Boys’ and Girls’ Indoor Track Host SCC West Championship, Boys’ Ice Hockey Splits the Week
Boys’ Indoor Track
On Jan. 24, the Branford boys’ indoor track team hosted the SCC West Championships. The Hornets placed ninth as a team, with an overall score of 19 points. Enaji Muhammad had an outstanding performance in the high jump, taking first place (6’2). Muhammad also had a notable performance in the long jump (20’4) where he took third place. Noah Hauswirth, Mason Porras, Nolan Weted, and Sam Coppola took fifth place in the 4x800 meters, recording a time of 9:25.02, and Nate McCall, Ryan Andrus, Tyler Peterson, Peter and Distasio (3:49.54) claimed sixth place in the 4x400. Distasio qualified for states in the 55 meters (6.98) and Sam Harwin (18’8) qualified for states in the long jump.
Girls’ Indoor Track
The Branford girls’ indoor track team hosted the SCC West Championships on Jan. 24. The team placed fifth out of 10 teams and scored 36 points. Joelle Budz came in third in the 55 meters with a time of 7.45. Chayse Gueco (7.97) and Djamilla Toukour (8.09) also had strong performances in that event. Budz also took second in the 300 (43.11), while Glorianna Buckley took 10th (45.52). Toukour also had a standout race, earning a time of 46.65.
Buckley claimed second in the 600 meters (1:45.64), and Maddie Aguilar took ninth (1:53.51). The 4x400 team of Budz, Ella Stone, Toukour, and Buckley claimed second place, with a time of 4:24.58. Avery Clouse (4’8”) placed third in the high jump, and Ava Allen had a standout performance in the shot put (21’10”). Stone had a ninth place finish in the long jump (14’11”) and Avery Clouse also performed well in that event (14’2.5”). Kimberely Carracondo (12' 3”) also had a standout jump.
“Joelle and Glorianna had big individual performances, they are tough competitors and that was on exhibit in this meet,” said Head Coach Kevin Connell. “They work tremendously hard in practice, and have earned everything they have achieved this season. To see them come through in the 4x400 with Ella and Djamilla, it was outstanding. We have a small team, but filled with great athletes, who have endured through the winter. Just about all who competed in the West Sectional will be qualifiers in the SCC Championships, and I am very proud of this group.”
Boys’ Ice Hockey
On Jan. 24, North Branford boys’ ice hockey hosted Branford for a “Hockey Fights Cancer” game. Thunderbirds Head Coach Ralph Shaw inspires this event every year to raise money for a great cause, as well as to involve players, parents, and the entire community in a shared vision. This year’s event was combined with Branford, in cooperation with Head Coach Jim DiNapoli. At the end of the day, nearly $4,000 dollars were raised at this event to support the American Cancer Society. After a ceremonial puck drop, the teams took to the ice in a battle that ended in a North Branford 6-1 victory. The lone goal for the Hornets was scored by Michael Loomis, and Dante DiLegge prevented 48 shot attempts in net.
The team then traveled to North Haven on Jan. 27 and lost 4-1.