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All-Press Special BristolPress.com/Sports | Sunday, December 29, 2013
All-Press teams for fall season inside
Cheer on!
Mike Orazzi | Staff
Fans watch and cheer during the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between Bristol Eastern and Bristol Central at Muzzy Field. The Lancers won 21-18. Inside are our All-Press team selections.
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ALL-PRESS SPECIAL
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Sunday, December 29, 2013 | 2
All-Press Boys Soccer
Our all-star team would be tough to beat on field By KEVIN D. ROBERTS STAFF WRITER
There was a good amount of success to be found for Bristol area boys soccer teams this season. St. Paul finished with the best record in the area, going 14-6 in Tony Leone’s first season as head coach. The Falcons reached the Class S state quarterfinals before bowing out to Bolton. Seniors Cameron Pilarski, Nicky Villani and Justin Packard made our fifth annual All-Press Boys Soccer Team, as did sophomore Zach Federowicz. Pilarski is a three-time All-Press selection. Villani, Packard and Federowicz are all first-time selections. Bristol Central was next up at 9-8. The Rams placed seniors Chris Dabkowski, Rui Cardoso and Evan Tavera on the team, along with junior Colby Macdonald. Dabkowski and Cardoso are two-time AllPress selections while Tavera and Macdonald make it for the first time. Bristol Eastern rebounded from a rough 0-5 start to finish 7-9 and qualify for the Class L state tournament. The Lancers battled CCC South rival Berlin before losing 2-1 in the final minutes of the second 10-minute overtime period in a first round match. Seniors Brendan Plasczynski and Clayton Caggiano were chosen for the All-Press squad, as was junior Austin Dias. Plasczynski is a two-time All-Press selection while Dias and Caggiano are on the team for the first time. Despite battling an injury for part of the season, Stephen Brown was again a dynamic player for George Smith’s Terryville team. Brown is a two-time All-Press selection. In an email, St. Paul coach Tony Leone wrote about the impact Pilarski, Villani, Packard and Federowicz had on the team. Villani and Federowicz were AllNaugatuck Valley League selections while Pilarski and Packard made the All-Brass Division team. “Their individual play on the
CLAYTON CAGGIANO
EVAN TAVERA
BRISTOL CENTRAL
BRISTOL EASTERN
NICKY VILLANI ST. PAUL
CAMERON PILARSKI ST. PAUL
COLBY MACDONALD BRISTOL CENTRAL
STEPHEN BROWN TERRYVILLE
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field was a huge reason we had the type of season we did,” Leone wrote. “All four of them are individually talented at their position and they also made each other better. Off the field they are all just ‘good guys,’ good students and good leaders.” Leone wrote that the seniors — Pilarksi, Villany and Packard — helped build a foundation. Federowicz will be around for two more years to add on to that.
ZACH FEDEROWICZ ST. PAUL
BRISTOL EASTERN
JUSTIN PACKARD ST. PAUL
BRENDAN PLASCZYNSKI BRISTOL EASTERN
Central coach Larry Covino praised his three seniors — Dabkowski, Cardoso and Tavera — for what they brought to the program. “The three graduating seniors will continue to participate in soccer at the college level and will make significant impacts,” Covino wrote. “Their presence and leadership on the field will be missed.” Dabkowski, an All-CCC South player for the second straight sea-
AUSTIN DIAS
CHRIS DABKOWSKI
BRISTOL CENTRAL
son, was a four-year starter and senior captain. Dabkowski was voted the team MVP and given the coaches award for his efforts. Tavera was a three-year varsity keeper and senior captain who was a leader on and off the field. Cardoso has only been in the country since July 2012, but he had a big impact on the team in his two seasons. Cardoso was Central’s offensive player of the year and was voted All-CCC South.
