This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
05/22/2022 12:00 AMBoys’ Outdoor Track
The Hand boys’ outdoor track team took first place in four events on its way to placing second as a squad at the SCC East Sectional Championship at Bowen Field on May 19. The Tigers totaled a score of 122.83 points on their way to earning runner-up honors at sectionals, only finishing behind Amity (126) for the top spot.
Senior Morgan Veth took first place in the high jump and the long jump for Hand at the East Sectional Championship. Veth cleared a height of 5 feet-10 inches on his way to winning the high jump and reached a distance of 21-3 to finish first for the long jump.
Sophomore Kyle Hoffman claimed first place in the 400 by running a time of 51.10 seconds in the event. Sophomore Matt Kasper won the triple jump by hitting a distance of 42-0.5.
Junior Nick Montana claimed second place in the 800 (2:01.34) for the Tigers. Hand’s 4x400 relay of senior Paul Odyniec, senior Danny Hilmer, Montana, and Hoffman finished in second place (3:32.53); while the 4x800 relay of junior Harrison Grenier, sophomore Chris Bonavita, senior Jack O’Keefe, and Montana also came in second place (8:20.65).
McGeary took third place in the high jump (5-6) and the finals of the 100 hurdles (15.90), in addition to finishing sixth in the 300 hurdles (45.82). O’Keefe claimed third place in the 3,200 (9:58.14).
Hilmer finished fourth in the 1,600 (4:34.49) and placed sixth in the 800 (2:04.91) for Hand. Senior Ethan O’Brien placed fourth (20-3) in the long jump, and Kasper finished fifth (19-11) in the event. Sophomore Liam Elliott came in fourth place in the finals of the 100 hurdles (16.45). Hoffman took fifth place in the high jump (5-4) for the Tigers.
Hand’s 4x100 relay of Veth, senior Brian Kranzler, senior Mario Mazzarella, and O’Brien finished in fifth place (44.92). Grenier came in sixth place in the 3,200 (10:05.45). Senior Joseph Mazzarella finished sixth in the discus (107-1) and was 10th for the shot put (38-8).
Odyniec finished in fourth place in the 400 (53.87) at sectionals. Senior Alex Hauser finished eighth in the pole vault (10-0) for the Tigers. Sophomore Jacob Merenda took 10th place in the 800 (2:10.55), senior Samuel Stiewing placed 10th in the 1,600 (4:46.76), and senior Jackson Malary finished 10th in the javelin (124-3).
Girls’ Outdoor Track
The Hand girls’ outdoor track team saw its 4x400 relay take first place when the Tigers competed in the SCC East Sectional Championship last week. The Tigers finished in eighth place by scoring 45 points at Bowen Field on May 17.
Hand’s 4x400 relay quartet of junior Michelle Jiang, junior Vivian Glaser, sophomore Martha McFadden, and junior Julia Coric recorded a time of 4:15.92 on its way to finishing first at sectionals. Senior Meryl Sullivan finished third in the 1,600 (5:25.54), while Coric claimed fourth place in the 400 (1:01.99) for the Tigers.
Jordan Kells placed fifth in the 800 (2:32.99) for Hand at the sectional meet. Senior Aria Foligno finished fifth in the 200 (27.25) and took seventh in the finals of the 100 hurdles (13.17).
Hand’s 4x100 relay of Jiang, McFadden, junior Maya Blomberg, and Foligno came in sixth place (53.05). The 4x800 relay of freshman Amanda Coric, Kells, sophomore Ava Davies, and Glaser also finished in sixth (10:48.16).
Senior Riley Caruso and freshman Alexis Kuszpa finished in a tie for sixth in the pole vault after both athletes cleared 7 feet. Jiang finished sixth (1:03.94) and was followed by McFadden in ninth (1:04.62). Senior Juliana Powell finished seventh in the high jump (4-8). Freshman Kylee Bolding came in 10th place in the 3,200 (13:39.52).
Boys’ Tennis
The Hand boys’ tennis team earned a regular-season victory against Cheshire and then netted a win against Branford in its first match of the SCC Tournament last week. The Tigers are sporting an overall mark of 17-1 as they head into their conference semifinal match with Guilford. Hand will then compete in the Class L State Tournament after the SCC Tournament.
