2010 All New Britain High School Athletes

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AN EDITION OF THE

Special All-Herald wrap-around section celebrates our star athletes

SUNDAY

HERALD PRESS

The best is right here

Chris Richie | Staff

Berlin running back Max DeLorenzo, a member of our All-Herald Football Team, rushes for a touchdown against New Britain. Our entire list of All-Herald teams are inside today’s paper.

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All-Herald Football

2 | Sunday, December 26, 2010

10

20

30

Max DeLorenzo Berlin RB

New Britain WR

Berlin OL | DL

Southington OL | DL

Jonathan Snyder

Jordan Chapman

Joe Dellaquila

Kevin Spence

Dave Czmyr

Newington QB

Southington WR | DB

Berlin OL | DL

Mike Perno

50

Tony Lopizzo Plainville QB

Kian Downes

40

Plainville OL | DL

Enjan Mullaj

Plainville OL | DL

All-Herald Football Team Southington leads way with seven picks, Berlin, Plainville net five selections

By MATT STRAUB SPORTS EDITOR

The hardest part of picking the 2010 All-Herald football team wasn’t whittling down the list of players, our staff and the coaches did that reasonably well. The challenge was to limit the players to individual positions, since so many of our best athletes played all over the field. Our team has the numbers to just about fill out a full squad, but our team has the depth and versatility to play multiple positions.

Every football team needs a great quarterback, and we have two. Newington didn’t win a ton of games this season, but quarterback Jon Snyder put up one of the greatest seasons in Indians’ history. The junior broke the school record for completions in a season, passing yards in a game (307), completion percentage and yards in a season.

He converted 57 percent of his attempts, had 10 touchdowns and 1,608 yards. He also rushed for six touchdowns. And he’ll be back next year.

So will Plainville’s Tony Lopizzo.

The junior was responsible for 11 touchdowns this season while set-

Chris Richie | Staff

Quarterback Jonathan Snyder broke several school records at Newington.

ting the school mark for rushing yards by a quarterback at 578, averaging nearly seven yards a carry. His six passing touchdowns don’t seem like much, but when you consider that Plainville passed it on just one of every seven plays, you can see he was efficient with his passing scores.

More importantly, he was Plainville’s leader, helping will Plainville to its first playoff run since 1997.

Our backfield begins with Max DeLorenzo. Berlin’s running back will be heading to UConn next year, but not before one of the great high school seasons ever, in which he ammased 2,154 yards on eight yards a carry, good for just under 180 yards a game. He scored 26 touchdowns this season, a number greater than some teams. He led the state in yards per game and was

second in rushing TDs. His running mate on our team is Plainville’s Chris Kuzia. We needed a fullback, and we needed to look no further than Plainville’s workhorse, who was also the defensive player of the year for his team at defensive end. He helped make room for Plainville’s host of running backs and was the team’s power runner all season. His nine sacks and 78 tackles made him a force on the other side of the ball as well.

We have a pair of wideouts on this offense that help make it very dangerous. Southington’s Tyler Dube had over 900 receiving yards this year and averaged better than 18 yards a catch and 90 yards per game for the Blue Knights. He caught 50 balls and had 10 touchdowns this season as well.

On the other side of our dream formation is New Britain senior Kian Downes, who was a light in an otherwise dim season for the Hurricanes.

“Kian comes ready to play every week,” former coach Paul Morrell said earlier this season. “He’s been asked to do so much for us — some H-back stuff, tight end, inside slot receiver and wideout. On defense,

he’s played safety, [inside] linebacker and outside linebacker. He’s done pretty well with everything we’ve given him.”

At tight end is Southington junior Andrew Walowski, who averaged nearly 16 yards a catch and had a five-catch, 84-yard performance against Cheshire on Thanksgiving morning. He had three scores and four games with at least one catch of 20 or more yards. Also a fine defensive player, he will be heard from again next year.

We’re going to skip over the line of scrimmage itself for now (we’ll get to all those two-way linemen in a minute) and focus on the back of the defense first. There are five linebackers on our list, though several of them saw time at other spots as well. Berlin’s defense was dominant at times this season in part because of a strong group of linebackers.