Macdonald, a three-year starter and All-CCC South player this season, was voted the best defensive player at Central. Macdonald could not only play defense, but he also had five goals from his center defender position. Macdonald will be a captain in his senior season. For Eastern, Plasczynski was the focus of the team’s offensive attack. The senior captain had nine goals and six assists on his way to an AllCCC South team selection. “He initiated much of the offense and was a physical force and adept finisher,” Lancers coach Bill Sweet wrote. Caggiano, another senior captain, was all over the field for Eastern. “Clayton was an all-purpose back (playing on the back line or at midfield) who won numerous balls for us on defense and then moved us forward,” Sweet wrote. Dias was another solid offensive contributor for the Lancers with eight goals and three assists. He put up solid numbers despite battling injuries during the season and made the All-CCC South squad. “Austin was a creative midfielder/forward whose quickness added a different dimension to our attack,” Sweet wrote. Sweet also wrote that all three players were a big part of Eastern’s second half surge that resulted in a state tournament berth. Brown is a skilled player who is also “quite knowledgable of the game on many levels,” according to his coach, George Smith. Brown led the team in scoring each of the past two years and was a second team All-Berkshire League selection this season after being named to the first team as a junior. “His own potential may have been held back due to the need we had to move him into the midfield for continuity,” Smith wrote. “This year, with injuries, many teams missed out on seeing Stephen’s overall abilities. He will make a good Division II player over the next four years.” Nine of the 12 All-Press selections will graduate, but they leave behind solid legacies to build upon. Kevin D. Roberts can be reached at (860) 584-0501 ext. 7229 or kroberts@bristolpress.com On Twitter: @kroberts023
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ALL-PRESS SPECIAL
All-Press Girls Cross Country
By PAUL ANGILLY STAFF WRITER
The Bristol Central girls cross country team got “one for the thumb” twice this season, winning both its fifth straight city title and sharing its fifth straight CCC South championship. Yet Bristol Eastern and St. Paul also had some excellent runners this season as well, with all three placing runners on our fifth annual All-Press Girls Cross Country team. The Rams placed three runners, including twin seniors Nadia and Natalie Kreciglowa, who both return from last year’s All-Press squad. Joining them is freshman teammate Hannah Jones. Lancers senior Caroline Boyce also has earned a spot, while St. Paul senior Emily Lindsley and sophomore Kara Lipka, a returning pick, stood out to earn All-Press.
Nadia Kreciglowa was the only girl from Bristol or Terryville to qualify for the State Open, after placing 11th in the Class L state meet with a time of 20:34. She also placed first in the city meet involving all three Bristol high schools. “Nadia is an all-around great kid and it has been a pleasure coaching her these past four seasons,” coach Tamara Stafford-Kirk said. “She is conscientious and hard working, but also cares about her teammates. I am very proud of the person and runner she has become.” Natalie Kreciglowa placed 49th in Class L with a time of 21:56. She placed second in the city meet. “Natalia is so fun to coach and her teammates gravitate toward her. She has a way of seeing the best in every situation and that positive attitude has helped her accomplish so much as a runner and student. We certainly
NADIA
The Herald Press
NATALIE
HANNAH
won’t laugh as much KRECIGLOWA KRECIGLOWA JONES without Natalia BRISTOL CENTRAL BRISTOL CENTRAL BRISTOL CENTRAL around,” StaffordKirk said. Jones had the second-best time in all the state meets among area girls, placing 23rd in the Class L meet with a time of 21:09. She was third in the city championship. “Hannah is so EMILY CAROLINE KARA very talented and has LINDSLEY BOYCE LIPKA a great future as a ST. PAUL BRISTOL EASTERN ST. PAUL cross country runner,” Stafford-Kirk said. “I saw that something special in her by our during the season outpaced those the Class SS meet with a time of third practice this year.” of Jones and Lindsley, who had the 22:34, with Lipka right next to her Boyce finished seventh in the city fourth and fifth best times among in 42nd place with an identical time. meet as Bristol Eastern’s top runner. local girls at states. “They’re great,” St. Paul coach Her time at the city meet and others Lindsley finished 41st overall in Meaghan Lynch said.
