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12/26/2021 11:00 PMAfter the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the sports scene in 2020, things started to get back to normal as 2021 unfolded. While there were some twists and turns along the way, the winter, spring, and fall high school seasons were all completed this year and featured plenty of success stories at the local level. Let’s take a look back at the highlights of 2021 in Guilford sports.
Winter
The 2020-’21 winter season was an abbreviated one that featured no state tournaments or state championship meets. Instead, conference competitions served as the culmination of the season. There were no wrestling or cheerleading seasons held, and indoor track teams competed on a limited basis, if at all. Several teams around the state missed portions of their seasons after going into quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19.
The Guilford girls’ ice hockey team set the precedent for the Grizzlies’ winter sports teams in 2021. Guilford finished with an overall record of 8-2 and advanced to the SCC championship game for the second-straight campaign.
Guilford earned an 8-1 victory versus Law/ND-Fairfield/Foran/Weston/Pomperaug in the SCC Tournament semifinals. The Grizzlies took a 5-2 loss against West Haven-Sacred Heart Academy in the championship game.
Junior captains Maddie Epke and Olivia Gill earned All-SCC First Team and Second Team honors, respectively, while freshman Sofia Cuozzo garnered All-SCC Second Team recognition. Epke was also named the SCC Player of the Year. Junior goalkeeper Julia McDonald was an All-SCC Honorable Mention recipient and alternate captain for Guilford. Senior Christina Garafalo was also an alternate captain for Head Coach Rick Binkowski’s team.
The Guilford boys’ basketball team finished with a record of 5-8 this year. The Grizzlies’ season ended with a 53-46 defeat against Branford in the SCC Division II quarterfinals. Senior captain Jake Ciocca earned All-SCC East Division honors for Head Coach Jeff DeMaio’s squad. Senior Jack Stanton was the other captain for Guilford.
The Guilford boys’ ice hockey team had a major delay to its 2020-’21 winter campaign as the Grizzlies waited nearly three weeks to compete due to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guilford had the No. 8 seed in the SCC-SWC Division II Tournament and was scheduled Branford for a first-round matchup, but the game was canceled. The Grizzlies finished their season with an overall record of 2-6. Steven Tortora served as a senior captain for Head Coach Ralph Russo’s club.
The Guilford girls’ basketball team finished its season on a high note by posting a 40-28 victory against Branford in the first round of the SCC Tournament. The Grizzlies went on to take a 47-25 loss to West Haven in the quarterfinal round to finish at 1-13 on the year. Guilford’s senior were senior Moira Kellaher, junior Miabella Diaz, and junior Faith O’Donnell.
Sophomore Ella Esposito earned All-SCC recognition when she represented Guilford gymnastics at the SCC Championship. Esposito finished in fifth place in the all-around, highlighted by a fourth-place performance on the balance beam.
The Greater New Haven (GNH) Warriors co-op boys’ swimming and diving team enjoyed a plethora of success while competing in virtual meets during the winter season. The Warriors, who featured athletes from East Haven, Guilford, North Branford, and North Haven, won a share of their division title and then recorded a second-place performance at the SCC Championship.
GNH posted a record of 8-2 in the regular season to earn a piece of the SCC Division I regular-season title. The Warriors went on to participate in the SCC Virtual Championship and came in second place at the meet.
Guilford junior Finn Henry finished first in the 200 freestyle and placed second in the 100 freestyle for GNH at SCCs. East Haven sophomore Brendan Conners took first place in the 200 individual medley and finished second for the 100 backstroke.
GNH’s 200 freestyle relay of Conners, East Haven junior Hethon Foster, Guilford sophomore Aiden Cohen, and Henry claimed second place at the SCC meet. North Haven sophomore Christian Butler took third place at the SCC Diving Championship on behalf of the Warriors.
Martha Phelan finished her final season as head coach of the GNH Warriors swimming program. The team’s senior captains were Guilford’s Dan Kamen, Connor Coyne of North Branford, and Tanner Powell from North Haven.
Spring
Following the cancellation of the 2020 season, spring sports came back to play in Connecticut this year. Teams played full seasons, and state tournaments were completed for the first time since the fall of 2019.
The Guilford girls’ lacrosse team had its best year in program history during the 2021 spring season. The Grizzlies won their second-straight SCC title and then claimed their first Class M state championship in program history this spring, finishing the year with an overall record of 19-2.
In the SCC Tournament, Guilford earned wins versus Lauralton Hall (16-3) and Hand (13-6) to take the title. Then in states, Guilford notched victories against Stratford (20-1), Masuk (15-6), St. Joseph (14-4), and Joel Barlow (11-10) to capture the Class M crown.
