Boys’ Swimming and Diving

The Greater New Haven Warriors (GNH) boys’ swimming and diving team clinched the SCC Division 2 title by earning a home victory versus divisional opponent Sheehan in its regular-season finale on Senior Night. On Feb. 24, the Warriors hosted Sheehan and prevailed 100-70 at Walter Gawrych Community Pool to win the crown with a record of 6-0 in divisional meets. GNH finished with an overall mark of 8-2 for the regular season.

Later in the week, North Haven freshman Christian Butler earned a medal by finishing in sixth place at the SCC Diving Championship on behalf of the Warriors.

The Warriors honored North Haven student Stephen Borrelli and fellow senior captains Aidan Henry and Evan Laughlin of Guilford as part of their Senior Night festivities prior to their meet against Sheehan. Borrelli swam a lifetime-best time of 2:06.48 in the 200 freestyle in the victory. Henry went undefeated in the 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyles during the regular season.

Junior Tanner Powell swam a lifetime best of 1:02.65 in the 100 butterfly for GNH. Junior Collin Romero turned in a lifetime best of 28.43 for the 50 freestyle, while freshman Patrick Cucchiarelli did a lifetime best in the 100 freestyle (59.60) to go with a season-best in the 100 backstroke (1:09.75).

Other swimmers who recorded season-best marks were junior Dan Kamen in the 200 individual medley (2:13.52), junior Cameron Cargan in the 200 freestyle (1:58.09); freshman Aiden Cohen (24.62), freshman Lucas Espinosa (26.03), and sophomore Miguel Pearce (26.19) in the 50 freestyle; and freshman RT Trotter in the 100 butterfly (1:05.34) and 100 breaststroke (1:18.01)

Butler posted a lifetime-best score of 209.80 for a six-dive routine during the Warriors’ win against Sheehan. Later in the week, Butler competed at the SCC Diving Championship and claimed sixth place by scoring 321.25 points for his 11-diving performance at Sheehan High School on Feb. 28. Butler scored points that will count toward the Warriors’ total when they swim at the SCC Championship this week.

After SCCs, GNH will compete in the Class LL State Championship, beginning with the Diving Championship at Middletown High School on Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30 p.m. The Class LL Swimming Trials will take place at East Hartford High School on Saturday, March 14 at 11:30 p.m., and the Class LL Swimming State Championship will be held at Wesleyan University on Tuesday, March 17 at 6 p.m.

Boys’ Basketball

North Haven finished its regular season with a win and then took a loss in the first round of the SCC Tournament last week. The Indians, who have an overall mark of 9-12, are competing in the Division III State Tournament this week.

On Feb. 24, North Haven earned a 70-61 home win against non-conference squad Wilcox Tech in its regular-season finale. The Indians and Wilcox Tech were locked in an 11-11 tie after the first quarter. North Haven then outscored Wilcox Tech during both the second (25-15) and third (27-17) quarters to take a 63-43 lead into the fourth.

Sophomore Chris Hager scored 15 points, while senior Justin White had 14 points for the Indians. Senior Joe Vitale scored 12 points, senior Bryce Charney had 10 points, and fellow senior Dave Christoforo scored seven points in the victory. Senior Carson Layerzapf scored five points, and senior Orest Sinew had four points on the night.

Three nights later, North Haven opened the SCC Tournament as the No. 13 and took a 50-34 defeat at No. 4 West Haven. The Blue Devils went up 14-5 after the first quarter and held a 23-17 advantage at halftime. West Haven outscored North Haven 14-9 during the third quarter and 13-8 in the fourth to pull away for the win.

Hager scored 16 points, and Charney had eight points for the Indians.

Girls’ Basketball

The Indians open play in the Class L State Tournament as the No. 15 seed this week. North Haven, which has an overall record of 13-9, is hosting No. 18 seed Lyman Hall for a first-round game on Tuesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. With a win, North Haven would face the winner of No. 2 St. Paul and No. 31 RHAM in the second round on Friday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. The quarterfinals are on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m.; the semifinals take place on Monday, March 16; and the Class L state final will be held at Mohegan Sun Arena on either Saturday, March 21 or Sunday, March 22.

Boys’ Ice Hockey

North Haven hosted divisional opponent Hand for its regular-season finale at Northford Ice Pavilion on Feb. 26. The Indians took a 4-1 loss to finish at 11-6-3 overall with a record of 5-2-2 in the SCC/SWC Division II standings for the regular season. North Haven is playing in the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament this week and then has the Division II State Tournament after that.

Hand scored one goal in the first period, one in the second, and two in the third on its way to a 4-1 win against North Haven. Sophomore Mike Anquillare scored the Indians’ lone goal of the game with eight seconds remaining in the contest. Junior Andrew Sacco made 28 saves in goal for North Haven.

The Indians are the No. 3 seed in the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament. North Haven is playing No. 2 Hand in the semifinals at Bennett Rink on Thursday, March 5 at 5:15 p.m. With a victory, the Indians will face the winner of top-seeded Branford and the No. 4 seed, the East Haven co-op, in the championship game at Bennett Rink on Saturday, March 7 at 4 p.m.

Following the conference tourney, North Haven will compete in the Division II State Tournament beginning with first-round action on Monday, March 9.