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ALL-PRESS SPECIAL
Sunday, December 29, 2013 | 4
All-Press Girls Soccer
Great seasons lead to great talent on our all-star squad By KEVIN D. ROBERTS STAFF WRITER
It was a good season for Bristol area girls soccer teams in 2013. Though none achieved the ultimate goal of winning a state championship, three of the four teams qualified for the postseason and finished with a record that was at or above .500. Terryville/ Thomaston was even able to have some success, finishing 4-12. The four wins are the first four in the history of the co-op. Bristol Eastern had the best record (12-6) and reached the second round of the Class L state tournament. Seniors Amanda Zdun and Marissa Carlson made our fifth annual All-Press Girls Soccer Team, and both are three-time selections. Zdun is also one of two All-State players on the team, with the other being Bristol Central junior Lexi Kochin. Eastern senior Sam Woznicki made the All-Press team for the second time while junior Delaney Caggiano is a first-time selection. Bristol Central finished 9-6-2 after losing 1-0 to Naugatuck in a Class L first round match. Kochin made the All-Press team for the third time, as did senior Jessica Lemieux. Senior Chandler Walker made the team for the second time, while senior Brenna Kelley is a firsttime selection. St. Paul continued to make improvements under coach Flavio Pereira and finished 9-9-1 after bowing out in the second round of Class S. Junior Emilie Nowakowski is a two-time All Press selection, while senior Mary Ranagan and junior Helena Swanson join the squad for the first time. Terryville/Thomaston senior captain Jessica Covello makes the team for the first time. “Senior captains Amanda, Sam and Marissa have been four-year starters,” Eastern coach Roland Loranger said. “They were part of the first-ever league title in school history their freshmen year. They have helped to bring our program to the next level, their leadership skills
career and made All-CCC South in each of her last three seasons. “She’s just a smart player and a hard worker, and she really controls play when she plays well,” Redman said. Kelley, another captain, has committed to the University of Hartford and her soccer smarts will be an asset. Kelley made All-CCC South for the first time this season. CHANDLER “She’s a real special player too,” WALKER Redman said. “She’s probably one MARISSA HELENA JESSICA BRISTOL CENTRAL of the smartest players we’ve had CARLSON SWANSON COVELLO recently.” BRISTOL EASTERN ST. PAUL TERRYVILLE Walker was a two-time AllCCC South player who came up with plenty of big plays in goal for Central. “She saved us so many times, kind of kept us in games we shouldn’t have been in sometimes,” Redman said. Ranagan posted seven shutouts in her senior season at St. Paul and made the All-NVL team. “She played four years as our varsity goalkeeper,” Falcons coach BRENNA EMILIE Flavio Pereira said. “She was a MARY DELANEY KELLEY NOWAKOWSKI captain this year and provided great RANAGAN BRISTOL CENTRAL CAGGIANO leadership.” ST. PAUL ST. PAUL BRISTOL EASTERN Nowakowski was a player who understood the game well from her position in back. Nowakowski made the All-Brass Division squad in each of the last two seasons. “She is a fearless defender, very solid in the back, very competitive,” Pereira said. Swanson was another player who was solid on defense alongside Nowakowski for St. Paul. Swanson was named to the All-Brass team. “Helena helped the dynamic of AMANDA LEXI our defense, played a strong season JESSICA SAM for us,” Pereira said. ZDUN KOCHIN Covello led by example and LEMIEUX WOZNICKI BRISTOL EASTERN BRISTOL CENTRAL helped her team win more this BRISTOL CENTRAL BRISTOL EASTERN season than it had in the past three combined. Covello’s dedication, passion and worth ethic will be “sorely were exceptional, and they brought was a freshman and has shown the get her teammates more involved missed,” Rosano said. a positive attitude to every game same leadership qualities as the this season. “Jess’s effect on our team didn’t and every practice. Their work ethic senior captains. “She really tried to distribute always show up in statistics, but her is second to none.” “For that reason she was chosen more this year than in the past,” leadership and positive influence Zdun was a three-year Allby her teammates to be a captain Rams coach Scott Redman said. was evident every day in practice CCC South selection and played next fall,” Loranger said. “Delaney’s Kochin, a two-time All-CCC and in games,” Rosano said. “As one in a coaches senior all-star game. play at center back this season was South selection, has the tools to play our two captains, she set the examCarlson was also a three-time outstanding.” Division I college soccer, according ple for our very young team.” All-CCC South selection while Kochin was first in assists and to Redman. There are already a Eight of this year’s 12 All-Press Woznicki made the team twice. second in goals for Central on the couple of Division I schools that girls soccer players will graduate in Caggiano was on the All-CCC way to earning All-CCC South and Kochin is looking at, Redman said. the spring, but each player has left South team for the first time. all-state honors. Kochin has plenty Lemieux, a captain, was a stabiliz- their team in good shape for the Caggiano has started since she of scoring ability, but she looked to ing force for Central throughout her future.
