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05/26/2022 12:00 AMBoys’ Tennis
The Valley Regional boys’ tennis team put forth some exceptional performances when the Shoreline Conference tournaments were held at Old Lyme and Morgan on May 23 and 24. The Warriors crowned two singles champions, saw one athlete reach a title match in singles, and also had one of its doubles duos advance to the championship match at the Shoreline tourneys.
Senior Nic Wyszkowski finished in first place for the Shoreline Conference 1-2 Singles Tournament, and senior Hayden Lombardi won the 3-4 Singles Tournament for the Warriors. Senior Jack Whittaker reached the final of the 3-4 Singles Tournament, while the team of senior Kait Matesky and junior Aidan Garrity made it to the final of the Doubles Tournament.
Wyszkowski won three matches in straight sets to advance to the championship match of the Shoreline Conference 1-2 Singles Tournament, including a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Eddie White of Haddam-Killingworth in the semifinals. Then in the final, Wyszkowski won a three-set battle against Joseph Morse of Morgan by the score of 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. Sophomore Thomas Dahl also competed for Valley in the tournament.
Lombardi earned two-straight sets victories to reach the final of the 3-4 Singles Tournament, including a 6-4, 6-4 win over Matt Lopez of Morgan in the semis. Meanwhile, Whittaker won his first two matches in straight sets and then notched a 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 victory against Nick Bausch of Morgan in the semifinals. When the two teammates met up in the final, Lombardi won a 7-5, 6-4 decision versus Whittaker to take the title.
Matesky and Garrity won their first two matches in straight sets and then posted a 6-7, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Micah Bass and Nikolai Stephens-Zumbam of Old Lyme in the semifinals of the Doubles Tournament to make it to the championship match. Then in the final, Matesky and Garrity took a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 defeat against Mason Malchiodi and Ryan Engels of Westbrook.
Valley’s team of sophomore Charlie Whelan and freshman Shep Whitney earned a victory in their first match of the tournament. The team of Sawyer Joy and senior Peter Fitton also competed for the Warriors in the tourney.
Girls’ Tennis
The Valley Regional girls’ tennis team was represented by several athletes when the Shoreline Conference tournaments took place in Old Saybrook and Westbrook on May 23 and 24.
Junior Olivia Baldwin and sophomore Joanna Petrone both won their opening matchups for Valley in the 1-2 Singles Tournament. Sophomore Natalie Novak was victorious in her quarterfinal contest in the 3-4 Singles Tournament to advance into the semifinal round. Sophomore Hannah Schwartzman also competed for the Warriors in the tourney.
Valley was also represented by three teams in the Shoreline Conference Doubles Tournament. The tandems of junior Samara Shankar and sophomore Clara Shea, junior Ashley Cap and junior Fallyn Belisle, and freshman Regan Grow and freshman Alessia Pisanzio all earned a victory in the tournament.
Softball
The Valley Regional softball team took a defeat against Cromwell in the quarterfinals of the Shoreline Conference Tournament last week. On May 23, the No. 8 seed Warriors traveled to Cromwell to face the top-seeded Panthers in the Shoreline quarterfinals and lost the contest by a 5-0 score. Valley has an overall record of 8-12 as the team opens play in the Class M State Tournament this week.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Valley Regional girls’ lacrosse team lost to North Branford in the semifinals of the Shoreline Conference Tournament last week. On May 24, No. 2 seed Valley hosted 3rd-seeded North Branford in the conference semifinals and took a 16-13 defeat against the Thunderbirds. The Warriors own an overall record of 14-3 as they gear up to participate in the Class S State Tournament.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Valley Regional boys’ lacrosse team took a defeat versus Haddam-Killingworth in a Shoreline Conference Tournament semifinal game on May 24. The 4th-seeded Warriors faced No. 1 Haddam-Killingworth on the road in the Shoreline semis and lost to the Cougars by the final score of 10-6. Valley has an overall record of 7-10 as the team gets ready to compete in the Class S State Tournament this week.
Crew
The Valley Regional crew program competed in the Connecticut Public Rowing Association State Championship Regatta at Lake Waramaug in New Preston on May 22. The regatta was a long, all-day event that took place in some extreme heat on the waters of Lake Waramaug.
The Valley Regional boys’ varsity 4 boat finished in third place at the State Championship. The Warriors completed the championship race with a time of 5 minutes and 51 seconds and were just 4 seconds behind the second-place finisher on the six-lane, fully-buoyed, 1,500-meter course. Valley finished behind Avon and Lyme-Old Lyme, while placing ahead of East Lyme, Lewis Mills, and Glastonbury to earn a medal.
The coxswain for the boys’ varsity boat was junior Quentin Baron. Senior Zach Kirla sat in the stroke seat, senior Ian Mackenzie was in the 3 seat, senior Saagar Patel rowed from the 2 seat, and senior Michael Marino held down the bow.