Senior Frank Murphy tallied an average of seven tackles a game, but could also get to the quarterback, as evidenced by his two sacks in the playoffs against Hillhouse. His 13-tackle effort in a rout of Rocky Hill highlighted a stellar season that totaled 77 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

Sunday, December 26, 2010 | 3

The Herald Press

Mason Powers

30

Elijah Yopp

Berlin FB | LB

Frank Murphy Berlin LB

20

10

New Britain LB

Plainville FB | DL

Chris Kuzia

Nick Gothberg

Matt O’Connor

Nick Pettinelli

Ross Zettergren

Andrew Walowski

Dan Manware

New Britain OT | LB

Plainville LB

Southington DB

Southington TE | LB

Southington LB

Southington DL

All-Herald Football

40

All-Herald Football Team Continued

Teammate Mason Powers, another senior, averaged 8.9 tackles a game, good for fifth in the CCC. He finished the year with 98 tackles from the inside linebacker spot, including 81 solo tackles, which is a new school record. A high honors student and an academic all-conference pick, he used his intellect to be in the right place at the right time.

New Britain’s Elijah Yopp, another senior, gave everything he had during a long season for the Golden Hurricanes. His finest hour was in the team’s only win of the year, when he had two sacks on a day when the defense held Newington under 100 yards. An athletic, sideline-tosideline player, Yopp was a big part of the team’s defense.

Junior Matt O’Connor was in the top three on his team in just about every defensive statistic. He finished the season with 60 tackles, 27 of which were solo takedowns

(Walowski led the team with more than eight tackles a game), and also played a part in three sacks on the year. He picked off a couple of passes to boot, making his game a good all-around one.

Plainville’s Ross Zettergren, a senior, did it all this season for the Devils. He was a receiver, a running back who had a 100-yard game this year, and a linebacker who finished the season with 75 tackles and three interceptions as Plainville completed one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in state football history.

A four-year honor roll student, he won the coach’s award this year.

He would also make a fine defensive back along with Dube, who led Southington with seven picks this year.

When we needed a third defensive back, or if we wanted Zettergren as part of the front seven in a certain package, we’d give the nod to a

pair of Southington stars. Jordan Chapman, who is also the kicker for our team, had five interceptions and 32 tackles this season. He kicked a field goal and had 18 extra points as well for Southington.

Nick Gothberg, a senior from Southington who can also handle our punting duties (if we ever had to punt with the offense we’ve constructed) had 70 tackles and three interceptions this season. He was all over the place for Southington, and we can find more than one use for him on our team.

The linemen each have two jobs — block for our backs and keep our quarterbacks upright, then turn around and pressure the quarterback of any team brave enough to compete against ours.

You would have to be especially brave to go against Plainville’s Kevin Spence. The senior is also one of the best wrestlers in the state, which is

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Chris Richie | Staff

Southington’s Tyler Dube made the All-Herald team as a WR and DB.

why he won Plainville High’s most outstanding player. A left guard and defensive end, he was Plainville’s unquestioned emotional leader.

Teammate David Czmyr is another senior and lined up right next to Spence, playing left tackle and keeping Lopizzo safe. Also a nose guard, he did the dirty work this season for Plainville on the line.

With those two on the left side for us, we’ll put a pair of Berlin big men on the right, though we could easily flip flop. Mike Perno, who

played guard in his senior year, is now a two-time All-Herald pick who plans to play in college next year. Joe Dellaquila played left tackle and defensive end, and the thought of him on the other end of the line from Spence is a scary one.

Senior Nick Pettinelli was an anchor for New Britain’s lines this year as an offensive tackle and we can use him at linebacker, too.

Southington senior Enjan Mullaj was an offensive lineman who also contributed mightily as a defensive end, so we’ll have a good rotation going with our front three or four on defense as well as our O-line.

And last but not least is junior defensive end Dan Manware, who had 36 tackles this year and a fumble recovery. At 6-foot-4, he gives us an intimidating presence as well.

Not that our team needs it. Just seeing it on paper would scare any opponent.

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4 | Sunday, December 26, 2010

All-Herald Boys Soccer Team Record-setting season for our all-star team

By JOE FORTUNATO STAFF WRITER

New Britain D

Jared Silverman Berlin M

Daquan King Plainville F

Kyle Kurecka Berlin G

Connor Hilbie Berlin M

Raul Canales

Goodwin Tech F

a game for the Gladiators, and was a big part of their successful attacks throughout the season. Canales finished his career with 70 goals and 28 assists. He will attend Manchester Community College next year.

