Southington High School has announced its honor roll for the second marking period.

Grade 9, First Honors: Leandro Antonio Alejandro, Mikayla Lee Bedell, Alexandra Anna Bieniek, Nicole Ann Breedlove,      Rachel Jordan Bruno, Samantha Joan Butlien, Rebecca Morgan Caisse, Anthony Michael Cammuso, Victoria Elizabeth Castillo, Fizza Shahzad Chaudhry, Nicole Cecile Christensen, Timothy Daniel Cocozza, Mckenna Elena Colasanto, Jennifer Anne Congdon, Adam Griffin Cormier, Joshua Andrew Cormier, Keanu Jakai Cummings, Steven Raymond Dorzens, Megan Marie Enright, Katrina Marie Furgalack, Jessica Nicole Gagnon, Natalia  Gimenez, Jessica Ann Howe, Danielle Rose Hughes, Julia Nicole Izydorczak, Jenny Alexandra Johnson, Kayla Elizabeth Kavanagh, Gregory Daniel Kloczko, Laura Melissa Koba, Visal  Kong, Carter John Krzesik, Sarah Elizabeth Lamb, Sylwia  Lewkowicz, Kristina Marie Linehan, Emily Anne Maciejewski, Lauren Yvonne Macri, Gage Rodney Marshall, Steven Andrew McPherson, Haley Anne Mullin, Brianna Marie Muscio, Shannon Kimberley O’Connor, Giavonna Mckenzi Paulus, Katherine Rose Peccerillo, Lauren Nicole Perkowski, Niels Justin Peschel, Nicholas Alfred Pierson, Cassandra  Punzo, Alex Ernest Rasten, Natalie Rose Rickard, Benjamin Vincent Sadlowski, Stephen Philip Salmon, Amanda Karnika Sao, Brenna Marie Sarantides, Allison Mara Schroeder, Morgan Patricia Shubert, Brett Nolan Simms, Valerie Elizabeth Slimskey, Steven  Sokolowski, Jason Joseph Soltys, Alexander Joseph Statkevich, John Allen Stevens, Krysta  Tsangarides, Natalie Kalea Wadolowski, Alexandra  Wyluda, Joseph Allen Zavorskas, Angelina Jennifer Zollo

Grade 10,  First Honors: Ryan  Abouchacra, Meagan Rose Asklar, Alexandra Veronica Barmore, Kyle Robert Barry, Erik Robert Bergland, Melissa Christine Borysewicz, Kaitlyn Ann Budrow, Zachary Charles Bylykbashi, Madison Lin Chapman, Caroline Louise Charlton, Rong  Chen, Ashley Virginia Christensen, Jenna Lynn Chubet, Sarah Rose Colston, Erin Mary Cova, Kateri Eileen Downes, Kevin Michael Drexler, Matthew Mark Duszak, Maxwell Robert Eldridge, Julie Amanda Falk, Jessica Lynn Goralski, Julia Marie Granato, Benjamin Christopher Herms, James Patrick Hoder, Aubrey Irene Jalbert, Kunal Niraj Kataria, Meghan Marie Kelley, Sana  Khan, Christopher Douglas Kingsbury, Leah Marie Kligerman, Jessica Nicole Lee, Ellie Marie Lefkovich, Catherine Emily MacKay, Marissa Ann Mayo, Margaret Ann Mellitt, Haley Lee Messenger, Evan David Misiorski, Daniel Ryan Normandin, Ryan Timothy Padden, Priya A. Patel, Emily Belle Pestillo, Bailey Elizabeth Potter, Cassidy Erin Race, Julia Lynn Reilly, Anthony Victor Renzi, Nicole Elizabeth Ricker, Caroline Elizabeth Rodman, Raquel Josephine Romano, Alexandra Mae Rothstein, Ryann Madison Snodgrass, Kathleen Mary Spagnoletti, Kayla St. Pierre, Matthew Gray Steeves, Victoria Rose Swartz, Michael Brian Taylor, Christian Robert Testa, Matthew Salvatore Torrisi, Christina Ann Trovato, Veronica Ann Viturale, Jeanette Mary Wiese, Caitlin Eileen Young, Lauren Marie Zazzaro

Grade 11, First Honors: Alex Vincent Angelillo, Austin Thomas Atashian, Christopher Brian Baker, Gabrielle Lynne Baker, Stephen Michael Barmore, Dillon Joseph Bauchiero, Samantha Lynn Becotte, Andrzej Jan Bielecki, Michael Tadeusz Bielecki, Joy Veronica Blanchet, Jessica Rose Bocek, Gabrielle Nicole Boudreau, Kyle Hunter Burleigh, Paula Domenica Calandra, Allison Carlene Carangelo, Quinton James Carmichall, Nicole Ashley Carrier, Tommy  Chen, Nicholas Joseph Cianci, Daniel Paul Connolly, Rachel Jillian Conte, Austin Joseph Cormier, Olivia Faye Corriveau, Julia Parul D’Alessandro, Samantha Jane D’Angelo, Makenna Carol Daly, Nicole Mya DiMasso, Brendan Kelly Donahue, Lauren Noel Durand, Alexis Lynn Dziubek, Kaylyn Catherin Fagan, Margaret Rose Fagan, Joseph Frank Fazzino, Sydney Laura Ferrante, Eric Robert Flood, Michaela Danielle Gee, Rylee Ann Gothberg, Taylor Lauren Grucza, Abigael Marilyn Guthrie, Lilian Gerard Herman, Lam Quoc Ho, Andrea Lynne Hoyt, Christopher Charles Hupper, Tia Katherine Jones, Denis  Kelolli, Rachel Marie Klem, Krzysztof  Konopka, Stephanie Elizabeth Krar, Erika Anna Landino, Michael William Lange, William Gilbert Lefkovich, Nicole Rose Lidzbarski, Matthew Paul Listro, Alicia Kay Maffiolini, Amanda Victoria Mastroianni, Allison Claire McCormick, Katherine Blair Miller, Carissa Michelle Mirando, Alexa Taylor Mitchell, Lauren Elisabeth Mitchell, Sarah Frances Mongillo, Amber Dolly Morelli, Michelle Lee Morris, Colin Anthony Murphy, Sara Riad Noori, Natalie Anne Nyerick, Stephen Joseph Peccerillo, Scott Anthony Perretta, Amanda M. Perriello, Alexander John Queen, Elizabeth  Ragozzino, Dylan Thomas Roach, Jamie Lynn Robertson, Michael Joseph Rogalski, Olivia Zsofia Roth, Joseph Carl Russo, Madeline Josephine Sadlowski, Kylie Elizabeth Sarantides, Annalisa Garyn Sega, David Patrick Shaughnessy, Julian Anthony Sherwood, Jian Mohammad Siadat, Nicholas Raymond Siarkowski, Steven Vincent Sica, Jocelyn Sapphire Skurat, Kyle Michael Sposato, Lindsey Amanda Starr, Elizabeth Mary Stearns, Tyler Rocco Sweetman, Joseph Michael Taglia, Marissa Lynne Tedeschi, Silvana Ann Tellerico, Alexander Blake Thomas, Justin Minh Truong, Amanda Marie Vollaro, Imani Ann Walton, Samantha Leatrice Welch, Stephanie Marie Whelan, John Patrick White, Elana M. Wojenski, Carolyn Jean Zesut

Grade 12, First Honors: Bryan John Adie, Maria Pia Albini, Katherine Ann Amnott, Monika  Arbaciauskaite, Andrew Michael Armstrong, Howard Jerome Asal, Sabrina  Boodley, Ben Zalenski Boucher, Billie-Jo Ann Bradley, Renee Beth Burdon, Sarah Elizabeth Carangelo, Maeghan Molly Chapman, Damian  Chuchro, Elizabeth  Correia, Ryan Daniel Daigle, Bryan James Davis, Christopher Andrew DeVona, Rachael M DiBenedetto, Stephanie Lynn DiCesare, Nicole Ann Dietzel, Molly Jayne Fiasconaro, Olivia Rose Freer, Austin Nicholas Gentile, Alicia Marie Gomez, Andrew William Goralski, Jaimie Anne Grzesczyk, Lori Lynn Guernon, Kevin Patrick Hannigan, Michael Angelo Jewett, Corey Revere Johnson, Abigail Kirsten Judd, Vladislav Julian Kiveliyk, Katlin Regina Klein, Rebecca Marie Klem, Erica Ann Kosienski,  Jonathan La Follette, Jordan Lee Lafland, Timothy John Langland, Weronika  Lewkowicz, Ashley Mae Mafale, Erin Elizabeth Malone, Jordyn Leigh Moquin, Rachel Lynn Morin, Kathleen Ann Mulhearn, Luxhina  Mullaj, Jordyn Anita O’Hearn, Daniel Joseph Pappalardo, Rebecca Marie Pappalardo, Celina Morrissa Patrick, Jilian Mckenzie Pesce, Molly Anne Potter, Danielle Demi Rasmus, Evan Christopher Richards, Edward Russell Shaw, Emily Rose Sheehan, William Tyler Simms, Matthew David Sirois, Richard John Suleski, Michael William Sullivan, Bryson Scott Teel, Katina  Tsangarides, Nicole Marie Verrilli, Kayla Elizabeth Viviano, Mariah Amphone Washer, Nicole Lynn Wershoven, Givone Najah Williams

Grade 9, Second Honors: Griffin Richard Alix, Kayla Rose Allaire, Kelsea Allen, Erin Rose Angelillo, Timothy Peter Anop, Andrew Carl Ardolino, Jonathan Nelson Ardolino, Ciara Noelle Backus, Alicia Marie Badorek, Angela Nicole Balaoing, Joshua Michel Barry, Matthew Paul Becotte, Quinn Anthony Becotte, Kylie Taylor Blazek, Alexa Niccole Bracken, James Andrew Brino, Lauren Ann Cafasso, Cassandra Emily Callaghan, Grace Elizabeth Cardozo, Katelin Hope Chamberland, Benjamin Carl Chasse, Luis Chadwick Chavez, Payton Lynne Chiaro, Courtney Marie Christino, Emmerson Lily Colasanto, Tessa Alexandra Daly, Anna Daniela DeCroce, Andrea Clarice Defeo, Sarah Claire Delaney, Margo Renee DeVore, Jack Wesley Dietz, Christie Marie Dizenzo, Sarah Julia Dolan, Bryan Murphy Doyle, Kristen Victoria Elliott, Kathryn Grace Falcetti, Drew Thomas Farkas, Kayleigh Jane Ferguson, Jarod Alec Florian, Paul Michael Gambardella, Michaela Rae Ganezer, Cassandra Michele Gaudio, Bethany Rose Greenlaw, Nicole Ann Groll, Megan Frances Hamilton, Thomas Joseph Infante, Danielle Nicole Jaffer, Samantha Mary Jones, Kayla Ann Judd, Krzysztof Kamil Kasinski, Sana Tanveer Khan, Ryan Joseph Kosienski, Reed Alexander Kroll, Kevin Alexander Kukla, Kevin Allen Lalla, Kyle Allen Lalla, Katie Ann Lindberg, Maya Rachel Litke, Samantha Jo Lohneiss, Scott Michael Lucian, Salvatore  Magnano, Justin David Makles, Emily Rose Mankus, Bryan Giovanni Massabni, Colton Michael McInnis, Kelly Bridget McKenna, Morgan Elizabeth McNamara, John Philip Meade, Jordan Alexander Meier, Christopher John Minkiewicz, Kelsey Lupita Molina, Caroline Anne Mongillo, Tyler Mathew Morgan, Parker Bennett Mulholland, Ashley Sarah Nafis, Nathaniel Ryan Nagorski, Alexis Caitlyn Negron, David J. Nelson, Olivia Leigh Nyerick, Mitchell  O’Keefe, Mackenzie Emily Parks, Kushal Bhavesh Patel, Alissa Karolyn Paul, Valerie Mary Perzanowski, Jami  Pliego, Kali  Pliego, Sofia Marie Possidento, Katrina Lynn Quoka, Sofia Annette Ricciardi, Andrew John Rogalski, Domenic Stephen Rossi, Emily Jeanne Sargent, Samantha  Schiffer, Lauren Eve Semataska, Amy  Serrano, Jhanvi Dharmesh Shah, Sarah  Sherwill, Kelsey Shae Snodgrass, Amelia Marie Sponauer, Erin Nicole Sullivan, Andrew Thomas Szandrocha, Andrew Tyler Szymanski, Melanie Lauren Tedeschi, James Harrison Terray, Jason Steven Tosta, Kahli Marie Travers, Jennifer  Turci, Jenna Elizabeth Uba, Matthew James Verrilli, Edmond Keith Vitcavage, James Walter Wadman, Ryan James Wells, Lindsey Rose Witte, Christopher  Wolfe-McGuire, Catherine Elizabeth Wormer

