Winter Sports Highlights 12.16.19

12/16/2019

Basketball - First Boys'

Dec. 11: Basketball - First Boys’ 66 vs. Trinity-Pawling School 72

The Martlets fought hard in the first half against an athletic TP squad. The Martlets were able to grab a halftime lead of 30-23. It started with hot shooting from Teddy Mangiarotti '21 and Rafa Charfole '20. TP stormed back in the second half and it was an even battle for the entire second half. The Martlets responded late in the second half with a flurry of threes, however, TP sealed the game with key possessions down the stretch. Mangiarotti led the Martlets in scoring with 29 points. Charfole ended the game with 20 points and eight rebounds. Captain Chris Robinson ’20 had a balanced game with 15 points,10 assists and five rebounds. Joe Walsh '20 and Wylie Clarke '21 both played stellar defense the entire game.

Dec. 14: Basketball - First Boys’ 58 vs. Deerfield Academy 50

The Martlets traveled up to Deerfield, Mass., on a rainy afternoon for a 2:30 tipoff. The Martlets started the game on fire. The team shot 70% from the field in the first half. Teddy Mangiarotti '21 and Rafa Charfole '20 both couldn't miss from three-point land. The Martlets went by 25 in the first half. However, in the second half, Deerfield went on a run and turned up the energy on defense. At one point in the second half, the Martlets were only up by four late. Then, captain Chris Robinson '20 had a game-changing steal, which led to an and one monster slam to help seal the game. Robinson had 20, eight and seven on the night. Mangiarotti '21 had 20 points. Charfole had 15 and seven on the game. Jack Devlin '20, Joe Walsh '20, Kellen Seeley '22, Hunter Hoogkamp '21 and Wylie Clark '21 all played hard throughout the game. The Martlets take on Pomfret this Friday in the Millbrook Holiday Tournament.

Basketball - First Girls'

Dec. 11: Basketball - First Girls’ 46 vs. Greens Farms Academy 60

Westminster traveled to Westport and fought valiantly against a gritty, fast-playing undefeated Greens Farms squad and lost 46-60. Playing in its first game and without the benefit of a preseason scrimmage, Westminster started very poorly and failed to take care of the ball or match GFA's pace of play. The team was down 14-2 at the end of the first quarter. Westminster found its legs in the second quarter and finished the first half on a run to close the gap to 28-19. The team cut the lead to as little as seven in the fourth quarter, but couldn't make enough shots or avoid enough turnovers to make a significant run. Co-captain Bella Tawney '22 and Margaret Kennedy '22 led the team in scoring while co-captain Bethany Winters '20 and Bianca D'Onofrio '23, playing in her first varsity basketball game, contributed on offense as well. Samantha de Kanter '22 matched up all game defensively against GFA's best player and shut her down for much of the first half.

Dec. 13: Basketball - First Girls’ 66 vs. The Master's School 50

Westminster had one of its best offensive games in recent history as we earned a solid win in the first round of the KIT against The Master’s School. The team started slowly again and only held a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, but 19 second-quarter points helped the team extend its halftime lead to 11. Master's adjusted well at halftime and played Westminster evenly in the third, but a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter put the game essentially out of reach. Co-captain Bethany Winters '20 led the way with a career-high 22 points, six rebounds and three steals. Co-captain Bella Tawney '22 added 17 points and 22 rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals. The backcourt duo of Eliza Roach '21 and Margaret Kennedy ’22 was efficient and effective. They combined for 21 points and 14 assists with only four turnovers.

Dec. 14: Basketball - First Girls’ 42 vs. Kingswood Oxford School 48

Westminster lost a tough one to a gritty and well-coached KO team in the semifinals of the KIT. The game was back and forth for most of the afternoon, but the team did carve out a 40-36 lead in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, a combination of turnovers, missed open shots and defensive breakdowns enabled the Wyverns to end the game on a 12-2 run and seal the victory. Samantha de Kanter '22 played well and tallied a career-high 13 points. Co-captains Bethany Winters '20 and Bella Tawney '22 combined for 17, but it wasn't quite enough to earn a berth in the finals.

