Printer Friendly Version - Boys’ Ice Hockey Stays Hot, While Wrestling Makes a Statement

Michael Savo is a senior on the East Haven boys’ ice hockey co-op team, and he scored a goal to secure the victory in the squad’s 5-2 win over Cheshire on Dec. 30. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Courier

The East Haven boys’ ice hockey co-op team traveled to Cheshire on Dec. 30 and won 5-2. John D’Albero scored twice for the Yellowjackets, with both goals assisted by Lorenzo Defilio. Defilio also recorded two more assists in the game, when Landon Cantele and Griffin McGlinchey scored. Mike Savo scored the final goal for East Haven to secure the win, assisted by Carter McGlinchey. Mike Fritz manned the net, allowing two goals and recording 38 saves.

The team then traveled to Branford on Jan. 3 and won 5-1. Defilio lit up the ice again, scoring four of the Yellowjackets five goals. Landon Cantele also started the action, with a score of his own. Assists on the scores were awarded to Savo, Preston Cantele (two), D’Albero (three), McGlinchey, and Landon Cantele. Fritz allowed one goal on eight saves in net.

The Yellowjackets ended the week on Jan. 6, traveling to Glastonbury and earning a 4-3 overtime win. D’Albero scored two goals for East Haven, including the game-winner in overtime. His goals were assisted by Defilio and Preston Cantele. Cantele also scored two goals of his own, one being unassisted and the other assisted by McGlinchey and Defilio. Fritz let up three goals in net, while recording 33 saves, and the co-op team improved their record to 8-0 while securing a spot in the Division II State Tournament.

On Dec. 30, East Haven wrestling traveled to the Morgan Duals. The team fell to Bunnell by a score of 44-32. Wins for the Yellowjackets were recorded by Jack Batista-Fletcher (technical fall, 17-1, in the 113-pound bout), Tin Trinh (6-3 decision, 144 pounds), Jacob Ushchak (fall at 1:45 of the 157-pound contest), Alex Dombrowski (165 pounds by fall at 3:34), and Joshua Rivera (190 pounds by fall).

East Haven also faced off against Farmington in the match, and won 48-36. Batista-Fletcher won the 113-pound bout by fall at 0:28. Gonul Celik also recorded a win by fall (2:34) in the 120-pound matchup, and Zachary Sullivan (126 pounds) won by fall at 1:47.

Additional Yellowjackets victories in the Farmington matchup came from Trinh (by fall at 3:36 in the 138-pound bout), Ushchak (165 pounds by fall at 0:47), and Joe Allen (0:58 by fall at 215 pounds).

After making their mark in the Morgan Duals, the team traveled to Fairfield Prep on Jan. 3 and lost 54-27. Batista-Fletcher won the 113-pound bout by fall (1:05), while Celik won at 120 pounds by fall (2:26). Dombrowski won at 165 pounds by a 4-3 decision, and Allen (215 pounds) won by fall at 1:11. Dom D'Ambrosio won at 285 pounds by fall (1:13).

On Jan. 6, East Haven wrestling hosted a match against Glastonbury, Stratford, Trumbull, and Waterford. Going head-to-head with Trumbull, the Yellowjackets lost 64-15. Batista-Fletcher earned a win by fall in the 113-pound bout (2:50), Celik won the 120-pound contest by an 11-10 decision, and Dombrowski won at 150 pounds by fall (4:16).

When facing Waterford, East Haven grinded to a 42-36 victory. Alyson Alberino won at 106 pounds by fall (1:54) and Batista-Fletcher won at 113 pounds by fall. Celik (120 pounds) won by fall, and Brandon Santos won by decision at 126 pounds. Maddie Cooper competed in the 132-pound bout and won by fall at 5:19, while Trinh won by fall at 5:42 of the 138-pound dual. Ushchak won by decision at 157 pounds to round out the scoring for the Yellowjackets.