The North Haven Nighthawks boys’ and girls’ indoor track and field teams began their 2022-’23 season on Dec. 19-20, when they competed in their first Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) meet.

The Nighthawks are coached by Marc Celmer, who has been with the program since 1993, but became the indoor head coach during the 2005-’06 school year. Celmer is assisted by Noelle Musco, his older brother Steve Celmer, Nancy Schreiber, and Anthony Vigliotto.

The co-ed team is comprised of more than 50 athletes, with four captains for the boys’ team. Ethan Anderson (senior, shotput), Tyler Wurm (senior, distance runner), Daniel-Mark Thomas (senior, sprinter/long jumper), and Jake McCreven (junior, hurdler), make up the quartet. There are also four captains for the girls’ team and they include Payton Orosco (senior, distance runner), Carina Esposito (senior, sprinter), Rebecca Ford (junior, middle-distance runner), and Anna Mortali (junior, middle distance runner).

Coach Celmer talked about the eight captains and how they impact not only their specific events that they compete in, but also their team as a whole.

“The boys’ captains are a collection of individuals who lead by example, are very competitive, knowledgeable, and hard working,” said Coach Celmer. “The two senior captains have been with the program since they were freshmen, they lead by example. The junior captains are very talented and work hard.”

Coach Celmer also detailed how each captain individually sets them apart in their own ways.

“Ethan is one of the best throwers in the state, he is a top-ranked shot-putter in his class right now and Jake is so passionate about the hurdles,” said Coach Celmer. “Tyler loves the distance events; Mr. Thomas is a sprinter and has the sprinter’s mentality.”

When discussing the girls’ captains, Celmer explained the similarities that they share with the boys’ captains.

“Payton, Anna, and Rebecca are all middle-distance runners. They all come from the same type of mentality and the same approach to the sport, with three of them making up the 4x8,” said Coach Celmer. “Ms. Esposito is a sprinter but can relate to what the middle-distance runners go through.”

Although the team is comprised of more than 50 total athletes, the girls’ team only includes 17, whereas the boys make up the rest of the team. Celmer talked about how the girls perform during meets with just a small number.

“The one thing the girls do have is heart; they may be a small number, but they go out there and give their all,” said Celmer. “They may be few of them, but they are going to give you everything that they have.”

On Jan. 3, the boys competed at their second meet of the season. Coach has his expectations for the season set higher for them because of the number of athletes competing.

“The expectations were set higher for the boys’ team. There are a few things that the boys team can improve on,” said Coach Celmer. “However, they are still moving forward, and they are still demonstrating that they are a strong team.”

Several athletes have already qualified for the state competition, which include Anderson (shotput), Yousef Gebril (senior, shotput), Chayse Mangino (senior, shotput), Matthew Helwig (sophomore, shotput), James Studley (junior, shotput), McCreven (hurdles), Eric Vetrano (junior, hurdles), Thomas (long jump), Nico Boyle (junior, 3200 and 1600 meters), and Christopher Cretella (sophomore, spinter).

“We have maybe at least a dozen boys’ individuals going to states,” said Coach Celmer. “This is probably the largest number for North Haven going to the states in non-relay events.”

Other than the players that have already qualified for the state meet, Celmer mentioned a few others to look out for this season. Those athletes include Jace Matthew (sophomore, pole vault), Anthony “AJ” Signore (junior, mile), and Jack Green (junior, distance-mile).

“Jace is coming into his own, not only can he pole vault, but he can also do other things. He is a good runner and the type of athlete you want on your team because he can plug into different places,” said Coach Celmer. “AJ and Jack have come a very long way since when they first joined the program. Overall, the youngsters have stepped up and have come forward.”

For the girls’ team, Celmer shared how they have stepped up, although they are a much smaller team than the boys.

“The girls’ team is sort of held back by the lack of numbers, but they are still working very hard, and give excellent effort,” said Coach Celmer.

Coach Celmer holds several goals for both teams for the remainder of their season to try to perform to the best of their abilities.

“For the girls, I just want them to go out there and have a positive experience, as well as going out there for every meet and attempting to set a personal record,” said Coach Celmer. “For the boys side, they have the fire power to score big in some big meets, such as the conference, sectional, and even at states.”

Coach Celmer also talked about how he can not only prepare his team for the rest of the season as well as the goals he wants them to accomplish, but also how each athlete can commit to being the best they can be.

“The championships are a different level of commitment by your athletes,” said coach Celmer. “A lot of time, the biggest competitor is not the other person in a uniform, it’s yourself.”

For the boys’ team the athletes include Anderson, Matthew Crispi (senior, hurdles), David Frost (senior, spinter/long jump), Gebril, Mangino, Thomas, Wurm, Boyl, Charles Coughlin (junior, distance-mile), Green, Daniel Malone (junior, utility and spinter), McCreven, Liam Millan (junior, spinter/long jump), Luke Reilly (mid-distance), Albert Rotondo (junior, shotput), Signore, Dillon Songhurst (junior, shotput), Studley, Vetrano, Andrew Bautz (sophomore, mid-distance), Russell Collins (sprinter), Cretella, Matthew DeNardis (sophomore, distance), Matthew Helwig (sophomore, shotput), Noah Holt (sophomore, long spinter), Helwig, Jack Notaro (sophomore, hurdler, sprinter, long jumper), Joey Solimene (sophomore, distance), Daniel Broggi (freshman, hurdler), Emeka Dimkpa (freshman, shotput), Jeremey Eddie (freshman, sprinter), Kristopher Molyneaux (freshman, hurdler), Shawn Nesmith (freshman, shotput), Max Pugliese (freshman, long sprinter), Darek Samsel (freshman, hurdler), and Ty Zemba (freshman, shotput).

The girls’ team includes Noami Dimkpa (senior, spinter) Esposito, Orosco, Ford, Jade Lewis (junior, hurdler and sprinter), Mortali, Shen Wan (junior, hurdler, sprinter), Truly Whichard (junior, sprinter), Andrea August (sophomore, mid-distance), Grace DeNardis (sophomore, mid-distance), Giada Garofalo (sophomore, sprinter), Amalia Morizio (sophomore, team manager, mid-distance), Daniella Rapuano (sophomore, mid-distance), Sofia Kanakis (freshman, shotput), Natalie Pause (freshman, hurdler), and Rachel Sajan (freshman, sprinter).