Plainville’s star striker, Daquan King, turned a lot of heads with his 16 goals and nine assists this season.

His goal total led all scorers in Class M. King was a captain for the Blue Devils this year and earned All-State honors for his performance. King creates music in his free time.

Southington’s Gregory Smedberg led the attacking charge for the Blue Knights this season. Barcelona’s super striker David Villa is his favorite player, which fits in perfectly with his four-goal and two-assist performance in Southington’s 6-1 victory over Northwest Catholic. He earned All-Conference honors this year.

Smedberg plans on playing soccer at Rhode Island College next year.

Berlin’s Jared Silverman is the final

Kevin Ciotto Plainville G

Arek Wrobel

Goodwin Tech M

Zach Giaccone Berlin D

Sebastian Stezewski New Britain M

Greg Smedberg Allen Mehmedovic Southington F

striker to make our All-Herald team.

Silverman finished the year with 11 goals and three assists. Silverman earned All-Conference honors for his performance, and won Berlin’s “golden boot award,” given to the team’s top offensive player. Silverman played a vital role in Berlin’s run through states, scoring three goals.

He finished the year with six gamewinning or game-tying goals.

Plainville center-midfielder Allen

Plainville M

Mehmedovic was another key player in the Blue Devils success this year.

Mehmedovic notched eight goals and nine assists this season, earning All-Conference honors in the process. Mehmedovic says his best game was against Bulkeley this season when he scored the gamewinning goal with three minutes left in the contest.

Arek Wrobel is the other Goodwin Tech representative on our

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It’s a good thing that the local boys soccer season wasn’t a set of fine china. If it were, with all the records that were broken, the coaches and players would be eating off paper plates for weeks.

That’s the type of year it was for the local soccer squads and the AllHerald selections for 2010. Many of our picks either personally set or were part of teams which broke some type of record.

The Goodwin Tech Gladiators finished the regular season a perfect 16-0, the first time in program history they finished a season without a single blemish.

The Berlin Redcoats waltzed into the Class L State Tournament as a 13-seed, and were written off by many critics. But the Redcoats surged, and made it all the way to the semifinals before falling to topseeded Bunnell in the second round of penalty kicks. It was the first time in program history Berlin had ever gone past the quarterfinals.

Plainville’s keeper Kevin Ciotto was a big part of the Blue Devils success this year. The senior recorded 10 shutouts, breaking the previous school record of nine. He also finished the year with an eye-popping .60 GAA, which was the best in the state. His play helped lead Plainville to a first-round win in the Class M first round. Ciotto was All-CCC. Berlin’s Kyle Kureczka rounds out the goalies on this year’s team.

Kureczka had equally jaw-dropping numbers, finishing with a .65 GAA and 10 shutouts. He conceded just one goal in Berlin’s entire run through states (not including the penalties against Bunnell), and was a rock for the Redcoats all year.

He was All-CCC and has started since he was a sophomore. Kureczka expects to play soccer in college; he is looking at Salve and Assumption.

Raul Canales leads the All-Herald strikers. Canales was an integral part of Goodwin Tech’s 16-0 record, notching 21 goals and 11 assists on the year. Canales averaged 1.3 goals

team. Wrobel played midfield for the Gladiators and was an immense part of their attack, finishing the year with 15 goals and 12 assists.

His favorite sports team is Liverpool and his favorite athlete is Michael Owen.

Sebastian Stezewski anchored the midfield for the New Britain Hurricanes, and engineered their attack in transition. His success this year earned him All-State honors.

His favorite professional player is Christiano Ronaldo, and his favorite team is Manchester United.

Connor Hilbie was the architect behind most of Berlin’s offensive runs this season. Hilbie finished the year with three goals and 11 assists, and had countless second-touches on goals that don’t earn assists. He was an All-Conference player, and was a key component in Berlin’s run through states. His favorite player is Landon Donovan.

Berlin might have had a ton of success on the attacking side of the ball, but don’t let that overshadow their defensive accomplishments.

Enter Zach Giaccone, who played sweeper for the Redcoats this year.

Giaccone was a rock for Berlin defensively. His work contributed to 10 shutout performances and only 14 goals conceded in 20 games.

Giaccone says his best game this season was Berlin’s home game against Plainville in which he made a diving, heading save with 10 seconds left to preserve a 0-0 tie.

