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10/30/2023 02:34 PMDespite dealing with atypical hurdles of a cross country campaign in injuries and managing numbers, both the Branford boys’ and girls’ squads found a way to persist through it all and each earn themselves quite respectable placements on the Southern Connecticut Conference’s biggest stage, on the strengths of several strong solo showings.
With both squads under the direction of longtime Head Coach Kevin Connell, the Hornets’ clubs stormed onto East Shore Park on Oct. 18 for the SCC Championship race. On the boys’ slate, Branford posted a 16th-place performance with a team tally of 427 points. For the girls with 288, they raced to 11th–matching their finish of a year ago at the same event. Connell still was plenty pleased, not only with the personnel that performed to place on that day, with several assuming unfamiliar roles, but also with how both groups continued to progress as the fall whisked on.
“I think we did the most with the athletes we had,” said Connell. “We were lacking in depth, and some of the underclassmen had to step into varsity roles and gain experience in the heat of competition. Our focus has always been on continued progress, and I’ve seen some growth during the season. The girls’ team, despite losses in personnel, finished 11th just as the previous season. The boys finished 16th with only one varsity runner returning from last year, and several had not even run before this season.”
For the girls, senior Violet Marrandino led the Hornets by coming in 22nd in a time of 21 minutes and 31 seconds. Freshman Sarit Juela-Garcia was next, coming in 49th place, clocking in at 23:52. Senior Avery Clouse and junior Ella Stone crossed the finish line back-to-back at 76th and 77th (26:05 and 26:11), respectively. Djamilla Toukour, a junior, was 84th in 28 minutes and 34 ticks.
Cheshire took the team title with 46 points, and Mercy was next closest with a score of 71 tallies. Rounding out the field were Guilford in third (score of 77), Cross (114 points), Sacred Heart Academy (132), Shelton at sixth (198), Amity (201 for a squad score), Foran (206), North Haven (225), Hand (10th, 280), Branford, then Hamden (292), Lyman Hall (375), and Lauralton Hall (388).
“Violet Marrandino made the All-SCC Second Team for the second year in a row,” said Connell. “Violet was our top runner all season, and ran a competitive race to earn that distinction. Sarit Juela-Garcia finished 49th as a freshman, and has given the team a big boost with her addition. She has a promising future.”
Within the race for the boys for Branford, senior Noah Hauswirth was the first finisher for the Hornets at 33rd overall in a span of 17 minutes and 58 seconds. Junior David Regan found 88th place with a pace of 20 minutes even, and then five places down the line was senior Sam Coppola (20:13). Junior Nolan Weted came in 110th (at 21:20) and senior Ryan Andrus was 115th at 21 minutes and 58 seconds. Lastly, juniors Supreme Shrestha and Paul Lesyk were 117th (22:16) and 118th (22:16.20).
Xavier emerged with the conference crown with a tally of 40 points, easily outpacing second-place Guilford with 112 points. Elsewhere, Cheshire was third (125), Hamden was fourth (130), then followed Notre Dame-West Haven (5th, 167), Amity (203), Shelton (214), Hand at eighth (234), North Haven (253), and Lyman Hall at 10th (267). Sheehan ran to 11th place (280), followed by West Haven (12th, 320), Cross in 13th (325), Fairfield Prep (14th, 330), Foran (336), Branford, and then Law at 17th (429).
“Noah Hauswirth ran a very competitive race,” said Connell. “He had aspirations of top 24, and he went out and competed hard. Noah improved dramatically from last year and is an inspiration to others on the team. David Regan was a newcomer to the team, finishing 88th and second on the team. David has come in and done the work; he’s getting better all the time.”
At the Class M State Championship at Wickham Park on Oct. 28, the boys placed 15th with 434 points. Hauswirth was 31st (19:00), Regan finished 73rd (20:34), Coppola was 88th (in 21:12), Weted was 113rd (22:15), Andrus came in 129th (23:34), Shrestha placed 130th (23:35), and Lesyk was 132nd (23:44).
The girls came in 13th as a squad on the same day at states with 285 points. Marrandino was 15th (in 22:25), Juela-Garcia came in 37th (24:04), Clouse finished 76th (28:06), Toukour was 78th (28:54), and Stone placed 79th (in 28:55).
Coppola and Hauswirth have led the boys’ squad as co-captains through the slate, while countering them for the girls’ team has been Stone as sole steward.
“Sam brings a veteran presence to the team, and he has been a varsity runner since sophomore year. He leads by example everyday at practice and in competition. Noah is more vocal and a good motivator to the new athletes on the team,” said Connell. “Ella is only a junior and really had to assume a lot of responsibility in this position. We lost a big part of our team to graduation, and some did not return to participate this season. Ella has filled the position with a great deal of energy and positivity.”
For the entire season, Connell conveyed that it has been about steady growth each meet, each week, and each day, and has told his teams to utilize this season as a series of teachable moments for future progress.
“As it has been all season, it’s simply getting a little better every meet and keep inching our way towards more success,” said Connell. “We learn from this season and what is required to be a better runner and more successful team.”
Connell has been involved as coach for the Hornets for 30 years, and he is assisted by 25-year veteran Bing Miller.
The boys’ roster includes seniors Coppola, Hauswirth, Andrus; juniors Regan, Lesyk, Coleman Shanley, Shrestha, Weted; sophomores David Buckley, Logan Ly; and freshman Cooper Ranton.
The roster for the girls is comprised of seniors Marrandino, Cheyenne Rose, Clouse; juniors Stone, Ava Allen, Toukour, Cheyenne Wilson; and freshman Juela-Garcia.