Guilford was led by senior captains Hannah Tillier, Sydney Cunningham, and Jordan Filley. Tillier earned All-SCC Division I First Team honors for the Grizzlies. Junior Maddie Epke was named to the All-SCC First Team and also selected as the SCC Player of the Year.
Also earning All-SCC First Team accolades for Guilford was junior goalie Sydney Widlitz, who also was named the Most Outstanding Player of the SCC Tournament. Junior Taylor Farace, sophomore Kat Baseggio, and freshman Payton Root also garnered All-SCC First Team accolades. Junior Lorelei King was an All-SCC Second Team honoree on behalf of Coach Wendy Epke’s club.
The Guilford girls’ tennis team had a strong year and finished with a record of 13-7. Guilford defeated Cheshire in the first round of the SCC Division I Tournament and then lost to Hand in the semifinals. Guilford also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class L State Tournament, earning a 6-1 win against Branford in the opening round. Guilford took a 4-3 loss to North Haven in the quarterfinals.
Senior Hannah Dietzko, senior captain Kiera Stankewich, freshman Kallie Kagan, earned All-SCC Division I honors for Guilford.
The Guilford boys’ tennis squad put together a solid season in 2021. The Grizzlies tallied a 9-9 record that included trips to the SCC Division I Tournament and the Class L State Tournament.
Head Coach Paul Malafronte’s squad was led by senior captains Ethan DeAngelo and Ronan McDermott. Junior Walker Mulligan was an All-SCC Division I honoree for the Grizzlies.
The Guilford softball team posted a record of 7-11 for the spring season. Seniors Jill Batick and Ema Signore captained the Grizzlies in 2021. Batick earned a spot on the All-SCC First Team for Guilford. Junior Allie Petonito was also an All-SCC First Team honoree, while freshman Addie Smith made the All-SCC Second Team.
The Guilford boys’ golf squad finished with a mark of 6-8 this spring. Guilford finished in seventh place at the SCC Championship and came in 17th place at the Division II State Championship.
Senior Peter Keanna and junior Miguel Pearce both finished with a score of 87 for the Grizzlies at the SCC meet. Keanna finished in a tie for 44th place at states by shooting a score of 86.
The Guilford boys’ lacrosse team posted a 3-12 record during its 2021 spring campaign. Jackson Tandler served as a senior captain for the Grizzlies.
The Guilford baseball team went 2-16 this year. Seniors Jake Ciocca and Mike McCullagh served as Guilford’s senior captains, and Ciocca earned All-SCC First Team honors. Senior Sam Huffman was an All-SCC Second Team selection.
Junior Julia Antony finished in first place in the 1,600 for the Guilford girls’ outdoor track team at the SCC Championship. Antony also finished second in the 3,200 at SCCs and went on to take fourth place in the event at the Class L State Championship.
The Guilford boys’ outdoor track squad fared well during a season in which its 4x800 relay team was represented at the State Open Championship. The 4x800 relay of sophomore Bretton Garrick, junior Thomas Gregory, junior Justin Shiffrin, and senior Reese Puchalski finished in 12th place at the State Open.
This year marked the seventh season for Matt Wilson as head coach of the Guilford crew program. Guilford’s boys’ and girls’ teams both competed in five meets during the spring season. The boys’ team posted a record of 2-3 on the year, while the girls’ squad finished with a record of 1-4.
Summer
The Guilford 11-U All-Stars baseball team enjoyed a successful season with Head Coach Ralph Russo this summer. Guilford captured a District 9 championship and then claimed the Section 3 title on its way to making the state’s Final Four.
In the District 9 Tournament, Guilford earned wins against Westbrook (16-0) and Madison (6-5) and (9-2) to secure the title. Guilford also defeated Waterford (18-0), Wethersfield (6-5) and Waterford (3-2) to win the Section 3 title.
The CT Warriors 19-U AAU baseball team saw its solid season come to a close in the semifinals of the East Shore Travel League Playoffs. The Warriors defeated the CT Rage in their first game of the tourney before losing to the NCT Mustangs in the quarterfinal round. Head Coach Jim Petonito’s team finished its season with an overall record of 9-8-1.
The Guilford 19-U AAU baseball team had a strong year with Head Coach Ryan Fraser, finishing with a record of 14-8-1 and advancing to its league final. In the East Shore Travel League Playoffs, Guilford earned a 4-3 victory over New England Knights Zima and then notched a 4-3 win versus Run & Gun Baseball to make it to the title game, where the team took a 10-0 loss against the NCT Mustangs
Fall
After no state competitions were held last fall, the 2021 fall season was played in full this year. Football teams also returned to the field to play a season for the first time in two years.