Michal Osowiecki anchored the New Britain defense this season. He played sweeper for the Hurricanes and earned scholar player awards for his efforts. His best game was against Farmington where he won an astounding 95 percent of headballs, in a 1-0 victory.

There were a lot of victories for our All-Herald picks this year, and a lot of records, too.

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All-Herald Volleyball Team All-Herald Cross Country Team

By ANTHONY DELLA CALCE STAFF WRITER

Narrowing the All-Herald girls volleyball team to seven members proved to be an especially difficult task this year as our area is chock full of talented players.

Five players earned Athlete of the Week honors from the Herald during the fall season — not surprisingly, all of them made the cut as they had more than just one outstanding week.

In fact, there were lots of outstanding seasons to go around. Five of the six teams in the area made the state tournament behind the efforts of a plethora of standout individuals, including multiple all-conference honorees.

Southington won its third straight outright conference title, going undefeated in the CCC West, and claimed back-to-back CCC tournament titles thanks to another crop of decorated players. Junior Tory Broytman was a first-team all-state selection and senior Elsie Bernaiche was a second-team all-state selection.

Broytman led the high-powered Southington attack in kills and was third on the team in aces and blocks.

But it wasn’t just the numbers she put up on the court that earned her recognition, it was how she carried herself off court that impressed as well. The Connecticut Board of Volleyball Officials selected her for their Sportsmanship award.

Capable of playing multiple positions, Bernaiche was all over the court. The senior captain led the team in digs and service receptions and was also second in assists. She left a historic mark her last time on the court as a high school volleyball player by becoming the first

in the state. Following a seventhplace finish at the Class LL meet, he placed 11th at the Open, his Most of us probably view a best race of the season. The senior stroll through the country as a went on to take 20th at the New leisurely activity. But this pair of England championships. For his runners takes another performances, he was view. When they lace named all-state and up their sneakers, they Southington’s team head off to traverse the MVP. outdoor terrain as fast as Wilcox, a team they can. captain, placed fourth And more often than overall at the CCC not, Southington’s Bryan championships and Wilcox and New Britain’s second amongst CCC Aneta Strumilowska Bryan Wilcox West competitors, have among the best earning all-conferSouthington times on the course. ence honors.

They have established Strumilowska also themselves as our area’s Aneta Strumilowska ran down all-conferbest high school cross ence honors thanks New Britain country racers by being to her top-notch the only ones to make the State performance at the CCC chamOpen this season. pionships. She finished third in Wilcox is a repeat winner, earn- the CCC West and 13th overing All-Herald honors for the all. At the Class LL meet, she second consecutive season. Not placed 21st, earning her a spot in only was he one of the best in the State Open. The future looks the CCC, he was one of the best bright for the sophomore.

By ANTHONY DELLA CALCE STAFF WRITER

Kaitlyn Cantafi Berlin

Ashley Thibeault New Britain

Sabah Islam Newington

Victoria Broytman

Southington

Roxy DeBlois Newington

Natasha Carlbert Elsie Bernaiche Southington

Southington player to be named MVP of the senior all-star game.

Her teammate and fellow senior captain Natasha Carlbert was also selected to play in the senior all-star game. A threat to score at the service line or at the net, Carlbert led Southington in aces and was second in kills.

When Newington needed a player to finish a point, it turned to Roxy DeBlois. The junior averaged an impressive 13 to 14 kills per game.

Her emergence as an offensive juggernaut helped make up for the

Southington

graduation of all-state player Mariah Roussel.

Sabah Islam’s play was also a big reason why Newington was never an easy out. The senior captain amassed about 250 assists — a number that likely would have doubled had Newington played an offense with one setter instead of two. She was also a strong server, leading the team in aces and serve percentage. In a game against Windsor this season, Islam reeled off 16 straight points.

Also a senior captain,New Britain’s Ashley Thibeault shined in what-

ever role she was asked to perform.

When she needed to step back and set up a teammate, she did. When she needed to step up and deliver a big point, she did that, too. Thibeault led the Golden Hurricanes in service points and kills.

Berlin’s leader in kills was Kaitlyn Cantafi. But the senior did more than just pound the hardwood with spikes. She was also second on the

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team in digs and aces and possessed the team’s best serving percentage.

Like all seven members of the AllHerald girls volleyball team, Cantafi was an all-conference selection. Two, Thibeault and Bernaiche, earned that honor for the second time.

