BOYS

ECC Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Steve Hargis (10th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Chris Abbey (distance), Jr. Fisher Macklin (distance), Jr. Fred Rukundo (distance), Jr. Magnum Brandt (middle distance), So. Jonathan Zavaleta (sprints), Sr. Evan Kluge (pole vault, jumps), Sr. Coleman Groff (jumps), Rohan Venkatesh (sprints), Jr. Griffith Posgay (middle distance).

Top newcomer: Sr. Finn Power (middle distance).

Outlook: East Lyme is the reigning ECC Division I champion and moves down from Class L to Class M at the state level after finishing third in Class L last season. The Vikings have a deep and talented distance group in Abbey, Macklin and Rukundo while Brandt, Zavaleta and Kluge were ECC place-winners. "We're reloading once again," Hargis said. "There's a lot of great energy and excellent effort."

Fitch

Coach: Rich Kosta (30th season)

Key returnees: So. Thomas Forde (distance), Sr. Orlando Galarza (jumps), Sr. Keshav Garcia-Patel (sprints), Sr. Thomas Joyner (throws), Sr. Cole Aristi (distance), Jr. Simon Chidley (distance), Jr. Om Patel (hurdles), So. Carson Riley (distance), Sr. Muneeb Butt (throws), So. Thomas Williams (sprints).

Top newcomers: Jr. Ethan Mojica (sprints), So. Raj Bohhiria (distance), Sr. Will Dentch (throws).

Outlook: The Falcons were third in the ECC Division I meet last season, graduating ECC 55- and 300-meter champion Tyler Cady. Fitch does return ECC place-winners Galarza, Garcia-Patel, Joyner and Patel and has plenty of depth in the sprints and jumping events. "We have a great combination of veterans and newcomers," Kosta said. "This formula should translate into continued success on both the conference and state levels."

NFA

Coach: Tom Teixeira (6th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Andrew Cote (distance), Sr. Osaretin Osagie (hurdles), Sr. Nathan Cote (distance), Sr. Justin Costick (jumps), Sr. Nazaiah Paul (sprints), Sr. Jacob Bazinet (pole vault), Jr. Peyton Ramsey (distance), Jr. Aidan Croteau (distance), Sr. Tyler DeVega (distance), So. Dangelo Aristilde (sprints), Sr. Stephen Hyde (throws), So. Jordan Ribeiro (throws), So. Max Davidson (pole vault).

Top newcomers: So. Marc Josephat (sprints), So. Wens Ducael (sprints), So. Tyler Crabb (distance), Sr. Lee Leazier (throws), Fr. Negasi Saintil (jumps, sprints), Sr. Norman Morales (jumps), Sr. Daniel Eggler (sprints).

Outlook: The Wildcats return a pair of ECC Division I and Class LL champions — Osagie (55 hurdles) and Bazinet (pole vault) from a team that finished second in the division and then second by just a point (60-59) to Hall in the Class LL state championship meet. The Cote brothers, Paul and DeVega qualified for the New England outdoor championships in the 4x400 relay and will provide quality and depth in the middle and distance events. "This senior class is packed with talent in almost every event and is hungrier than ever after finishing second at the both ECC and Class LL championships," Teixeira said. "Underclassman contributions will put this team over the top or leave them just short of their own lofty expectations."

ECC Division II

Ledyard

Coach: Dave Tetlow (46th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Ben Askew (sprints), Sr. Ben Berlin (shot put), Sr. Solaiman Chowdbury (sprints), Sr. Wesley Hughes (pole vault, hurdles), Sr. Robbie Petriel (sprints, long jump), Sr. Simon Reichert (distance), Sr. Jacob Roediger (middle distance), Sr. Alex Warmus (middle distance), Jr. Mitchell Ahlborn (jumps), Jr. Mason Bickham (shot), Jr. Chris Evans (middle distance, pole vault), Jr. Aiden Greeley (pole vault), Jr. Ryan Kinney (pole vault), Jr. Owen Lessing (distance), Jr. Elijah McFerrin (shot), Jr. Blake McLeod (middle distance), So. Andrew Harris (sprints).

Top newcomers: Sr. Will Evans (shot), Sr. Tyler Perkins (sprints, high jump), Jr. Gabriel Jackson (high jump), Jr. Luke Weirs (jumps), So. Eli Diette (pole vault), So. Chris Houdeshell (pole vault), So. Nick Johanson (middle distance), So. Ryan Tomis (pole vault), So. Emren Victorino (hurdles), So. Nick Washington (sprints), Fr. Tyler LaPerle (middle distance), Fr. Daniel Krupansky (hurdles), Fr. Jackson Poulton (shot), Fr. Matt Scarpa (shot).

Outlook: The Colonels return several place-winners from last year's ECC Division II meet, where Ledyard finished second to Stonington. Tetlow is also encouraged by a large group of new athletes in the program. "With a large number of returning members and strong senior leadership," he said, "the team should do very well in (ECC) Division II and Class M."