Grade 10, Second Honors: Alexandria  Abacherli, Megan Marie Albert, Alaina Elizabeth Albino, Annelise Marie Alfieri, Ana Flavia Aquino, Rachel Mackenzie Babon, Mitchell James Baker, Andrew Barrett Barmore, Zachary Reinhold Bauer, Kayla Rose Beaupre, Lily Catherine Bernabe, Jonathan Robert Blain, Tiffany Amber Blancato, Nickolas Gary Brazil, Tyler Robert Brinton, Alicia Marie Brocki, Adam Philip Brush, Cassandra Lynn Camilli, Lauren Elizabeth Carney, Patrick David Carozza, Kayley Ann Carrier, Alexander Benjamin Casey, Jenna Rosemary Casey, Bridget Emily Clark, Alana Audrey Conti, Catherine Rose Coppola, Emily Kate Csuka, Dakota Avery Curtis, James Samuel Danielson, Ryan James DeAngelo, Andrea Marie DiCesare, Tyler Joseph DiTunno, Brandon Kenneth DuBois, Olivia Rose Ende, Christopher Paul Falk, Michael Matthew Fazzino, Marissa Ann Feeney, Nicole Elizabeth Fischer, Harrison Edward Garrett, Ryan Edward Goldstein, Mack Richard Golos, Jocelyn Azalie Gregor, Natalia  Grosfeld, David Louis Harrison, Abigail Elizabeth Hodges, Raegan Elizabeth Honyotski, Arooba Tanveer Khan, Haley Marie Kolesnik, Sharon  Kwok, Sarah Anne Leahy, Zachary Daniel Levesque, Emily Anne Lippincott, Griffin Paul Litke, Kristen Elizabeth Loose, Sarah Margaret Luczak, Noah Christopher MacDonald, Erin Diana Martin, David Alfonso Massabni, Nicholas John Mauriello, Gwyneth  McFall-Gorman, Melissa Linda McKim, Adalain Eleanor Meier, Katherine Jennifer Mellitt, Vincent Sebastian Milardo, Eric Joseph Minton, Jennifer Rose Monte, Zachary David Murillo, Jack Scully Myers, Flora Alicia Nardi, Rachel Alexandra Nardi, Franklin Anthony Pac, Michael Richard Pagano, Kathryn Rose Palinkos, Sarah Ilona Palko, Christopher Taje Paradis, Suhail I. Pathan, Brenden Lee Peasley, Lee Ann Pelletier, Mckenzie  Pelletier, Thomas Judson Perzanowski, Evan Thomas Pokorski, Ryan Patrick Pulver, Gabriel Michael Purpura, Jonathan Peter Rappi, Erin Kathryn Reilly, Jonathan Ronald Richards, Taylor N. Rivera, Maryssa Constance Romano, Isabella Rose Russo, Jacob Erik Semmel, Autumn Eliza Sheffy, Jarod William Shurack, William Fitzgerald Smith, Matthew Nicholas Sorrentino, Natalie Lauren Soto, Marilyn Largo Sporbert, Alana St John, Rianna Leigh Susco, Alexa Rose Taylor, Shelby Elizabeth Thurston, Julia Rosemarie Tinyszin, Curtis Edward Topper, Rebecca  Tsangarides, Jonathan Anthony Tumolo, Elizabeth Mary Veilleux, Adam Jeffrey Viviano, Jake Parker Wallach, Colleen Elizabeth Walsh, Nicholas John Wells, Nicole Megan White, Daniel Patrick Williams, Adam Joseph Wilson

Grade 11, Second Honors: Samantha Marguerite Aberizk, Matthew Jeremy Albrecht, Kayley Ann Alfano, Alicia Hallinan Anop, Michael Jeffrey Aylett, Andrea Nicole Baldick, Alyson Ann Baribault, Josef Thomas Barry, Kayla Marie Bassingthwaite, Blake Christian Bauer, Kaycee Lynn Belanger, Megan Marie Belcourt, Matthew Ryan Bennett, Deven Rae Bernaiche, Malik Neal Blackwell, Justin Thomas Blake, Andrew Joseph Bottiglieri, Paige Charlotte Braziel, Connor James Brennan, Caroline Marie-Shen Burke, Colin Patrick Burke, Jessica Kathleen Calvo, Jesse Dakota Caprio, Rachel  Carmody, Brandon Davis Carney, Kayla Rose Carrier, Christa Eve Case, Desirae Ann Casiano, Antonia Maresa Cavallo, Amarildo  Ceta, Devonne Leigh Chandler, Jimmy  Chen, Peter Arnold Christiano, Katherine Leigh Cichon, Kyle Joseph Cole, Cial Shamon Cook, Kevin Joseph Cop, Nicole  Cova, Kelly Marie Craven, Marissa Antonia Cusano, Jordan Elizabeth D’Andrea, Joseph Michael Daigle, Maria Olinda DaRocha, Taylor Aaron DeBishop, Brooke Margaret DeGumbia, Nishi Rahul Desai, Megan Elizabeth DeSorbo, Mara Alzbeta Dubnicka, Megan Lynn Fazzino, Samantha Marie Ferla, Rachel A. Flodquist, Shane Francis Florian, Patrick Mccarthy Freer, Elizabeth Rose George, Tomasz Jozef Giza, Anna Joanna Golos, Jhenea Milan Gooden, Finn Carlos Gordon, Hannah Margaret Guilmette, Elizabeth Holly Gwara, Ryan Douglas Hair, Katherine Marilyn Hartford, Diane Nassir Hassanieh, Courtney Marie Hedges, Ethan Chan Hilliard, Kathryn Elizabeth Hobson, Michael Ryan Hoffman, Nicholas Scott Hubeny, Tyler David Hyde, Ian Spencer Jacobs, Claudia  Jaslowski, Daniel John Kane, Carolynn Ashley Keal, Emilee Elizabeth Kemnitz, Ryan Christopher Knight, Visoud  Kong, Heather Orise LeClerc, Nicholas John Legere, Andrew Joshua Levin, Amber Donna Lewis, Sarah Elizabeth Lippincott, Renee Marie Luna, Stephanie Gerry-Lynn Lutz, Mckenzie Olivia Madore, Brian John Mahon, Vanessa Marie Marchewka, Alexander Richard Martin, Megan Isabelle Martin, Melissa Rose Martin, Peter David Masters, Zachary David Maxwell, Mikayla Marie Mueller, Nathan Robert Mullins, Susan Michelle Murphy, Valerie Anne Murphy, Kayla Elizabeth Nati, Sara Nicole Oakes, Samantha Marie Palacios, Randolph James Parent, Amanda Joanna Pedrak, Stefanie Taylor Pellerin, Matthew David Pestillo, Andrew Gene Petracca, Kaileen Alexandra Pfeiffer, Francesca Rosa Picone, Victoria Sadie Plante, Megan Elizabeth Power, Olivia Rose Premus, Ryan Michael Prushinski, Sierrah Alexis Purvis, Dalton  Quint, Samantha Erin Ramey, Jonathan Andrew Rauch, Joseph William Rivera, Jessica Jane Rodriguez, Wesley Simpson Rushing, Brian Matthew Sadusky, Julie Anne Saucier, Jaime Marie Simard, Anthony James Smith, Dylan Andrew Sperry, Nicholas Andrew Stafko, Megan Elizabeth Steele, Connor Philip Steen, Patrick Michael Straub, Thomas Lukasz Swinicki, Valerie Marie Szmurlo, Isabelle Rose Tedeschi, Shawna Maria Toppi, Phi Anh Trinh, Zoe Elizabeth Tyz, Noah James Violette, Michael Ryan Walczak, Annie Theresa Walsh, Lianna Marie Wodzicki, Anna  Wyluda, Sarah Ann Wysocki, Anisa Shukri Xhurxhi, Alyssa Louise Zaorski, Jacob Thomas Zimmerman

Grade 12, Second Honors: Jennifer Rose Accuosti, Melissa Rose Albert, Carla Lucia Albini, Nicole Giovanna Albini, Rebecca Lynn Allard, Christopher Constantine Arndt, Michaela Ann Barnes, Elise N. Bean, Ethan Christian Beaudoin, Samantha Morgan Blazek, Kristina  Bolovis, Alex Mark Borofsky, Brandon William Brush, Samantha R. Buchalter, Erica Rose Buehler, Christopher Michael Bunko, Meghan Lynn Burkhardt, Sarah Jean Caisse, Monica Beth Caliendo, Haley Elizabeth Camden, Andrew Gregory Caponegro, Mary Lou Castiglione, Elaina  Chambrello, Hannah Elizabeth Chamis, Danielle Marie Charamut, Travis John Clark, Austin Eric Coley, Jessica Lee Corcanges, Abigail Rae Cormier, John  Correia, Victoria Rose Cugliari, Christopher Andrew Daley, Jessie Ellen Davidson, William Peter DeBarba, Elizabeth Del Buono, Mika Rae Derynioski, Whitney Rene DiMeo, Rachel Marie Dorsey, Aaron Kyal Douglas, Caitlin Thielly Downes, James Dennis Doyle, Sean Ellis Erwin, Halee Marie Esposito, Joseph Jamil Fazzina, Allyson Sunny Frazier, Carmella Marisa Frosceno, Taylor Anna Furgalack, Meg Elizabeth Gallagher, Thomas Edward Gallagher, Mark Eugene Gardyna, Corbin Tyler Garry, Kaylie Jordan Giammatteo, Sofia Louise Gonzalez, Jessica Ann Harris, Rachel Kelly Harvey, Carey Allison Hilliard, Danielle Joselyn Hoskins, Megan Lee Jasunas, Danielle Elizabeth Kaminsky, Jamie Lynn Kane, Kristin Eileen Kearney, Oliver Stephen Kochol, Alison Theresa Lachapelle, Danielle Nicole Lariviere, Charlotte Deborah Lefkovich, Austin Grant Lemoine, Ashley Marie LeVasseur, Joshua Scott Licursi, Meghan Kimberly Lucente, Samantha Ann Magnanini, Claire Anne Manente, Suzanne Dowd Marcoux, Cheyenne Lynn Mazeika, Thomas Frank Mazzatti, Tad Everett Meissner, Stephen Anthony Mierzejewski, Melissa Jamie Miller, Jonathan Christopher Moise, Kristin Elizabeth Moller, Cody Michael Morrissey, Mary Elizabeth Nadeau, Junior Elix Nichols, Rebecca Rae Niland, Lindsay Marie Novak, Anthony Robert Oliva, Katelyn Marie Ottalagana, Morgan Ashlyn-Yve Ouellette, Zachary James Palmer, Andrea Cara Pascariello, Ryan Michael Pelegano, Gabriel Orion Pelletier, Kathleen Lisa Penta, Toni Jean Penta, Alexander Michael Pereslugoff, Jenna Taylor Pesce, Thien-Long Quang Phan, Kailey Taylor Pisko, Kathryn Ann Pistilli, Alexander M. Pokorski, Rachel Ann Proffitt, Katelyn Ann Ragozzino, Meghan Elizabeth Ramsay, Kyle James Riedinger, Kimberly Alexis Rodriguez, Vincent James Romano, Amanda Claire Russman, Jaclyn Michelle Ruszczyk, Nicole  Salmon, Joseph Louis Salzillo, Trevor Riley Savage, Amanda Marie Seamon, Nathaniel Robert Shurack, Melissa Susan Shuster, Autumn Lee Skwiot, Michael Joseph Smalley, Nathan James Solomon, Stephanie Grace Sowa, Kaylee Nicole Storm, Jodie Leigh Strange, Brett Michael Susi, Shawna Suzanne Sycz, Aleena  Tanveer, William Henry Thompson, Hannah Elizabeth Tillman, Megan Ellen Tillman, Derrick  Walton, Taylor Marie Waters, Kimberly Lynn Wood, Nicole Vivian Woodruff, Kevin Andrew Wormer, Rachel Leigh Wrinn, Michael Benjamin Wysocki, Samana Nasim Zaidi, Alexander Wesley Zajda

By John Goralski
Sports Writer

As a senior, Alex Borofsky scored almost half his shots inside the three-point arc and almost one third of his shots from beyond. Nobody scored more points in the paint. Nobody scored more on the perimeter. He led the team in assists, rebounds, and blocked shots.
In his final game of his career, Borofsky almost carried his team into the second round in what would have been the biggest upset of the postseason.
Does it surprise anybody that college scouts came calling? It certainly didn’t surprise his high school coach.
“To play at the next level, you have to commit to playing in a year round program,” said Blue Knight basketball coach Bob Lasbury. “Alex is a great example of someone that was able to maintain high scores academically. He was able to play other sports, not just basketball, but he was still able to commit to playing basketball year round, and he’s really benefiting from it. I’m very, very proud of him.”
When reporters surrounded him after the Knights’ final contest, he shrugged off questions about his college career to talk about his team’s efforts on the court. Borofsky let his statistics do the talking. Southington struggled, at times, during his four-year career, but Borofsky never wavered.
That’s one reason why Eastern Connecticut State University coaches showed so much interest. The other reason was Borofsky’s statistics. He scored 841 points over four years with the Knights. Southington has only had five players reach 1,000 points, but none have come in recent years. Borofsky is ranked 10th all time amongst Southington scorers.
Next season, he’ll try to carry that momentum to the next level. The senior forward explored opportunities at Manhattanville College in New York, Emmanuel College in Boston, and Western CT State University, but it was the Warriors that won the contest.
On Wednesday, March 27, Borofsky signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the NCAA division three program next winter.
“It was a decision that I made with my family. We sat down and thought that this was the best choice for me,” said the former Blue Knight forward. “I’ve been looking at schools since the beginning of the school year. I made a lot of visits, but I really liked Eastern a lot. I thought it was the right place for me. I liked the campus a lot. I like the program, and I really liked the coach.”
Lasbury said that the Eastern coaches liked Borofsky’s abilities, and he said that the 6 foot, 4 inch, 205 pound forward fits well into the Warrior’s offensive scheme.
“He fits their style well. They play four-out, similar to what we do, and I’ve said it all year long. Alex has the ability to step out onto the perimeter,” said Lasbury. “With his size, that makes him pretty special.”
Lasbury said that the best part about the signing is that Borofsky will be playing locally. Former Knights have earned all-conference honors in other states. Larry Avitabile managed to earn NCAA Division III all-American honors at Vassar College in New York, but Borofsky will be playing in state.
“I’m thrilled that Alex has this opportunity, and I’m thrilled that he’s going to be in our home state so I’ll get a chance to see him play,” said Lasbury. “Eastern is a good program. To play at any level in basketball, you have to be really good. When you look at the percentage of high school basketball kids that go on to the next level, it’s probably only at about one percent.”
Borofsky said that he’s ready for the challenge. “Once I got into the high school and realized that I could really play at the AAU level, I knew that I could play at the next level. I really wanted to play,” he said. “I didn’t know if it was going to be division three or division two, but they are both really competitive. I think that division three is going to be a really good fit for me.”