With their selection this year, Thibeault, Bernaiche and Carlbert garnered All-Herald status in backto-back seasons.

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6 | Sunday, December 26, 2010

All-Herald Girls Soccer Team Defense the name of the game for our area all-star squad

By MATT STRAUB SPORTS EDITOR

The area’s girls soccer teams were competitive this season in large part because of their defenses. And many of them were more than competitive. Plainville won nine games.

Southington had five wins and five ties against a brutal schedule. Berlin compiled 11 victories and split a pair of 1-0 games in the states.

Newington shocked Amity on the road in the LL opener by holding the home team scoreless.

So it makes sense that we start our breakdown of the 2010 AllHerald girls soccer team with a look at the best defensive players.

New Britain’s Malgorzata Chwatko didn’t have the type of stats you’d typically look for in a goalkeeper on this list, but thankfully we looked beyond the numbers.

New Britain gave up a bunch of goals this season, but the total would have been much higher if not for Chwatko, who had one of the best save percentages in the state, according to coach Margaret Coates. Her highlight was a 20-save outing on senior night. The UConn-bound NBHS student athlete of the year is a National Honor Society member and a part of the math team. Which is a good thing, since we’ll need someone to count all those saves.

Another senior, Jessica Walker of Plainville, is also worthy of this honor for playing well in goal in constantly challenging circumstances. The Blue Devils were part of eight one-goal games this year, winning three, and also had a tie.

She won back-to-back 1-0 games early in the year and kept Plainville in games until the offense exploded by the middle of October. An avid baker, Walker got to come out of the net and score a goal on senior night in a win over Bulkeley.

Even the best goalkeepers need a great back line in front of them, and our team has a terrific one.

Newington’s Marissa St. Pierre, a junior, will be a captain next year and showed why in 2010, helping lead the Newington defense. An allconference selection this year, she was a big part of the defense that had seven shutouts this season and also had three straight games in which it

Marissa St. Pierre Newington D

Malgorzata Chwatko New Britain G

Jessica Walker Plainville G

Heather O’Bright New Britain D

No photo available

Kristy Solomon Southington D

Jillian Newton Plainville M

Dayna Gambino Newington M

Anna Chmura Berlin D | M

No photo available

Lexxi Carroll

Plainville M | F

Erica Kosienski Southington F

gave up just one goal a game. The biggest shutout came against Amity, when the defense held the fort until the Indians scored with a minute to go. St. Pierre should be one of the best defenders around next year.

Berlin’s Anna Chmura was another all-conference player, but her accolades went further. The senior was part of the CHSCA Senior Bowl in 2010, but it was an honor given to her before the season that might have meant the most. She was named a captain this season and her leadership was a key factor in Berlin’s stellar defensive season that included an eight-game stretch to start the season in which the Redcoats allowed just three goals. They finished the regular season with 11 shutouts, a fine way for Chmura to end her career.

Bianca Jacques Shannon Murphy Berlin F

Southington’s Kristy Solomon was another terrific defender, but showed her versatility this season by scoring a key goal on a free kick that helped Southington hang in its state tournament game at Staples. She also had a key goal in a late-season tie against Hall that helped ensure the Blue Knights would be in the postseason. Southington came from 2-0 down that day as Solomon scored one of her three goals on direct kicks this year. Another allconference pick, Solomon did it all this year.

Our last defender is New Britain’s Heather O’Bright, who helped Chwatko keep the ball out of the net whenever possible. A stopper and sweeper, the senior captain was a four-year starter who won the Coach’s Award this

Berlin M

season. Her high moment came in a game against Hall, when Chwatko was caught out of the net and she sprinted behind to keep the ball from crossing the line. But perhaps her most impressive statistic is that she never missed a day of school. At any level. Ever.

A good team needs to be able to transition between offense and defense, and our midfielders can do it all.

Newington’s Dayna Gambino played the center midfield and will be one of the anchors on our team.

On her way to St. Joe’s to play soccer and lacrosse, Gambino scored the game-winner in Newington’s upset of Amity. Also a talented basketball player, Gambino led the soccer team with eight goals and five assists this year.

Jillian Newton of Plainville is a junior who can play forward or midfield. An All-State and all-conference player, Newton had seven goals and 12 assists for the Blue Devils in 2010. Her highlight might have been a game-winner against Middletown, but she was a great player all season for Plainville.

