Boys Cross Country

The Hand boys’ cross country team put forth two stellar performances while competing in a pair of postseason meets last week. The Tigers finished in second place at the Class MM State Championship and then came in sixth place at the State Open Championship.

Hand scored 70 points as a squad on its way to earning runner-up honors at the Class MM meet, which was held at Wickham Park in Manchester on Nov. 1. Senior John O’Keefe finished in fourth place for the race by crossing the finish line with a time of 16 minutes and 50 seconds for the Tigers. Junior Nicholas Montana finished in seventh place with a time of 17:18, and fellow junior Harrison Grenier took eighth place by hitting the finish line at 17:19.

Senior Daniel Hilmer finished in 17th place (18:11) for the Tigers at states. Fellow senior Robert Constable came in 37th place (19:03) at the meet.

Sophomore Jacob Merenda finished in 46th place (19:18) for Hand. Fellow sophomore Ty Boucino took 50th place (19:26) on behalf of the Tigers.

By virtue of its performance at the Class MM meet, Hand qualified to compete as a team at the State Open at Wickham Park on Nov. 5. The Tigers finished in sixth place with a team score of 213 points at the Open.

O’Keefe ran a time of 16:25 to finish in 22nd place for Hand in the State Open. Grenier finished in 34th place (16:49), while Montana came in 39th place (16:53) for the Tigers.

Hilmer took 65th place (17:16) for Hand at the Open. Merenda finished in 148th place (18:42) in the meet.

Boucino finished in 156th place (18:49) for the Tigers. Constable finished in 159th place (18:55).

Girls’ Cross Country

The Hand girls’ cross country team had four athletes compete at the Class MM State Championship meet that was held at Wickham Park in Manchester on Nov. 1.

Freshman Kylee Bolding finished in 43rd place by running a time of 23 minutes and 14 seconds for the Tigers at states. Fellow freshman Marla Lafferty came in 77th place with a time of 24:45.

Senior Maya Sestan clocked in with a time of 26:36 to finish in 105th place for Hand in the Class MM meet. Fellow senior Emma Merkle-Scotlan finished in 118th place at 27:47.

Girls’ Swimming and Diving

The Hand girls’ swimming and diving team finished in fourth place at the SCC Championship last week. The Tigers scored 710 points to take fourth place in the SCC meet at Southern Connecticut State University on Nov. 3.

Freshman Samantha Chemacki finished third in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.59) and fifth in the 200 freestyle (2:00.81) for the Tigers at SCCs. Senior Abby Chemacki took fourth place in the 500 freestyle (5:18.93) and finished seventh for the 200 individual medley (2:19.61). Senior Grace Sweeney claimed 5th place in the 100 butterfly (59.29) and was 10th in the 200 freestyle (2:03.25).

Hand’s 200 medley relay of freshman Seorin Kim, Samantha Chemacki, Sweeney, and senior Kacie Wines finished in third place (1:54.41) at the SCC meet. The 400 freestyle relay also featuring Kim, Samantha Chemacki, Sweeney, and Wines took fourth place (3:47.90). The 200 freestyle relay of freshman Lillian Miller, sophomore Haley Wines, freshman Ariana Potter, and junior Julia Urbowicz finished in eighth place (1:47.94).

Miller finished ninth in the 200 freestyle (2:02.98), while Kacie Hines placed 11th in the 50 freestyle (26.07) for the Tigers. Kim took 11th place in the 100 backstroke (1:04.21) and also finished 12th for the 100 freestyle (58.10).

Potter finished 14th in both the 200 freestyle (2:06.62) and the 500 freestyle (5:44.12) for Hand. Urbowicz finished 14th in the 200 individual medley (2:24.31).

Hand is competing in the Class M State Championship this week. The Diving Championship is at Sheehan High School on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m.; the Swimming Qualifying takes place East Hartford High School on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m.; and the Swimming Championship is at Cornerstone Aquatic Center in West Hartford on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.

Girls’ Volleyball

The Hand girls’ volleyball squad defeated Branford in the SCC Tournament quarterfinals before taking a loss against Cheshire in the semifinals last week. Next up for the Tigers is the Class L State Tournament that begins this week.

No. 5 seed Hand played at No. 4 Branford in the SCC quarterfinals on Nov. 2. The Tigers defeated the Hornets by a 3-1 score, winning the contest by the final tally of 24-26, 25-22, 25-19, 25-17.

Two days later, Hand was back on the road to face top-seeded Cheshire in the SCC semifinals. Cheshire won the match by a 3-0 final with set scores of 25-15, 25-17, and 25-23.

Hand (17-6) is the No. 9 seed in the Class L State Tournament and hosted No. 24 seed WCA for a first-round match on Nov. 8 (after press time). With a win, Hand would play the winner of No. 8 South Windsor and No. 25 Platt in the second round on Thursday, Nov. 11. The quarterfinals are on Saturday, Nov. 13, the semifinals take place on Wednesday, Nov. 17, and the Class L state final is at East Haven High School on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Football

The Hand football team hosted North Haven for an SCC Tier 1 game at the Surf Club on Nov. 5. The Tigers defeated North Haven by the final score of 28-21 to earn their third-straight victory, improving to 5-3 overall with a record of 1-2 in SCC Tier 1.

Senior quarterback Patch Flanagan went 9-for-11 passing with 197 yards and two touchdowns for Hand in its win over North Haven. Flanagan also had 19 carries for 137 yards and a TD on the night, rushing for the go-ahead score to break a 21-21 tie early in the fourth quarter.

Senior Seth Sweitzer had six receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. Senior Shane Smith had two catches for 82 yards and a score. Fellow senior Ethan O’Brien ran the ball 11 times for 57 yards and a TD.

Hand is on the bye for this week. The Tigers will play a road game versus SCC Tier 1 opponent Notre Dame-West Haven at Veterans Field on Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.

Boys’ Soccer

The Hand boys’ soccer team is participating in the Class L State Tournament that gets underway this week.

Hand (12-2-3) is the No. 4 seed in the Class L draw and hosted No. 29 Pomperaug for a first-round game on Nov. 9 (after press time). If the Tigers won that game, they will host the winner of No. 13 Notre Dame-West Haven and No. 20 Bunnell in the second round on Thursday, Nov. 11. The quarterfinals are on Saturday, Nov. 13, the semis will be held from Tuesday, Nov. 16 to Thursday, Nov. 18, and the Class L state final is at Dillon Stadium in Hartford on either Saturday, Nov. 20 or Sunday, Nov. 21.

Girls’ Soccer

The Hand girls’ soccer squad is competing in the Class L State Tournament this week.

Hand (9-4-3) has the No. 15 seed in the Class L State Tournament and started off by hosting No. 18 Killingly in the first round on Nov. 8 (after press time). With a victory, the Tigers would have played a second-round game at No. 2 East Lyme on Nov. 10 (after press time). The quarterfinals are on Friday, Nov. 12, the semis take place from Tuesday, Nov. 16 to Thursday, Nov. 18, and the championship game is at Dillon Stadium in Hartford on either Saturday, Nov. 20 or Sunday, Nov. 21.

Field Hockey

The Hand field hockey team is playing in the Class M State Tournament this week. The Tigers are the No. 11 seed in the bracket.

Hand (8-7-1-1) faced No. 6 seed Branford on the road in the first round of states on Nov. 9 (after press time). If Hand won that game, it would play the winner of No. 3 Barlow and No. 14 Waterford in a quarterfinal game on Thursday, Nov. 11. The semifinals are on either Tuesday, Nov. 16 or Wednesday, Nov. 17, and the Class M state final is on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Wethersfield High School.