Undefeated Football Kicks Off Homecoming Weekend

10/6/2016

The weatherman is a bit unsure about conditions for Saturday afternoon; however, the Hornets are certain to make it a memorable Homecoming for all who attend.

The spotlight shines first on a Friday evening showdown of undefeated football teams. The Titans of Wilbraham & Monson Academy are always a formidable foe; however, the 4-0 Hornets look ready to continue their impressive unbeaten run. Many might have wondered if 2016 would be a rebuilding season with the loss of the likes of Kyle Smith, who plays at Stonehill, Matt Murchison who is at Bryant, and Andy Natale and Zach Balabon who are both at Salve Regina. But it looks like Coach Joe Linta and the Hornets have simply reloaded, with impressive depth and size on both sides of the line. Nick Bailey and Luke Schoonmaker split time behind center and lead an offense that has overwhelmed all opponents thus far. Justise Antrum is an incredible threat out of the backfield, while Corey Millhouse leads a very talented receiving corps. Melvin Wells and Billy Porto are just two of the linemen who can dominate either side of the line of scrimmage. Everywhere you look, the Hornets have skilled players filling every position: Nu-Kwan Fair, Miles Cogdell, AJ Repollet, Mike Polansky, Michael Johnson, Sal Rosa, Brandon DiCicco, and many more. The Hornets hope to repeat as Fairchester League champs and earn another New England Prep Superbowl bid. A win over Wilbraham would be a solid step forward. Kickoff is 6:30 under the lights.

Hopefully everyone will return Saturday to watch a collection of athletic contests which promise to be quite exciting. At noon, both JV and Varsity Volleyball host the Golden Mustangs of Marianapolis Prep from Thompson, CT. The Varsity squad is presently 4-4, and though the squad lacks the imposing height of previous years, the Hornets have scrapped and dug for every ball. Look for the Valin sisters, as well as players such as Priscilla Kozdroy, Shannon Rhone, and Kat Baehring to set the table for the Hornets.

Boys Varsity Soccer recently earned a hard fought victory over St. Luke’s School and hopes to challenge the Highlanders of Chase Collegiate School of Waterbury at 2:00. Senior captain Jonas Lustbader is a speedy threat up front and will need support from the likes of Ethan Springhorn to carve open the Highlander defense. Freshman Chase Lilly has been a welcome addition at midfield, while Joe Lucci and Aaron Ang do a yeoman’s job at defense. The JV also play Chase at 12:00.

Field Hockey also squares off at 2:00, matching up against the Wildcats of Westover. The Hornets are still looking for their first victory, but Coaches Jen Hanrahan and newcomer Emily Anderson, a standout at UConn, have made this relatively young squad very competitive. Look for the efforts of Justyna Breuler, Amanda Carroll, and Karis Curtis to knock one into the back of the net for the Hornets.

One of the most intriguing match ups of the weekend will occur when Girls Soccer squares off against MacDuffie School of Massachusetts. The Mustangs have beaten the Hornets in the New England tournament final the last two seasons, so Coach Christine Huber is hoping that this third game will be the charm in order to exact a degree of revenge. The Hornets feature one of the best goalkeepers in the area in senior Miranda Iannone, while sophomores Keily Herlihy, Eve Brannin, and Gaby Cervone provide good defensive cover. The offense features Sophia Sabatelli, who exhibits smooth control and a strong shot from set pieces, and Lexi Cornacchia who is an explosive force capable of taking on entire defenses. The girls are currently 3-2-1 and are coming off a convincing 4-0 win against Chase. A good result Saturday will put the Hornets near the top of the Class D table.

The athletic competition finishes with a 3:00 Cross Country tri-meet against Ethel Walker School and King School from Stamford. The Hornets are led by a dynamic 8^th grader, Caleb Bolden, who has already distinguished himself in the Greater New Haven running circles. Right behind him is arguably the rookie of the year, freshman John Bazaar. Seasoned veterans Nick Neumeister and Sam Applegate are usually next to cross the finish line. The Hornets finished 3^rd in the Cheshire Academy Invitational and a strong 6^th out of 17 teams in the recent annual Canterbury Invitational. Rachel Aliwalas, Amy Farquharson, Alyssa Blaise, and Anisa Williams-Ranciato have scored well for the girls’ squad.

So come out to cheer on the teams this Homecoming weekend. There will be plenty of fun activities, and a large turnout of families and alums to mingle with. Please join us at Skiff St. and Go Hornets!!!

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Undefeated Football Kicks Off Homecoming Weekend