All Press Sports - The Bristol Press - 03-31-2013

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All-Press Special

BristolPress.com/Sports | Sunday March 31, 2013

Our All-Press winter sports teams are inside

Time to cheer

T.J. Dowling

Fans of the St. Paul boys basketball team brought their enthusiasm to a state tournament game against Classical Magnet this season. We will all cheer for our All-Press teams inside today.

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All-Press Boys Basketball Dube, Love, Collins, Trillo, Johnson are first-team selections

By PAUL ANGILLY STAFF WRITER

Overall, the 2012-13 campaign was a winning one for area boys basketball teams, although three of the four area squads were not far removed from the .500 mark and none of the teams will be raising a banner to mark any kind of championship.

Of the four, Terryville enjoyed by far the most success, finishing 19-6 overall. The Kangaroos were runners-up in the Berkshire League Tournament and quarterfinalists in the Class S state tournament, bowing out against Old Lyme.

St. Paul, which finished 12-11 overall, was the only other area squad to win a state tournament game, advancing to the second round in Class S. Bristol Central (12-10) bowed out in the first round in Class LL and Bristol Eastern (9-12) lost in its Class L opener.

With the team’s success on the court, Terryville’s players picked up the most postseason honors, with two Berkshire League First Team All-Star players and another on the second team. Yet all four area squads had at least one all-conference player, and all those league honorees, along with three other selections, make up our fifth annual All-Press Boys Basketball Team.

Leading off the first

team is Terryville junior guard Tyler Trillo, the only All-State performer in the area and one of just two repeat honorees from last year’s All-Press Team. He topped 1,000 points for his career in the Kangaroos’ last game of the season. The first -eam All-Berkshire League honoree averaged 21 points per game.

“Tyler’s dedication to improve his game truly paid off this season as he was unstoppable on the offensive side of the court,” Terryville coach Mark Fowler said. “His ability to get to the basket complemented his outside shooting so well. He had some huge offensive games for us and shot just under 90 percent from the free throw line on the season. A truly phenomenal season as a junior.”

Joining Trillo on the All-Press first-team is teammate and fellow All-Berkshire League first team honoree Jacob Johnson, also a junior guard.

He averaged 15 points, six rebounds and three steals per game.

“You would be hard pressed to find someone that works harder on every possession than Jake,” Fowler said. “His heart and desire are on display every time he steps on the court. His ability to score and shoot the ball overshadow the fact that he is one of the best defenders not only in our league, but the entire state.”

Earning Academic All-State status this past season is St. Paul’s Kyle Dube, and the senior forward and team-elected captain also earns a spot on our All-

Bristol Eastern’s Kevin Love

Press first-team.

“Kyle really was the heart and soul of our team this year,” St. Paul coach Steve Phelps said of his two-year starter. “He just did a tremendous job for us in rallying some of the younger and inexperienced guys around him.”

Dube averaged 17 points per game, to go with 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.5 steals per contest, plus 11 drawn charges. He was the team leader in all of those categories.

Phelps gave Dube credit for helping the Falcons get back into the state tournament this year.

“Kyle is an athlete that we never had to worry

St. Paul’s Kyle Dube

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KEVIN LOVE

JACOB COLLINS

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Bristol Central’s Jacob Collins

about him putting effort forward,” Phelps said. “He’s a guy that wears certainly his emotions, and his intensity, he wears it on his sleeve for everyone around him to follow.”

Not just an excellent athlete — Dube is headed to Fairfield this fall, where he’ll play Division I baseball — he’s an asset to the St. Paul community, Phelps said.

“We will not be able to replace a Kyle Dube,” he said. “We are just hopeful that the younger guys around him were paying attention to the lessons he brought every day.”

The last two spots on the AllPress first team belong to Bristol Central’s Jacob Collins and Bristol Eastern’s Kevin Love, both of whom earned all-conference honors in the CCC South.

Collins, a 6-foot-3 junior forward, was “by far the most improved basketball player on our team this year,” Central coach Tim Barrette said.

Collins really worked hard in the offseason to improve his game, the coach added.

“He really rebounded the basketball well all year … he really controlled the paint for us, which was a major reason why we finished 12-8 [in the regular season],” Barrette said.

Though just a sophomore, Love was the leading rebounder and scorer for Eastern this season.

That was no surprise, Lancers coach Mike Giovinazzo said.

“He’s a very talented player. We knew the potential was there for

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Terryville’s Jacob Johnson Terryville’s Tyler Trillo

him to have a great year, and he did,” Giovinazzo said.