5 | Sunday, December 29, 2013
ALL-PRESS SPECIAL
The Herald Press
All-Press Girls Volleyball
Our all-star team could beat anyone in the state By PAUL ANGILLY STAFF WRITER
Once again, area teams enjoyed a great deal of success during the 2013 girls volleyball season. Defending Class L champion Bristol Eastern went 16-2 in the regular season and then won three more tough matches — including victories over both teams that beat it during the regular season — to successfully defend its CCC Tournament title. The Lancers then advanced to the Class L state semifinals before RHAM, which they beat in the CCC semifinals, got their revenge with a five-game victory. Terryville had an up-and-down season, going 11-8 in the regular season before losing a close match to Lewis Mills in the Berkshire League Tournament final. The Kangaroos went on to earn an upset victory in the first round of the Class S state tournament before being ousted in the second round by No. 3 seed and eventual state finalist Lyman Memorial. Bristol Central went an even 10-10 in the regular season before upsetting No. 10 Naugatuck (16-4) in the first round of the Class L state tournament. The Rams were ousted by No. 7 Platt in a fivegame second round match. Looking to rebuild, St. Paul struggled through a 3-17 season. Along the way, several area volleyball players earned individual accolades and they now earn an additional honor as members of our fifth annual All-Press Girls Volleyball Team. The squad is led by a trio of allstate and All-CCC South players from Bristol Eastern: senior Jenna Rodjenski and junior Brianna Root, both first team picks, and senior Cheyenne Orsi, a Class L All-State second team selection. Rodjenski, an outside hitter, led the team with 288 kills, 69 aces and 186 digs and was a senior co-captain for the Lancers, along with Maggie Getler. “I certainly couldn’t ask for any more of Jenna and Maggie as captains. I think they left everything out on the floor every single day,”
Bristol Eastern coach Stacy Rivoira said. Root, a setter, had 703 assists, 148 digs (second on the team), 30 aces and a 94 percent serving JENNA BRIANNA CHEYENNE BAILEY rate this past season. RODJENSKI ROOT ORSI DORAN Orsi, an outside hitBRISTOL EASTERN BRISTOL EASTERN BRISTOL EASTERN TERRYVILLE ter, had 246 kills while playing in less than 70 percent of the team’s sets, after missing the start of the season with an injury. All three Lancers are repeat All-Press picks Litchfield Hills from last year’s team. Terryville senior Orthopedic Associates, LLP Bailey Doran, also a repeat All-Press selecLIBBY LAUREN ERIN LARA tion, was picked for Class S Second Team RRAHIMI VALLEE PALMQUIST COLEGROVE All-State honors, as well TERRYVILLE BRISTOL CENTRAL BRISTOL CENTRAL BRISTOL CENTRAL as the All-Berkshire League first team. She had 139 kills, nine Vallee led the Rams in kills (256) of girls like that than win with a bunch of I’s on the team.” blocks, 25 assists, 185 digs and 93 and blocks (56), while also recordaces during the season. ing 115 digs and 42 aces. “Bailey has got to be one of my “This year she shined in her abilLitchfield Hills best all-around players that I’ve ities as an athlete,” Bristol Central had,” Terryville coach Damian coach Jen Broderick said. “She Orthopedic Associates, LLP Coggshall said. “She was our go-to wanted nothing more than to beat player any time we needed a kill at each team she played. She’s a very a crucial point in a game.” competitive athlete.” Doran was the team’s best server Palmquist led the team in digs and best serve receiver and passer, (196), while passing about 60 per281 North Main Street, Bristol while leading the team in aces and cent of first balls and recording 32 most other categories, he said. aces. Joining Doran on our All-Press “She was the one who was Leigh Brezenoff, MD • Lane Spero, MD team is junior outside hitter Libby aggressive and called for it, and Douglas Wisch, MD • Steven McCoy, MD Rrahimi, a second team All-BL wanted it every time,” Broderick Brian McCarthy, MD • George Rubin, MD selection who had 136 kills, 173 said. digs and 36 aces for the season. Colegrove, a three-year starting With six orthopedists, four orthopedic PAs, “Libby has got to be one of setter, had 427 assists, 57 digs and Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, our best up-and-coming players,” 29 aces. Litchfield Hills Coggshall said of the first year “They’re all extremely passionate we can meet all your orthopedic as well as Surgery Center player who was second in most sta- about the team and the sport in