Dec. 15: Basketball - First Girls’ 29 vs. Wilbraham & Monson Academy 65

Westminster was overmatched by a skilled and strong WMA in the third-place game of the KIT. Westminster kept it close early and only found ourselves down 15-8 at the end of the first quarter, but we struggled to get good offensive looks and WMA asserted itself on the offensive glass and interior. Co-captain Bethany Winters '20 led the team in scoring; Ashlyn Clapprood '22 played aggressively in the post; and Mari Camara '23 scored the first points of her varsity career.

Basketball - Second Boys'

Dec. 9: Basketball - Second Boys’ 38 vs. Eaglebrook School 71

Westminster found itself trailing early versus a very good Eaglebrook team, but the Martlets made a nice run toward the end of the first half, cutting the lead to 14 before heading into the locker room. Third Former Riley Devine spurred the offense with eight points. Point guard Jack Darnowski, also a Third Former, chalked up nine points and three rebounds, and Ben Mihailovich '22 displayed a nice overall game, working hard for seven points to go along with his team-high five rebounds.

Dec. 11: Basketball - Second Boys' 28 vs. Trinity-Pawling 58

Despite the lopsided score, Westminster showed continual hustle. They took charges, wrapped up loose balls, and did their best to rebound against the taller, more athletic Trinity-Pawling squad. The Martlets found themselves in a deep hole as they trailed in the early part of the first half 2-19, which would prove to be an irrecoverable margin as they just couldn't muster any shots versus Trinity-Pawling's length. Ben Mihailovich '22, a scrappy momentum-changer, grabbed six rebounds, scored five points and took a charge; Baker Morton '22 contributed 10 points; and Cooper Kistler '22, back from injury, scored a hard-fought five points in limited time to go with two rebounds.

Dec. 14: Basketball - Second Boys’ 26 vs. Deerfield Academy 48

Westminster found itself trailing Deerfield early, but the team settled down nicely, finally adhering more closely to the game plan. They only allowed 18 second-half points as they started playing smarter, more physical defense and more patient offense. If they're going to break 30 points again, they can’t commit 16 turnovers as they did Dec. 14. They'll have to start recognizing when they actually have numbers on offense versus when they need to kick the ball back out to the perimeter. There are moments of greatness when they move the ball, use what the defense is giving them and find the best shot. The Martlets do play hard; they just have to play smarter. Seven individuals made it into the scoring category. Ben Mihailovich '22 led the team again in rebounds.

Basketball - Third Boys'

Dec. 11: Basketball - Third Boys’ 20 vs. Suffield Academy 62

The Martlets came out ready to compete, but faced a tough matchup in Suffield’s roster. In his first game of the season, Lucas Wahlberg ’21 had a standout performance, making good use of his height to make consistent layups. However, despite drawing some late game fouls out of the Tigers, Suffield’s lead was insurmountable, and the game concluded 20 to 62.

Dec. 13: Basketball - Third Boys’ 25 vs. Indian Mountain School 56

Third Boys’ Basketball played Indian Mountain School’s varsity team at home. Westminster worked hard against a strong opponent, playing catch-up after some fast breaks from the Falcons. Lucas Wahlberg ’21 helped close the gap during the first half, continuing off a strong showing Dec. 11. After the half, Oliver Hocking ’23 made several baskets early, and Westminster’s defense, shifting from man-to-man to zone, had more success stopping the Falcons. The second half surge was not enough for the Martlets to surpass their opponent’s lead, and the game ended at 25 to 56.