Montville

Coach: Bridget Buckley (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Sean Ventresca (middle distance, sprints), Sr. Tucker Doyle (sprints), So. Zach Handler (distance).

Top newcomers: Sr. Kole Thurston (sprints), Sr. Colin Nickerson (sprints).

Outlook: The Indians were hit hard by graduation, losing three ECC Division II champions: Derek Strickland (55 hurdles), Tyrone Mack (shot put) and Julian Valdes (high jump). Buckley said Montville still has some strong individuals and some solid relays. "The team has a positive outlook to rebuild with new athletes as well as key returners," said Buckley, who expects some of the newcomers to add depth in the sprints and distance events.

St. Bernard

Coach: Bill Schwarzenbach (fifth season)

Key returnees: Sr. Sean Power (distance), Sr. Liam Power (distance, shot put), Sr. James Babinski (distance), Sr. Toby Xu (middle distance), Sr. Ryan Jakubielski (sprints), Sr. Tucker Freeman (shot), Jr. Martin Arvidson (long jump), Jr. Perry Belfiglio (middle distance, long jump).

Top newcomers: Fr. Ben Wenzel (sprints, middle distance), Fr. Umberti Likollari (distance), So. Joshua Porterfield (middle distance), Sr. Tenzin Jamphel (long jump, sprints).

Outlook: The Power brothers and Babinski are coming off strong cross country seasons and will give the Saints depth in the distance events while St. Bernard boasts a trio of talented jumps in Arvidson, Belfiglio and Jamphel. Schwarzenbach is confident his newcomers will bolster the Saints in all relays.

Stonington

Coach: Ben Bowne (8th season)

Key returnees: Jr. Ethan Allen-Fernandez (middle distance), So. John Cannella (middle distance), Sr. Andrew Castagliuolo (sprints), Jr. Elias Dahl (distance), Sr. Jacob Davis (shot put), Jr. Nikhil Desai (distance), Sr. Chase Flynn (middle distances), So. Phoenix Glaza (shot), Sr. Rhys Hammond (middle distance), Jr. Justin Holland (sprints), So. Christian Hudson (sprints), Jr. Lucas Huesman (middle distance), Jr. Suphasin Inthasit (sprints), Sr. Robert Lewis (sprints), Sr. George Limberakis (sprints), So. Anthony Marchigiano (shot), Jr. Chris Mooney (sprints), So. Jason Morse (middle distance), So. Ryan Orr (distance), Jr. Charles Padlan (sprints), Sr. Robert Pont (shot), Sr. Daniel Robinson (distance), Jr. Cameron Rose (sprints), So. Benjamin Stamm (sprints), Jr. Aidan Turner (distance), Jr. Colin Wertz (sprints).

Top newcomers: Fr. Benjamin French (middle distance), Jr. Jimmy Furtado (sprints), Jr. Bryan Fusaro (throws), Fr. Ryan Gruczka (distance), Fr. Joshua Mooney (sprints), Jr. Luke Panciera (shot), So. Collin Startz (sprints), So. Lucian Tedeschi (sprints), Jr. Brian Worth (shot).

Outlook: The defending ECC Division II champion will be strong again, led by returning ECC champions Flynn (600) and Hammond (1,000, 1,600), who went on to place in the State Open and New England championship meets in the 1,000. The Bears also return several runners from their relay teams, which swept all four events at the ECC meet. "Even though the roster has changed some, the expectations of hard work, improvement and success stay the same," Bowne said. "While there may be unfamiliar faces in some events, (we) still return some of the best in the area."

Waterford

Coach: Jay Criscuolo (7th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Kris Dow (distance), Sr. Jalen Chappelle (sprints), Sr. Michael Vincent (sprints, jumps), Sr. William Diaz (shot put), Jr. Aidan Pepin (distance).

Top newcomer: Sr. Adam Stewart (distance).

Outlook: The Lancers, who competed in Division I last season, moved down to Division II this winter and feature one of the ECC's top distance runners in Pepin, who placed in two events last season (1,600, 3,200) and was a member of The Day's All-Area boys' cross country team in the fall. Diaz is a potential place-winner in the shot while Chappelle and Vincent are quality sprinters. Waterford's goal is a top-three finish in the ECC meet and a top-five finish in the Class M state meet.

GIRLS

ECC Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Carl Reichard (32nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Darya Mikusova (sprints, hurdles), Jr. Danielle Zelesky (sprints, hurdles), Jr. Ashley Zelesky (sprints, hurdles), Jr. Katherine Harris (sprints), So. Margaret Dunne (sprints), Sr. Sophie Taylor (middle distance), Jr. Ellie McCoy (middle distance), Jr. Caroline Real (middle distance), Sr. Gillian Goodwin (distance), Sr. Samantha Lyster (middle distance), Jr. Madison Sjostrom (distance), So. Sydney Sager (distance), Sr. Lena Osso (jumps), Sr. Sophia Riker (jumps), Jr. Isobel Sutherland (shot put), Jr. Shealynn DeConti (shot), Sr. Megan Delillo (pole vault), Sr. Anna McCusker (pole vault).