“He was one of the most dominant big men in the league. Being only a sophomore, his best days are ahead of him.”

Leading off the All-Press second team for this past season is Bristol Eastern forward and senior captain Ryan Chiasson, also an allconference selection in the CCC South. He is also a repeat All-Press selection, having earned the honor last year.

“Ryan was the heart and soul of our team,” Giovinazzo said. “He was an insprational leader, but he was also a very capable scorer, rebounder and passer.”

The coach noted Chiasson’s best two games were the team’s last two games of the year, including a victory in the regular season finale

RYAN CHIASSON

JOEY DEFILLIPPI

ARTHUR TRENT

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in which he scored 24 points and the state tournament loss against Maloney, in which he netted a game-high 22 points.

“It was a fitting end to his four years of basketball,” Giovinazzo said.

Also earning All-Press second team status was Bristol Central’s Joey DeFillippi, a 5-3 junior guard.

“He’s a leader of our team,” Barrette said. “He’s like having another coach on the floor. The kid is probably the smartest basketball player I’ve coached or will coach in my time at Bristol Central.”

Though undersized, “He’s a tough player, and mentally very strong,” Barrette said. “He’s very skilled with the basketball and if you leave him open, he can knock down the open looks.”

DeFillippi is a key player in the clutch.

“He’s the guy with the ball in his hands at the end of games, and we know he’s going to make the right decision,” Barrette said.

Together with Collins, “We anticipate them having even bigger years as seniors,” Barrette said.

Another key player in St. Paul’s success this past season was sophomore Brendan Carroll, another All-Press second team pick. “[He] really fulfilled the coaching staff ’s expectations of what we thought he would be able to bring to the team this year,” Phelps said. “As the year progressed, he really exceeded our expectations as a sophomore.”

Carroll shot 73 percent from the free throw line and 40 percent from 3-point range, had less than two turnovers per game for the season and was tied as the team’s second-leading scorer with nine points per game despite not being named a starter until halfway through the season. He averaged 12 points per game in the Falcons’ last seven games and 15 points per game in the postseason.

Carroll “really established himself as a player that was willing to do whatever was needed to benefit the team,” Phelps said.

A member of the National Honor Society, he’s ranked number one in his class.

The best part, Phelps noted, is that as a sophomore, he’ll be back another two years.

“He continually during the course of the year, as he gained

See ALL-PRESS BOYS, Page 8

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The Herald Press

TYLER BURROW

JORDAN NADIMI

GLENN PIERCE

GINO RAFANIELLO

CY MCINTOSH

JOSHUA WILSON

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All-Press Wrestling Team

By KEVIN D. ROBERTS STAFF WRITER

It was a strong season for high school wrestlers from Bristol Central, Bristol Eastern and Terryville.

The three teams may have produced just two individual state champions, but each of the three squads finished in the top seven of their respective classes at state meets. Terryville was the best with a tie for third in Class S. Central finished sixth in Class L with Eastern right behind in seventh.

Central junior Tyler Burrow improved throughout the season but saved his best wrestling for last, capturing a Class L state championship at 132 pounds.

Terryville sophomore Elliott Wilion proved he could win against experienced opponents, claiming a title in Class S at 120.

The best may be yet to come for both of them.

The Rams and Lancers each have five representatives on the fifth annual All-Press wrestling team while the Kangaroos have a solid four.

For Central, there’s Burrow, along with seniors Jordan Nadimi, Glenn Pierce, Gino Rafaniello and Cy McIntosh. The Rams had an up-and-down regular season, but sent coach Brian Archibald out with a bang by claiming sixth place in the Class L meet, which was held at Bristol Central High School.

A young Eastern squad was a force in dual meets, going undefeated in the CCC South on the way to a division title. The Lancers then battled their way

Mike Orazzi | Staff

Bristol Central’s Tyler Burrow takes on Ledyard’s Matt Jones in a 132-pound match at Bristol Central this season.

to a seventh place finish in Class L. The All-Press representatives from Eastern are freshman Joshua Wilson, junior Daniel Morocho, senior Peyton Soucy, junior Jacob Pelletier and senior Ahimelec Mangual.

Terryville won a Berkshire League title and finished the regular season with an 18-3 record, then followed that up with a solid finish in Class S. Wilion leads the way for the Kangaroos on the All-Press team, followed by senior Avery Ellegard, senior Dan Folino and junior Sam Ferreira.

