an opportunity to put up some big numbers in 2022.
This year, East Haven’s junior class additionally featured Princess Aggrey, Juliana Espinoza, and Emily Mazzucco. Julia Crisci was the other sophomore on the squad. The Yellowjackets’ freshman class included Nicole Brown, Isabelle DesRosiers, Olivia Martin, Haley Mazzucco, Samantha Ruggiero, and Aliana Stephens.
“We have a lot of real good kids coming back. No question about it,” Coach Dunne said. “We have some of the top athletes in the area in their events.”
While things were up in the air at the beginning of the season, the East Haven girls’ outdoor track team went on to have one of its best years in team history this spring. As the Yellowjackets aim to build off of their success, Coach Dunne is looking for the team to add a few new members and keep their momentum going in the right direction.
“Everything caught fire. I’m excited. We have talked to the girls and asked if they can recruit one of their friends. This thing is on fire and can potentially be a really good thing next year,” said Dunne. “I’ve been doing this for going on 30 years. I was more excited at the conclusion of the SCC West meet than I have been in a long time.”