Berlin’s Shannon Murphy had numbers and achievements, but the easiest way for us to define her greatness this year is to let her coach, Steve Yanosy, tell you about her. Berlin got a big shutout victory in September over Plainville and Murphy was a key factor defensively.

“Shannon really controlled the middle of the field for us,” Yanosy said that day.

It was not an uncommon occurrence.

Berlin sophomore Bianca Jacques “caused” a key goal in that game, according to Yanosy, by managing to work the ball into the box and create pressure on the defense.

That’s something the first striker on our team did quite often this season and will likely do for a long time in red and white. A three-sport athlete, she already has a four-goal game in lacrosse and now an All-Herald selection in soccer to her credit.

Southington’s Erica Kosienski had plenty of big numbers this year. She scored 14 goals, good enough for All-State and all-conference selections. She also had some signature moments, including a game-winner at Newington and the other goal in that big comeback against Hall, teaming with Solomon. And the most incredible part of her stellar season? She did it all as only a sophomore.

Last but not least is Plainville offensive dynamo Lexxi Carroll.

The junior scored 13 goals and tallied nine assists this year, but her most noteworthy feat of the year is that she has been offered and accepted a scholarship to play for Rhode Island in two years. A forward and outside midfielder, she was all-conference and is already a three-year starter.

She’ll be doing it again next year.

It seems like our teams will still be full of talent on both ends of the field.

Sunday, December 26, 2010 | 7

The Herald Press

All-Herald Girls Swim Team Our sensational seven all-star team shined in the pool this year

ALL-HERALD HONORABLE MENTION Girls Volleyball Name School Victoria Munson Southington Danielle Kaminsky Southington Veronica Wojtaszek New Britain Amanda McLeod Berlin Abby Barnicle Newington Justine Walicki Plainville Girls Soccer Name Dana Hebert Jenna Brousseau Lauren Mankowski Nina Altieri Sydney Jones

School Berlin Berlin Plainville New Britain Newington

Cross Country Name Matt Walker Kyle Hamel Tim Brown Ted Randich Kaylene Sylvain Brittany Sullivan Kaylie McNally Melissa Reid

School Southington Southington Southington Newington Berlin Berlin Newington Southington

Swimming Name Emily Zuckerman Joanna Wajton Amanda Mirando Haley Marquardt Melanie Mongillo

School Plainville Berlin Southington Southington Southington

team BRIANA CASS...

Congratulations to you, our superstar! You are simply amazing! Be proud of yourself for all your accomplishments!

We love you!

Mom, Dad & Sean

Briana Cass Berlin

Kate Piotrowicz Berlin

Hannah Martin Newington

Laurel Dean

Alyssa Mills

Rachael Thatcher

Sarah Basile

Southington

Newington

rated the two juniors.

But that’s not all. Piotrowicz led off the 200 and 400 free relays while Cass anchored them, helping the Redcoats finish in the top 10 in both. The duo, which shared the team’s coach’s award this sea-

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son, helped Berlin finish ninth overall in Class M. In Class L, Martin is a name likely to be heard from more and more in the years to come. Only a freshman, the Newington standout was the fastest 50 freestyler

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She also qualified for states in the 100 breaststroke, her best event, and as a member of her team’s 200 medley relay and 400 free relay, where she swam the anchor leg.

Thatcher competed for Newington in those same three events at states. But where the senior captain really set herself apart was with her stroke diversity.

She was the area’s best individual medley performer, turning in a lifetime best time at the Class L meet.

A two-time all-conference honoree, Thatcher qualified for states all four years of her high school career, and as a junior, was a member of Newington’s school record-setting 200 medley relay team. She plans to continue swimming in college.

The title of best area breaststroker goes to Southington’s Laurel Dean. Also just a freshman, there looks to be more success in store for this talented swimmer. She was the Blue Knights’ best individual finisher at the Class LL meet and garnered her team’s Rookie of the Year award.

In addition to competing in the 100 breaststroke at states, she also swam the second leg for Southington’s 200 medley and 200 free relay teams.

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Hour after hour spent in their high school pool. Swim after swim spent perfecting every aspect of their stroke. Dive after dive spent perfecting every detail of their form.

It’s all in an effort to be at their very best in the biggest meets of the year. And those who made this year’s All-Herald girls swimming and diving team were just that.

