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04/03/2023 02:46 PMVeteran presence and experience typically serve teams well when it comes to their success in a sport. That sentiment can be said for the North Haven Nighthawks boys’ outdoor track team, who returns a variety of athletes this spring as they look to have a successful season on the track.
Head Coach Steve Celmer, who has been coaching the team since 1986, is primed and ready to carry the Nighthawks to prominence while helping the athletes to improve along the way among the ranks of Class MM.
There are five captains for this spring campaign, including Tyler Wurm (senior, distance/relays), Ethan Anderson (senior, shotput), Matthew Crispi (senior, sprint and high jump), Jake McCreven (junior, pole vault), and Daniel-Mark Thomas (senior, sprint). Celmer hopes to see each of them provide their teammates with knowledge of their respective events throughout the season.
“They can each lead the team in a general leadership role, but more particularly in their area of expertise in the area they compete in, i.e. throws, distance, hurdles,” said Celmer.
Several of the players competed on the indoor team this past winter, and North Haven returns approximately 35 players out of the 50 total on the roster.
Anderson, Yousef Gebril (senior, thrower), Matthew Helwig (sophomore, thrower), Jace Matthew (sophomore, pole vault), Christian Butler (senior, pole vault), McCreven, Wurm, Matt DeNardis (sophomore, distance), David Frost (senior, jumper), Liam Milman (junior, jumper), Andre Ohanyan (senior, jumper), Thomas, Christopher Cretella (sophomore, sprinter), and Nigel Ragsdale (junior, sprinter) are athletes Celmer expects to be key contributors in their respective events to help the team reach its postseason goals of conference and state titles.
“We can have a winning record if we reach our competitive goals; of course, the other teams will have something to say about that,” said Celmer. “The more talented the other teams are, the more difficult that goal becomes despite how we perform.”
Last season, the Nighthawks finished in 13th place out of 18 teams in the SCC Championship meet. As they look to grow on that performance this season, Celmer wants his athletes to give their best effort every day, even if they may not be at the top of the food chain when it comes to putting up competitive numbers.
“A little about our team, we have been traditionally a dual meet team, and I don’t think that will change this season. We are not a team filled with superstars, and I call us a lunch pail bunch,” said Celmer. “We come to work and work hard, make the most of the talent we have, and compete across all 18 events, with three placing deep. Don’t look for us to set the world on fire once the dual meet season ends. Until then, we are a tough out.”
Celmer cannot emphasize enough how he and the rest of the coaching staff are looking for every athlete to make constant improvements in both performance and competitive spirit.
Although the Nighthawks have more than half the team being returning athletes, Celmer knows it is too soon to tell what the overall dynamic will be but hopes it is a strong one.
“It is too early to tell; hopefully, we have a bunch of competitors who fail to give in; we’ll start to see this happening this week,” said Celmer.
The Nighthawks roster is comprised of Anderson, Nico Antonio Boyle (junior, distance), Daniel Broggi (freshman, sprinter), Blake Butler (senior, high jump, triple jump, and 4x4 relay) Butler, Evan Castellon (junior, 200 meters and long jump), Russell Collins (sophomore, sprinter and 4x4 relay), Cooper Connolly (sophomore, long jump), Charles Coughlin (junior, distance), Cretella, Crispi, Cameron Darcy (sophomore, discus), DeNardis, Trysten Dos (junior, sprinter), Eli Feinberg (freshman, mid and long distance), David Frost (senior, long jump and triple jump), Gebril, Jack Green (junior, long distance and 4x8 relay), Helwig, Theordore Kattis (sophomore, long distance and 4x8 relay), Daniel Malone (junior, 100 meter, thrower, and relay), Jiah Middleton (freshman, sprinter and long jump), Millman, Alexander Molyneaux (junior, thrower, long jump, and shotput), Khristopher Molyneuax (freshman, 100 meters, javelin, long jump, shotput), Jeremey Morales (freshman, javelin and shotput), Alex Morocho (junior, 1600 meter, 4x4 and 4x8 relay), Remy Mui (freshman, 100, 200, and 400 meter), Jack Notaro (sophomore, 100, 200, long jump, and 4x4 relay), Ohanyan, Logan Ohanyan (sophomore, 400 and 800 meters, triple jump, and 4x100 relay), Max Pugliese (freshman, 100, 400, 4x100 relay), Nigel J Ragsdale (junior, 100 and 200 meters, triple jump, and 4x100 relay), Luke Reilly (junior, 800 meters, triple jump, and 4x800 relay), Conor Rourke (junior, 100 meters and triple jump), Darek Samsel (freshman, 200 and 400 meters and long jump), Anthony Signor (junior, long distance, 4x4 and 4x8 relay), Joseph Solimene Jr (sophomore, 800 and 1600 meters, 4x8 relay), Dillon Songhurst (junior, discus and shotput), James Studley (junior, discus, javelin, and shotput), Thomas, Alex Vaughan (junior, 100, 200, and 400 meters, long jump), Eric Vetrano (junior, 100 meters and long jump), and Wurm.
Celmer is assisted on the track by Matt Proto (distance coach), Marc Celmer (throwing coach), Nick Howlett (general assistant), and Anthony Vigliotto (assistant throwing coach).
Nighthawks Boys Outdoor Track and Field 2023 Schedule
Tuesday April 4: vs Amity, Notre Dame-West Haven at 3:45 p.m.
Saturday April 8: Hammonasset Freshman Invite at 9 a.m.
Tuesday April 11: vs Foran, Guilford at 11 a.m.
Tuesday April 25: vs Career Magnet, Lyman Hall at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday May 3: vs Jonathan Law at 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday May 9: vs Fairfield Prep, Hillhouse, and Platt Tech at 3:45 p.m.
Monday May 15: SCC East Sectional at 12:30 p.m.
Thursday June 1: Class MM Boys State Championship at 3 p.m.