Burrow, 27-4 during the regular season, came into his own in the last month. That was never more evident than during the Class L

meet. After a bye, Burrow blew through the next two rounds with a pin and tech fall. In a match against defending champion Pharoah Eaton of Fairfield Warde, Burrow worked his way to a pin with just 17 seconds left in the second period. That got Burrow into the final against Farmington’s Garrett Hastings.

Burrow went to work and earned a 13-4 major decision to capture the title. He is a three-time AllPress recipient.

“We say there is a ‘light switch’ of sorts when kids realize what their capabilities are and it happens just like flipping a switch,” Archibald said. “It happened for Tyler about three weeks into

the season and he continued to improve and will do so during the offseason.

McIntosh, named All-Press for the second straight time, entered the Class L 195 tournament bracket with a 31-7 record.

After a bye, McIntosh picked up a quick 23-second pin, then a major decision to reach the semifinals against Masuk’s Salvatore Longo.

McIntosh recorded a 6-3 decision in that match, then lost a tough final to Immaculate/Joel Barlow’s Steven Ghoissaini.

Rafaniello started Class L’s 182 bracket with a bye and a 12-second pin, then reached the semifinals with a 6-4 decision.

After losing in the champion-

ship semifinal, Rafaniello won his consolation semifinal match 7-1 over Nery Ceron of Norwalk.

Rafaniello claimed third place by forfeit. Rafaniello came into the tournament with a 35-6 record.

“Gino Rafaniello and Cy McIntosh were the foundation of the team,” Archibald said. “The team expected them to score big points every time they went on the mat and they usually did that.”

Pierce lost his second match at 160 in Class L, then worked his way all the way back to the fifth place match before losing a tough decision to Pomperaug’s Michael Calo. Pierce went 21-14 during the regular season.

“He was dangerous at all times during a match,” Archibald said.

“Regardless of the caliber of wrestler we always knew that he could pull off a big move.”

Nadimi was another Central senior who showed resilience after an early loss. Nadimi lost his second match at 138 in the Class L meet, then worked his way through three tough matches in the consolation bracket before falling in the fifth place match.

Nadimi struggled at first in his only varsity campaign, but picked it up on his way to a 24-11 regular season record.

“When he chose to focus on what he can control it was obvious that he would have a strong season,” Archibald said.

For Eastern’s Soucy, it’s his third straight All-Press selection.

Soucy went into Class L’s 126 bracket with a 31-6 record. After a bye, Soucy won his second round match via pin in 38 seconds, then

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PEYTON SOUCY

JACOB PELLETIER

AHIMELEC MANGUAL

ELLIOTT WILION

AVERY ELLEGARD

DAN FOLINO

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All-Press Wrestling Team took a 4-2 decision. In the championship semifinal, Soucy scored a sudden victory first tiebreaker takedown over New Milford’s Niko Stefanatos to reach the final.

Soucy fell to undefeated Fairfield Warde wrestler Charles Kane by decision, 6-3 in the final.

“He’s probably one of the best point scorers that we’ve had,” Eastern coach Bryant Lishness said, referring to Soucy’s ability to get pins and technical falls.

A strong technical wrestler, Wilson impressed in his freshman season and became just the third first-year wrestler to attain All-Press. Wilson went 33-5 in the regular season and reached the Class L 106 championship semifinals with two pins, but was forced into the consolation bracket after getting pinned. Wilson was resilient, picking up a pin to reach the third place match, which he won by decision over Fairfield Ludlowe’s George Wales.

“He’s been wrestling for a really long time,” Lishness said. “He came up through the [Bristol Gladiators youth wrestling program]. As a coach, you’re fortunate to get kids like that.”

Mangual put together a solid dual meet record of 21-5, then started Class L’s 285 bracket with a pair of pins. After losing in the championship semifinal, Mangual came up with a pin to reach the third place match. Mangual finished fourth overall. A wrestler who didn’t fear anyone, Mangual had little experience but quickly learned how to wrestle.

“He came in with not having too much knowledge, but he’s a

Mike Orazzi | Staff

Berlin’s Ethan Greider wrestles Terryville’s Elliott Wilion in a 120-pound match during the Art Powers Duals.

very bright kid,” Lishness said.

Morocho, a hard worker and very physical wrestler, battled his way to the fifth place match after losing in his second 113 bout at Class L. Morocho scored two straight major decisions in the consolation bracket, then pinned Farmington’s Drew Dahlberg to capture fifth. Morocho held a 26-13 record entering the Class L meet.

“He and Wilson were workout partners and they benefit from each other,” Lishness said.