By John Goralski
Alex Borofsky is ranked No. 10 all time as a Southington High School scorer. On Wednesday, March 27, he signed a letter of intent to play at Eastern Connecticut State University.

All trumpeters, even those who haven’t played for a while, are invited to participate on April 27 in the Southington Brass Blast, a Guinness World Record attempt at Southington High School.
Registration and vendor fair begins at 10 am, the UConn Funky Dawgz Band will entertain from 11:00-12:00, sectional rehearsal begins at 12:00 pm,  the performance is at 1:00 pm, and the concert is at 2:00 pm. Food and drink will be available for purchase from 10 to 2.
The trumpeters will perform the national anthem and a selection, to be announced later, that meet the Guinness World Record criteria.
“The Brass Blast represents everything that is right in a healthy community. The event showcases high quality professionals working and volunteering with today’s youth for the good of others,” said Joseph Erardi, superintendent of schools in Southington.
Registration fees for performers are $15 for extra early bird, $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Spectators will be admitted free, though donations will be accepted.
Proceeds will benefit three organizations: The Mill Foundation for Kids, Southington High School Band Backers and Connecticut Music Educators Association.
Call Erik Semmel at 860-289-8850, ext. 721.

By John Goralski
Sports Writer

Jim DiNello felt his heart sink as he counted Dave Valentukonis’ fifth shot on the final hole, but the senior strolled up to the clubhouse with a wide grin to greet his coach. DiNello had seen Joe Fazzino struggle on the seventh tee, but Fazzino seemed to skip off the ninth green at the end of his round.
DiNello shuffled through the scorecards and couldn’t believe his eyes. For every bad hole that a Blue Knight posted, there seemed to be two that were off the charts. Four players scored in the 30s over nine holes. Two finished just one stroke over par, and even the alternate score was approaching the 30s.
DiNello was overjoyed when his team posted a 148 against Conard on their first May contest, but on Friday, May 10 he was shocked with the team’s 146.
“It was just a terrific day for our program,” said the coach. “When we scored the 148, you always wonder if that’s as low as you can go. Any score under 150 is really good, but the kids came in and shot a 146 today. I’m just really proud of them. It wasn’t necessarily a smooth 146, but some kids really battled and saved strokes all over the place. That’s a great day.”
For the third time in four contests, Eric Flood set the pace for the Knights. He posted the team’s lowest score (39) on Monday during a road loss to Hall. He finished second on Tuesday (40) as the Knights opened up their home stand with a 158-164 win over Newington. His lowest score came on Thursday when he claimed medalist honors with an even par (34) on the front nine during a 150-158 win over NW Catholic.
On Friday, Flood’s 35 set the pace for the Knights once again.
“He’s hitting greens like crazy, and he’s playing smart golf,” said DiNello. “His swing is smooth, and he’s controlling the golf ball. He knows where it’s going to go, and he’s been in a groove. He’s playing with a lot of confidence and carrying himself the right way.”
Even with five strokes on the final hole, Valentukonis matched Flood for the best score of the day. Valentukonis scored a 40, a 41, and a 39 over the past three matches, but his 35 on Friday was the difference for the Knights.
“We talk a lot about how it’s not what you do on one hole but what the scorecard says about the entire round,” said DiNello. “You have to keep it in perspective. I watched Eric and Dave play together today, and it was so nice to watch them help each other to navigate around the course. They both complimented each other very well.”
In addition, the week showcased Southington’s depth. On Monday, Andrew Szandrocha (41) and Tom Fischer (43) scored for the Knights. Against Newington, Jake D’Allesandro led the Knights with a 36, and Szandrocha capped the scoring with a 41. Thursday saw Szandrocha and Fischer tying for third place in the scoring with 40s, while Fazzino (37) and Szandrocha (39) broke 40s during the team’s school record performance at Hawks Landing on Friday.
“One of the biggest things I’ve seen is that they’re starting to play for each other. I’ve noticed that they understand that what they do doesn’t just affect their score. Their score affects the team success,” said DiNello. “The camaraderie’s there. The talking all around the course is there. They’re helping each other out. The older boys are mentoring the younger boys. There are a lot of positives that are all there.”
The score is just the measure. Can the Knights eclipse the 146? Can they do it on the road or in the state tournament? DiNello can’t wait to find out.
“It really doesn’t matter who you’re playing. It’s basically you versus the golf course and you against yourself,” he said. “You’re always trying to do your best, and who you play shouldn’t matter. It think it’s starting to sink in a little bit, and the kids are taking pride in the way that they play.”
The best is yet to come.
To comment on this story or to contact sports writer John Goralski, email him at jgoralski@southingtonobserver.com.

John Goralksi
Dave Valentukonis and Eric Flood discuss strategy at the 7th green at Hawks Landing.

By John Goralski
Tom Fischer chips onto the green.

by Rob Glidden
Staff Writer

The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) club at Southington High School is about to complete an ambitious effort to create memorial plaques for the victims of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“They wanted to do a meaningful hands-on project for the people in Newtown who went through this tragedy,” said SHS guidance counselor Lee Ann Miller, the club’s advisor.
The club has about 15 active members who have spent the past few months crafting wooden hearts with the names of the 26 victims of the tragedy listed on them. The names are each inside a puzzle piece design that was engraved with a laser.
“I think they look awesome,” said Monika Arbaciauskaite, the club’s president. “We haven’t had a big project like this since the club started. It’s really exciting.”
Several teachers involved with the Project Lead the Way program came up with the design of the hearts but it was up to the students to create them.
“I’m very proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish,” said SHS technology teacher Justin Mirante. “This was a large endeavor and they’ve done a great job.”
Students were responsible for carving the heart shapes out of the wood, sanding and staining the plaques and coating them with polyurethane.
“It’s been really good,” said student Ellie Lefkovich. “We got to use the hand-sander, the laser printer and a lot of other machines in the wood shop.”
In addition to valuable practice with powerful machines, the students were also grateful for the chance to reach out to the people of Newtown.
“Money donations are something that will come and go but this is something sentimental that will stay with them,” said student Kelly Craven.
The wooden hearts will eventually be mounted on a backdrop to complete the work. At a recent meeting of the club, students were carrying around piles of wooden hearts to various stations in order to finish the process.
“We’ve made a lot of them,” said student Elizabeth Gwara. “Each of the families will get one, but we want to keep some around here just so we can remember.”

Submitted photo
Southington High School WISE Club member Megan Steele works on a memorial plaque for the victims of the Newtown tragedy.

by Rob Glidden
Staff Writer

With the current school year winding down, the Board of Education filled two important administrative positions for next year, appointing Marilyn Kahl as the new principal of Kelley Elementary School and Michael Halloran as the newest assistant principal at Southington High School.
“You both came from rich pools of candidates and rose to the top,” said Chairman Brian Goralski. “We look forward to your work in Southington.”
Surrounded by family members and given a standing ovation by the meeting’s attendees, the new administrators thanked the school leaders during brief remarks.
Kahl has been serving as the assistant principal at Derynoski Elementary School for the last two years. Before that, she had worked for 16 years as a teacher at Cheshire’s Highland Elementary School.
“The last two years have been so rewarding and I’m looking forward to this new professional challenge,” she said. “It’s really an honor, although I am sad to leave Derynoski.”
Kelley has a much smaller student population than Derynoski, and Kahl said this would help her eventually learn all the student’s names and spend more time in the classrooms. She is replacing longtime principal Elizabeth Lutz, who Kahl described as a leader with “huge dedication.”
Halloran, a Southington native, has been the principal of the CREC Polaris Center in East Hartford since 2009. Before that, he held a variety of administrative positions in Hartford schools. He said he was excited by the chance to participate in Southington’s school system, which he greatly admires.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be able to serve my community,” Halloran said. “I’m very much looking forward to the tremendous opportunities that come with this position.”
Now one of four assistant principals at the high school, Halloran will replace the retiring Andrew Bayer, who has held the position for over a decade.
Both new administrators will start on July 1.

Marilyn Kahl

Michael Halloran

By John Goralski
Sports Writer

The Knights have delivered three shutouts since losing to NW Catholic on April 22. Since that day in late April, Southington has won six in a row.
On Friday, May 10, the Knights had their chance for retribution, and in the third inning they swung that bats like they were angry at the air.
Brett Shaw opened the inning with a single. Ted Shaw singled, and Matt DiNello drove a one-out double into right field. With two outs, Andrew Goralski drove a double up the middle and the flood gates opened.
Brett Susi, Justin Rose, and Dave Palladino got hits. Brett Shaw drew a walk in his second appearance of the inning. When the dust settled, 11 Knights had stepped to the plate, and Southington had blown open a 7-0 lead and chased one of NW Catholics big guns off the mound.
“I knew that this was going to be tough coming in, but in that one inning our guys strug together some great at bats,” said Blue Knight coach Charlie Lembo. “I thought they were patient. I thought they were waiting for their pitch, and we started hitting line drives. I’ve been waiting for this all year.”
NW Catholic responded with two runs in the fourth, but Palladino drove in Rose in the fifth inning. Southington held on for an 8-2 win.
“I was very, very happy with our offense tonight,” said Lembo. “I thought we ran the bases well, and I thought Susi pitched really well.”
Susi (6-0) scattered nine strikeouts and five hits over seven innings to get the win. Even with the comfortable lead, Lembo said that he was leaving Susi in for a complete game even though the Knights are going to face four teams next week.
“We’re trying to extend our pitchers pitch counts a little bit,” he said. “We’re six weeks into the season, so it’s time to extend them a little bit longer in case they have to go longer in the tournament.”
The NW Catholic win came on the heels of a 6-0 shutout against Newington on Monday. Joe Rivera escaped a bases loaded situation in the third inning and had runners in scoring position over each of the last two frames, but the junior hurler threw 12 strikeouts with just three walks and two hits over six innings to get the win.
Once again, the offense did their part. Southington drew four walks, reached base on a passed ball, and scored three runs in the first inning without getting a hit.
“Newington gave us three runs in the first inning without a hit, but those were good at bats,” said Lembo. “It wasn’t like they were throwing the ball 20 feet over our heads. We were patient, drew some walks, drew some 0-2 counts, and we moved a couple of guys around. Just because it isn’t a hit doesnt mean that it isn’t a good at bat.”
Southington managed eight hits in the victory. Matt Sirois scored twice. Goralski (2-for-3, 2 RBI) was the only Knight with multiple hits, but Southington cruised to a 6-0 win.
With the victories, Southington improved to 13-2 overall and has moved into sole possession of first place in the CCC West (8-1).

By John Goralski
Blue Knight second baseman Matt DiNello tags a baserunner during a 6-0 win over Newington on Monday, May 6.

By John Groalski
Sports Writer

Rugby coaches humored Rachel Wrinn when she approached them in the spring of her sophomore year. Wrinn wanted to add a girls team to the burgeoning boys program, and coaches agreed to consider it if she could round up any interest. They had no idea the fire that they had lit.
When Wrinn burst through the doors of the preseason meeting, she was leading a small army of Lady Knights. Coaches were left scrambling to meet the sudden surge of interest. At the time, there were just a handful of fledgling programs in high schools throughout the northeast, but Wrinn had single-handedly assembled another one.
Wrinn became the face of the Lady Knights. For three years she led the offense and anchored the defense. She set records. She broke boundaries, and on Thursday, May 9 she raised the bar even further as the first Southington High School player to sign a college letter of intent.
Lady Knight coach Chris Carvalho is no longer surprised by his star player. He’s come to expect it at every turn.
“There isn’t anything that I’ve seen from her that makes me cautious,” said the coach. “She’s ready, but it’s going to be a completely different arena. She’s going to be playing against other Rachel Wrinns. It’s going to be way more competitive, but I think she’s going to be ready. She’s a competitor.”
For three years, Wrinn has been a captain for the Lady Knights. She holds records for most tries scored in a game, most tries scored in a season, and a host of defensive marks. She has the control of a gymnast, the power of a football player, and the heart of a lion. That’s what drew attention from the coaching staff at Quinnipiac University.
They liked the way that she could interact on both the defense and offensive ends. She could handle a team. She was a leader, and she was hard to stop. This year, Quinnipiac claimed a third place finish in the national championship. Once again, Wrinn will be called upon to raise the bar.
“It’s a little surreal. If you told me three years ago that I would be going off to play rugby in college, I would have said you were crazy, but it’s pretty funny to think that I’m here today,” she said. “I think it won’t hit me until I step on the field for preseason, but just thinking about it has me ready to go.”
Wrinn said that the choice was an easy one for her. After all, there are only a handful of college program in the northeast. In addition, Quinnipiac University will offer her a chance to study a course in physical therapy, but it’s the rugby that really drew her in.
Carvalho said that Wrinn could work herself into the rotation right away, and said that Quinnipiac coaches liked her instantly for her abilities on the field.
“She’s a natural rugby player. She’s everything that you would look for in a perfect rugby player,” he said. “She has the skill. She’s got the physical prowess. She’s defensive-minded in a lot of ways, but she’s also a student of the game. She learns on the fly really well, and that’s really important.”
As for Wrinn, she hopes that her signing will inspire the next class of athletes to build upon what she started. With her pen still clenched in her hand, she made a final pitch to make rugby into a varsity sport. She said that she hopes that her singing will swing the spotlight toward the up-and-coming sport.
“A lot of kids still ask me what’s rugby,” she said. “They say it’s not even a sport at the high school. It doesn’t count or isn’t real. It’s completely real, and I definitely think this will boost the program and get a lot of people looking to see what it’s all about.”
To comment on this story or to contact sports writer John Goralski, email him at jgoralski@southingtonobserver.com.

