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05/01/2022 12:00 AM

Branford Girls’ Tennis, Boys’ Golf Stay Undefeated


Senior Justin Acquarulo and the Branford boys’ golf team are sporting a record of 7-0 following recent victories against North Haven and Sheehan. File photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound

Girls’ Tennis

The Branford girls’ tennis team improved to 6-0 this season after netting victories in all three of its matches last week. The Hornets defeated East Haven, Hamden, and Lyman Hall to continue their stellar start to the season.

The Hornets opened up the week by posting a 7-0 shutout in East Haven on April 25. Freshman Peyton Gaudreau claimed a 6-0, 6-0 victory in the No. 1 singles match for Branford. The Hornets also received wins from junior Leila Omeragic (6-2, 6-0) at No. 2 singles, junior Evelyn Mollow (6-0, 6-0) at No. 3 singles, and senior Juliana Torello (6-3, 6-4) at No. 4 singles.

Branford’s No. 1 doubles team of senior Zaide Schlesginer and junior Scout Engstrom earned a 6-4, 7-5 win. The No. 2 team of senior Tiffanie Ly and freshman Erin Newlan won a 6-2, 6-2 decision. Competing in their first matches with Branford, the team of sophomore Ella Kelly and freshman Lynka Orosz notched a 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 10-6 victory in the No. 3 doubles match.

Then on April 28, Branford hosted Hamden and defeated the Green Dragons by a 6-1 score. Gaudreau posted a 6-0, 6-0 win; Omeragic netted a 7-6 (9-7), 10-7 victory; and Molloy was a 6-1, 6-0 winner at the top three singles spots. Branford’s team of Torello and junior Evie Kasier earned a 6-1, 7-5 win at No. 1 doubles; Schlesinger and Engstrom posted a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles; and Ly and Newlan took home a 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles.

The next day, the Hornets played a road match against Lyman Hall and triumphed by the final score of 7-0. Gaudreau (6-0, 6-0), Omeragic (6-4, 6-1), Mollow (6-1, 6-0), and Kelly (6-4, 6-1) were all victorious on the singles courts. Branford’s doubles teams of Torello-Kaiser (6-1, 6-2), Schlesinger-Engstrom (6-0, 6-2), and Ly-Newlan (6-0, 6-1) were also straight-sets victors for the Hornets.

Boys’ Tennis

The Branford boys’ tennis team moved to 5-3 this season after taking three recent defeats.

In its first match of the week, Branford took a 4-3 loss against Xavier at Wesleyan University on April 25. Two days later, the Hornets hosted Guilford and were edged out by a 4-3 score.

Senior William Mollow earned a 6-0, 6-3 victory at No. 2 singles for Branford in its matchup versus Guilford. The Hornets’ No. 2 doubles team of sophomore Luke Baylis and sophomore Dylan Dwyer gutted out a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory; while the No. 3 team of sophomore Matt Law and sophomore Mason Porras won their match by a 6-2, 6-3 score.

Then on April 29, the Hornets took a 7-0 loss to Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University.

Boys’ Golf

The Branford boys’ golf squad raised its record to 7-0 after scoring a pair of victories on the links last week. The Hornets posted wins over North Haven and Sheehan to stay undefeated on the campaign.

Branford teed off its week by claiming a 166-195 home victory against North Haven at Pine Orchard Country Club on April 25. Senior Justin Acquarulo and junior Mike Farricielli both shot a 39 to share medalist honors with North Haven freshman Will Sagnella as the low scorer of the meet. Junior Keegan LaLonde and junior Colin Deane both finished with a score of 44 for the Hornets. Junior Matt Morgan carded a 47, and sophomore Patrick LaLonde shot a 53 for Branford.

On April 27, Branford earned a 180-201 road victory versus Sheehan at Farms Country Club. Keegan LaLonde was the match medalist with a score of 41. Also competing for Branford at the meet were Acquarulo (44), Farricielli (47), Deane (48), Morgan (51), and junior Andrew Verzella (51).

Boys’ Outdoor Track

The Branford boys’ outdoor track team took on Fairfield Prep and North Haven for a tri-meet on April 27. The Hornets swept the meet by earning an 80-70 victory over North Haven and posting a 116-34 win against Fairfield Prep.

Senior Enaji Muhammad finished first in the high jump (5-6) and the triple jump (36-6.5) for the Hornets. Branford also received first-place performances from junior Nathan Chieffo in the 200 (24.0), junior Colin Donohoe in the 800 (2:16.8), senior Peyton Moriarty in the 1,600 (4:54.1), and junior Avery Atkinson in the javelin (141-5).

Girls’ Outdoor Track

The Branford girls’ outdoor track team competed against Lauralton Hall and North Haven in a tri-meet on April 28. The Hornets took losses to both North Haven (70-66) and Lauralton Hall (87-53) to move to 0-6 on the year.

Sophomore Joelle Budz took first place in the 100 (12.4) and the 200 (27.2) at the meet. Sophomore Tess Wasiolek finished first in the 1,600 (5:35.95), while freshman Ella Stone won the long jump (14-6.5). Branford’s 4x100 relay of sophomore Chayse Gueco, junior Sarah Nwagboli, senior Sam Burzynski, and Budz also claimed first place (52.1).

Nwagboli finished second in the 100 (12.8) and the 200 (27.7) for the Hornets. Also placing second were senior Julia Duffy in the 400 (65.7), Wasiolek in the 800 (2:42), freshman ZuZu Pont Strong in the long jump (14-2.5), and Stone for both the high jump (4-4) and the triple jump (29-4). Junior Gianna Piscitelli finished third in the discus (70-2) for Branford. Gueco took third place (12.9) in the 100, and Burzynski finished fifth (13.2) in the event.

Two days later, Branford competed in the O’Grady Relays. At the meet, the Hornets’ 4x200 relay of Gueco, Nwagboli, Duffy, and Budz set a school record by posting a time of 1:50.16 in a fifth-place finish for the event. Branford’s sprint medley relay team of Nwagboli, Budz, Duffy, and Wasiolek finished in fourth place (4:19.18). The 4x100 relay of Gueco, freshman Glorianna Buckley, freshman Djamilla Toukour, and Pont Strong came in 13th place (55.26). Piscitelli competed in the shot put and recorded a top throw of 75-3.

Boys’ Lacrosse

The Branford-East Haven (Bfd-EH) boys’ lacrosse team played one game last week when it hosted Wilbur Cross for a contest on April 28. Bfd-EH notched a 17-4 victory versus the Governors at Branford High School to improve the team’s overall record to 5-5 on the season.

Girls’ Lacrosse

The Branford girls’ lacrosse team played a road game versus Guilford in its lone contest of the week. The Hornets took an 18-4 loss to the Grizzlies at Guilford High School to move to 2-6 this year.

Baseball

The Branford baseball team won one of its three games last week and is now 2-10 on the year.

On April 25, Branford took a 12-1 road loss against Guilford. Junior Austin Rhodes had a hit for Branford in the game.

Two days later, the Hornets hosted Cheshire and lost to the Rams by an 11-1 score. Then on April 29, Branford faced East Haven on the road and claimed an 11-10 victory against the Yellowjackets.