Pelletier started off his time in Class L’s 220 bracket with a 14-9 decision. After being knocked into the consolation bracket, Pelletier staved off elimination with a sudden victory takedown against Maloney’s Nicholas Craft.

Pelletier then took a pin in the next match before finishing sixth

round. From there, Wilion gave up just two points on his way to the 120 title.

“He was a match away from placing at the State Open,” Terryville coach Peter Veleas said.

Wilion is also a solid student, ranking in the top five in his class.

Ellegard was a co-captain and role model for Terryville.

“A tremendous leader for us,” Veleas said.

Ellegard finished third in Class S as a junior before taking second this season at 138. He lost just once during the regular season (27-1). This is Ellegard’s second straight All-Press selection.

Ferreira’s role as co-captain as a junior can be attributed to his leadership.

“He’s a good role model for the younger kids,” Veleas said.

Ferreira is an athletic kid who Veleas hopes will continue to improve and advance further in Class S. He finished sixth at 126.

This is his second straight AllPress selection.

Senior co-captain Folino battled his way to a fourth place in Class S. “He saved his best for last,” Veleas said.

An injury sustained in the third place match kept Folino from wrestling at the State Open, but that doesn’t take away from who Folino was.

“Fantastic kid,” Veleas said. “A great role model for the young guys.”

overall. Pelletier was 21-10 coming into Class L. “He put a lot of offseason work in, and he’s an example for our kids,” Lishness said.

For Terryville, the accomplishments of Wilion cannot be overlooked. The sophomore compiled a 27-3 regular season record, then started the Class S tourna- Kevin D. Roberts can be reached ment with a pin in the second at (860) 584-0501 ext. 7229 round after a bye in the first or kroberts@bristolpress.com

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The Herald Press

All-Press Girls Basketball Bristol Central’s Lauren Bossi

Bristol Eastern’s Khadaijia Brooks

Smith, Bossi, Shoultz, Swanke, Walker make our first-team

By KEVIN D. ROBERTS STAFF WRITER

Bristol Eastern’s Karissa Smith

There were some big accomplishments for Bristol area high school girls basketball teams this season.

Bristol Central reached the state tournament for the first time since 2002, and won a game in the tournament for the first time since that year as well. The Rams upset Avon on the road, then came close to

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knocking off eventual Class L state champion Farmington in the second round. Central finished the season with a record of 11-11.

Terryville hadn’t been to the Class S State Tournament since 2010, but the Kangaroos were able to get there this season behind third-year coach Damian Coggshall.

After going 6-14 and 5-15 in the previous two campaigns, the Roos were 10-10 and qualified for both the Berkshire League and Class S tournaments.

Terryville finished 10-12, but it was a good start toward building a successful THERESA future.

SWANKE Bristol Eastern ST. PAUL started as a team with

a ton of inexperience surrounding All-Press and All-CCC South senior forward Karissa Smith. After a tough start, the Lancers turned it around and finished the regular season with a 14-6 record. Eastern won its Class L first round game against Guilford before losing in overtime to CCC South rival Berlin in the second round. The Lancers finished at 15-7.

St. Paul was also a young team with not much experience. The team relied heavily on All-Press junior forward Theresa Swanke to lead the way, along with AllPress sophomore guard Kelly McMahon.

The Falcons had some ups and downs, but were able to put together an 11-9 regular season. St. Paul finished 11-11 after first

The Herald Press

ALL-PRESS SPECIAL

round losses in the Naugatuck this season, but she’s also our best Valley League and Class M tourdefender,” Floyd said. naments, but the future looks Every game, Zdun took on the bright for the Falcons. task of guarding the other team’s Central is represented by three best player. players on this year’s All-Press “She was able to contain those teams, and two of the names will good guards and make them sound familiar. Junior Chandler uncomfortable out there,” Floyd Walker makes the first team for the said. second straight time while senior Walker missed time in the reguLauren Bossi moves up to the first lar season with a foot injury, but team from the second team. Senior when she was on the court, she was leader Gretchen Edelman earned a a force. spot on the second team.

“She averaged a double-double Eastern also has three players for the second consecutive year on the teams, led by Smith, who and was also named to the allmade All-Press for the third time. conference team for the second Sophomore Khadaijia Brooks year in a row,” Central coach Steve returned from a freshman knee Gaudet said. injury to put forth a strong year Walker helped Central qualify and made the first team. Junior for the state tournament for the guard Amanda Zdun was chosen first time since the 2001-02 season, for the second team. then put in a monster performance Both Terryville and St. Paul had in a Class L first round win over two players each.

