News

Seniors Lead the Way but Hornets Fall to Bruins

5/20/2021

Bud Kohler

It might not have been the send off that the seniors wanted for their last home game, but they produced a strong effort and led by example on Saturday when the Hornets fell to a powerful Brunswick team 3-1. Senior Mike Coggins pitched a strong 4 innings, keeping the Hornets in the game while the offense tried to connect against the Bruins’ ace, who is D1 Virginia bound. Battery mate and fellow senior, Dennis Gamester, was a big help to Coggins while working behind the plate, and “took one for the team” twice when he was hit by pitches. And the third of the senior trio, Nick Soliwada, pitched a perfect 7th inning to keep the team in the game. Unfortunately, HH could only muster three hits, and agonizingly left the bases loaded in the third.

Regarding the senior troika, Coach Brad Chernovetz commented, “Coggins has done everything we have asked of him. He played multiple positions and has pitched well all year. Dennis has been a tremendous leader for the team ever since he first strapped on the catcher’s gear, and Nick has been a solid teammate and a positive contributor all season long. These guys helped shape our character through their efforts, and they will certainly be missed. I expect to hear that they make an impact on their college teams in the near future.”

Hornets Tame Tigers; Ben James tops the field and Golf finishes 2nd at McCampell Cup

5/9/2021

Bud Kohler

For most of the Hornet teams, Saturday involved a showdown with Greenwich Country Day School. Until recently, GCD had always been a K-9 school; however they have added an upper school and are now full fledged members of the Fairchester League. Overall the Hornets went 3-1 against the Tigers on the day.

Baseball rebounded from their midweek setback, and earned a 5-3 victory. Senior Mike Coggins was solid throughout, and pitched a complete game. The Hornets made the most of 5 hits to carve out the win. Brady Chernovetz had 2, Jayden Novak and 8th grader Bennett Crerar added one apiece, and Coggins helped himself out with a timely belt.
Varsity Softball had no trouble at the plate as they exploded for 18 hits on their way to defeat GCD 13-8, and record their first win of the season. Two talented 8th graders, Emerson Collins and Melanie Carling, led the attack with 4 hits apiece. Bella Aldo and Lainie Hellyar reached base 3 times each, while both Ellie Ratta and Payton Collins had two hits. Pressley Owens, Anna Soliwoda, Daniele McGovern, and Mara Patterson all played well defensively. Meanwhile, 8th grader Payton Collins did a great job on the mound, going the distance and allowing 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 10. "This team is finally coming around and believing in themselves, as much as I believe in them," said Coach Jeff Davis. "We’re swinging the bats well and making the basic plays. The upper school players have meshed well with this great core of 8th graders to make us a very competitive team that I’m proud to coach."

Boys Lax KOs K-O; Spring Sports Buzz

5/7/2021

Bud Kohler

The Hamden Hall Varsity spring teams are in full swing, and though there are no titles to vie for, the players, coaches, and parents are all certainly enjoying the opportunity to compete.

In recent action, the Boys Lax team earned a split for their efforts. Returning from a quarantine layoff, the Hornets looked rusty and were outclassed by a solid St. Luke’s squad 16-3. Nevertheless, the young squad rebounded well and continued to improve and gel over the week. This Wednesday, they traveled to West Hartford to square off against Kingswood-Oxford and emerged 10-9 winners in a thrilling contest. The Hornets got off to a solid start with two goals by 8th grader Niko Millhouse and senior captain Kai Bruneau to take a 3-1 lead after the first frame. The hosts kept it close throughout the rest of the half, though long sticks Konye Taylor, Bennett DellaValle, and Xavier Carter did a great job limiting the Wyverns’ scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, the other senior captain, Liam Kohler, combined with John Golioto to send a number of deadly shots past the K-O netminder to maintain a two goal lead at halftime. The Hornets extended their lead to 9-5 early in the second half thanks to the sharpshooting Bruneau, aided by 8th grader Slade Engstrom. However, the Hornets began to run into penalty trouble, enabling the Wyverns to whittle the difference down to one. Freshman Tyler Gibson, who was rock solid throughout, came up with a number of key saves, including a bone crunching kick stop to maintain the slim lead. After having survived a final man down situation, the Hornets then showed great cool and composure as they passed, ran, and held the ball in the K-O end for the final 3 minutes. It was a well earned victory, and one that Coach Warnock and the team will surely look back on as a highlight of the season. The team next travels to Greenwich Country Day on Saturday.