Dec. 14: Basketball - Third Boys’ 25 vs. Northfield Mount Hermon School 64

The team got off to a strong start, with Mike Yang ’23 starting things off with a big three pointer. Despite the early lead, the Hoggers came back strong, putting a lot of pressure on both the Martlets’ offense and defense. The second half began with Westminster trailing, and the team worked hard to find scoring opportunities. Despite many impressive shots, including a last second basket by Chris Paolella ’23 the team was defeated 25-64.

Hockey - First Boys'

Dec. 11: Hockey - First Boys’ 6 vs. Choate Rosemary Hall 3

The Martlets logged one in the win column against Choate in Wallingford Wednesday. After being snake-bitten at NMH Dec. 6, Westminster hoped to gather some momentum and put a few in the net. Westminster would again outshoot its opponent 38-14, but this time there was enough traffic in front and improved shot placement to put a few into the twine. The game didn’t start out very well, unfortunately, and the Martlets found themselves behind 2-0 and then 3-2 before the first frame concluded. Loose on the defensive end, and feeling a little slow, the first period was not Westminster's finest. Vic Barakett '22 and Brennan Horn '21 each found the net in the first to get things moving. The second period was all Westminster with Wyatt Pastor '20 netting two off great plays from Jake Monroe '20 and Daniel Judge '22. Justin Louette-Isaac '21 and Ryan Pineault '20 would round out the four-goal second period sending Westminster into the locker room ahead 6-3. The third was not quite as prosperous for Westminster, however, the team was able to limit Choate's opportunities down the stretch and close out a win.

Dec. 14: Hockey - First Boys’ 1 vs. Brunswick School 3

After two good periods Dec. 11 at Choate, energy was up in the locker room heading into a challenging contest Dec. 14 at home against Brunswick. The first period was fast-paced and competitive, and the Martlets carried much of the play throughout the period. After many opportunities, Westminster finally put one past Brunswick’s goalie to take a one-goal lead. Danny Judge ‘22 scored, giving his team some momentum, and Westminster kept the pressure on. The first period ended 1-0 Westminster, but Brunswick would respond quickly in the second period, evening the game at 1-1 and gaining momentum. After an exciting back-and-forth period, Brunswick would send a dagger into the Martlets with 13 seconds remaining in the second. Loose play and a few missed defensive assignments resulted in Brunswick heading into the third up 2-1. Just a few minutes into the third, Brunswick would score again, earning three unanswered goals on the night. Backed into a corner, Westminster played hard, getting to the paint many times. They outshot Brunswick 19-5 in the final frame, but the opponent’s netminder stymied any attempt to even the game. Bennett Ostern ‘21 played well in net, earning 30 saves on the night. The scoring dried up a bit, and Westminster will need to find ways to get on the board heading into the always challenging Flood Marr Tournament next weekend. This group is still working to find their grit, but the pieces are present.

Hockey - First Girls'

Dec. 11: Hockey - First Girls’ 2 vs. Kent School 0

Westminster took to the ice in its first Founders League contest of the season against Kent. The team dominated the first period as it maintained consistent possession in the offensive zone. Despite the pressure, they were not able to capitalize and broke after the first tied 0-0. Kent grabbed the momentum to begin the second and Westminster had to rely on goalie Mandy Busky '21 to keep the score tied. A penalty at the end of the period put the Martlets on their heels, but the team managed to get block shots and get the puck out maintaining the tie after two periods. As the third period started, you could see the tempo of the play increase as both teams tried to get on the board. Finally, at the 11-minute mark, Westminster managed to get a cycle going in the offensive zone. Abby Munger '20 got the puck to Cammi Ahern '22 who passed to a cutting Emma Gurnell '21. Gurnell cut across the top of the slot and sent a perfectly placed shot over the shoulder of the Kent goalie. The lead gave the Martlets a boost of energy, but they knew the battle was long from over. Sixth Form captain Megan Rittenhouse '20 tried to lead the charge by back checking effectively and helping the defense execute good breakouts. Busky continued to be strong, helping the team kill yet another penalty. With just five minutes left, Sam DeLeo '21 and Gurnell combined on a great play to find Ahern who shot it in from the back post. The 2-0 lead was solid with five minutes left, and the team worked together to protect it. Blocked shots by Taylor Adams '20 and great breakout efforts by Liv Fernandez '23 helped lock up the win. Team members set out to do their individual jobs and that commitment worked.