Avon with 17 points, 17 rebounds Junior Julia Pilarski made the and seven blocks. Walker led the second team for the second straight team in rebounding and was secyear for the Kangaroos, while twin ond in scoring. sister Olivia made it for the first Gaudet said Bossi was probably time. the team’s most valuable player.

For the Falcons, Swanke and “Lauren can do it all, and McMahon each made it for the improved so much over her foursecond straight year. year career,” Gaudet said. “She was Smith has been a mainstay for probably the best player on the Eastern. A consistent double-doufloor in our loss to eventual state ble threat, the forward has worked champion Farmington [in Class L’s hard throughout her career. second round].”

“One thing about Karissa, she Gaudet said Bossi and sophohas the special qualities of a player more Ashley Elder gave the that you’re looking for,” Lancers Rams a chance to win against coach Tony Floyd said.

Farmington that night. Bossi led A hard-working player who the team in steals, was second in always gave it her best effort, rebounding and third in scoring.

Smith was tough to move around Edelman was a leader on the inside and could affect shots with court for Central. her defense.

“She led the team in assists and Brooks came back from a freshwas the coach on the court that man knee injury with a vengeance. made sure her teammates were It took until around Christmas for in the right spots on the court,” Brooks to get into basketball shape, Gaudet said. “She hit some big but once she did, it was hard to shots and some critical free throws stop her. when our team needed them “Her and Karissa, that 1-2 most.” combination inside gave us a very Edelman knew that this season tough front court,” Floyd said. was her last chance to make the If it wasn’t Smith doing the damage inside, it was Brooks inside or off the dribble.

“They compliment each other very well,” Floyd said.

Zdun helped provide stability in Eastern’s backcourt on both the offensive and defensive ends of OLIVIA AMANDA the court.

PILARSKI ZDUN “She’s our best TERRYVILLE EASTERN 3-point shooter

postseason, so she made the most of it.

Gaudet added this about Bossi and Edelman: “Lauren and Gretchen were the best two captains I have ever had in my eight years coaching. It was an absolute honor to coach them over their four-year careers.”

Swanke continued to be a double-double threat under the basket and also added 2-3 blocked shots per game. That wasn’t her most important asset, according to St. Paul coach Joe Mone.

“Probably more important was the way she conducted herself as a leader both off and on the court,” Mone said. “She did a great job of keeping a young team focused and working hard.”

While Swanke was a strong player inside, McMahon was St. Paul’s most consistent player overall, Mone said.

“Offensively she was our leading scorer and best outside shooter,” Mone said.

“She also worked really hard to become one of our best defenders this year.”

Mone liked the unselfishness that both Swanke and McMahon brought to the team.

“Both kids are team-first players who couldn’t care less about personal stats, only team success, which makes it an absolute joy to have the opportunity to coach and be around [them],” Mone said.

Coggshall talked about the Pilarski sisters as a strong tandem for his team.

“Olivia and Julia are both a vital part to the teams’ success,” Coggshall said. “They compliment each other very well when they are on the floor.”

Julia Pilarski was a threat to light it up every game behind the 3-point line, and she also shot

Sunday, March 31, 2013 | 7

Bristol Central’s Chandler Walker

well from the foul line. Olivia Pilarski’s all-around game made her tough to contain.

“Both sisters seem to know where the other one is on the floor at all times and play together,” Coggshall said.

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St. Paul’s Theresa Swanke

Olivia averaged 13.5 points and nine rebounds per game while Julia averaged 10 points per contest.

With several of these players coming back to their respective schools, there could be even more success in store.

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The Herald Press

All-Press Indoor Track Team

By PAUL ANGILLY STAFF WRITER

It’s a rare season that goes by without a Bristol athlete earning a state championship in track and field, be it indoors or outdoors, and this past 2012-13 indoor season was no exception.

In the Class L state meet held Feb. 15, Bristol Central’s Spencer Johnson placed first in the 3,200 meter run with a school-record time of 9:47.73.

He won by more than five seconds over second place finisher Alexander Ostberg of Darien (9:53.03).

Johnson, who previously placed second at the CCC meet in the event with a time of 9:55, went on to place 13th in the State Open, finishing in 9:50.06.

With his accomplishments during his senior year, Johnson leads off our fifth annual AllPress Indoor Track Team, marking his second consecutive such honor.

As usual, Bristol Central leads the way in terms of number of selections, with two other boys and two girls from that school also earning AllPress honors.