Girls Lax Blend Experience & Youth to Start 1-1

4/17/2021

Bud Kohler

Benjamin Franklin developed numerous and wonderful inventions, but he did not invent lacrosse. However, it was Franklin who coined the truism, “Out of adversity comes opportunity.” The pandemic has hit athletic programs hard for sure, where the necessity for optional sports presents challenges on numbers and the experience level normally associated with varsity level programs. Nevertheless, the Hornet coaches have worked hard and adapted well in delivering on that maxim. In particular, with local and league rivals shutting down their middle school programs, talented younger players are “playing up” and have already become a mainstay of many of the teams. The Girls Varsity Lax team is certainly a great example of how to keep a winning tradition going with limited numbers while tapping into the potential of a squad of such mixed experience and age.

Boys Lax on the Way Back

4/14/2021

Bud Kohler

A year ago, the Hamden Hall Boys Varsity lacrosse team was poised to capture the New England championship crown. Having twice come up short in the final, the 2020 team looked absolutely formidable. Unfortunately, like so many other teams in the high school world of sports, they never got their opportunity to play a single game, let alone vie for the title. Senior standouts like Alex DiVincentis, Chase Lilly, LJ Pezzolesi, and Zack Giugno graduated brokenhearted, though they have moved on to continue to play in college. A year later with athletics now optional, no team faces a bigger rebuilding task in aspiring to recapture their previous level of excellence. But the job has begun, and the Hornet squad is already buzzing.

Golf Preview: Best Ever?

4/14/2021

Bud Kohler

Hamden Hall has certainly had its share of outstanding individual golfers over the years. Bill Hadden from the 1970s is HH's most accomplished, having been inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Hadden, in fact, won the Vermont Senior Open in 2014, and as recent as 2018 played in the US Senior Amateur tournament. Other standouts also come to mind: Aaron Gross, Brendan Ruby, Joelle McAlpine, Tim Swensen, Matt Kramer, Grant Smith and all-time great Evan Bierne among them. However, Coach Keith Kaliszewski confidently asserts that this is the best golf team the school has ever seen, with at least four NCAA D1 level golfers, and multiple AJGA and junior tournament wins amongst team members.

Baseball Earn Split with King; Tame Cats

4/13/2021

Bud Kohler

Varsity Baseball is off to a successful start to the spring season. With more than 30 players in the program, Coach Brad Chernovetz has plenty to choose from in the talent pool. On Saturday the Hornets opened up with a split against a strong King squad in Stamford. After bowing in the opener to King’s ace, who will be playing for Duke next year 9-0, the Hornets rebounded with an exciting 11-9 comeback win in the nightcap. Down 9-6 in the 6th, HH clawed back and plated 5 to take the 11-9 lead. However, it came down to a game saving diving catch by Cam Maldonado who then doubled up the runner to put the Vikings away. Mike Coggins earned the win, while senior catcher Dennis Gamester led the offense with 3 hits and 5 RBIs.

Boys Tennis Preview

4/13/2021

Bud Kohler

Though Middle Schoolers have made the Jim Maggart courts the hub of countless Four Square games this year, with the arrival of spring it is time for Tennis to take center stage. Local pro instructor Kevin Breuler is again at the helm, assisted by tennis guru Mr. Peter Flamm, and they are looking forward to a competitive season with a talented squad of players that range from 8th grade to seniors.

Hornet Hoops Make their Debut

2/12/2021

Bud Kohler

The Beckerman gymnasium finally saw some basketball action on Thursday evening, but it certainly had a different feel with no fans in attendance to set the place rocking. Similar to the fall, there is no official league play this winter, with just a limited schedule of contests. Nevertheless, the Varsity Boys were just thrilled to be tossing the rock around when they faced off against St. Luke’s.

Swim Team Scores Repeat Win over Hopkins

2/11/2021

Bud Kohler

Certainly one of the toughest aspects of our health crisis to affect students is the impact on athletics. After wrestling with one of Mr. Sokoloff’s DBQ essays or tackling one of Mr. Flamm’s math tests, many students normally look forward to hitting the fields and enjoying a healthy workout. Not surprisingly, however, the winter has continued to see limitations on what our student-athletes can do; yet most teams have been actively practicing and getting the most they can out of the season, even if it requires some creative adapting to make it work.