By John Goralski
Rachel Wrinn signs her letter of intent to play rugby next year at Quinnipiac University. On Tuesday, May 2, Wrinn became the first Lady Knight to earn a rugby scholarship.

Southington High School has announced it honor roll for the third marking period.

Grade 9, first honors: Leandro Antonio Alejandro, Kelsea Allen, Andrew Ardolino, Angela Balaoing, James Brino, Rachel Bruno, Samantha Butlien, Rebecca Caisse, Anthony Cammuso, Victoria Castillo, Fizza Chaudhry, Timothy Cocozza, Jennifer Congdon, Adam Cormier, Joshua Cormier, Andrea Defeo, Sarah Dolan, Steven Dorzens, Kristen Elliott, Megan Enright, Jarod Florian, Jessica Gagnon, Cassandra Gaudio, Natalia Gimenez, Bethany Greenlaw, Nicole Groll, Jessica Howe, Danielle Hughes, Jenny Johnson, Samantha Jones, Kayla Judd, Kayla Kavanagh, Sana Khan, Gregory Kloczko, Laura Koba, Visal Kong, Sarah Lamb, Sylwia Lewkowicz, Kristina Linehan, Samantha Lohneiss, Emily Maciejewski, Emily Mankus, Gage Marshall, Haley Mullin, Brianna Muscio, Alissa Paul, Giavonna Paulus, Katherine Peccerillo, Lauren Perkowski, Valerie Perzanowski, Niels Peschel, Nicholas Pierson, Alex Rasten, Sofia Ricciardi, Natalie Rickard, Allie Rinaldi, Benjamin Sadlowski, Amanda Sao, Brenna Sarantides, Allison Schroeder, Morgan Shubert, Brett Simms, Valerie Slimskey, Kelsey Snodgrass, Steven Sokolowski, Alexander Statkevich, John Stevens, Melanie Tedeschi, Krysta Tsangarides, Jenna Uba, Natalie Wadolowski, Angelina Zollo

Grade 10, first honors: Ryan Abouchacra, Megan Albert, Meagan Asklar, Alexandra Barmore, Zachary Bauer, Erik Bergland, Tiffany Blancato, Melissa Borysewicz, Tyler Brinton, Kaitlyn Budrow, Zachary Bylykbashi, Kayley Carrier, Madison Chapman, Caroline Charlton, Rong Chen, Ashley Christensen, Sarah Colston, Erin Cova, James Danielson, Matthew Duszak, Maxwell Eldridge, Olivia Ende, Julie Falk, Nicole Fischer, Erika Florian, Alexandra France, Jessica Goralski, Julia Granato, James Hoder, Raegan Honyotski, Aubrey Jalbert, Kunal Kataria, Meghan Kelley, Arooba Khan, Sana Khan, Christopher Kingsbury, Leah Kligerman, Haley Kolesnik, Sharon Kwok, Jessica Lee, Erin Martin, Marissa Mayo, Haley Messenger, Evan Misiorski, Zachary Murillo, Rachel Nardi, Daniel Normandin, Ryan Padden, Kathryn Palinkos, Bailey Potter, Cassidy Race, Jonathan Rappi, Erin Reilly, Julia Reilly, Nicole Ricker, Caroline Rodman, Raquel Romano, Ryann Snodgrass, Kathleen Spagnoletti, Matthew Steeves, Michael Taylor, Christian Testa, Curtis Topper, Matthew Torrisi, Christina Trovato, Elizabeth Veilleux, Veronica Viturale, Adam Viviano, Jeanette Wiese, Daniel Williams, Caitlin Young, Lauren Zazzaro

Grade 11, first honors: Kayley Alfano, Austin Atashian, Gabrielle Baker, Stephen Barmore, Dillon Bauchiero, Samantha Becotte, Matthew Bennett, Andrzej Bielecki, Michael Bielecki, Gabrielle Boudreau, Kyle Burleigh, Paula Calandra, Quinton Carmichall, Nicole Carrier, Tommy Chen, Peter Christiano, Nicholas Cianci, Daniel Connolly, Rachel Conte, Austin Cormier, Olivia Corriveau, Julia D’Alessandro, Makenna Daly, Samantha D’Angelo, Nicole DiMasso, Brendan Donahue, Lauren Durand, Alexis Dziubek, Margaret Fagan, Megan Fazzino, Eric Flood, Michaela Gee, Elizabeth George, Rylee Gothberg, Abigael Guthrie, Abigail Harris, Diane Hassanieh, Courtney Hedges, Lilian Herman, Quoc Ho Lam, Ian Jacobs, Tia Jones, Daniel Kane, Denis Kelolli, Rachel Klem, Krzysztof Konopka, Stephanie Krar, William Lefkovich, Nicole Lidzbarski, Sarah Lippincott, Matthew Listro, Renee Luna, Mckenzie Madore, Allison McCormick, Katherine Miller, Carissa Mirando, Alexa Mitchell, Lauren Mitchell, Sarah Mongillo, Michelle Morris, Mikayla Mueller, Colin Murphy, Kayla Nati, Sylvia Nguyen, Sara Noori, Stephen Peccerillo, Amanda Perriello, Olivia Premus, Alexander Queen, Elizabeth Ragozzino, Joseph Rivera, Michael Rogalski, Olivia Roth, Kylie Sarantides, Annalisa Sega, Julian Sherwood, Nicholas Siarkowski, Steven Sica, Jocelyn Skurat, Anthony Smith,        Kyle Sposato, Lindsey Starr, Elizabeth Stearns, Tyler Sweetman, Silvana Tellerico, Zoe Tyz, Noah Violette, Amanda Vollaro, Imani Walton, Samantha Welch, Stephanie Whelan, John White, Carolyn Zesut

Grade 12, first honors: Rebecca Allard, Katherine Amnott, Ethan Beaudoin, Samantha Blazek, Sabrina Boodley, Alex Borofsky, Ben Boucher, Sarah Carangelo, Mary Lou Castiglione, Maeghan Chapman, Jessica Corcanges, Abigail Cormier, Elizabeth Correia, John Correia, Ryan Daigle, Jessie Davidson, Bryan Davis, Elizabeth Del Buono, Mika Derynioski, Christopher DeVona, Nicole Dietzel, Karen Falk, Olivia Freer, Carmella Frosceno, Alicia Gomez, Sofia Gonzalez, Andrew Goralski, Jaimie Grzesczyk, Lori Guernon, Kevin Hannigan, Andrew Ianni, Corey Johnson, Kristin Kearney, Vladislav Kiveliyk, Katlin Klein, Rebecca Klem, Kaitlin Koczon, Erica Kosienski, Jonathan La Follette, Jordan Lafland, Weronika Lewkowicz, Joshua Licursi, Alyssa Lombardi, Ashley Mafale, Melissa Miller, Jordyn Moquin, Rachel Morin, Kathleen Mulhearn, Mary Nadeau, Jordyn O’Hearn, Katelyn Ottalagana, Daniel Pappalardo, Rebecca Pappalardo, Adam Penksa, Kathryn Pistilli, Molly Potter, Meghan Ramsay, Danielle Rasmus, Evan Richards, Kyle Riedinger, Amanda Russman, Nicole Salmon, Edward Shaw, Victoria Shay, Emily Sheehan, Melissa Shuster, William Simms, Matthew Sirois, Autumn Skwiot, Kaylee Storm, Jodie Strange, Richard Suleski, Michael Sullivan, Katina Tsangarides, Jeffrey Walker, Mariah Washer, Nicole Wershoven, Kimberly Wood, Heidi Woodbury, Nicole Woodruff

Grade 9, second honors: Griffin Alix, Kayla Allaire, Erin Angelillo, Jonathan Ardolino, Ciara Backus, Joshua Barry, Matthew Becotte, Quinn Becotte, Mikayla Bedell, Alexandra Bieniek, Kylie Blazek, Nicole Breedlove, Ryan Burrill, Lauren Cafasso, Grace Cardozo, Raegan Casarella, Katelin Chamberland, Benjamin Chasse, Jacob Chasse, Payton Chiaro, Nicole Christensen, Courtney Christino, Emmerson Colasanto, Mckenna Colasanto, Hayley Crafts, Olivia Cranney, Keanu Cummings, Jacob D’Alessandro, Anna DeCroce, Anthony DeGennaro, Sarah Delaney, Kealey Donahue, Bryan Doyle, Daniel Fagan, Kathryn Falcetti, Drew Farkas, Kayleigh Ferguson, Hannah Francis, Katrina Furgalack, Daria Gagnon, Michaela Ganezer, Sarah Gerrish, Mark Howland, Christopher Iverson, Julia Izydorczak, Danielle Jaffer, Jessica Kane, Jacob Kligerman, Ryan Kosienski, Caitlyn Krar, Reed Kroll, Carter Krzesik, Kevin Lalla, Kyle Lalla, Katie Lindberg, Jeffrey Lockwood, Scott Lucian, Lauren Macri, Michael Majchrzak, Bryan Massabni, Morgan McNamara, Steven McPherson, Jordan Meier, Christopher Minkiewicz, Caroline Mongillo, Brandon Murray, Ashley Nafis, Matthew Natelli, Alexis Negron, David Nelson, Kasey Newman, Shannon O’Connor, Kushal Patel, Dane Penksa, Kali Pliego, Sofia Possidento, Bailey Powers, Cassandra Punzo, Domenic Rossi, Michael Ruszczyk, Stephen Salmon, Emily Sargent, Samantha Schiffer, Jessica Seitz, Lauren Semataska, Amy Serrano, Jhanvi Shah, Sarah Sherwill, Cole Simoneaux, Robert Sirko, Jason Soltys, Amelia Sponauer, Nicolette St. Amand, Kiersten Stanley, Erin Sullivan, Brett Swanson, Andrew Szymanski, James Terray, Aaron Tiscione, Nathan Truong, Katherine Trykowski, Jennifer Turci, Matthew Verrilli, Edmond Vitcavage, James Wadman, Ryan Wells, Christopher Wolfe-McGuire, Alexandra Wyluda

Grade 10, second honors: Alexandria Abacherli, Alaina Albino, Annelise Alfieri, Rachel Babon, Mitchell Baker, Aidan Baldwin, Katherine Baldwin, Kyle Barry, Kayla Beaupre, Erich Bender, Lily Bernabe, Jonathan Blain, Kyle Borawski, Michael Botsacos, Nickolas Brazil, Adam Brush, Cassandra Camilli, Lauren Carney, Patrick Carozza, Bailey Carter, Jenna Casey, Cameron Chubet, Catherine Coppola, Elizabeth Costello, Dakota Curtis, Kyle DeAngelo, Ryan DeAngelo, Timothy Delaney, Andrea DiCesare, Nick DiFusco, Tyler DiTunno, Kateri Downes, Casey Doyle, Kevin Drexler, Brandon DuBois, Christopher Falk, Michael Fazzino, Michele Gamelin, Harrison Garrett, Jared Gavronski, Ryan Goldstein, Mack Golos, Elena Gomez, Jocelyn Gregor, Natalia Grosfeld, Amanda Hamel, Antoine Harris, David Harrison, Abigail Heller, Benjamin Herms, Adriel Hernandez, Abigail Hodges, Shane Holley, Mark Horanzy, Benjamin Landrette, Sarah Leahy, Ellie Lefkovich, Zachary Levesque, Kristen Loose, Zachery Lucente, Sarah Luczak, Noah MacDonald, Catherine MacKay, David Massabni, Steffan Mayette, Melissa McKim, Adalain Meier, Katherine Mellitt, Margaret Mellitt, Vincent Milardo, Eric Minton, Jacob Molgano, Jennifer Monte, Jack Myers, Talia Nanfito, Jessica Nelson, Jeramy Olan, Amber O’Regan, Franklin Pac, Michael Pagano, Priya Patel, Kaitlin Paterson, Lee Ann Pelletier, Mckenzie Pelletier, Thomas Perzanowski, Evan Pokorski, Ian Powell, Scott Rashaw, Anthony Renzi, Jonathan Richards, Kailey Richardson, Maryssa Romano, Alexandra Rothstein, Isabella Russo, Jacob Semmel, Jarod Shurack, Andi Skenderi, William Smith, Francesca Sophroniou, Matthew Sorrentino, Natalie Soto, Marilyn Sporbert, Kayla St. Pierre, Victoria Stepien, Rianna Susco, Zachary Susi, Victoria Swartz, Alexa Taylor, Matthew Thomson, Shelby Thurston, Julia Tinyszin, Kelly Toomey, Rebecca Tsangarides, Jonathan Tumolo, Vedant Vyas, Jake Wallach, Colleen Walsh, Nicholas Wells, Nicole White, Adam Wilson, Elizabeth Woods, Maghen Zagryn