Dec. 14: Hockey - First Girls’ 5 vs. Loomis Chaffee 0

Westminster had another great Founders League win against Loomis. The first period was back and forth as Westminster did its best to stick to its game plan. Loomis put the pressure on, but Westminster found some momentum following a successful penalty kill. To start the second, Westminster fell back a bit against the Loomis forecheck, but goalie Mandy Busky '21 kept her team in it. Then at the eight minute mark, defenseman Sam DeLeo '21 moved the puck to a breaking Taylor Adams '20. Adams brought the puck wide as her line mates Casey Winslow '21 and Amelia Molin '23 broke to the net. Adams sealed off her defenseman and with incredible patience, slipped the puck past the Loomis goalie on the far side, giving her team the 1-0 lead. As the teams took the ice for the third period, it was anyone's game. Westminster did not sit back, but rather pressed the play and forced some key turnovers. At the 14 minute mark, forward Jenny Guider '20 read a regroup play effectively and stripped the puck for a clear lane to the net. With composure, Guider finished the play with a great move to give Westminster the 2-0 lead. Just 90 seconds later, Hailey Tullo '22 also pressured Loomis possession and stole the puck for a break away and incredible finish for the 3-0. Loomis did not sit back, but drew penalties and were relentless in the Westminster end. Yet, Busky kept her focus sharp and collected all pucks headed her way. At the eight minute mark, Westminster took another penalty. Adams pressured the puck high and blocked a shot that rebounded into the neutral zone. Megan Rittenhouse '20 beat her opponent to the puck and pulled away and shot top shelf to give Westminster the 4-0 lead with a short-handed goal. Finally, with just three minutes left, Adams and Abby Munger '20 combined on an incredible power play goal that involved all five skaters in the zone. The final 5-0 score was the result of a team commitment. It is good preparation as the team looks to the challenging Harrington Tournament next weekend.

Hockey - Second Boys'

Dec. 11: Hockey - Second Boys’ 1 vs. Choate Rosemary Hall 2

The Martlets made the trip to Wallingford to play perennial rival Choate in a late afternoon Wednesday tilt. Unfortunately, and despite outplaying the hosts for good stretches, the Seconds continued to struggle to find the back of the net. Outshooting the Wild Boars 27-19, the team could not solve the riddle of the capable Choate keeper and tallied only a single goal on the afternoon. That goal came early in the third period when Xander Cardia '21 carried the puck from neutral ice into the far Choate corner before cutting back toward the net and slipping a perfect pass to linemate David Harris '21, who deftly snapped the puck home under the crossbar. The play made the score 1-2 and wasn't the only good chance the Martlets had during the game, but it was the only one that the Black and Gold finished. Choate had jumped to the lead midway through the first period when a bad Martlet line change led to an odd-man break against Westminster goalie Will Scott '20; Choate added a second goal in the second period when a shot from the point ricocheted off several players before bounding past Scott. On the day, Scott played his usual solid game, notching 17 saves overall. Special mention goes to the team's core of defensemen: Nate Stevens '21, Rex Flinn '21, Keegan Bankoff '22, Sawyer von Jess '22 and Jack Rockefeller '23. The D-men had their best game of the season, controlling the puck and jump-starting the Martlet attack. Overall, the coaches were very pleased with the team's improvement: the boys played their first complete game of the season, competing hard in all three zones and outworking their opponents consistently. Lots to be proud of, despite the loss.