The Guilford field hockey team has been as dominant as any program in the state throughout the past few years. The 2021 fall season was no different for the Grizzlies as Head Coach Kitty Palmer’s squad claimed its fourth-straight SCC title and third-straight state title on its way to an overall record of 22-1.
In the SCC Tournament, Guilford defeated Mercy (10-0), Branford (4-1), and Cheshire (3-0) to take home the championship. Following SCCs, Guilford earned victories against New Milford (7-0), Avon (6-0), Pomperaug (6-0), and Wethersfield (4-0) to win the Class M state title. Guilford didn’t allow a goal throughout the state tournament.
The Grizzlies were led by senior captains Maddie Epke and Allie Petonito. Epke earned All-SCC First Team recognition, while Petonito was also an All-SCC honoree. Junior Ella Clarke also made All-SCC First Team for Guilford.
The Guilford girls’ cross country team brought home a couple of titles over the course of its 2021 season. The Grizzlies earned their fifth-straight SCC title and followed that up by winning the Class MM state championship. Guilford also competed in the New England Championship.
Senior captain Julia Antony, senior captain Olivia Skapczynski, and junior Alexa Suchy each earned All-SCC recognition for Guilford. Antony finished in first place for Guilford at the Class MM State Championship. The Grizzlies’ All-SCC Second Team honorees were senior Lorelei King, junior Clara Laughlin, junior captain Olivia Kaisin, and junior Ursula Adams.
The Guilford boys’ soccer team put together another strong season with Head Coach Curtis Gullette this year. The Grizzlies claimed a share of the SCC Oronoque Division title and then advanced to the Class L state semifinals on their way to an overall record of 14-5-2.
The Grizzlies took a 2-1 overtime loss to Fairfield Prep in the quarterfinal round of the SCC Tournament, but fared well in the Class L State Tournament. The Grizzlies posted victories over Rockville (3-0), Bristol Central (1-0), and Masuk (2-0) to make it to the semis, where they took a 1-0 defeat against Wethersfield.
Guilford was led by senior captain midfielder Juan Salas-Romer and junior captain goalkeeper Justin Hess this year. Hess earned All-SCC First Team recognition for the Grizzlies.
Junior midfielder Sami AbuGhazaleh made the All-SCC First Team. Freshman midfielder Stephano Jarrin also earned All-SCC First Team honors for Guilford. Senior defender Jacob Pinckney made the All-SCC Second Team.
The Guilford girls’ swimming and diving team put forth a solid showing all season, ultimately finishing in fifth place at the SCC Championship and third place at the Class M State Championship.
The Grizzlies were captained by seniors Olivia Biagiotti and Natalie Bryan this year. Freshman Jordyn Gould finished in seventh place at the Class M State Diving Championship for Guilford.
The Guilford boys’ cross country team saw plenty of success in 2021. The Grizzlies finished in first place at the SCC Hammonasset Division Championship, took third place in the SCC Championship, and then claimed fourth place at the Class L State Championship.
Junior Michael Masotti was All-SCC First Team honoree for Guilford. Senior Justin Shiffrin, sophomore Alex Hansen, and junior Ryan Franchi earned All-SCC Second Team honors.
The Guilford girls’ soccer team finished with an overall record of 9-7-3 and earned berths in both the SCC Tournament and the Class L State Tournament this fall. Guilford defeated Berlin by a 2-1 score in a game that came down to penalty kicks in the opening round of Class L State Tournament before losing to St. Joseph in the second round.
Guilford’s senior class featured Amelia Rattet, Taylor Farace, Brenna Fissell, Gabby Sansone, and Rachel Ellison. Junior Kat Baseggio earned All-SCC First Team honors for the Grizzlies, while junior goalkeeper Ava Lepro made the All-SCC Second Team.
The Guilford girls’ volleyball team finished with a record of 11-10 for the 2021 fall season, qualifying for both the SCC Tournament and the Class L State Tournament. First-year Head Coach Marisa Ceneri’s squad was captained by seniors Talia Turcio, Katie Vale, and Daisy Pope.
The Guilford football team returned to action for the 2021 season after missing out on its 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Grizzlies finished with a 6-4 record and had six players earn recognition as members of the All-SCC Tier 3 Team for their performances this year.
On offense, junior Mike O’Brien made the All-SCC Tier 3 Team as a running back, senior captain Eric Dolmus made it at wide receiver, and junior Luke Carignan made it as an offensive lineman. For defense, Jack O’Brien earned All-SCC Tier 3 honors as a defensive back, senior Eddie Barlage made it at linebacker, and senior Aiden McBrierty was selected as a defensive lineman.