Grade 11, second honors: Samantha Aberizk, Matthew Albrecht, Alex Angelillo, Michael Aylett, Christopher Baker, Andrea Baldick, Alyson Baribault, Josef Barry, Kaycee Belanger, Megan Belcourt, Deven Bernaiche, Malik Blackwell, Justin Blake, Jessica Bocek, Paige Braziel, Connor Brennan, Caroline Burke, Allison Carangelo, Brandon Carney, Kayla Carrier, Desirae Casiano, Katherine Cichon, Brooke Cochrane, Kevin Cop, Nicole Cova, Kelly Craven, Marissa Cusano, Jordan D’Andrea, Maria DaRocha, Laura Day, Taylor DeBishop, Amanda DePonte, Nishi Desai, Megan DeSorbo, Mara Dubnicka, Kaylyn Fagan, Joseph Fazzino, Samantha Ferla, Rachel Flodquist, Shane Florian, Andrew Foertsch, Patrick Freer, JoAnna Gendreau, Jhenea Gooden, Megan Graham, Taylor Grucza, Hannah Guilmette, Elizabeth Gwara, Ryan Hair, Katherine Hartford, Ethan Hilliard, Michael Hoffman, Nicholas Hubeny, Christopher Hupper, Tyler Hyde, Claudia Jaslowski, Michael Kazlowski, Carolynn Keal, Emilee Kemnitz, Tessa Kolaczenko, Visoud Kong, Michael Lange, Heather LeClerc, Nicholas Legere, Andrew Levin, Amber Lewis, Stephanie Lutz, Alicia Maffiolini, Vanessa Marchewka, Alexander Martin, Megan Martin, Amanda Mastroianni, John McCarthy, Nathan Mullins, Susan Murphy, Natalie Nyerick, Samantha Palacios, Randolph Parent, Amanda Pedrak, Stefanie Pellerin, Andrew Petracca, Kaileen Pfeiffer, Francesca Picone, Victoria Plante, Gary Plourde, Samantha Ramey, Jonathan Rauch, Lianna Rivera, Dylan Roach, Jamie Robertson, Wesley Rushing, Joseph Russo, Gianni Sabino, Madeline Sadlowski, Bushra Saqab, Julie Saucier, David Shaughnessy, Jian Siadat, Jaime Simard, Zachary Skarzynski, Nicholas Stafko, Thomas Swinicki, Valerie Szmurlo, Joseph Taglia, Isabelle Tedeschi, Marissa Tedeschi, Alexander Thomas, Justin Truong, Brittanie Vontell, Michael Walczak, Lianna Wodzicki, Elana Wojenski, Anna Wyluda, Sarah Wysocki, Anisa Xhurxhi, Alyssa Zaorski

Grade 12, second honors: Jennifer Accuosti, Bryan Adie, Kristina Albiach, Carla Albini, Maria Albini, Nicole Albini, Monika Arbaciauskaite, Christopher Arndt, Howard Asal, Elise Bean, Kristina Bolovis, Billie-Jo Bradley, Brandon Brush, Christopher Cadrain, Sarah Caisse, Andrew Caponegro, Elaina Chambrello, Hannah Chamis, Nicholas Charnysh, Damian Chuchro, Jilliana Ciamarra, Travis Clark, Hannah Cunliffe, William DeBarba, Breanna DeGumbia, Brittanie DeLuco, Rachael DiBenedetto, Stephanie DiCesare, Whitney DiMeo, Rachel Dorsey, Caitlin Downes, James Doyle, Sabrina Dyson, Sean Erwin, Jenna Ferreira, Molly Fiasconaro, Taylor Furgalack, Meg Gallagher, Alyssa Gemmell, Austin Gentile, Eileen Germain, Kaylie Giammatteo, Jessica Harris, Rachel Harvey, Ember Hayden, Carey Hilliard, Lucas Hodlin, Danielle Hoskins, Drew Hudick, Sarah Hurley, Megan Jasunas, Michael Jewett, Danielle Kaminsky, Jeffrey Kolb, Peter Laliberte, Timothy Langland, Brianna Lee, Charlotte Lefkovich, Ashley-Marie LeVasseur, Meghan Lucente, Chloe Lupton, Chad Madore, Samantha Magnanini, Erin Malone, Claire Manente, Suzanne Marcoux, Louis Martocchio, Thomas Mazzatti, Jordyn McNamara, Stephen Mierzejewski, Jonathan Moise, Nicholas Monteleone, Luxhina Mullaj, Junior Nichols, Rebecca Niland, Jessica Nyerick, Anthony Oliva, Zachary Palmer, Joseph Pappalardo, Andrea Pascariello,  Kathleen Penta, Toni Penta, Jilian Pesce, Thien-Long Phan, Kailey Pisko, Alexander Pokorski, Julia Premus, Kimberly Rodriguez, Vincent Romano, Justin Rose, Jaclyn Ruszczyk, Bridget Scanlon, Mahryahh Schmidt, Nicholas Sciota, Amanda Seamon, Ian Sherwood, Shrey Sheth, Nicole Shorette, Brittney Smith, Stephanie Sowa, Laura Spagnoletti, Brandon Staschke, Rebecca Swol, Aleena Tanveer, Bryson Teel, William Thompson, Alyssa Valerio, Kayla Viviano, Daniel Wardwell, Givone Williams, Daniel Wivell, Kevin Wormer, Rachel Wrinn, Michael Wysocki, Demi Zubko

By Rob Glidden
Staff  Writer

Southington High School’s senior class was given a dire warning about the dangers of distracted driving, during an assembly that was put together by community volunteers.
Usually done shortly before the senior prom, warning students about the risks of drunk driving is something of a tradition at high schools. However, the rise of accidents as a result of drivers sending text messages rather than paying attention to the road has prompted local administrators to try and address this issue as well.
“We want the kids to understand the risks involved with distracted driving,” said SHS Principal Dr. Martin Semmel. “We care about them and we want them to make the right decision. The prom may be this weekend, but this is important every day.”
School resource officer Don Mackenzie said that texting distracts a person’s eyes, hands and brain all at once, making it a terrible activity to do while driving. There were several videos that depicted the aftermath of serious accidents, along with a totaled car sitting in front of the school.
“You might say that it’s just a video and that won’t happen, but I’ve been a police officer for ten years and I’ve seen it,” Mackenzie said.
One of the first videos depicted simulated violence and even had a figure wandering around the scene dressed like the Grim Reaper. This got some laughs from the students, but the videos got progressively more intense and included real footage from accidents and emergency surgeries. A handful of students found the scenes too visceral and left the room.
“I’ve seen hundreds of teens who have been injured in car crashes,” said Dina DeGumbia, a registered nurse who is also co-president of the high school’s PTO. “Most of them are as a result of distracted driving.”
In addition to the physical risks of drunk or distracted driving, there are also considerable legal ones. Town Councilor Lou Martocchio, a local attorney, spoke about Connecticut’s strict driving laws and the massive financial consequences that can come after an accident where the driver was behaving irresponsibly.
“Assuming you make it through the accident and the trauma, then you have to deal with me,” Martocchio said.
To further drive home the consequences, a woman sitting in the auditorium surprised the crowd by recounting the death of her parents at the hands of a drunk driver.
“It’s scary to get a reminder that these things happen in real life,” said SHS senior Taylor Waters. “Her story really got to me. It’s horrible that a single act could do that.”
Fellow student Bryan Davis said that the presentation “definitely had an impact. The videos they had really showed the dangers of distracted driving and the speakers were really interesting.”

Rob Glidden
A demolished car was placed in the Southington High School parking lot to serve a silent reminder to warn students about the dangers of texting and driving.

By Rob Glidden
Staff Writer

This year’s Relay for Life will look a little different, but organizers are planning on delivering the same hopeful experience for the huge crowd who will attend.
The annual fundraiser has been held at the Southington High School football field for over a decade and this year the new artificial turf field has changed the landscape.
“Logistically, some things had to change,” said Robin Guzauckas, co-chair of the event. “We can’t put tents on the field, so now they will be on the lacrosse field. We’re trying to keep it as connected as we can.”
During the overnight event, teams of volunteers camp out at the track and take turns walking around the track. Each team is encouraged to have at least one member on the track at all times to illustrate that cancer never sleeps. This year, the theme is “Where in the World is a Cure for Cancer?” which is meant to highlight Relay for Life’s distinction as the world’s largest fundraiser.
In the past, the grass field hosted dozens of tents for the teams to gather and sell items for additional fundraising. However, the stakes used to hold up these tents are not allowed on the new field. The nearby lacrosse field will host tents and the Relay organizers also plan to have a “marketplace” area on the paved walkway that leads from the Vo-Ag Building to the football field.
“It’s definitely a major change but it may work even better,” said co-chair Joyce McAloon. “Little hurdles like that aren’t going to stop us. We still have our mission in mind.”
The actual event is preceded by months of volunteer work and events. All throughout the month of May, participants were encouraged to “paint Southington purple.”
“The teams have been very receptive to it,” Guzauckas said. “It’s fun to drive around and see the purple bows on mailboxes.”
Nearly 60 teams are participating in this year’s Relay and most of them walk onto the field with funds already raised from their own events. Foxy’s Paws for a Cause, which represents Plantsville Elementary School, has done at least one fundraiser each month since the beginning of the school year in September.
A “Mommy and Me Spa Day” event at the Masonic Lodge, which invited the community to peruse a variety of beauty products from different vendors, had a line out the door and raised $1,400. A recent tag sale event raised another $700. This has inspired the team to try more ambitious events and they are planning an “Amazing Race” style competition in June.
“We’ve done extremely well,” said team captain Kim Beaudoin.  “It’s been phenomenal and I’m really excited. We’ve had great turnouts at our fundraisers.”
This year’s Relay for Life begins at 4 pm on Friday, May 31 and will continue until Saturday, June 1. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 6 p.m.

Tammi Naudus
Robin Garofolo and Chrissie Sangiovanni of Trantollo and Trantollo pose near a car during the recent Rev Up For a Cure Relay for Life fundraiser.

By Rob Glidden
Staff Writer
This year’s top three students at Southington High School learned a great deal about time management skills over the last four years, as they balanced their school work with numerous extra-curricular and community activities.
Valedictorian Bryan Davis, Salutatorian Jonathan La Follette and Essayist Molly Potter are all pursuing careers related to science and credited their experiences in specialized activities and community involvement with helping them find their path.
Davis is headed for The University of Connecticut to study electrical engineering. He said the Project Lead the Way technology classes had helped cultivate a passion for the work.
“We were exposed to all different types of engineering,” he said. “My father has done electrical engineering too and it turned out to be my favorite.”
Both he and La Follette credit technology teacher Justin Mirante’s classes with helping them learn the fundamentals of engineering firsthand.
“We had a lot of hands-on experience which was very beneficial,” La Follette said. “It wasn’t as much about taking notes or lectures. It was very project-oriented.”
The Salutatorian is headed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to study Biomedical Engineering. He hopes to eventually become involved with prosthetics, specifically prosthetics with moving parts. He acknowledged his time with the high school’s highly accomplished robotics team as an inspiration, even though it kept him extremely busy.
“It was like blending a job with my regular schedule,” he said. “At least most of my friends were in Robotics, so I didn’t need to schedule more time to see them.”
Potter is also going to UCONN and plans to major in Biology while on a Pre-Medicine track. A member of the swim team, she works part-time as a swim instructor at the YMCA and is a counselor at Camp Sloper. She said it was this work that helped her realize she wanted to be a pediatric physician.
“At that job, I found that I loved working with kids,” Potter said. “I also had passion for biology so I wanted to try and combine the two.”
She said English teacher Rebecca Migliaro with helping her determine the best way to achieve that goal.
“English wasn’t my best subject, but she became a mentor,” she said. “She helped me a lot through all the standardized testing and figuring out how to pursue the career I wanted.”
With all three of them dabbling in a number of different activities, the students had to manage their time wisely.
“During lacrosse season, I just had to accept that I would have no free time,” Davis said. “You have to set your priorities.”
Potter said she was excited about having more control over day-to-day activities as a college student.
“I’m looking forward to more freedom with my schedule,” she said. “It’s not the same schedule every day. You get to be independent and on your own.”
While a full schedule can be a positive thing, La Follette urged future students not to become so caught up in perfectionism that they didn’t enjoy their high school experience.
“I see a lot of people stressing about grades and how every tiny mistake is the end of the world,” he said. “It’s not the end of the world. You’ve got to calm down.”
Davis nodded his head in agreement and added, “Work hard, but don’t forget to have fun too.”

By Rob Glidden
From left, Salutatorian Jonathan La Follette, Essayist Molly Potter and Valedictorian Bryan Davis .

By Tammi Naudus
Maria Tarantino places a pin on the survivor sash of her husband John, a cancer survivor at the beginning of the Southington Relay for Life last Friday afternoon.

By Rob Glidden
Staff Writer
Southington’s Relay for Life encouraged its huge crowd of attendees to see the “beauty in the world” as they gathered to celebrate the conclusion of another season of fundraising for cancer research.
The worldwide event has been represented in Southington for over a dozen years with the high school track as its location. The premise of Relay for Life is teams of volunteers camping out at the track and take turns walking around the track for 24 hours. Each team is encouraged to have at least one member on the track at all times to illustrate that cancer never sleeps. This year, the addition of the artificial turf field forced the organizers to change the layout of the Relay, but the crowds were still in attendance.
During the opening ceremonies, the leaders of the event urged the crowds to celebrate the incremental progress being made in the effort to cure the disease even though it continues to infect people all over the world.
“Research has gotten closer to a cure for cancer but there is still much more work to do,” said co-chair Robin Guzauckas. “That’s why we gather here.”
To drive that message home, a team of local singers and musicians came together on stage for a rendition of Macy Gray’s song “Beauty in the World.” The theme of this year’s Relay was “Where in the World is a Cure for Cancer?” which emphasizes the global nature of the effort. Participants were urged to write the names of countries on paper links to create a “Chain of Hope.”
“When we walk together, we are bigger than cancer,” said co-chair Joyce McAloon.
The Relay’s two key events are the Survivor Walk, which honors those who have battled the disease and are still around to talk about it and the Luminaria ceremony in the evening. When the sun goes down, the volunteers light candles, each one representing a person who has passed on after struggling with the disease.
Teams representing local businesses, organizations, schools or just a group of friends and family had their tents set up at the nearby lacrosse field. The “Carrie’s Cure” team was formed in honor of Carrie Day and her daughter, Laura Day, is the captain.
“I feel like it really does something good for people,” Laura said of Relay. “It’s personal to me.”
Her mother survived pancreatic cancer, which has a lethal reputation. Because of that, the family’s team is focusing specifically on it.
“There’s a lot out there about some of the other cancers but not as much for pancreatic, which is one of the deadliest,” Carrie Day said. “I was very lucky to have survived.”
In another area adjacent to the track, teams organized a “marketplace” for people to buy various items and contribute further to the cause. Trevor Rogers manned the table for the STEPS team along with Reilly Lincavicks and Sarah Lamb.
“We have a lot of team members and it’s going really well,” he said. “It’s great how it brings people together.”