Dec. 13: Hockey - Second Boys’ 1 vs. Simsbury High School 6

The Seconds welcomed local rival Simsbury High School to Jackson Rink for what is always a spirited contest. Unfortunately, the home side – playing its fifth game in seven days – could not match the visitors' intensity. The relative youth and inexperience of the team this year was exposed a bit by the older, more assertive Trojans. Moving forward, the team will have to double-down on those things it can control: its work rate, its commitment to the defensive side of the game and its grit in winning small battles all over the ice. Too often, Simsbury was able to come out of a scrum with the puck or breakdowns in coverage gave the visitors chances that they took full advantage of. This was especially true toward the end of the second period and into the third, when tired legs and a loss of focus led to four Simsbury goals. Overall, the score does not fully reflect how the game unfolded as the Martlets had their share of opportunities but the team was thwarted by the capable Simsbury keeper or just couldn’t get the puck into the net. The Black and Gold's only goal came on a power play when Keegan Bankoff '22 collected a puck off the near wall and fired a low snap shot on the Simsbury net, where Oscar Ball '22 and Newt Cutler '22 banged away at it until finally forcing it past a swarm of Simsbury defensemen and their goalie. This is the kind of goal this team is going to have to score more of this year if it’s going to compete: scrappy, hard-working, ugly goals. Deserving mention for their solid play on the night are defensemen Nate Stevens '21, Rex Flinn '21 and Jack Rockefeller '23; the forward line of Will Rizzo '21, Xander Cardia '21 and David Harris '21 also worked hard and responded to Simsbury's physical play, getting better as the game wore on. Goalies Will Scott '20 and Rich Mugler '22 split the game and played well, each making some impressive saves – and both deserve a better defensive effort from their teammates. Looking ahead – and the team hops on a bus for Northfield Mount Hermon this afternoon for their sixth game in eight days – everyone on the team needs to embrace its identity and play accordingly. Westminster will flat out need to outwork teams all over the rink and take pride in our willingness to keep the game simple and do the hard work for three full periods.

Dec. 14: Hockey - Second Boys’ 7 vs. Northfield Mount Hermon School 6

Playing their sixth game in eight days, the Martlets dramatically broke out of their scoring slump and played with real grit to come from behind and defeat a scrappy Hogger team. In an exciting back-and-forth game, the victory took the full 45 minutes of play as the teams combined for 13 goals and four lead changes. The Seconds played a much tighter, smarter and all-around stronger game then they did the night before, and the coaches are proud of the way the team responded to that loss. In particular, the Martlets did a much better job staying out of the penalty box — and killed off all four penalties assessed against them – and scored three times on the power play and had a short-handed tally late in the game to make the special teams battle the story of the win. Fully 11 Martlets participated in the scoring, but everyone wearing the Westminster sweater contributed to the victory. Overall, a strong team effort from the entire roster, with every player contributing strong shifts, good defensive play, killed penalties and so sharing equally in the victory. A real lesson in how it takes every guy on the bench to win a hockey game. The Martlets head into the winter holiday on a high note after a tough start to the season, and will look to build off this victory in the new year. This coach, for one, has rarely savored a more satisfying victory, and looks forward to the rest of the season. See a detailed game summary here.

Hockey - Second Girls’

Dec. 11: Hockey - Second Girls’ 8 vs. Deerfield Academy 1

Playing in its first game of the year, Second Girls’ Hockey traveled to face perennial rival Deerfield Academy. Tied until midway through the first period, the girls poured it on, controlling play and putting together several nice passing plays to score several rebound and close-range goals against an outmatched Deerfield defense. Susie Mahoney '20 and Dylan Bloom '23 led the way on the offensive end with two goals and two assists apiece as all skaters got plenty of ice time. Defensively, Tatum Courtmanche '21 was stellar in net, and Mary Dutton '20, Caroline McDermott '20 and Mckenzie Bloom '23 controlled play expertly to stymie several Deerfield rushes. Other scorers included: Lily Marvin '22, Claire Taylor '21, Molly Rubin '22 and Ellie Cramer '22.