Another long-distance runner from the Rams is among those other honorees, as junior Nadia Kreciglowa placed 12th in the Class L state meet in the 3,200 meters with a time of 12:32.89. She had run as fast as 12:18.27 during the season.

“Spencer needs to be recognized for his hard work and dedication along with Nadia,” Bristol Central coach Larry Covino said. “They both rarely miss a practice, never complain about a workout and

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push themselves harder than anyone.”

The only local athlete other than Johnson to compete in the State Open was Rams senior Melissa Cummings, who placed fourth in the 600 meters in the Class L meet with a time of 1:41.10, then was 10th in the State Open with a mark of 1:42.05.

An All-Press selection in indoor track for the third straight year, Cummings will be running at the Division I level for the University of Hartford in the fall, winter and spring as member of the

cross country, indoor track and outdoor track programs.

Rounding out the Rams’ selections for our All-Press team are senior Jon Jankoski and junior Jason Zaino.

Jankoski placed 13th at the Class L meet in the 1,600 meters, with a time of 4:54.19. That was down from the 4:42.39 he recorded in the CCC meet, in which he placed eighth.

“Jankoski is the joker on the team but when it comes to racing is very competitive and pushes himself to always beat his previous race time,”

Covino said.

Zaino placed 16th in the 600 meters at the Class L meet with a time of 1:36.44.

He had a season-best time of 1:31.55.

“Jason is an up-and-coming star who will be a middle distance and distance leader next year,” Covino said. “I expect big things from him next year.”

Bristol Eastern had three athletes crack the top 10 at the Class L state meet, with all three earning All-Press recognition for their efforts.

Senior Jean-Claude Mouannes placed seventh in

the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.56 seconds, after previously recording a season-best mark of 8.37, a personal best.

Lancers junior Jenna Rodjenski placed seventh in the shot put with a mark of 31 feet, 1 inch, just shy of her season- and personal-best 31-3½.

It was the only event she competed in, but “she did very well,” Bristol Eastern coach Bob Rottler said.

Senior Mariah McPhee placed 10th in the 1,600 meters at the Class L meet for Bristol Eastern with a time of 5:35.87, a little shy of her

All-Press Boys Basketball Team Cont.

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more experience, he really is developing nicely into a complete basketball player,” Phelps said.

Taking the final two spots on the All-Press second team are Terryville’s Arthur Trent and Shea Tracy.

Trent, a senior forward, earned All-Berkshire League second team honors with an average of 11 points and nine rebounds per game.

“Arthur did a tremendous job for us this season playing as our biggest player on the court despite standing only six feet,” Fowler said. “Each and every game he was matched with

at least one or two players that were bigger than he was height-wise.

However, he always was fighting and scrapping for us inside and more than held his own.”

Tracy, a sophomore guard, averaged 10 points and five assists per game.

“Shea was the ultimate team-first

player,” Fowler said. “His skill set as a guard, which included great dribbling and pinpoint passing, was enjoyable to watch. His ability to find the open man was key to our offense getting good looks. He also had the ability to knock down longrange 3-pointers, which made him difficult to guard.”

season-best 5:29.28. Also during this past season, she broke the school record in the indoor 3,200 meters, shattering a four-year-old mark by about 21 seconds.

“That’s pretty good,” Rottler noted.

All three of the Lancers bettered their marks from previous seasons, he noted.

“They achieved that through hard work,” he said.

“I’m pleased with the results of what they did this year.”

Though much smaller than the other two Bristol schools, St. Paul managed to place one boy and one girl on our AllPress team for this past season: senior Matt Santovasi — who is so honored for the second straight year — and freshman Kara Lipka.

Santovasi placed 16th in the Class S state meet in the 300-meter dash with a time of 39.51. The only four-year athlete on the Falcons, he was also a team co-captain.

His mark at the state meet was also a personal record.

“He peaked at the right time,” St. Paul coach Kyle Fuller said.

Santovasi also anchored the Falcons’ 4x200 relay team that set a school record at the Class S meet this year.

“Matt’s just a great allaround person that’s got a great future ahead of him,” Fuller said. “He’s the gem that comes into your program once … in a great while.”

Lipka placed ninth in the 1,000 meters at the Class S state meet with a time of 3:22.33, shattering her previous best mark by more than three and a half seconds.

“She’s got huge potential.

She did well [her] freshman year,” Fuller said.

After joining the school’s cross country team and doing well by the end of the season, Lipka needed some time to get used to running on an indoor track.

“Once she got comfortable, she started doing really good,” Fuller said. “She has huge potential in front of her for the next few years.”