Southington welcomed in the class of 2013 at the Southington High School graduation on Friday night.  The class filled the football field of the school to celebrate all of their accomplishments.  Stands filled with friends and family cheered on the students  in support.  Photos by:  Tammi Naudus

By Ed Harris Editor

Southington High School graduates reflected on the past and looked forward to the future at their recent graduation ceremony.

Quoting several Dr. Seuss books, essayist Molly Anne Potter urged her classmates to continue to try new things, stay creative and take pride in who they are.

“So, as we prepare to begin the next chapter of our lives, remember the influential books we listened to in our kindergarten story time circle,” she said. “Remember to always try new things, stay creative and take pride in who you are. I am confident that if you continue to follow this advice and work hard, you will all be successful in future endeavors, no matter what they may be. Congratulations and good luck to everyone next year. And, don’t forget. When given the chance, always try green eggs and ham.”

Utilizing the unattributed quote “Learn as if you were to live forever, live as if you were to die tomorrow,” valedictorian Bryan Davis urged his classmates to find a balance between learning and living.

“Realize the importance of learning and increase your knowledge everyday so that you can achieve your goals,” he said. “In addition to this, however, ensure that you do whatever it takes so that when you go to bed every night, you can safely say you enjoyed and got satisfaction out of your day.”

Class salutatorian Jonathan La Follette was a bit more humorous in his speech. Stating that he was unsure of what to say, he leaned on his friends for support and suggestions. These suggestions, some wacky, included just stating a bunch of one liners, advertising for businesses and simply to just push over the podium and walk back to his seat.

Though he started out his speech telling his classmates that he would not have anything profound to say, La Follette did leave them with a bit of advice.

“Please, all of you just need to calm down,” he said. “Stop obsessing so much because there will be a moment in your lives when you realize all this stress, all this trauma you’ve been put through really means nothing compared to the rest of your world. I hope this advice isn’t coming to you too late, and please don’t ignore it.”

Class president Edmund Klein was unable to attend the graduation ceremonies, as he had left for basic training for the National Guard a few days prior. His twin sister Katie Klein read his speech in his place.

In the speech, Klein told his classmates that he had faith in them and told them to never forget where they came from.

“The town of Southington has been my home for ten years and there is no place I would rather have spent the most important years of my life,” he wrote. “To the Class of 2013, congratulations. You all have made it. But always remember, this is only the beginning. The most important steps for you to take will be taken in the next part of your life, but I have so much faith in you. Every student in the audience is more than prepared for the next part of their journey. I know every student sitting out there, together, are some of the best the world has to offer and I am proud to call you all my peers. So, good luck in your future endeavors, have an amazing summer, stay safe and never forget where you came from.”

For some graduates, graduation was bittersweet, while others looked forward to the next chapter in their lives.

“We’re sad,” said Thea Bernabe, standing out in the SHS hallways with friends prior to graduation. “High school was fun. We had some pretty good times.”

For William DeBarbra, graduation meant the end of one chapter of his life and the beginning of another.

“It’s kind of like a new beginning,” he said.

Comments? Email eharris@southingtonobserver.com.

By Ed Harris
Editor
There was just one question on the minds of a group of Southington High School seniors as they opened a time capsule held in storage at South End Elementary School since 2006: Do you think the Twinkies are still edible?
It is a South End School tradition to “bury” a time capsule for each graduating fifth grade class. The students put items in a multi-gallon white pail during the class’s annual recognition ceremony. The capsule is then opened just before students from that class graduate from Southington High School, with the current fifth grade students at South End looking on.
“Every year they come back,” said South End fifth grade teacher Rita Stearns. “They’re so excited.”
Some of the items that were left in the 2006 capsule included the Twinkies (which were rock hard), a Red Sox hat, pictures and students letters to themselves.
“I’ve been waiting for this since the sixth grade,” Shannon Perry told the South End students as she flipped through the items she had left in the capsule. The items included Flat Stanley paraphernalia and a few “horrid” fifth grade photos.
Many of the students had left themselves questions, such as are you still friends with that person or dating this other person? The former South End students laughed and smiled as they read through the questions they left themselves.
The former South End students also reminisced about their days at the school with teachers and held a question and answer session with the current students.
Comments? Email eharris@southingtonobserver.com.

By Tammi Naudus
Josh Licursi, Melissa Miller, Shannon Perry, Rebecca Niland laugh at a newpaper clipping of Josh when he was in the musical “Music Man” in fifth grade.

By Tammi Naudus
Danny Dolan pulls the Twinkies out of the time capsule as everyone waited anxiously to see if they were still edible.

Southington High School recently announced its honor roll for the fourth marking period.

Grade 12, First Honors: Bryan John Adie, Kristina Rose Albiach, Nicole Giovanna Albini, Rebecca Lynn Allard, Katherine Ann Amnott, Monika  Arbaciauskaite, Howard Jerome Asal, Elise Nicole Bean, Ethan Christian Beaudoin, Sabrina  Boodley, Alex Mark Borofsky, Ben Zalenski Boucher, Billie-Jo Ann Bradley, Samantha Rose Buchalter, Renee Beth Burdon, Sarah Elizabeth Carangelo, Maeghan Molly Chapman, Jessica Lee Corcanges, Abigail Rae Cormier, Elizabeth  Correia, John  Correia, Brian Thomas Cunningham, Ryan Daniel Daigle, Jessie Ellen Davidson, Bryan James Richard Davis, William Peter DeBarba, Elizabeth Joann Del Buono, Mika Rae Derynioski, Christopher Andrew DeVona, Rachael M. DiBenedetto, Nicole Ann Dietzel, Rachel Marie Dorsey, Caitlin Thielly Downes, Sabrina Elizabeth Dyson, Jenna Marie Ferreira, Olivia Rose Freer, Carmella Marisa Frosceno, Kaylie Jordan Giammatteo, Alicia Marie Gomez, Sofia Louise Gonzalez, Andrew William Goralski, Jaimie Anne Grzesczyk, Lori Lynn Guernon, Kevin Patrick Hannigan, Carey Allison Hilliard, Michael Angelo Jewett, Grace Laura Jimenez, Corey Revere Johnson, Kristin Eileen Kearney, Vladislav Julian Kiveliyk, Katlin Regina Klein, Rebecca Marie Klem, Kaitlin Ann Koczon, Erica Ann Kosienski, Jordan Lee Lafland, Timothy John Langland, Ashley-Marie Love LeVasseur, Weronika  Lewkowicz, Joshua Scott Licursi, Meghan Kimberly Lucente, Ashley Mae Mafale, Erin Elizabeth Malone, Claire Anne Manente, Jordyn Grace McNamara, Tad Everett Meissner, Stephen Anthony Mierzejewski, Melissa Jamie Miller, Jordyn Leigh Moquin, Kathleen Ann Mulhearn, Junior Elix Nichols, Rebecca Rae Niland, Jordyn Anita O’Hearn, Katelyn Marie Ottalagana, Morgan Ashlyn-Yve Ouellette, Daniel Joseph Pappalardo, Rebecca Marie Pappalardo, Breandan Farrell Parker, Toni Jean Penta, Kathryn Ann Pistilli, Molly Anne Potter, Julia Mary Premus, Meghan Elizabeth Ramsay, Danielle Demi Rasmus, Evan Christopher Richards, Kyle James Riedinger, Shayne Joseph Roderick, Nicole Mary Salmon, Joseph Louis Salzillo, Trevor Riley Savage, Edward Russell Shaw, Emily Rose Sheehan, Melissa Susan Shuster, William Tyler Simms, Matthew David Sirois, Autumn Lee Skwiot, Kaylee Nicole Storm, Jodie Leigh Strange, Richard John Suleski, Michael William Sullivan, Aleena  Tanveer, William Henry Thompson, Katina  Tsangarides, Kayla Elizabeth Viviano, Mariah Amphone Washer, Kimberly Lynn Wood, Heidi Louise Woodbury, Nicole Vivian Woodruff, Norbert Jacek Wraga, Demi Kay Zubko

Grade 11, First Honors:Alex Vincent Angelillo, Austin Thomas Atashian, Gabrielle Lynne Baker, Stephen Michael Barmore, Dillon Joseph Bauchiero, Samantha Lynn Becotte, Matthew Ryan Bennett, Andrzej Jan Bielecki, Michael Tadeusz Bielecki, Gabrielle Nicole Boudreau, Paula Domenica Calandra, Quinton James Carmichall, Nicole Ashley Carrier, Tommy  Chen, Nicole Kimberly Chubet, Nicholas Joseph Cianci, Daniel Paul Connolly, Rachel Jillian Conte, Austin Joseph Cormier, Olivia Faye Corriveau, Taylor Lee Curran, Julia Parul D’Alessandro, Makenna Carol Daly, Samantha Jane D’Angelo, Nishi Rahul Desai, Megan Elizabeth DeSorbo, Nicole Mya DiMasso, Brendan Kelly Donahue, Mara Alzbeta Dubnicka, Lauren Noel Durand, Alexis Lynn Dziubek, Margaret Rose Fagan, Megan Lynn Fazzino, Rachel A Flodquist, Eric Robert Flood, Michaela Danielle Gee, Elizabeth Rose George, Abigael Marilyn Guthrie, Diane Nassir Hassanieh, Courtney Marie Hedges, Lilian Gerard Herman, Quoc Tommy Ho Lam, Ian Spencer Jacobs, Daniel John Kane, Carolynn Ashley Keal, Denis  Kelolli, Rachel Marie Klem, Krzysztof  Konopka, Stephanie Elizabeth Krar, Erika Anna Landino, Heather Orise LeClerc, William Gilbert Lefkovich, Nicole Rose Lidzbarski, Matthew Paul Listro, Renee Marie Luna, Alicia Kay Maffiolini, Allison Claire McCormick, Katherine Blair Miller, Carissa Michelle Mirando, Lauren Elisabeth Mitchell, Sarah Frances Mongillo, Michelle Lee Morris, Mikayla Marie Mueller, Colin Anthony Murphy, Sylvia Bao-Ngoc Thi Nguyen, Sara Riad Noori, Natalie Anne Nyerick, Stephen Joseph Peccerillo, Amanda M. Perriello, Francesca Rosa Picone, Olivia Rose Premus, Alexander John Queen, Joseph William Rivera, Dylan Thomas Roach, Jamie Lynn Robertson, Michael Joseph Rogalski, Olivia Zsofia Roth, Kylie Elizabeth Sarantides, Annalisa Garyn Sega, Julian Anthony Sherwood, Jian Mohammad Siadat, Nicholas Raymond Siarkowski, Steven Vincent Sica, Jaime Marie Simard, Jocelyn Sapphire Skurat, Anthony James Smith, Lindsey Amanda Starr, Tyler Rocco Sweetman, Joseph Michael Taglia, Marissa Lynne Tedeschi, Silvana Ann Tellerico, Alexander Blake Thomas, Noah James Violette, Amanda Marie Vollaro, Samantha Leatrice Welch, Stephanie Marie Whelan, John Patrick White, Elana M. Wojenski, Anna  Wyluda, Sarah Ann Wysocki, Carolyn Jean Zesut

Grade 10, First Honors: Alexandria  Abacherli, Ryan  Abouchacra, Megan Marie Albert, Annelise Marie Alfieri, Alexandra Veronica Barmore, Zachary Reinhold Bauer, Erik Robert Bergland, Tiffany Amber Blancato, Melissa Christine Borysewicz, Tyler Robert Brinton, Adam Philip Brush, Kaitlyn Ann Budrow, Zachary Charles Bylykbashi, Kayley Ann Carrier, Jenna Rosemary Casey, Madison Lin Chapman, Caroline Louise Charlton, Rong  Chen, Ashley Virginia Christensen, Sarah Rose Colston, Erin Mary Cova, Dakota Avery Curtis, James Samuel Danielson, Kyle Andrew DeAngelo, Andrea Marie DiCesare, Matthew Mark Duszak, Stefanie Mary Dzierlatka, Nicole Elizabeth Fischer, Erika Elizabeth Florian, Jessica Lynn Goralski, Julia Marie Granato, Antoine Latiye Harris, Benjamin Christopher Herms, James Patrick Hoder, Raegan Elizabeth Honyotski, Aubrey Irene Jalbert, Kunal Niraj Kataria, Meghan Marie Kelley, Arooba Tanveer Khan, Sana  Khan, Devin Michael King, Haley Marie Kolesnik, Sharon  Kwok, Jessica Nicole Lee, Ellie Marie Lefkovich, Natalie Marie Liquindoli, Sarah Margaret Luczak, Catherine Emily MacKay, Erin Diana Martin, Steffan DePrada Mayette, Marissa Ann Mayo, Gwyneth Ann Jeffers McFall-Gorman, Haley Lee Messenger, Evan David Misiorski, Jacob Samy Molgano, Jennifer Rose Monte, Zachary David Murillo, Rachel Alexandra Nardi, Daniel Ryan Normandin, Ryan Timothy Padden, Kathryn Rose Palinkos, Priya A. Patel, Emily Belle Pestillo, Bailey Elizabeth Potter, Cassidy Erin Race, Julia Lynn Reilly, Anthony Victor Renzi, Nicole Elizabeth Ricker, Caroline Elizabeth Rodman, Raquel Josephine Romano, Alexandra Mae Rothstein, Isabella Rose Russo, Ryann Madison Snodgrass, Kathleen Mary Spagnoletti, Marilyn Largo Sporbert, Matthew Gray Steeves, Rianna Leigh Susco, Victoria Rose Swartz, Michael Brian Taylor, Christian Robert Testa, Shelby Elizabeth Thurston, Matthew Salvatore Torrisi, Christina Ann Trovato, Elizabeth Mary Veilleux, Veronica Ann Viturale, Adam Jeffrey Viviano, Vedant Hemant Vyas, Jake Parker Wallach, Colleen Elizabeth Walsh, Jeanette Mary Wiese, Daniel Patrick Williams, Caitlin Eileen Young, Lauren Marie Zazzaro