On May 16, Hand claimed a 7-0 road win versus Cheshire. Sophomore Elliott Booth earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles for the Tigers. Senior Max Gulla posted a 6-0, 6-0 shutout at No. 2 singles; while sophomore Matt Vetter won a 6-1, 6-0 decision at No. 3 singles. Hand’s doubles teams of senior Will de Chabert and senior Will Fumex, senior Robbie Washburne and senior Patrick Hennessey, and senior Ethan Speerli and sophomore Will Dodd all won their contests by the score of 6-0, 6-0.
Then on May 21, the top-seeded Tigers hosted No. 8 Branford in the SCC Tournament quarterfinals and notched a 7-0 victory over the Hornets. Hand faced No. 5 seed Guilford in the SCC semifinals on May 23 (after press time). With a win, the Tigers would have played the winner of No. 2 Fairfield Prep and No. 3 Amity in the final of the SCC Tournament at Amity High School on May 24 (after press time).
Girls’ Tennis
The Hand girls’ tennis team won three of its four home matches to wrap up the regular season and then took a loss versus Lauralton Hall in its SCC Tournament opener last week. The Tigers have an overall mark of 11-7 entering the Class M State Tournament.
Hand took a 7-0 home loss against Amity on May 16. The next day, the Tigers hosted Sacred Heart Academy and won the contest by a 7-0 score.
Then on May 18, Hand edged out Cheshire by a 4-3 final in a home match. Junior Laila Haraj-Sai won her No. 2 singles match by a 6-0, 6-1 score for the Tigers. Hand’s No. 1 doubles team of senior Breanna Colonese-DiBello and senior Zhu Zhu Berger earned a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 victory; the No. 2 duo of senior Bella Vejar and junior Libby Rogers netted a 6-3, 6-0 win; and the No. 3 tandem of senior Ella Scarice and sophomore Teagan Ariyan triumphed by the score of 6-2, 7-6.
The day after, the Tigers notched a 6-1 win over Jonathan Law on Senior Night at Daniel Hand High School. Senior Claire Langille rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory in the No. 1 singles match for Hand. Haraj-Sai posted a 6-0, 6-0 shutout at No. 2 singles; freshman Ella Helfrich won a 6-2, 6-0 decision at No. 3 singles; and Juliana Jorens earned a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles. Colonese-DiBello and Berger netted a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 1 doubles; and the team of Vejar and Rogers won their No. 2 doubles contest by a 6-0, 6-1 score.
On May 21, No. 4 seed Hand took a 4-3 home loss against No. 5 Lauralton Hall in an SCC quarterfinal match. Helfrich (6-1, 6-0) and Jorens (6-4, 6-3) prevailed at No. 3 and 4 singles, respectively; while the team of Vejar and Rogers (6-3, 6-1) was victorious at No. 2 doubles.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Hand boys’ lacrosse squad was victorious in its final two games of the regular season, after which the Tigers defeated Foran in their opening game of the SCC Tournament last week. Hand is sporting an overall record of 14-3 entering its SCC semifinal showdown versus Cheshire this week. The Tigers will then participate in the Class M State Tournament following SCCs.
Hand kicked off its week by netting a 16-8 road victory versus Simsbury on May 17. Two days later, the Tigers were back on the road to face Guilford and defeated the Grizzlies by the score of 13-7.
Then on May 21, No. 3 seed Hand hosted No. 6 Foran for an SCC quarterfinal game and claimed an 18-3 victory against the Lions. Junior Will Kleine had 5 goals and 3 assists, while junior Sam Sisk scored 4 goals to go with 3 assists for the Tigers. Freshman PJ O’Hanlon scored 4 goals, junior Jameson McParland had 2 goals and 2 assists, and senior Patch Flanagan netted 2 goals. Senior Seth Sweitzer had 2 assists, senior Jack Balletto recorded an assist, and senior Kevin Sandor added a goal. Sophomore Jack Orlando made 7 saves in net for Hand.
Hand played at No. 2 seed Cheshire in the SCC semifinals on May 24 (after press time). With a victory, the Tigers would play the winner of top-seeded Fairfield Prep and No. 4 Notre Dame-West Haven in the SCC championship game at Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School on Thursday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Hand girls’ lacrosse team claimed a victory versus Mercy in its regular-season finale before earning a win over Sacred Heart Academy in the quarterfinals of the SCC Tournament last week. The Tigers, who have also qualified for the Class M State Tournament, have an overall record of 11-6 heading into their SCC semifinal matchup against Guilford.