therapeutic needs. tistical categories on the team. general,” Broderick said of all three “[She’s] just a little bit younger seniors. To make an appointment, and a little bit less experienced” All the upperclassmen spent please call 860-582-0822 than Bailey, he said. many sleepless nights worrying Bristol Central had three players about how they could make the or visit us online at www.lhoa.com earn all-conference recognition in team better, she said. the CCC South and all three were “[They had] just a very selfless Litchfield Hills picked for our All-Press team: attitude in terms of just wanting In affiliation Surgery Center repeat honoree Lauren Vallee, a the program to succeed and get with a convenient, senior captain and middle hitter; better … just to leave something state-of-the-art Erin Palmquist, a senior captain behind,” Broderick said. surgery center and defensive specialist; and Lara “That’s a team, win or lose,” she 245 Alvord Park Road, Torrington Colegrove, a senior setter. said. “I’d rather lose with a group Litchfield Hills Surgery Center - Logo Rebuild
ALL-PRESS SPECIAL
ALL-PRESS FOOTBALL
The Herald Press
10 LOGAN MARCHI
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TYLER BURROW
BRISTOL CENTRAL
BRENDAN CARROLL ST. PAUL
BRISTOL EASTERN
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GERRY OUELLETTE
ELI PARKS
KEON WALTON
REID MORIN
AUSTIN ROLLINS
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ALEX HUNTER
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JOSH MOXAM
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All-Press Football Team
No shortage of star power on our all-star squad from the gridiron this year
Paul junior Eli Parks. St. Paul senior Reid Morin and junior Brendan While none of our area football Carroll combine with Central’s teams made the postseason, it was Keon Walton to take up the wide still a good year on the gridiron. receiver slots. Eastern sophomore As a result of that success, 22 Alex Hunter is slotted in as a utility players were chosen for our fifth player, given his ability to both run annual All-Press Football Team. and throw. Up front, Central senior Bristol Eastern won four more Austin Rollins and sophomore Josh games than it did in 2012, compilMoxam combine with St. Paul ing a record of 9-2. The Lancers junior Doug Nessing to open up may have missed out on the Class holes. L playoffs, but it was still a great Eastern senior Kyle Porter and turnaround. Eastern leads the way Central senior Bob Jacques can with nine selections to the All-Press also play on the offensive line, team. but they are equally valuable in St. Paul put together its first the middle of the defensive front. winning season since 2009, going Eastern seniors Ken Smith and 6-4. The Falcons have six All-Press Roderick Green bring the pressure selections. from the defensive end positions. Bristol Central fell short of its At the linebackers, Eastern senior first .500 season since 2006 (4-6), Sean Aiudi and junior Stephen but the Rams battled throughout Goodrich combine with Central the season. Central has seven Allsenior Christian Hildebrand and Press selections. junior Caleb Hildebrand to clog St. Paul senior quarterback up running lanes and chase down Logan Marchi, who is headed to receivers. In the secondary, juniors UConn, leads the All-Press offense Daija Fitzpatrick of St. Paul and at quarterback. The running backs Jozef Hermann of Eastern are there are Eastern junior Gerry Ouellette, to make plays. Central senior Tyler Burrow and St. For the second straight year, By KEVIN D. ROBERTS STAFF WRITER
Eastern junior Jeremy Meccariello rounds out the All-Press team as the do-everything kicker. Marchi, Morin and Porter are all three-time All-Press selections. Burrow, Walton, Smith, Aiudi, Fitzpatrick and Meccariello have been chosen for the All-Press team for the second time. All of the other selections appear on the All-Press roster for the first time. Marchi finished off a stellar career at St. Paul by throwing for 3,220 yards and 38 touchdowns. Marchi also ran for 540 yards and six more scores. Falcons coach Jude Kelly pointed to Marchi’s work in the weight room as the key. “He’s kept up with that all year,” Kelly said. “I think the difference was he was a stronger player, a quicker player.” Ouellette was the city’s leading rusher at 1,396 yards. Though not big in stature, he had a lot of heart and determination, and was one of the most committed players in the weight room. “He got yardage even when there weren’t holes for him,” Eastern coach Mike Archangelo said.
