The Haddam-Killingworth boys’ and girls’ cross country teams have seen plenty of banner days at postseason meets over the last 15-plus years. The 2024 run of the squads was no exception, as the Cougars walked away with a clean sweep of crowns and sitting at their respective thrones of the state.

At the Class SS State Championships at legendary Wickham Park, both Cougars clubs took to the course with championship dreams in their eyes. Those dreams, with a great amount of persistence and dedication, became a reality. The boys’ squad took the top spot with a team tally of 44 points. Meanwhile, the girls notched an amazing low total of 34 points–winning comfortably over second-place East Hampton with 102 tallies.

For the boys’ squad, the victory marks its 12th state crown, first since the 2021 campaign, and ninth since 2007. The girls have now claimed three state championships in the last four years and seven overall. The girls’ triumph comes on the heels of the Cougars’ Shoreline Conference title one week earlier.

“It is always nice to see both teams win states on the same day, and both teams had different experiences coming in,” said Head Coach Matt Diglio. “The girls were the heavy favorite for Class SS, so the focus was racing conservatively, getting the team win, and getting as many athletes on the All-State Team. The boys were coming off a tough runner-up finish at Shorelines to a good Hale-Ray team. They knew they would be challenged by Griswold [finishing a distant runner-up at 76 points]. We needed to focus on ourselves and just execute. We knew that we could not take anything for granted. All of the kids worked hard for these with their practices and workouts. At states, everyone performed up to their level and did their jobs well. They really did what we were hoping for, and they put it all together.”

On the boys’ day, they were led by competitors in senior co-captain Jack Cozean, junior Daniel McCourt, junior Cash Smigel, juniors Alex Frederickson, Anthony Frederickson, sophomore Evan Berardino, and senior co-captain Matthew Lara. H-K took three of the top 10 spots with Cozean in fourth at a time of 16 minutes and 47 seconds, McCourt at fifth in 16:51, and then Smigel pacing himself to ninth (17:34). Additionally, Alex Frederickson saw 12th place (in 17:42), Anthony Frederickson was right behind him at 14th (17:48), Berardino placed 16th (at 17:56), and Lara paced to 25th place (18:24).

“I am very proud to be a part of the winning team. The excitement of seeing the team excel was overwhelming and showed that our hard work has paid off,” said Cozean. “Under the direction of our coaches, our performance proved that our training was efficient.”

For the girls, taking to the path were sophomore Charlotte Behnke, junior Grace Mitchell, senior co-captain Keira Sehl-Albert, junior Amelia Riggs, junior Delaney Aronson, sophomore Emilia Schweitzer, and senior co-captain Margaret Robinson. The girls occupied half of the top 10 placements for the race. Behnke was second on the day in a mark of 20 minutes and 31 seconds, Mitchell was right behind her in third in a pace of 20:41, Sehl-Albert crossed the finish line eighth (21:33), Riggs was 10th (at 21:47), Aronson saw 11th place (21:49), Schweitzer raced to 16th (in 22:20), and Robinson was 55th (25:23).

“Seeing the team win states on both the boys’ and girls’ teams is great motivation leading into State Opens. We had five All-State athletes on the girls side, which met many of our personal goals we were working towards all season,” said Sehl-Albert. “I am so proud of all the girls that raced; they all put in a lot of work to get to where they are. The last time both the boys’ and the girls’ teams won states was my freshman year, so it is nice to have come full circle. In my high school career, the girls have won three state titles, and it has been great to be part of this team and amazing program. I want to give a great thanks to our coaches because without their guidance and support, we would never have the success we have today without them.”

For both events, all competitors who placed in the top 12 notched All-State Team recognition. The day also marked the most combined All-State athletes across both clubs in program history. Diglio also complimented the boys’ mental fortitude to rebound after a rough outcome at their conference meet, speaking volumes to their heart.

“For the boys, there was disappointment after Shorelines. But when we looked at the results, it was a case of Hale-Ray just having an outstanding race, and we got beat by a better team,” said Diglio, whose boys’ team went 5-0 on the dual-meet year and is 121-0 in them since 2015. “But I was pleased and proud of them to bounce back here at states. It says a lot about their character and resolve as a team.”

Lara echoed his coach’s sentiment when it came to his motivating force heading into states. Yet he knew the boys were ready to wipe the bitter taste of Shorelines due to being well-prepared to traverse the tricky path of Wickham.

“I looked at this meet as an opportunity for redemption after the boys’ team's unfortunate second place finish at the Shorelines. The team and I knew we should be more confident for this race due to its rougher terrain that other teams would struggle on, while we've practiced for it,” said Lara. “After the race, I was incredibly proud of everyone that partook in a race that day, boys and girls, and I think the fact that we were the only school in Connecticut to win in their class for both the boys and girls as well as having the most All-State athletes from a single school is a clear example of the dedication our athletes put in and the excellent training Coach Diglio provides for us.”

The tandem senior captains this year for the H-K boys were seniors Jack Cozean and Matt Lara. Cozean is a four-year veteran to varsity and two-time captain, while Lara leads and inspires via his triumph through personal experiences and adversity.

“Jack has been in high-pressure races and is the leader of the team in practices and workouts. The guys gauge off of him, and he leads by example. He has done an unbelievable job as a captain; they look up to him,” said Diglio. “Matt is more of a quiet and reserved leader. He is someone the team respects through everything he has had to endure. He is the kind of kid you want to see do well because of what he has been through. The big thing for him was that he made it through the whole race at states. Both of them are great captains, leaders, and kids.”

On the same course five days later at the State Open Championship on Oct. 31, the girls finished fifth overall in the team standings with 224 points. Running on that day for H-K were Mitchell (24th, 20:29), Behnke (26th, 20:36), Downing (57th, 21:30), Riggs (58th, 21:33), Sehl-Albert (59th, 21:35), Aronson (66th, 21:50), and Schweitzer (77th, 22:08).

The boys placed 12th overall with 306 points on their day. Taking the chase for the Cougars were Cozean (38th, 16:56), McCourt (41st, 16:58), Smigel (67th, 17:31), Anthony Frederickson (77th, 17:40), Berardino (83rd, 17:45), Lara (93rd, 17:58), and Alex Frederickson (118th, 18:42).

Diglio has been a mainstay in the prestigious pedigree of the H-K program, coaching for over two decades. Still, this year’s crop of competitors truly stands out with their empathy and care towards each other and their willingness to leave every last ounce of energy on the race paths.

“For me, this was a special group. I have been fortunate with the kids I have coached every season,” said Diglio. “This has been a really fun and enjoyable group to coach. They all get along with each other, and they are nice and helpful and hard workers.. They had their ups and downs this year with injuries, but they pushed through and are such a special group.”

The H-K boys’ roster is made up of seniors Cozean, Lara, Dan DiMatteo, Josh Lara, Owen Mitchill, Gunnar Tassmer; juniors Alex Fredericksen, Anthony Fredericksen, Evan Livingston, McCourt, Tim Mitchill, Max Newman, Smigel, Axel Wolfradt; sophomores Berardino, Jackson Birkmeyer, Mike Coppola, Kellen Coulombe, Marcel Traczyk, Garrett Vogetli; plus freshmen Caleb Downing, Chris King, Riley Norton, and Filip Wolfradt.

The 2024 H-K girls’ roster is comprised of seniors Sehl-Albert, Robinson, Emmerson Goeden; juniors Aronson, Downing, Brielle Kent, Mitchell, Riggs; sophomores Behnke, and Schweitzer; plus freshman Celia Huebner.