North Haven Athletes Receive All-State Awards
On Dec. 18, several members of the North Haven girls’ swimming and diving team attended the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Banquet at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. The Indians’ athletes were presented with All-State honors for their performances that helped North Haven take first place at the Class M State Championship at Southern Connecticut State University on Nov. 20.
Senior captain Angela Gambardella was named the Most Valuable Player of the Class M State Championship after breaking both meet and school records while winning the 200 individual medley (2:04.62) and the 100 breaststroke (1:02.77) for the third year in a row. Gambardella garnered All-State accolades for her victories in each event.
Junior Maddie Bergin also made All-State in two events by winning the 50 freestyle (24.01) and the 100 freestyle (52.52) for the second-straight season at the Class M State Championship. Bergin went on to set the school record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.90 in her third-place finish at the State Open Championship.
Senior Ava Santacroce received All-State honors by virtue of her second-place performance at the Class M Diving State Championship. Santacroce finished with a score of 402.55 points at the meet.
North Haven also saw two relays earn All-State status after taking first place with school-record times in the Class M meet. The Indians’ 200 medley relay of sophomore Brooke Nebor, Gambardella, freshman Mikayla Rapuano, and Bergin finished first with a time of 1:48.26. The 200 freestyle relay team of Gambardella, sophomore Taya Laborde, junior Riley Jooss, and Bergin posted a time of 1:39.76 to come in first place.
North Haven’s athletes attended the All-State Banquet with Head Coach Martha Phelan and diving coach Bob Lewis.
—Chris Piccirillo