Burrow was again the workhorse for Central, gaining 1,298 rushing yards to go along with 14 touchdowns. Burrow also caught 13 passes for 233 yards. “He’s really just our all-purpose guy,” Rams coach Sal Cintorino said, adding Burrow was “dynamic when he touched the football.” Parks piled up nearly 900 yards of total offense (586 rushing, 293 receiving) to go along with 16 total touchdowns. “I have some really high hopes for him in his senior season,” Kelly said. Morin led the Falcons in catches (46), yards (853) and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (10). Morin was all over the field, spending time on defense and special teams. “He really developed himself as a football player over his four-year career,” Kelly said. Marchi and Morin were both four-year starters for St. Paul. Carroll tied Morin for the team lead in touchdown catches, was third in receptions (39) and fourth in yards (615). A three-year starter,
Carroll was a captain as a junior. “That spoke volumes for the support that he had on the team,” Kelly said. When run-first Central looked to throw the ball, Walton was a threat to stretch the field. He was also the team’s second-leading rusher. “He was really our go-to guy when we were going to throw the football,” Cintorino said. Hunter was the team’s leading passer and second leading rusher as a sophomore, but he was just as happy to encourage his backfield mate Ouellette. “They were both unselfish players, and rooted each other along,” Archangelo said. On the offensive line at Central, Rollins often opened up running lanes by using his athleticism to pull and provide a lead block. “He runs like he’s a fullback,” Cintorino said. Moxam has been a starter for each of his first two years with the Rams. Moxam stepped right in and spent his time protecting quarterback Jarrett Michaels’ blind side, as well as opening holes for Burrow.
ALL-PRESS SPECIAL
7 | Sunday, December 29, 2013
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30 KEN SMITH
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CHRISTIAN HILDEBRAND
DAIJA FITZPATRICK
JEREMY MECCARIELLO
CALEB HILDEBRAND
STEPHEN GOODRICH
JOZEF HERMANN
BRISTOL EASTERN
BRISTOL EASTERN
DOUG NESSING
BOB JACQUES
RODERICK GREEN
BRISTOL CENTRAL
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SEAN AIUDI
BRISTOL EASTERN
ST. PAUL
The Herald Press
BRISTOL EASTERN
BRISTOL CENTRAL
BRISTOL CENTRAL
BRISTOL EASTERN
ST. PAUL
BRISTOL EASTERN
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All-Press Football Team
“He’s just done an outstanding job,” Cintorino said. Nessing had never played football before coming to St. Paul, but has grown into the team’s best offensive and defensive lineman. Nessing has started since he was a freshman. “He’s really the epitome of all the qualities you want in an offensive lineman,” Kelly said. Porter earned his third selection for All-Press by being a menace on the defensive and offensive lines. “I don’t know how you really replace him,” Archangelo said. “When he plays with good technique, he’s one of the best linemen in the state.” Opposing coaches told Archangelo they were not used to game-planning around a defensive lineman. Porter scored two defensive touchdowns, one on an interception and another on a fumble recovery. Joining Porter in the middle of the line is Jacques, a smart player who often occupied two offensive linemen. “He was the interior anchor of our defense, a big, strong guy who was tough to move,” Cintorino said. Archangelo described Smith, an Eastern senior captain, as an all-
around great kid who works hard on and off the field. “He’s got a great football IQ,” Archangelo said. “As a captain, he was a leader of his team.” Green, a solid defensive end in his own right, had an effect on all three phases of the game. Green ran for touchdowns, caught touchdown passes, and even returned a kickoff for a score. Archangelo wished he had him from more than two years. Green transferred from New Britain for his junior year. “Another real quiet, great kid,” Archangelo said, adding that Green was a “joy to be around.” Aiudi, another Eastern senior captain, was willing to change positions and help out the team. He even played fullback for the Lancers this season. “He’s always asking questions,” Archangelo said. “That’s what makes him a good player.” Goodrich may not have been able to finish out the season after getting hurt against Northwest Catholic, but he was still named to the All-CCC Division II West team for his efforts when he was healthy. “We’re expecting big things from him next year,” Archangelo said.
Christian Hildebrand made the calls for Central’s defense and was always around the ball. “He was the heartbeat of our defense,” Cintorino said. Christian’s junior brother Caleb was solid at outside linebacker. “He was excellent versus the perimeter running game, and he also defend against the underneath pass,” Cintorino said. Fitzpatrick had another excellent year catching the ball for St. Paul, but Kelly also liked the way the junior played defense as a strong safety. Fitzpatrick, another played who started as a freshman for St. Paul, finished third on the team in tackles with 75. “He is a hard-hitting defensive back,” Kelly said. Hermann was a good listener and did the little things. Often, he was called upon to stop the other team’s top pass-catching threat, and performed well. “Defensively, he played great all year,” Archangelo said. On special teams, Meccariello brought a lot to the table for Eastern. He made the game-winning field goal against Windsor, and his punts often put opponents in bad field position. Meccariello
was also good at making his extra points, something that’s not a given in high school football. “There’s not many teams out there that have a kicker that’s almost guaranteed to put it through
the uprights,” Archangelo said. There were plenty of reliable players in Bristol football this season. Some will move on, but others will be back, trying to create more excitement.
