The Hand football team may have had a subpar season a year ago by its always high standards and expectations, though the Tigers welcome back a strong corps of returning players that are that much hungrier, wiser, and more determined both physically and mentally to return Hand back to where it belongs, in playing on the postseason gridiron.

Head Coach Erik Becker and the Tigers missed out on the playoffs with a 3-8 record for 2022, even though they concluded the campaign on a high note by knocking off rival Guilford with a 28-25 victory to additionally keep the Grizzlies out of the postseason.

As Hand begins to pen the opening chapter of the 2023 season, Becker knows the run will be a story of redemption for the program, as many familiar faces come back into the fold even more prepared for battle after a very productive and prosperous preseason.

“We have been in the weight room since about a week after the Guilford game and have been getting bigger, faster, and stronger,” said Becker. “We will return a lot of the same guys from last year, but we also had a great offseason. We have been to three football camps this summer, and we have had a great lifting year and preseason with scrimmages. We look to have great momentum heading into the year and look to start off on the right foot with the Bunnell game.”

The Tigers deploy a terrific triumvirate of captains in senior Colby College commit and two-way tackle Bryce Malary, wide receiver and kick/punt returner Owen Preskar, and wide receiver/running back Gavin Wagner. Each of these senior stewards dazzles the coaching staff with not only their raw athletic talent, but additionally with their high-caliber character as captains.

“Leadership is a lot about how you behave, and we have great leaders on the team. We are blessed to have a team of guys who set really high standards for themselves,” Becker said. “Bryce is one of the most big-hearted men I have coached. He has come a long way and took his lumps as a freshman. He is a great example of growth. Owen is a skilled route runner with incredible hands, who has worked himself into becoming an elite wide receiver in Connecticut. Gavin is just a straight athlete; he has phenomenal speed and athleticism, is a sure tackler, and a great kid.”

The standouts of the senior class do not conclude within the captain’s log. Hand holds additional veteran pieces in tailback/outside linebacker Aidan Dolan (committing to Trinity College), plus Brady Corsello joining him on the linebacking corps on the inside, and then Johnny Reh (also playing receiver on offense) also along the outside. Jack Shay has emerged as the starting quarterback while flaring the leg as a kicker and punter, and then Carlos Santos will figure strongly on the defensive line with defensive end Owen Hardy.

“Aidan is one the most physically-gifted kids I have coached in 23 years. He is as dominant of a player as I have seen,” said Becker. “Brady plays with a huge heart and effort. Jack is the first kid on the field and hustles everywhere. Owen is very well built and a physically gifted young man. Johnny plays with incredible hustle and gives everything he has. The team has rallied around Carlos, and he has been uplifted by the love of the team.”

The Tigers started out the year with a close 28-21 loss at home to Bunnell on Sept. 8.

When it comes to the road ahead and the slate of adversaries for the 2023 schedule, Hand is taking no one lightly and focusing on one opponent at a time. In the bigger scope of life around football and looking at the local community, the Tigers will continue to strive for excellence, both as a team but also as the top role models within the town of Madison.

“We strive to be gentlemen first, then getting it done in the classroom second, and then being athletes thirdly,” said Becker. “Our standard is excellence as always. We had a tough year last season and took our lumps, but it did not change the standard for us to compete for a state title. The expectation for us every year is to compete for a state title. The only game circled on our calendar right now is Bunnell. They are a phenomenal team with a great head coach, and our job is to meet the pressure with pressure.”

Becker is back for his third season at the helm as head coach for Hand. He is assisted by defensive coordinator Mike Davis, quarterbacks/safety coach Billy Ryan, co-offensive coordinators Tim Chalmers and Tyler Tarantino, offensive/defensive lineman coach Mike Marino, defensive line assistant John Sagnelli, and senior advisor and longtime former Hand Head Coach Steve Filippone. The freshman team staff is comprised of head man Tyler Michaud, assistant coach Carl McDowell, plus Don Giles and Ed Olsen.

The 2023 Hand football team roster is comprised of seniors Corsello, Dolan, Hardy, Kassidy Layton, Malary, Preskar, Johnny Reh, Santos, Shay, Wagner; juniors of Cooper Burke, Paul Calandrelli, Ralph Carter, Trevor Cash, Braeden Clark, Owen Donahey, Tatem Hansen, Jake Hanson, John Healy, Samuel Markovitz, Tyler Narracci, Quinton O’Dea, Nicholas Pompilli, Morris Selmani, Aedan Virgulto; sophomores Finn Barry, Kyle Borduas, Anthony Bowe, Ayden Brennan, Conor Casagrande, Brody Duncan, Paul Fumex, Quinn Gies, Sean Healy, Drew Horn, Jack Kilduff, Carrig LaVigne, Stone Leckey, Timothy O’Malley, Cameron Oranzo, Henry Pearson, Kenneth Pompilli, Cole Preskar, Robert Reh, Brendan Riordan, Liam Scott, Andrew Seehusen, Dashawn Winter, Tyler Wohlgemuth; plus freshmen of Lucca Boyce, Travis Brotherton, Henry Condo, Michael DeFlippo, Brayden Dempsey, David Elder, William Emerson, Tommy Fahy, Desmond Fisher, Connor Francisco, Brendan Keating, William Kennedy, Andrew King, Jacob Linke, Samuel Lizondro, Luke Medeiros, Lucas Newcomb, Luciano Pesce, James Anthony Diego Portley, Leo Pratt, Kole Samuelson, Owen Scheps, Grady Van Hine, Wilson Walker, Andy Wang, Hayden Whitcher, Collin Williams, Ezekiel Williams, and Shain Wolfe.

2023 Hand Football Regular Season Schedule

Sept. 8: Bunnell 28, Hand 21

Saturday, Sept. 16: at Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University at 6 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 22: vs. Xavier at 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 29: at Hillhouse at 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 6: vs. Cross at 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 13: at Law at 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 27: vs. Branford at 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 3: at Amity at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 16: at Sheehan at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 22: vs. Guilford at 7 p.m.