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09/19/2023 02:32 PMGirls’ Swimming and Diving
H-K girls’ swimming won five of eight relays in a preseason relay meet held at Windsor Locks on Sept. 8. The Cougars raced against swimmers from Suffield, the Windsor Locks co-op, Enfield, Bulkeley/HMTCA, and the Manchester co-op.
Medals were awarded to first-place finishers, which included all 12 members of the H-K team: seniors Emma Sajus, Layla Hayward, and Peyton Tyler; juniors Olivia Campo, Sofia Campo, Olivia “Liv” Macaluso, and Veronica “VV” Pypa; sophomore Maggie Miller; and freshmen Elsa Shatraw, Gianna Dabkowski, Olive Forristall, and Sophia Langer.
Winning finishes for H-K included the 400-yard medley relay consisting of Macaluso, Forristall, Sajus, and Hayward; as well as the 800-yard freestyle relay comprised of Miller, Shatraw, Tyler, and Macaluso.
In the 200-yard backstroke relay, the first-place competitors for H-K were Shatraw, Langer, Pypa and Hayward. Sajus, Olivia Campo, Forristall, and Tyler took first in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Finally, the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Miller, Sofia Campo, Tyler, and Dabkowski claimed the winning spot.
Head Coach Alison Karam commended her athletes for their hard work while producing competitive times in the opening meet of the season.
“This team is small but mighty,” Karam said. “The girls are working hard, and some are already swimming state championship-level qualifying times. It will be exciting to see the season unfold.”
Football
On Sept. 14, the H-K football team took on Stafford/East Windsor/Somers at home and lost 29-0. Highlights for the Cougars included Joe Slane’s interception and Jacob Lamarre’s 40-yard kick return. Head Coach Tyler Wilcox explained that the inability to lock in on defense was what gave the opposition the win.
“Our defense struggled to hold the line on 3rd-and-long and 4th-and-long plays, which Stafford used to convert to scores,” said Wilcox. “We’re so close at getting the job done on defense, but our inexperience at key positions is showing through at key times.”
Girls’ Soccer
H-K girls’ soccer hosted Rockville on Sept. 12 and won 4-0. Sammy Ruimerman scored for the Cougars, assisted by Mariella Fulcher, two minutes into the game. Later, Fulcher scored an unassisted goal at the 24:20 mark of the first half. Co-captain Emmy Kehlenbach showed great effort in the midfield. In the second half, co-captain Tu-lanh Criscoulo added another Cougars’ goal, assisted by Payton Rich. The final goal of the game was scored by freshman Evelyn Sargent, assisted by Fulcher. The defensive line duties were solid, handled by Rich, JJ Duncanson, Ali Miranda, Payton Kaplowitz, and Xandra Catalano. Vyv Laurenza played a fantastic game in goal, making five saves for the shutout.
Then, on Sept. 14, the Cougars played host to Portland and tied 1-1. It was a very competitive game and both defensive lines were strong. H-K’s line was led by Payton Rich and JJ Duncanson. Offensive pressure was led by Fulcher, Criscuolo, and Seasea Ruimerman. Criscoulo was able to secure an assist when she set up forward Sammy Ruimerman with 3:50 left on the clock for a score in the second half, giving Ruimerman her second goal in two games this season. Laurenza made two saves in net for the Cougars.
Boys’ Soccer
Cougars boys’ soccer played three games last week. On Sept. 12, the team traveled to Portland and tied 0-0. Then, on Sept. 15, they hosted Hale Ray and won 9-0. The next day, H-K took to the road to Manchester and grabbed a 5-0 win.
Field Hockey
H-K field hockey traveled to North Branford for its first game of the season on Sept. 12, losing a tight 1-0 contest. On Sept. 14, the team traveled to Morgan and won 4-1.
Girls’ Volleyball
The H-K girls’ volleyball team beat Cromwell 4-0 at home on Sept. 11. On Sept. 13, the Cougars traveled to Coginchaug and won 3-0 before winning 3-2 at Old Lyme on Sept. 15.