There were ups and downs for Hand's winter teams as both the gymnastics and wrestling squads won SCC titles while the boys' hockey team and girls' basketball team both played under new head coaches.

Girls' Ice Hockey

Coach Rick Gedney's Tigers went 10-10-1 and were ranked eighth in the state by Hockey Barn at the end of the season.

In the state tournament, Hand missed competing in the semifinals after a very close game against Guilford, though Gedney was pleased with his team's play in wins against Trumbull and Wilton.

Senior forwards Leslie Allen, Haley Foye, and Maggie Lenahan captained the team with each receiving a Captain's Award. Allen was named Best Defensive Forward and earned Honorable Mention All-League honors. Kirsten Chatillon and Amy O'Sullivan rounded out the senior class.

Other key players were Kristen Cardarelli (Defensive Forward Award), Meghan Cummings, Caroline Eisele, Lauren Oswald, Carly Purcell (Sportsmanship Award), Marykate McNulty, Ashley Chatterjee (Coaches' Award, JV Top Scorer), and Catherine Chattillon (All-League, Top Defenseman), Kelly D'Ancicco (Top Scorer, All-League Honorable Mention), Liz Banasiak, Alex Rider (Most Improved), and goaltenders Amanda Pomeroy and Marisa McCann (All-League Honorable Mention).

Boys' Ice Hockey

Mark Andreucci took over the boys' hockey team as the Tigers finished with an overall record of 9-13 and qualified for the both the SCC and state tournaments.

Scott Lachapelle captained the team and Luke Perrelli, Robbie Williams, and goalkeeper Sean Langrieger rounded out the senior class. Lachapelle earned the Connecticut High School Hockey Association's Hobe Baker Award, which is given for character, and was also named to the All-SCC Division II team.

Tyler Bauer (MVP, Top Scorer, All-SCC Division II Second Team) helped lead the offensive attack with Mike Berestecky. Jonas Thelin (Best Defensive Player) and Mark Pomeroy were key on defense. Contributing underclassmen were goalkeeper Dan Tagliarini, Will Lavin (Most Improved), and Nico Capone (Coaches' Award).

Wrestling

After winning their third-straight SCC title, the Tigers placed third in Class L before going onto place fourth at the State Open and finish the season with a 23-2 overall record.

John Jongbloed and Brian Onofrio were senior captains. Onofrio (152) was an SCC champion, a Class L state champion, and placed third at the State Open. He was named the team's Outstanding Wrestler for the second-straight year and had the Most Team Points. Jongbloed (135) was an SCC champion, a runner-up in Class L, and was awarded the Erik Fitch Leadership Award.

Brett Calash, Rick Hahne, and Dylan Lindahl rounded out the senior class. Hahne (171) and Lindahl (215) each took third place at the SCC's with Lindahl placing sixth at states.

Contributing underclassmen were Eddie Carroll (125), who won Most Takedowns, won both the SCC and Class L title and was runner-up at the State Open; Justin Elias (103) and Joey DeMichele (285), who were also SCC champions with DeMichele then earning runner-up in Class L and third at the State Open; plus Jake Savoca (119) and Max Flanagan (130), who were SCC runners-up with Savoca placing third and Flanagan taking fifth at states.

Grant Russell was named the Tigers' Most Improved Wrestler.

Gymnastics

Hand finished with an 11-4 record, averaging 132 points per meet with several gymnasts qualifying for the postseason where the Tigers performed well and won their second-consecutive SCC title and placed fourth at states. Senior captains were Julia Rubano and Katie Candee. Rubano (First Team All-SCC and Second Team All-State) was a two-year captain and a consistent three-event competitor over the last four years.

Kimmy Megargee was named MVP and was First Team All-SCC and First Team All-State. Maia Smith and Amanda Rubano rounded out the First Team All-SCC honorees. They also were named Second Team All-State along with Maggie Naclerio.

Boys' Basketball

Under Coach Frank Rossi, the Tigers finished at 5-15, missing out on postseason play. Hand lost six games by five points or less and in seven games, the Tigers either led or were tied with less than three minutes to play.

Highlights included Hand's last-second, one-point victory over Guilford courtesy of Riley Kirsch's two sunk free throws with one second remaining and a big win over Notre Dame-West Haven that snapped the Green Knights' 11-game winning streak.

Brendan Paternoster, Ryan Onorato, and Lee Simkins captained the team with Michael McNerney rounding out the senior class.

Despite suffering a broken foot, Paternoster was the team's second-leading scorer by averaging almost 12 points and five rebounds per game.

Onorato (PG) averaged six points per game and Simkins, a center, averaged 5.5 points and five rebounds per game in his first year as a varsity starter.

Riley Kirsch (All-Hammonasset) and Jordan Barnaby started every game and led the team in minutes played.

Girls' Basketball

In his first year at the head of the girls' basketball team, Coach Tim Tredwell was forced to deal with early-season injuries as the Tigers finished 5-15. Hand's senior captains, Kerry Wallack and Maggie Maguire, were sidelined with injuries, but their leadership was imperative. Ali Birnbaum, Madi Boris, and Meaghan Durkin rounded out the senior class.

Kelsey Cuddy led the Tigers in almost every major category, averaging 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, three steals, two assists, and two blocks per game.

Boys' Indoor Track

After winning the SCC Hammonasset title, the Tigers took sixth at the SCC Championship and second in Class L where they qualified five individuals and the 1,600 sprint medley relay team for the State Open.

At states, champions were Dan Nestor in the 1,600 and Timothy Forrest in the 55 hurdles, along with the 4x800 relay team of Gus Manke, Cotton, Andrew Haff, and Nestor.

Forrest qualified for the State Open in the 55 hurdles as did JP Chaffiotte in the same event; Andrew Haff in the 1,000; and the 1,600 sprint medley relay of Alex Lyon, Chris Genco, Chris Daub, and Haff.

Girls' Indoor Track

Following their triumph at the SCC Hammonasset meet, Hand came in third at SCC's and ninth in Class L.

At SCC's, the 4x800 relay of Meghan Derken, Megan Lynch, Malin Althin, and Kendall Daub broke their own school record and qualified for Nationals by running a 9:49.33. The 4x400 relay of Derken, Samantha Tiscia, Daub, and Althin (62.0) also prevailed. Derkin then won the 600 at states.