From the area’s fastest freestyle

sprinters to the area’s best diver, here are the girls who were wonderful in the water this season.

Plainville’s Alyssa “Millie” Mills added to her ever-growing pile of high school athletic achievements by breaking the 27-year-old school record in diving and winning the Class S state title in the event.

The nine-time All-Herald honoree was the only area swimmer to make the State Open, where she dove into seventh place.

The senior captain was also a member of Plainville’s 200-yard freestyle relay team at states. She is considering taking up diving or track in college.

Mills’ teammate, Sarah Basile, competed in four events — 200 IM, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay — at the Class S meet, the highlight of her season.

The junior was the only area swimmer to make the finals in the backstroke at states.

Basile was one of five area swimmers to compete at states in both two solo events and two relay events.

Berlin’s Briana Cass and Kate Piotrowicz and Newington’s Hannah Martin and Rachael Thatcher were the others.

Not only were they teammates, but Cass and Piotrowicz practically mirrored each other with their success.

Cass finished one spot and .02 seconds ahead of Piotrowicz in the 50 free at the Class M state meet. In the 100 free, it was two spots and .23 seconds that sepa-

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STAFF WRITER

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By ANTHONY DELLA CALCE

Athletes of the Season Over the next two Sunday’s, the New Britain Herald will unveil both the Male and Female Athlete of the Season, so be sure to pick up a copy of the paper the next two weeks to read about the area’s two best athletes.

The Herald Press

8 | Sunday, December 26, 2010 Plainville football

David Reed

Stephanie Kiback

Max DeLorenzo

D.J. Hernandez

Symone Roberts

The Top 10 Storylines of 2010 Each year, the New Britain Herald looks back at the Top 10 stories of the year. This year’s debate was more spirited than in the past, but we think we’ve nailed it. There were several state champions from our area this year, but 2010 seemed to be dominated by individual accomplishments.

7.

10.

Berlin boys soccer goes on historic run: For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Redcoats reached the Class L semifinals.

Coach Dave Francalangia, who played on the last Redcoats’ team to get that far, led a crew of team-first players that got hot at the right time.

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New Britain indoor track wins Symone comes home: Playing State Open championship: Behind before a gaggle of her friends and superstar Robert White, New family, New Britain’s Symone Britain’s indoor track team, withRoberts made a triumphant return at the XL Center in February, when her out as many members as some bigger Providence Friars battled UConn. As hap- teams, the Golden Hurricanes won a state pens to everyone the Huskies play, the Friars championship, capping a magical season. fell, but Roberts, in her first game on the big stage in her home state, had seven points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Southington boys volleyball wins Plainville football turns it around: Stan Glowiak retires: After 21 Area gymnasts excel: The state championship: This one is Behind New Britain Herald seasons and numerous deep runs Southington girls made their usual pretty self-explanatory, but still Coach of the Season Chris Farrell, in the state tournament, New trip to the finals, winning another special. The Blue Knights have Plainville’s football team went Britain boys basketball coach Stan state championship. Meanwhile from one win in two years to eight wins emerged in just a few seasons as a state Glowiak stepped down. His career record Newington individual Stephanie Kiback in 2010 and a trip to the Class M playoffs. power, and took home the hardware this was 349-139 and he took NBHS to the won the New England championship in And to make matters better, quarterback spring. championship game in 2002. the winter of 2010.

Tony Lopizzo will be back next year.

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Ravens draft David Reed: The Baltimore Ravens D.J. makes a mistake: Sadly not all our stories Max DeLorenzo off to UConn: The state’s high selected New Britain native and University of this year are positive. Southington football coach school football players will be thrilled they don’t Utah wideout David Reed in the 5th round with and former UConn star D.J. Hernandez admitted have to deal with the Berlin star anymore, but the 156th overall pick. The pick worked, as Reed to using a play card dropped by a Manchester the Big East has to be weary of DeLorenzo. The player during a game earlier this season. This won’t be already owns the record for the longest kick return in fran- Huskies could use him in a multitude of ways, including Hernandez’s only moment in the spotlight at Southington, chise history, going 103 yards against the Houston Texans on defense, but expect him to make an impact no matter on Monday Night Football. but it will be part of his legacy for sure. where he is on the field.

Stan Glowiak

Berlin boys soccer Southington volleyball

New Britain indoor track