Hockey - Third Boys'

Dec. 11: Hockey - Third Boys’ 0 vs. Rumsey Hall School 2

Dec. 14: Hockey - Third Boys’ 6 vs. Springfield Capitals 0

Squash - First Boys'

Dec. 11: Squash - First Boys’ 2 vs. Berkshire School 5

Dec. 11: Squash - First Boys’ 4 vs. Loomis Chaffee 3

After falling 2-5 to Berkshire with wins from the top two spots by Jack Turvey '20 and Alex Unruh '22, the Martlets took to the courts against Loomis Chaffee. Loomis had beaten the Martlets in a preseason match but the lineups were slightly different. Unruh won at No. 2 in a default making him 2-0 for the day. Turvey followed with a quick 3-0 victory giving the team an early 2-0 lead. At No. 6 captain Mac Dye '20 found himself down 0-2 while Scott Lee '20 at No. 4 was in a tight battle. Lee strained his hip lunging for a ball but got more precision in his game to turn a 1-2 deficit into a 3-2 win giving Westminster a 3-0 lead. Meanwhile Dye had battled back with decisive shots to even his match at two all. A win by him would seal the team match. At the same time Travis Paulsen '20 was in a very close match. After losing a tiebreaker in game one, he won an easy game and then a tiebreaker to take a 2-1 lead. After another tiebreaker loss Paulsen's match was 2-2 as well — the third one of the match. Paulsen lost in five and Peter Miller '22 lost at No. 3, a tough position, to make the match 3-3. Loomis had pulled even. It all came down to the No. 5 match with George Hartmann '23 thrust onto the big stage with everyone watching. Hartmann lost the first game after shooting a lot. In game two he worked the back corners and showed that he would have something to say in this match. Game three was close but went to Loomis. Hartmann was not done, however, and pulled out game four. The match was 2-2 and the team match was 3-3. Four five-game matches and Loomis had already won two of them. Perhaps they had fresher legs. Westminster had just played Berkshire while Loomis rested. Hartmann made a few errors to start game five. He was down 1-5 and things looked bleak. He steadied himself and reminded himself to keep it simple and stay away from the tin. He found some extra width and stretched his opponent winning 10 of the last 13 points for the rousing 11-8 victory.

Squash - First Girls'

Dec. 11: Squash - First Girls’ 6 vs. Miss Porter's School 1

First Girls earned a second straight 6-1 win, this time over the Daisies of Miss Porter's. The girls earned 3-0 wins at Nos. 2 through 6, with particularly decisive wins by Lauren Way '20 at No. 5 and Clara Ekholm '20 at No. 6, both of whom gave up only two points. At the top and bottom of the ladder, the matches went to 3-1. At No. 7, Gemma Green '21 dropped her second game, but recovered for a strong win (3, (6), 7, 6). At No. 1, Ellie Bailey '21 had the opposite experience. After falling just short in a tight first game, she prevailed in an equally tight second one, but was unable to sustain the momentum and fell in four (9, (11), 7, 7).

Dec. 14: Squash - First Girls’ 9 vs. Tabor Academy 0

The Martlets will go into the holiday break with a perfect 3-0 record after defeating visiting Tabor. Although each of the top seven won her match 3-0, all were pushed by their counterparts, who each earned at least six points in a game. Lauren Way '20 used her clever shotmaking to win most easily at No. 6 (4, 5, 6). Nicole Smith '23 was the steadiest at No. 3 (6, 6, 7). At Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, Ellie Bailey '21 (8, 3, 4) and Rebecca Sargent '20 (8, 6, 4) were each pushed hard in their opening games before taking control. The same could be said for Eve Cathcart '20 at No. 4, although she also had to call on her good defense to close her match out (9, 5, 8). The remaining two matches called for considerable grit, and the girls were up to the task. At No. 7, Gemma Green '21 played two tight back and forth games before finding the key (9, 10, 2), while at No. 5, Clara Ekholm '20 had to maintain her concentration and discipline to keep the clean sheet (7, 10, 12). As the coaches had agreed to "count" the last two matches, Shelby Oken '22 and Georgia Nolan '20 got to feel some pressure for the first time this year. Oken shrugged off a first game loss to come back on the strength of good length ((7), 5, 5, 9), while Nolan gutted out a seesaw second game in her First Team debut (7, 14, 4).