Grade 9, First Honors: Leandro Antonio Alejandro, Kelsea  Allen, Andrew Carl Ardolino, Jonathan Nelson Ardolino, Alicia Marie Badorek, Joshua Michel Barry, Mikayla Lee Bedell, Nicole Ann Breedlove, James Andrew Brino, Rachel Jordan Bruno, Samantha Joan Butlien, Lauren Ann Cafasso, Rebecca Morgan Caisse, Anthony Michael Cammuso, Victoria Elizabeth Castillo, Fizza Shahzad Chaudhry, Nicole Cecile Christensen, Timothy Daniel Cocozza, Jennifer Anne Congdon, Adam Griffin Cormier, Joshua Andrew Cormier, Sarah Julia Dolan, Steven Raymond Dorzens, Megan Marie Enright, Kathryn Grace Falcetti, Jessica Nicole Gagnon, Victoria Anne Gagnon, Cassandra Michele Gaudio, Natalia  Gimenez, Bethany Rose Greenlaw, Nicole Ann Groll, Jessica Ann Howe, Danielle Rose Hughes, Julia Nicole Izydorczak, Jenny Alexandra Johnson, Samantha Mary Jones, Kayla Elizabeth Kavanagh, Sana Tanveer Khan, Gregory Daniel Kloczko, Laura Melissa Koba, Visal  Kong, Sarah Elizabeth Lamb, Sylwia  Lewkowicz, Samantha Jo Lohneiss, Emily Anne Maciejewski, Lauren Yvonne Macri, Emily Rose Mankus, Gage Rodney Marshall, Melissa Janet Morelli, Haley Anne Mullin, Brianna Marie Muscio, Alissa Karolyn Paul, Giavonna Mckenzi Paulus, Katherine Rose Peccerillo, Lauren Nicole Perkowski, Niels Justin Peschel, Nicholas Alfred Pierson, Cassandra  Punzo, Alex Ernest Rasten, Sofia Annette Ricciardi, Natalie Rose Rickard, Allie Nicole Rinaldi, Benjamin Vincent Sadlowski, Amanda Karnika Sao, Brenna Marie Sarantides, Allison Mara Schroeder, Morgan Patricia Shubert, Brett Nolan Simms, Robert Joseph Sirko, Valerie Elizabeth Slimskey, Steven  Sokolowski, Amelia Marie Sponauer, Alexander Joseph Statkevich, John Allen Stevens, Krysta  Tsangarides, Matthew James Verrilli, Natalie Kalea Wadolowski, Alexandra  Wyluda, Joseph Allen Zavorskas, Angelina Jennifer Zollo

Grade 12, Second Honors: Jennifer Rose Accuosti, Melissa Rose Albert, Carla Lucia Albini, Maria Pia Albini, Danielle Marie Albino, Christopher Constantine Arndt, Michaela Ann Barnes, Jobi Allyssa Bieluch, Samantha Morgan Blazek, Kristina  Bolovis, Brandon William Brush, Sarah Jean Caisse, Luigi  Camputaro, Andrew Gregory Caponegro, Elaina Michelle Chambrello, Damian  Chuchro, Travis John Clark, Matthew Peter Corjulo, Adam Jude Costanzo, Victoria Rose Cugliari, Hannah Leigh Cunliffe, Griffin Philip D’Agostino, Christopher Andrew Daley, Breanna Lee DeGumbia, Stephanie Lynn DiCesare, Matthew Michael DiNello, Aaron Kyal Douglas, James Dennis Doyle, Halee Marie Esposito, Joseph Jamil Fazzina, Molly Jayne Fiasconaro, Taylor Anna Furgalack, Thomas Edward Gallagher, Micaela Ana Gardner, Alyssa Paige Gemmell, Eileen Elizabeth Germain, Benjamin Cardinal Gibbons, Ryne Phinean Griffin, Elizabeth Agnes Gutowski, Jonathan David Hallgren, Jessica Ann Harris, Rachel Kelly Harvey, Lucas Paul Hodlin, Danielle Joselyn Hoskins, Drew John Hudick, Sarah Michele Hurley, Megan Lee Jasunas, Abigail Kirsten Judd, Danielle Elizabeth Kaminsky, Oliver Stephen Kochol, Jeffrey M. Kolb, Jonathan Frank La Follette, Alison Theresa Lachapelle, Danielle Nicole Lariviere, Brianna Lynn Lee, Charlotte Deborah Lefkovich, Alyssa Catherine Lombardi, Erick Nicholas Luise, Chloe Mary Lupton, Samantha Ann Magnanini, Tyler Francis Maia, Arlind  Mara, Louis Joseph Martocchio, Thomas Frank Mazzatti, Meaghan Elizabeth Grace McFall-Gorman, Jonathan Christopher Moise, Kristin Elizabeth Moller, Nicholas John Monteleone, Rachel Lynn Morin, Cody Michael Morrissey, Luxhina  Mullaj, Stephanie Ann O’Keefe, David Paul Palladino, Lauren Mary Panella, Joseph Thomas Pappalardo, Jesse Tyler Patterson, Gabriel Orion Pelletier, Kathleen Lisa Penta, Jilian Mckenzie Pesce, Paul James Petracca, Thien-Long Quang Phan, Kailey Taylor Pisko, Alexander Michael Pokorski, Katelyn Ann Ragozzino, Kimberly Alexis Rodriguez, Vincent James Romano, Justin Timothy Rose, Amanda Claire Russman, Jaclyn Michelle Ruszczyk, Bridget Walsh Scanlon, Jacob Tyler Scarpo, Mahryahh Paris Schmidt, Meghan Marie Schneider, Nicholas Michael Sciota, Amanda Marie Seamon, Victoria Marie Shay, Christopher Joseph Sherwill, Ian Tyler Sherwood, Nicole Erin Shorette, Nathaniel Robert Shurack, Kyle Joseph Sieracki, Brittney Marie Smith, Stephanie Grace Sowa, Laura Elizabeth Spagnoletti, Brandon David Staschke, Rebecca Diane Swol, Alexander James Tabaka, Bryson Scott Teel, Marissa Nicole Theriault, Hannah Elizabeth Tillman, Morgan Lindsay Vasile, Nicole Marie Verrilli, Samantha Lauren Vitale, Jeffrey William Walker, Derrick  Walton, Daniel Patrick Wardwell, Taylor Marie Waters, Nicole Lynn Wershoven, Givone Najah Williams, Daniel Benjamin Wivell, Kevin Andrew Wormer, Rachel Leigh Wrinn, Michael Benjamin Wysocki

Grade 11, Second Honors: Samantha Marguerite Aberizk, Matthew Jeremy Albrecht, Kayley Ann Alfano, Zainab  Aslam, Michael Jeffrey Aylett, Christopher Brian Baker, Andrea Nicole Baldick, Alyson Ann Baribault, Josef Thomas Barry, Blake Christian Bauer, Megan Marie Belcourt, Deven Rae Bernaiche, Malik Neal Blackwell, Justin Thomas Blake, Jessica Rose Bocek, Paige Charlotte Braziel, Caroline Marie-Shen Burke, Kyle Hunter Burleigh, Brandon Davis Carney, Kayla Rose Carrier, Christa Eve Case, Desirae Ann Casiano, Amarildo  Ceta, Sarah Jane Charlton, Jimmy  Chen, Peter Arnold Christiano, Brooke Marie Cochrane, Colleen Patricia Coleman, Kristy Lee Cook, Kevin Joseph Cop, Kelly Marie Craven, Marissa Antonia Cusano, Joseph Michael Daigle, Jordan Elizabeth D’Andrea, Maria Olinda DaRocha, Amanda Jacqueline DePonte, Kaylyn Catherin Fagan, Joseph Frank Fazzino, Samantha Marie Ferla, Shane Francis Florian, Andrew David Foertsch, JoAnna Jacquelyn Gendreau, Jhenea Milan Gooden, Rylee Ann Gothberg, Hannah Margaret Guilmette, Elizabeth Holly Gwara, Abigail Rachel Harris, Michael Ryan Hoffman, Andrea Lynne Hoyt, Nicholas Scott Hubeny, Christopher Charles Hupper, Claudia  Jaslowski, Benjamin Coltrane Johnson, Tia Katherine Jones, Michael Walter Kazlowski, Emilee Elizabeth Kemnitz, Ryan Christopher Knight, Tessa Maria Kolaczenko, Richard John Kudla, Nicholas Philip Lamb, Michael William Lange, Nicholas John Legere, Andrew Joshua Levin, Amber Donna Lewis, Sarah Elizabeth Lippincott, Stephanie Gerry-Lynn Lutz, Vanessa Marie Marchewka, Alexander Richard Martin, Megan Isabelle Martin, Amanda Victoria Mastroianni, Zachary David Maxwell, Alexa Taylor Mitchell, Amber Dolly Morelli, Susan Michelle Murphy, Kayla Elizabeth Nati, Sara Nicole Oakes, Randolph James Parent, Amanda Joanna Pedrak, Scott Anthony Perretta, Matthew David Pestillo, Victoria Sadie Plante, Dalton  Quint, Elizabeth  Ragozzino, Jonathan Andrew Rauch, Madeline Josephine Sadlowski, Bushra  Saqab, Julie Anne Saucier, Devinne Rose Sharp, David Patrick Shaughnessy, Kyle Michael Sposato, Nicholas Andrew Stafko, Elizabeth Mary Stearns, Megan Elizabeth Steele, Connor Philip Steen, Kyle Joseph Summa, Thomas Lukasz Swinicki, Valerie Marie Szmurlo, Joseph Michael Tatro, Isabelle Rose Tedeschi, Meghan Elisabeth Teele, Justin Minh Truong, Zoe Elizabeth Tyz, Michael Ryan Walczak, Imani Ann Walton, Alyssa Louise Zaorski, Jacob Thomas Zimmerman

Grade 10, Second Honors: Alaina Elizabeth Albino, Meagan Rose Asklar, Rachel Mackenzie Babon, Mitchell James Baker, Aidan Thomas Baldwin, Katherine Elizabeth Baldwin, Andrew Barrett Barmore, Kyle Robert Barry, Erich Nicholas Bender, Jonathan Robert Blain, Michael Nicholas Botsacos, Nickolas Gary Brazil, Alicia Marie Brocki, Cassandra Lynn Camilli, Lauren Elizabeth Carney, Patrick David Carozza, Bailey Lynne Carter, Alexander Benjamin Casey, Cameron Joseph Chubet, Bridget Emily Clark, Jordan Lee Clarke, Alana Audrey Conti, Elizabeth Bern Costello, Ryan James DeAngelo, Kyle Joseph DeFrancesco, Tyler Joseph DiTunno, Jessica Lynn Dos Santos, Kateri Eileen Downes, Geraint Charles Downey, Kevin Michael Drexler, Brandon Kenneth DuBois, Maxwell Robert Eldridge, Olivia Rose Ende, Christopher Paul Falk, Julie Amanda Falk, Michael Matthew Fazzino, Marissa Ann Feeney, Kayla Mary Folcik, Alexandra Nicole France, Jared Thomas Gavronski, Miranda  Gazaferi, Melissa Kate Geffken, Ryan Edward Goldstein, Mack Richard Golos, Jocelyn Azalie Gregor, Natalia  Grosfeld, Amanda Jeanne Hamel, David Louis Harrison, Abigail Tatyana Heller, Adriel  Hernandez, Abigail Elizabeth Hodges, Shane Thomas Holley, Mark Thomas Horanzy, Bailey Patrick Kahl, Nathan Christopher Keen, Christopher Douglas Kingsbury, Leah Marie Kligerman, Colin Martin Kochol, Matthew Richard Koczera, Sarah Anne Leahy, Emily Anne Lippincott, Kristen Elizabeth Loose, Zachery Taylor Lucente, David Alfonso Massabni, Nicholas John Mauriello, Morgan Leigh McCarthy, Katherine Jennifer Mellitt, Margaret Ann Mellitt, Emily Rose Mendoza, Vincent Sebastian Milardo, Eric Joseph Minton, Jake Thomas Moise, Jack Scully Myers, Talia Rae Nanfito, Flora Alicia Nardi, Jessica Marie Nelson, Connor William O’Hara, Zaya Eugene Oshana, Franklin Anthony Pac, Michael Richard Pagano, Megan Hope Palumbo, Suhail I. Pathan, Kristina Rain Patterson, Katelyn Kathleen Pavloski, Lee Ann Elizabeth Pelletier, Mckenzie  Pelletier, Thomas Judson Perzanowski, Evan Thomas Pokorski, Ian William Powell, Jonathan Peter Rappi, Erin Kathryn Reilly, Jonathan Ronald Richards, Kailey Victoria Richardson, Maryssa Constance Romano, Nicholas Jordan Rosario, Courtnie Rebecca Roy, Louise Anna Schutz, Jacob Erik Semmel, Brett David Shaw, Autumn Eliza Sheffy, Jarod William Shurack, Andi  Skenderi, William Fitzgerald Smith, Daniel John Smolinski, Connor Joseph Socha, Francesca Noelle Sophroniou, Matthew Nicholas Sorrentino, Natalie Lauren Soto, Alana Erin St. John, Victoria Hanna Stepien, Zachary John Susi, Brett Anthony Taricani, Alexa Rose Taylor, Michael Alan Theriault, Matthew Joseph Thomson, Julia Rosemarie Tinyszin, Kelly Taylor Toomey, Curtis Edward Topper, Rebecca  Tsangarides, Jonathan Anthony Tumolo, Samantha Lillian Vauter, Nicholas John Wells, Nicole Megan White, Timothy Marshall White, Adam Joseph Wilson, Chase Davis Yurgaitis, Maghen Elizabeth Zagryn

