Hornets Notes

Boys' Swimming Gearing Up for SCC and State Championships

The  boys swim team finished the regular season at 7-5 and are gearing up for the SCC championships this week. The Hornets, who spent much of February vacation at the International Swimming Hall of Fame facility in Fort Lauderdale, are looking to finish in the top four in the SCC, according to coach Scott Butler.

Before leaving for Florida, they absorbed a heartbreaking loss to rival, Cheshire, 95-90.  Butler said that the trip toughened the team up.  Swimmers trained for two hours in the water each morning and another two hours in the afternoon. 

"Some team members are gearing up for this to be the finishing point of the season and others are already looking past this meet, as the Class M State Trials are only 10 days later," Butler said. He credited captains Billy Irwin, Tyler Olt, Jerry Gargano and Billy Conte for their leadership during the season.

Butler said several swimmers are ranked in the top 10 in the SCC, including Olt (in both the 50 and 100-yard freestyle), Gargano (in the 200-yard Individual Medley), Conte (in Diving), and Ali Pourmaleki (500-yard freestyle). Also seeded in the top 10 are the 200-yard Freestyle Relay team of Olt, Gargano, Tyler Jones, and Kevin Gell, the 400-yard Freestyle Relay team of Olt, Gargano, Jones, and Gell, and the 200-yard Medley Relay team of Pourmaleki, Irwin, Conor Miniter and Jones.

For those interested in attending, there will be time trials Monday at 4 p.m. The diving championship will be March 1. Both events are at the Hamden High School pool. Click here for directions. The SCC championship's will take place March 2 at Southern Connecticut State University at 6 p.m.

Boys' Hockey Hoping to Earn Another State Playoff Berth Monday

The Branford High School hockey team is looking to make another trip to the Division III state hockey playoffs this year, but they need a win today to earn the berth. At 7-12, the Hornets need just one more win to qualify for the state playoffs. Last year, Branford advanced to the semi-final round where they lost an overtime thriller to St. Joseph's at Yale's Ingalls Rink.

A win Saturday would have been a fitting end to a senior night celebration in front of a packed house at the Northford Ice Pavilion. The loss, however, did not dampen the enthusiasm for the program's seniors. Those honored on Saturday were Gary Criscuolo, Austin Day, Cameron Delucia, Alex Graves, Myles Imperato, Tyler Imperato, Brendan Labanara, Alex Mansi, and Joe Parker. For more pictures from Saturday's senior night game and other action shots this season, click here.

Branford will skate Wednesday against Milford at the Northford Ice Pavilion at 5 p.m. For directions to the rink, click here.

Indoor Track Wraps Up with Two Athletes at the State Open

The boys' and girls' indoor track teams wrapped up their seasons recently as two athletes - runner Meg O'Brien and  pole vaulter Alex Case - competed at the State Open in New Haven. Both advanced to the State Open on the merits of their performances at the state Class M championships.

Case advanced by winning the pole vault at the Class M championships, clearing 12 feet, 6 inches. At the State Open, he vaulted 12 feet and finished 6th. Case, who recently upgraded his pole to a longer model, is looking forward to another successful season during outdoor track.

On the girls' side, O'Brien competed in the 1000 meter run. She finished 14th at the State Open with a time of 3.09.3. The race came a week after the state Class M championships, where she had one of her best days as a runner this season. She came in 5th in the 1000 with a time of 3.08.6 and 5th in the 3200 meter run with a time of 11:53.

For the season, the girl's indoor track team finished 7th at the Southern Connecticut Conference championships and the boy's finished 11th.