Multiple athletes from West Hartford’s public high schools have been recognized with All State and All Conference honors for the 2019-20 winter sports season.

Duncan Hollander (No. 12, at left) was named All State. Pictured in his final game, Hall-Southington vs. Staples hockey. March 9, 2019. Photo credit: Asaad Hicks (we-ha.com file photo)

By Ronni Newton

Some high school winter sports had concluded their seasons while others were in the midst of tournament play when the COVID-19 pandemic caused activities to come to a screeching halt.

Even before school buildings closed, the CIAC announced March 10 that all remaining winter sports competitions – including boys and girls basketball, hockey, and the swimming championships – would be canceled in order to place the health and safety of student-athletes first. Both Conard and Hall won playoff games the night of March 9, and indoor track and field athletes from both schools were planning to compete in the New Balance Nationals in New York City, which were subsequently canceled as well. 

At a CIAC Board of Control meeting on April 2, the organization confirmed that spring sports are indefinitely suspended, but did not set a date to make a decision about cancellation of the season.

“The CIAC has intentionally not issued the constraint of deadline date to make any decision,” the website states.  “Given the number of unknowns, we feel it is our responsibility to become as informed as possible before making any decision. Through our discussion with students, they have expressed their desire for CIAC and education decision-makers to hold off as long as possible before cancelling all spring sport experiences or graduation. CIAC leadership has learned from our students, especially our seniors, the need for closure that traditions such as senior night and graduation provide. It is with that understanding that the CIAC will explore every possibility for providing student-athletes a spring sports experience, if it is safe. During this unprecedented time, the best interest of our kids remains at the center of our decision-making, which is informed by collaboration with the State Department of Education, governmental leaders, athletic leagues, member principals, superintendents, athletic directors, coaches, and students. We will make every effort to provide student-athletes experiences that bring closure to their high school sports careers, if it is safe. This will include consideration of activities beyond graduation and into July. All CIAC rules and regulations will be considered for a one-time exception, given the extreme impact of this pandemic, so we can do the best we can for our kids, if it is safe.”

West Hartford athletic director Jason Siegal provided the following information about athletes from Conard and Hall high schools who have earned All Conference and All State honors for the winter season.

Hall – All Conference:

• Girls Basketball – Olivia Bonee
• Cheerleading – Calleigh Faga, Maya Ferreira, Abigail LaPolla, Emily Nash, Jalissa Sanchez
• Boys Hockey (Hall-Southington) – Duncan Hollander, Cameron Perez, Liam Stone, Sean Roach (Southington High School)
• Girls Hockey – Bridget McGann
• Boys Indoor Track – Isaiah Lizardo, Tobias Ruffo, Jackson Grady, Marcus Ramsey, Israel Henriques, Max Rodman
• Girls Indoor Track – Mia Healer, Rose Kitz, Katherine Sanderson, Jenna Zydanowicz, Catherine Mancini, Hana Roggendorf, Nora Holmes, Sydney Golas and Katherine George
• Boys Swimming – Carson Raisner, Chris Liddell, Andrew Sun, Kobe Dominguez, Connor Skarzynski, Mitchell Baboff, Facundo Calione
• Wrestling – Drew Currier

Hall – All-State:

• Boys Hockey – Duncan Hollander (1st Team) Cameron Perez (2nd Team)
• Boys Indoor Track – Marcus Ramsey
• Girls Indoor Track – Mia Healer, Cate Mancini, Hana Roggendorf, Nora Holmes
• Wrestling – Drew Currier

Conard – All Conference:

• Boys Basketball – Connor Olechna (junior, guard)
• Gymnastics – Isa Glynn (all-around), Brynn Sherry (vault and beam), Eve Nelson (floor) and Jillian da Costa Pinto (floor)
• Girls Ice Hockey – Luci Alissi
• Boys Ice Hockey – Owen Fernandez
• Boys Indoor Track – Tyler Remigino, Veb Roeed, Callum Sherry, Gavin Sherry
• Boys Swimming – Charlie Krajc, Lenny Belyaev, Julian Flores, Ben Arky, Justice Seymour, Keaden Nguyen, Jeff Rosborg, Liam Switzer
• Girls Indoor Track – Chloe Scrimgeour, Allison Schneider
• Wrestling – Nick Urso
• Girls Basketball – Azaiyah Felder

Conard – All State:

• Gymnastics – Brynn Sherry (vault)
• Girls Basketball – Azaiyah Felder
• Wrestling – Nick Urso
• Boys Indoor Track – Tyler Remigino, Veb Roeed, Callum Sherry, Gavin Sherry
• Girls Indoor Track – Chloe Scrimgeour, Audrey Kirkutis

In addition, Siegal noted that Emma Alford of Conard earned second place in the Inaugural Girls Wrestling Invitational.

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