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All-Press Girls Swim
By KEVIN D. ROBERTS STAFF WRITER
The 2013 girls swimming and diving season included plenty of individual accomplishments, along with team success for one Bristol area squad. When looking for individual accomplishments, go no further than St. Paul. Senior Lilly Martin took two individual first place finishes (200-yard individual medley and 100 butterfly) at the Naugatuck Valley League Swimming and Diving Championships. Sophomores Sarah Bowes (50 freestyle) and Kimberly Hylan (200 freestyle) each won an individual NVL title in the same meet. All three made our fifth annual All-Press team, along with senior Gabriella Houle. Martin is the first four-time selection. Bowes and Hylan are two-time honorees while Houle made it for the first time. The four also combined to win the 200 and
Sunday, December 29, 2013 | 8
400 freestyle relays at the NVL meet. Each made LILLY SARAH KIMBERLY GEORGIA the All-NVL team for MARTIN BOWES HYLAN OGONOWSKI their efforts. ST. PAUL ST. PAUL ST. PAUL BRISTOL EASTERN Bristol Eastern went undefeated in the CCC South for the second straight season, then repeated as champions in the title meet. Freshman Georgia Ogonowski was the lone individual winner in the CCC South Championships (200 IM), and she has been selected for the All-Press GABRIELLA MERI JENIFER ILEISH team. She is joined by HOULE DARRAGJATI TABACCO BURNEY junior Meri Darragjati ST. PAUL BRISTOL EASTERN BRISTOL EASTERN BRISTOL CENTRAL and sophomore Jenifer Tabacco. Darragjati and Tabacco had their own roles in winning the Lancer relays, tion from her time. Burney finished in the butterfly. school records in the 200 and 400 and they are repeat members of the first in the 100 butterfly at the Martin, a senior captain, was an freestyle relays, along with Houle, All-Press team. Each made the All- CCC South Championships and All-NVL performer for all four Hylan and Bowes. CCC South team for their efforts. makes the All-Press squad for the years. Martin was also all-state in “Undefeated in dual meet Bristol Central senior Ileish third time. Burney was an Allboth the 100 butterfly and 200 IM Continued ON PAGE 33 Burney is the lone All-Press selec- CCC South selection for her effort for three years, and she also holds
All-Press Boys Cross Country
By PAUL ANGILLY STAFF WRITER
ALL-PRESS SPECIAL
Winning and Bristol Central boys cross country tend to go hand-in-hand. The Rams wrapped up their 10th straight city championship and seventh straight CCC South title this past season to once again dominate the city cross country scene. Yet it was Terryville’s Connor Levins that was, by far, the biggest success individually at the state level, placing fourth with a time of 16:56 in the Class SS meet (a full minute and 16 seconds better than any other Bristol or Terryville runner in any state meet) to become the only area runner to compete in the State Open. For our fifth annual AllPress Boys Cross Country team for this past season, Levins was selected along with Bristol Central’s Josh
Nelson, Justin Zaino and Josh Signore. Also picked are Bristol Eastern’s Max Girouard and Anthony Casasanta, plus St. Paul’s Jonathan Hylan. Levins, a sophomore and returning All-Press performer, set the course mark at Page Park with a time of 18:23 as the Kangaroos were defeated by Bristol Eastern in a meet there. “It felt pretty good,” Levins said of the mark. “It wasn’t that hard. It was a race to get ready for the states. It felt good to get your name out there to see if anyone can beat it.” That set the stage for his Class SS run at Wickham Park. “It felt pretty good because I got my personal best there, a 16:56. It was the fastest time I’ve done.”
Continued ON PAGE 33
CONNOR LEVINS TERRYVILLE
JOSH NELSON
BRISTOL CENTRAL
MAX GIROUARD
BRISTOL EASTERN
JUSTIN ZAINO
BRISTOL CENTRAL
ANTHONY CASASANTA BRISTOL EASTERN
JOSH SIGNORE
BRISTOL CENTRAL
JONATHAN HYLAN ST. PAUL