Hand earned a 22-5 win against Mercy in its regular-season finale at the Surf Club on May 17. Then on May 21, No. 4 seed Hand hosted No. 5 Sacred Heart Academy for an SCC quarterfinal game and defeated the Sharks by the score of 11-3.
Hand played at No. 1 seed Guilford in the semifinals of the SCC Tournament on May 24 (after press time). If the Tigers win, they will play the winner of No. 2 Cheshire and No. 3 Amity for the title at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 26 at Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School.
Softball
The Hand softball earned a split in its last four games of the regular season to finish with a record of 11-9. The Tigers will be competing in the SCC Tournament this week and then have the Class L State Tournament after that.
Hand claimed a 19-1 road win against Hillhouse on May 17. The next day, the Tigers were back on the road to face Branford and defeated the Hornets by the score of 18-4. Hand finished the regular season by playing two home games against Norwich Free Academy on May 19. The Tigers took a 6-3 defeat in the first game and lost the second contest by the score of 16-11.
Hand is the No. 6 seed in the SCC Tournament and played at No. 3 Guilford in the quarterfinals on May 23 (after press time). With a win, the Tigers would haved faced the winner of No. 2 Jonathan Law and No. 7 Amity in the semis on May 24 (after press time). The SCC final takes place at Biondi Field at West Haven High School on Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m.
Baseball
The Hand baseball team finished the regular season with a record of 12-8 after winning one of its three games last week. The Tigers have qualified for the SCC Tournament and the Class L State Tournament.
Hand took a 3-2 loss to Sheehan in a home game on May 16. Sophomore Ben Kuja went 2-for-2 with an RBI and 2 stolen bases for the Tigers. Senior Axl Pildner hit a double in the contest.
Two days later, the Tigers claimed a 12-3 road victory over Hamden to qualify for SCCs. Sophomore Will Patla went 4-for-4 with a double, a 2-run home run, and 3 RBI for Hand. Junior Troy Piascik had 3 hits and 3 runs scored, senior Evan Mastrobattisto had 2 hits with 4 RBI, and Pildner had 2 hits with 3 runs scored in the win.
Senior Ryan Knight took the start on the mound and picked up the win for Hand. Sophomore Brandon SanMarco, senior Will Kranzler, and sophomore Johnny Reh all pitched in relief to finish off the victory.
Hand went on to take a 15-5 defeat at Xavier in its regular-season finale on May 19. The Tigers are the No. 5 seed in the SCC Tournament and played at No. 4 Lyman Hall in the quarterfinals on May 23 (after press time). With a win, the Tigers would have faced the winner of No. 1 Xavier and No. 8 North Haven in the semis on May 24 (after press time). The SCC final takes place at Piurek Field at West Haven High School on Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m.
Boys’ Golf
The Hand boys’ golf team moved to 8-4 on the campaign after earning a split of two home matches last week.
On May 16, the Tigers posted a 166-168 home victory versus Amity at Madison Country Club. Junior Reece Scott and junior Matt Gagliardi both shot a 41 for Hand in the win. Senior David Ginsburg and freshman Matthew McManus both carded a score of 42 to help the Tigers edge out the Spartans.
Two days later, Hand hosted Fairfield Prep and took a 161-167 defeat against the Jesuits. Gagliardi finished with a score of 38 for the Tigers. Scott scored a 40, and Ginsburg posted a score of 41.
Girls’ Golf
The Hand girls’ golf team moved to 3-8-2 on the season after winning one of its three matchups last week.
Hand claimed a 231-263 road win over East Lyme at Old Lyme Country Club on May 16. The day after that, the Tigers lost to Norwich Free Academy by the score of 214-242 at Norwich Golf Course.
Hand closed out the week with a 194-214 home loss versus Cheshire at Madison Country Club on May 18. Sophomore Charlie Lee recorded the Tigers’ low score of the match with a 43. Senior Lila Sullivan shot a 52, senior Megan Kuck finished with a 59, sophomore Bianca Sander posted a 60, and senior Kelly Fay finished with a 64.
Boys’ Volleyball
The Hand boys’ volleyball team took home losses in its final three matches of the regular season to finish with a record of 3-14.
On May 16, the Tigers lost to Oxford by a 3-1 score in a home match. Then on May 18, Hand hosted Newtown and dropped a 3-2 decision in the contest. The next day, the Tigers took a 3-2 defeat versus Brookfield at Daniel Hand High School.