Squash - Second Boys'

Dec. 11: Squash - Second Boys’ 6 vs. Kingswood Oxford School 3

Second Boys' Squash defeated Kingswood-Oxford 6-3 in its home opener at the Kohn Squash Pavilion on a cold Wednesday afternoon. The Martlets lost at Nos. 1, 2, and 3 but won all six of the bottom matches by a combined score of 18-3. Charlie Pappas '22 gets the nail for winning his match at No. 7 in three games while surrendering only 10 points. When the Martlets stuck to playing fundamentally sound squash (i.e., hitting to good length and good width), they all played well. The team will continue to work on the basics before breaking for winter vacation. Next up is an away match at Berkshire School Jan. 11.

Squash - Third Boys'

Dec. 11: Squash - Third Boys’ 14 vs. Salisbury School 0

Westminster secured its first win of the season with a decisive victory over Salisbury. Every player, from the top of the ladder to the bottom, played well; it was a true team effort. Jay Henry '23 and Cooper Organ '21 returned from their stint playing (and winning) for the JV team to secure their matches at Nos. 1 and 2 in straight sets, with Henry yielding only six points in total. The match of the day belonged to Oliver Fenner '22, who split his first four games (losing the fourth 15-13 as his opponent staved off three match points) and then, with players from both teams cheering madly, won the fifth and decisive game, 11-5, to secure the team shutout.

Dec. 14: Squash - Third Boys’ 6 vs. Avon Old Farms School 8

The much-improved Martlets traveled to Avon for their second road contest of the season. After the first round, the hosts held a slim 4-3 lead, as Jonah Prentiss '22, Grand Tantichot '22 and Oliver Olson '23 each won their respective matches in four games. In the second round, Alex Shao '22 won convincingly in three straight, while Matthew Westlake '22 and Oliver Fenner '22 went the full five games to secure their wins. Westlake got off to a quick start, winning the first two games, only to see his opponent rally back to take the next two. Meanwhile, Fenner found himself down 2-1 after losing a marathon second game 16-14, but settled down to take the final two games 11-6 and 11-3. At the top of the ladder, Jay Henry '23 and Cooper Organ '21 both lost in four games, but battled hard down to the final point.

Squash - Third Girls'

Dec. 14: Squash - Third Girls’ 5 vs. Millbrook School 2

The first game of the season was incredibly competitive with some very close matches. Captain Jackie Autorino '20 won her No. 1 match, as well as Ceci Owen '22, Lyndsey Valenti '22, Lauren Valenti '22 and Michaela Crabtree-Crowley '22. Owen had to fight incredibly hard for her victory. Her match went to five games, and she played 15 extra "win-by-two" points across all of her games.

Swimming/Diving - First Boys’