Grade 9, Second Honors: Griffin Richard Alix, Kayla Rose Allaire, Paige Marie Allen, Erin Rose Angelillo, Ciara Noelle Backus, Angela Nicole Balaoing, Matthew Paul Becotte, Quinn Anthony Becotte, Alexandra Anna Bieniek, Alexa Niccole Bracken, Kyle Andrew Bunko, Ryan Patrick Burrill, Grace Elizabeth Cardozo, Katelin Hope Chamberland, Benjamin Carl Chasse, Jacob Christopher Chasse, Luis Chadwick Chavez, Payton Lynne Chiaro, Courtney Marie Christino, Emmerson Lily Colasanto, Mckenna Elena Colasanto, Hayley Jean Crafts, Olivia Patricia Cranney, Keanu Jakai Cummings, Andrea Clarice Defeo, Anthony Carl DeGennaro, Sarah Claire Delaney, Gabriella Annalise DelGreco, Christie Marie Dizenzo, Kealey Bridget Donahue, Bryan Murphy Doyle, Rachel Leigh Dufresne, Kristen Victoria Elliott, Drew Thomas Farkas, Kayleigh Jane Ferguson, Jarod Alec Florian, Hannah LeBlanc Francis, Katrina Marie Furgalack, Michaela Rae Ganezer, Megan Frances Hamilton, Mark George Howland, Christopher William Iverson, Danielle Nicole Jaffer, Kayla Ann Judd, Alyssa  Kizilski, Jacob  Kligerman, Caitlyn Anne Krar, Ashleigh Michaela Kristopik, Reed Alexander Kroll, Carter John Krzesik, Kyle Allen Lalla, Kelly Lynn Lappen, Dylan Jacob LeBlanc, Katie Ann Lindberg, Kristina Marie Linehan, Maya Rachel Litke, Jeffrey Ryan Lockwood, Scott Michael Lucian, Salvatore  Magnano, Kelly Bridget McKenna, Morgan Elizabeth McNamara, Steven Andrew McPherson, John Philip Meade, Jordan Alexander Meier, Christopher John Minkiewicz, Caroline Anne Mongillo, Parker Bennett Mulholland, Nathaniel Ryan Nagorski, Catherine Lloyd Najarian, Gabrielle Lauranna Napoli, Alexis Caitlyn Negron, David J Nelson, Kasey Lee Newman, Nicole Paige Nyerick, Olivia Leigh Nyerick, Shannon Kimberley O’Connor, Nicholas  Ottalagana, Dane Michael Penksa, William Frederick Perkins, Valerie Mary Perzanowski, Kali  Pliego, Sofia Marie Possidento, Katrina Lynn Quoka, Erin Kathleen Roach, Andrew John Rogalski, Domenic Stephen Rossi, Stephen Philip Salmon, Emily Jeanne Sargent, Samantha  Schiffer, Jessica Taylor Seitz, Lauren Eve Semataska, Amy  Serrano, Sarah  Sherwill, Kelsey Shae Snodgrass, Jason Joseph Soltys, Nicolette Marie St. Amand, Kiersten Lynn Stanley, Erin Nicole Sullivan, Alexa Grace Sweetman, Andrew Tyler Szymanski, Melanie Lauren Tedeschi, James Harrison Terray, Aaron Nicholas Tiscione, Jason Steven Tosta, Jennifer  Turci, Jenna Elizabeth Uba, Edmond Keith Vitcavage, James Walter Wadman, Ryan James Wells, Christopher Wolfe-McGuire, Catherine Elizabeth Wormer

By John Goralski
Sports Writer
It’s been two decades since Chris Longo won a state competition with his throw in the shot put, but the former Blue Knight star looked at home as he paced outside the shot put area on the Southington High School track complex.
With a wide smile, he bantered with a current varsity thrower as the two studied the gravel pit. Then, Longo picked up a shot put and entered the circle. His smile evaporated, and the competition began.
“Chris Longo was one of the toughest throwers to come through the high school, and he’s going against Matt Bennett who’s going to be a senior next year and one of our better throwers,” said Blue Knight track and field coach Matt Shea. “That’s what this is all about. Then, we have a lot of other kids that are doing their best. It’s been a really good competition.”
The throwers were just two of the people that showed up for the second annual Blue Knight Alumni Track Meet on Saturday, Aug. 10. Construction on the turf field forced them to postpone the first scheduled event this summer. Availability and resources forced officials to funnel the summer series into a single event.
As a result, there weren’t as many entrants as officials had hoped. On the other hand, the competition was lighthearted or fierce depending upon the

By John Goralski
former Blue Knight runners Jim Rosenberger, front, and Nick Dalidowitz compete in a distance event.

LEXINGTON, KY—It might be the longest sports dynasty in the long history of Southington High School. It has spanned more than a decade. It has almost crossed generations.
Girls basketball won four state titles in a row in the late 1980s, and the team rallied for six titles in eight years. Lady Knight gymnasts claimed five titles in six years, and softball teams scored nine titles in 10 years.
But an 11 year winning streak? It’s almost unheard of…almost.
On Aug. 17, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released their list of academic awards for the 2012-2013 high school seasons, and the Lady Knight volleyball team topped a list of just 229 girls varsity teams across the nation to receive the award.
It’s the 11th year in a row that Southington High School has won the award which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year.
“Excellence doesn’t happen by accident, either on the court or in the classroom,” said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. “It takes consistent preparation, relentless effort, and determined leadership. A full year of academic achievement, by an entire team of individual students, is a remarkable achievement.  What better way to start a new season than with a celebration of an award so emblematic of all that is necessary for sustained success.”
The award honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.
Since the award’s inception in 1993, the amount of award winners has increased from 62 to its current number of 623, including high school and college programs.
Over 1,000 different schools have earned the award in the program’s 20-year history, with exactly 5,450 awards been given out in total.

The Lady Knight volleyball teamwas recently awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2012-2013 academic year. This marks the 11th consecutive season that the Lady Knights have received this recognition.

By JOHN GORALSKI
SPORTS WRITER
The pitcher and the defense gave up just one earned run in 1983 to set a national record for ERA (0.04) that would stand for more than two decades. Their all-state pitcher was almost unhittable as Southington roared through the postseason. The offense was just as deadly with a .336 batting average in the regular season as they out-scored opponents, 193-4.
Still, with two outs in the ninth inning of the championship game, shortstop Paige Kopcza was the only one that could protect the pitcher’s perfect game when a blistering ground ball caught the dirt and ricocheted into the air.
“It was one of those bouncers. It hit a rock and went sky high,” Kopcza said, while sipping coffee at a local eatery as she remembered the play three decades later. “It was going to be a short hopper for me to get to it, but I had to charge hard to get it on a really short hop. Otherwise, it could have gone anywhere, and Julie Bolduc was throwing a perfect game.”
Kopcza wasn’t about to spoil her pitcher’s perfect day. In one motion, she scooped the ball out of the air and fired a rocket to first base just ahead of the runner. It was just another day at the office for Southington’s prized infielder.
“Defensively, she was solid as a rock,” said former Lady Knight softball coach Joe Piazza. “She was probably my first shortstop that could go deep into the hole behind third base, backhand a ball, plant her back foot, and throw the ball across the diamond to first base. It’s not something you see that often. You probably don’t even see it a lot at the high school level now because it takes a lot of strength. Back then, it was almost unheard of.”
Kopcza was always ahead of the curve when it came to female athletes, and even though Southington girls were already leading the charge for women’s sports in Connecticut, but Kopcza took it to the next level in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
As the youngest of three siblings–and the only girl in her family, Kopcza honed her skills in pick-up games with the neighborhood boys. A self-confessed tomboy, she never shied from a challenge. Whether it was dirt track racing in the backyard, shooting pellet guns with her brothers, or competing in games of volleyball, kickball, or football with the neighborhood boys, Kopcza held her own.
“When they picked a team, they would sometimes pick me before half the guys,” she said. “It didn’t matter. I wasn’t a girly-girl. That’s for sure.”
She first showed her competitiveness in fifth grade when her Southington Junior Pro basketball team advanced to Tennessee to play in a national tournament. She tried her hand at gymnastics and battled for goals on the soccer fields.
Then, in 1975, she raised the bar even further when she became one of two local girls to break the gender barrier in Southington’s Little Leagues. She walked into tryouts at the Western Little League and quickly quieted any critics when she earned a position on the opening day roster.
“I didn’t think anything about it,” she said. “We didn’t have a softball league in town. That didn’t come for years and years later. I think I was fearless, but I’ll attribute that to my brothers and my dad. It was playing against all those kids in the neighborhood. I didn’t think twice about what I was doing. It was just a game. It was fun, and I was always competitive. That flame was in my stomach and I just went with it.”
Then, it almost came to a crashing halt. She was taking a throw from the outfield at midseason when she dropped the ball and fell to the ground with a broken leg. For the next six months she endured casts and a slow rehabilitation, but Kopcza returned to action the following year as a 10-year-old, made the team again, and even faced future Major League Baseball pitcher Rob Dibble on the Little League mound.
Even though she returned to the field, Kopcza never fully recovered from that early injury. She suffered a knee injury during a track meet sponsored by the Falcon Club, and that kept her out of sports for her entire seventh grade. Soon, doctors discovered bone chips that were causing her knee to lock in place that sent shooting pains up her leg. If Kopcza was going to continue as an athlete, she was forced to limit her competition.
“Softball was my love. I played basketball and volleyball at the middle school level and all these other sports in town, but I was already thinking about college as a ninth grader,” she said. “I knew I had to focus on one because that would give me an opportunity. If I focused on two or three, that might not happen.”
It turned out to be a great choice.
Piazza admitted that it might not have been her only choice, but he was glad she chose softball.
“She was about as good of a softball player as we’ve ever had, and she went on to have a great career in college, too,” said the coach. “I’m sure that if she played basketball in high school, she would have been a great basketball player. I’m sure if she played volleyball, she would have been great at that, too. She was just a great athlete.”
She was so good, in fact, that Piazza was willing to bench a returning player from his state championship team just to make room in the lineup for Kopcza in her sophomore year.
“I knew that I had to find a place for this kid, but we had about 11 kids coming back with some sort of experience,” he said. “I put her at third base a little bit. I put her at shortstop and the outfield. I put her at second. I put her at first. It took me the whole preseason and maybe a week or so into the regular season, but I finally decided that the best move for the team was to put her at short. I moved the shortstop that we had into the outfield, and the rest—I guess you would say—is history.”
Kopcza never made her coach regret his decision. As a sophomore, she anchored the defense with her glove and helped pace the offense with a .357 batting average. The following year, she led the Knights with a .494 batting average and a .688 on-base percentage. Opposing coaches created special defensive shifts to account for Kopcza’s knack for threading singles straight up the middle. Still, they couldn’t keep Kopcza off the bases.
“I can remember playing one team that literally shifted their outfield to have a left-center fielder and a right-center fielder against me,” she said. “They didn’t really have a first baseman or a third baseman because they all shifted to the middle, but that’s where I hit it. I had a knack of hitting it right back at the pitcher.”
It wasn’t until her senior season that coaches were finally able to contain her…a little. Southington had finally graduated all of the players from her sophomore season, so teams were able to pitch around the Southington star. Still, Kopcza managed to finish her senior season with a .446 average.
“I think that year was tough for her because people were finally able to pitch around her a little more,” said Piazza. “In that 82 and 83 team, they had no choice. They had to pitch to her. In 84, there wasn’t as much around her. People could walk her, pitch around her, or not give her anything to hit.”
Still, college scouts were infatuated with the Southington star. In a sport that’s dominated by pitchers, Kopcza dominated headlines and focused the strategy of opposing coaches. Adelphi College offered her a full scholarship. The University of Rhode Island offered her the same opportunity, but Kopcza chose to attend the University of Massachusetts on a partial scholarship. It gave her a chance to fill the shoes of an all-American, and UMass offered her the educational challenges that she wanted.
Over the next four seasons, she batted .310 and led the team in five different categories as a senior. She still ranks fourth all-time in sacrifice flies (9) and wasn’t caught stealing a single time in her final two years.
“If my numbers are good, it’s just because I loved what I was doing,” she said. “I don’t like to toot my own horn. I did it just because I loved the game.”
The Southington Sports Hall of Fame selection committee chose Kopcza as the first non-pitcher to represent softball in the local hall of fame, but Piazza isn’t surprised by the choice. “Pitchers get the majority of the ink,” he said. “People recognize them more, but it’s those people behind them that make the plays.”
On Thursday, Nov. 14, Kopcza will be honored in an induction ceremony at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville. To reserve tickets, contact Jim Verderame at (860) 628-7335.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “There are tons of athletes that have gone through Southington and were tremendous in their sport, whether it was softball, basketball, football, baseball, gymnastics, or whatever. They probably deserve the award more than I do, but I’m really humbled and honored.”

Paige Kopcza anchored the defense during two softball title runs and paced the offense during the program’s longest winning streak.