The Warriors’ girls’ varsity 4 boat also competed in the State Championship Regatta. Valley was able advance into the finals after securing its spot during the first heat of the meet.
Junior Erin Brennan was the coxswain for the girls’ varsity boat. Senior Brooke Lavigne rowed from the stroke seat, senior Alexis Massey had the 3 seat, sophomore Mika Carlin sat in the 2 seat, and sophomore Kayleigh Mackenzie was Valley’s bow in the race.
Baseball
The Valley Regional baseball team claimed victory in its first two games of the Shoreline Conference Tournament last week to advance to a matchup versus Old Saybrook in the final. The Warriors earned wins over East Hampton and Cromwell in their first two contests of the Shoreline draw, improving their record to 20-2 on the season and increasing their winning streak to 14-straight games. Valley will compete in the Class M State Tournament after Shorelines.
Top-seeded Valley Regional hosted No. 8 East Hampton for a Shoreline Conference Tournament quarterfinal game on May 23 and defeated the Bellringers by the score of 15-1. The next day, the Warriors faced No. 5 seed North Branford in the Shoreline semifinals and claimed an 8-3 win against the Thunderbirds at Valley Regional High School. With the win, Valley moved on to play Old Saybrook in the Shoreline Conference championship game at Palmer Field on May 27 (after press time). Valley took a 2-1 road loss to Old Saybrook when the teams met up during the regular season on April 18.
Boys’ Golf
The Valley Regional boys’ golf team competed at the Shoreline Conference Championship and then took on two opponents in a regular-season tri-match last week. The Warriors finished in 10th place at Shorelines and then took two defeats in the tri-meet to move to 2-13 with two contests left in the regular season.
Valley came in 10th place by recording a team score of 397 when the Shoreline meet took place at Stanley Golf Course on May 24. Tyler Ruel led the way for the Warriors by finishing in 25th place with a score of 91 for his 18-hole round. Jake Castellano finished in a tie for 33rd place by carding a score of 94. Kevin King finished in 43rd place by shooting a 104, Will Kelly finished with a 108 to take 45th place, and Will McLaughlin finished in 48th with a score of 116.
The next day, Valley hosted East Lyme and Montville for a matchup at the Black Hall Club. The Warriors posted a score of 202 to take a loss to East Lyme (176) and Montville (188) at the meet.
Girls’ Outdoor Track
The Valley Regional girls’ outdoor track team had a good turnout when the Warriors competed at the Runnin’ Rams Invitational at Old Saybrook High School on May 13.
Senior Grace Jacaruso qualified for states in the 400 by running a time of 1:04.36, while freshman Lily Belcher qualified for Shorelines in the long jump by reaching a distance of 13 feet-8 inches. Valley also saw personal-best performances from freshman Campbell Massey in the pole vault (6-0) and the 300 hurdles (59.07), freshman Holly Board in the 800 (2:49.09) and 1600 (5:56.89), freshman Kendall Costello in the 200 (35.46), freshman Ceci Wilkens in the 300 hurdles (54.36), Belcher in the 100 (14.78), and freshman Delny Marsden in the 400 (1:16.64). Valley’s 4x100 relay team of senior Maddie Jacaruso, sophomore Abby Reardon, senior Caroline Hutchinson, and Grace Jacaruso also turned in a personal-best performance with a time of 55.3.
On May 19, the Warriors traveled to Haddam- Killingworth High School to participate in the Shoreline Novice Invitational. Junior Bailey Hilliar took first place in the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles for Valley Regional. Senior Chase Conard claimed top honors in the shot put. Junior Bella Giuliano placed second in the 100 hurdles and was third for the triple jump. Freshman Campbell Massey finished second in the 300 hurdles and the pole vault, Reardon took second in the 200, and sophomore Mimi Siegel finished second in the discus.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
The Valley Regional boys’ outdoor track team was well-represented at the Runnin’ Rams Invitational that took place in Old Saybrook on May 13.
Sophomore Zach Scott recorded personal-best performances in the 1,600 (5:16.95) and the 3,200 (11:23.34), while sophomore Avi Siegel set personal-best marks in both the 800 (2:26.87) and the 3,200 (11:55.7). Freshman Kenny Batt also set a personal best in the 3,200 (11:33) and qualified for Shorelines in the event alongside Siegel. Posting personal-best performances in the field events were freshman Finn Boyles in the triple jump (31-4), freshman Alex Kruzel-Boxwell in the triple jump (29-5), sophomore Zach Knox in the shot put (24-08), and sophomore Jack Driscoll in the high jump (5-4).
Valley went on to compete in the Shoreline Novice Meet at Haddam-Killingworth High School on May 19. Freshman Liam Sarafin won the 300 hurdles and placed third for the 110 hurdles. Batt finished first in the 1,600, while Siegel came in third place in the event. Scott claimed second in the 1,600 and finished third in the 800 for the Warriors.