Dec. 14: Swimming/Diving - First Boys’ @ Kingswood Oxford Invitational

Westminster 174

Williston Northampton School 165

Kingswood Oxford School 140

Wilbraham & Monson Academy 77

Avon Old Farms School 74

The boys team won its second straight KO Invitational behind a trove of great performances which included a number of lifetime best swims. The first event of the day was diving, held at Westminster, where Leo Kolomeiskii '21 placed second in the A flight as the swim team traveled to Central Connecticut State University for the races. The Martlets quickly made their presence felt as they swept the C, B and A heats of the 200 medley relay with Max Larock '22, Eddie Shin '21, co-captain Hudson Stedman '21 and Layton Harmon '21 turning in the fastest overall time of 1:44.75. Larock went on to win the A final of 200 freestyle as Kieran Haug '21 finished second in the B heat. Stedman and Mason Zottola '23 both took second in the A and B heats of the 200 IM, respectively, Eddie Shin '21 won the B final of the 50 free with his best time ever, as Harmon finished second in the A heat. Co-captain Daniel Pinckney '20 won the B heat of the 100 fly with a great swim, and Owen Huang '23 swam a huge 100 free to easily win the C final with his best time. Alvin Zhang '23 and Harmon both placed second in the B and A finals of the 100 free, respectively, with strong performances, and Haug took second in the 500 freestyle. Spence Kwan '22 won the B heat of the 100 IM, with Pinckney second in the A, and the B 200 free relay team of Kwan, Pinckney, Grant McCargo '21 and Haug finished second. Larock won A heat of the 100 backstroke with his best time, and J-C Lane '21 won the B heat with a great swim. Zhang took second in the B heat of the 100 breast with his best time, and Shin (third in the A heat) followed up with an incredible swim. The 400 free relay team of Larock, Huang, Stedman and Harmon held off a late surge in the final lap to out-touch Williston by 0.07 and seal the deal for Westminster in the team standings. The boys swam incredibly well, showing late-season form and real grit in their races. They have put in some quality training over these last few weeks, and their early success bodes well for the remainder of the season.

Swimming/Diving - First Girls’

Dec. 14: Swimming/Diving - First Girls’ @ Kingswood Oxford Invitational

Westminster 173

Williston Northampton School 170

Ethel Walker School 117

Kingswood Oxford School 88

Wilbraham & Monson Academy 69

The girls traveled to Central Connecticut State University and returned home as the overall winners following an exciting afternoon that featured incredible swims and beautiful dives. Lucy Benoit '23 lowered her own school record, initially set last weekend, by winning the 200 IM with an impressive time of 2:08.87. She also won the 100 back with a school-record time of 58.85, eclipsing the old time of 59.24, held by Michelle Herd '01. Westminster dominated the diving event, held earlier in the day at Westminster, with co-captain Cecilia Raymond '20 winning the A heat and Ola Szopa '20 winning the B final. Katherine Ashe '21 was second in the A heat and Sydney Schuster '21 won the B heat of the 200 free, and Annie Brewer '21 was second in the B heat of the 200 IM as Benoit won the A. Ellie Thorson '21 won the A Final of the 50 free with the top overall time, and Campbell Swift '21 finished second in the B heat. Ashe placed second in the A heat of the 100 fly with a great swim, and Simonne Ponce '21 and Margaret Breen '23 won the C and B finals of the 100 freestyle, respectively, with Thorson finishing second in the A. Janessa Yan '22 won the B heat of the 100 IM and Angelesia Ma ’20 took second in the A. The relay team of Ponce, Yan, Ma and Swift won the 200 free relay with the fastest overall time in the A heat, and Schuster, Sophia Coumantaros '21, Brewer and India Lalor '21 won the B heat. Alex Buerck '21, Rachel Ha '21, Charlotte Trafelet '23 and Isabel O'Connell '20 won the C heat of the relay with some fast splits. Swift won the B 100 back, with Benoit winning the A, and Breen won the 100 breast B final, with Ma placing second in the A heat with a lifetime best time. The meet ended with in a tight race with Williston in the 400 free relay that would ultimately decide the outcome of the meet. Benoit led off with a best time in the 100 free, followed by Ashe and Breen and Thorson held off a late charge by Williston in the final leg to win the race and the meet. It was a spectacular finish to the day's events and to the first phase of the season, with swimmers putting up fast times and showing late-season form. The team returns to competitive action Saturday, Jan. 18, when it travels to Kent.

Back

Admissions

About

Academics

Arts

Athletics

Hartford Partnerships

Student Life

Giving

Admissions

About

Academics

Arts

Athletics

Hartford Partnerships

Student Life

Giving

Details

Winter Sports Highlights 12.16.19

Contact Us

Explore Our Website

Get Social