Top newcomers: Jr. Brie am Ende (middle distance), Fr. Kennedy Holsapple (distance), Fr. Kayleigh Jensen (middle distance), So. Abby Jorgensen (sprints), Fr. Ava Mauri (sprints), Jr. Lauren Hinckley (sprints), Sr. Molly Yourell (sprints, jumps), Fr. Sandra Kirvelvicius (shot), Fr. Emily Sevigny (jumps), So. Ella Mazzulli (sprints, hurdles).

Outlook: The Vikings did graduate some star power, including Julia Bates — The Day's All-Area Athlete of the Year — and ECC sprint champion Saige Deveau, but East Lyme does return ECC 1,600-meter champion Goodwin from last year's ECC Division I championship team and Reichard loves that fact that many of his returnees and newcomers come from fall programs that enjoyed tremendous success. The Vikings swept the relay events at the ECC meet and return the bulk of those competitors, so expect them to be competitive in the conference and at the state level again.

Fitch

Coach: Denise Descheneaux (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Abby Rogers (sprints), Jr. Mary Rose Victorino (sprints), Sr. Ava Paprocki (middle distance), Sr. Paige Pollard (middle distance) Sr. Riley Marquis (sprints, middle distance), Jr. Deja Driscoll Smith (shot put), Jr. J'onelle Davis (shot).

Top newcomers: Jr. Ashley Spreng (sprints, middle distance), Sr. Katherine Barnes (middle distance), Jr. Kelsi Ursini (middle distance), Fr. Katie Tuohy (shot).

Outlook: ECC 55-meter hurdles champion Janaya Burley graduated, but the Falcons return some experienced athletes and Descheneaux has some upperclassmen who have joined the program for the first time and should have an immediate impact. "We hope to develop them into some high-achieving athletes," Descheneaux said.

NFA

Coach: Tom Teixeira (6th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Paige Martin (pole vault), Sr. Madison Martin (pole vault), Jr. Catie Shannon (distance), Jr. Kayla Park (distance), Sr. Emma Ricketts (distance), Sr. Neila Sylversiste (shot put), So. Sophia Jones (distance), Jr. Kate Aydt (sprints), So. Taylor Ladyga (sprints), Jr. Hannah Elliott (pole vault), So. Jasmyn Bransford (sprints).

Top newcomers: Fr. Eliana Duclos (distance), So. Emily Eggler (sprints), So. Avery Larkin (shot), So. Charlize Russell (shot), So. Gillian Prior (shot), Jr. Makayla Kelley (distance), Sr. Breanha Turner (jumps).

Outlook: The Wildcats lost the ECC Division I title to East Lyme by just four points, but are primed to make another run at the Vikings this winter despite losing one of the most accomplished athletes in program history, Allyson Lewis (jumps), who has taken her talents to Division I Penn State. Paige Martin won ECC, Class LL and State Open titles in the pole vault and sister Madison was second in the ECC and Class LL meets. Park (300, 600, 3,200) and Ricketts (1,000) are also returning ECC champions, so NFA will have plenty of firepower come the postseason.

ECC Division II

Ledyard

Coach: Dave Tetlow (48th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Olivia Crawford (hurdles, sprints), Jr. Hannah Avila (sprints), Jr. Katelyn English (distance), Jr. Nadia Helme (sprints, long jump), Jr. Paylynn Sormrude (jumps), So. Katherine Harren (middle distance), So. Jessica Vajdos (sprints).

Top newcomers: Fr. Lauren Culley (sprints, shot put), So. Aaliyah Amidon (sprints), Sr. Karissa DeNigris (long jump, sprints), Sr. Lexi LaPerle (middle distance), Sr. Abby Millbach (sprints, hurdles, long jump), Jr. Teia Lee (sprints), So. Emily Evans (middle distance), So. Ailish Farquhar (hurdles), So. Isabelle Hutchins (shot), So. Reanna Robbins (middle distance), So. Tori Schweitzer (distance), Fr. Bella Drummond (shot), Fr. Jessica English (middle distance), Fr. Layla Lasisomphone (shot), Fr. Madelyn Poulton (shot).

Outlook: Helme (55-meter dash) and Crawford (55 hurdles), had second-place finishes in the ECC Division II meet last winter and will lead a deep team that has been bolstered by many new athletes. "With a large number of returning varsity members and strong senior leadership," Tetlow said, "we should compete well in (ECC) Division II and Class M."

Montville

Coach: Bridget Buckley (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Alexandria Peck (sprints), Sr. MacKenzie Clark (jumps, sprints), Sr. Jenny Alarcon (shot put), Jr. Maddie Gould (distance), Jr. Elie Bowman (distance), So. Kylah Bilheimer (sprints), So. Katelyn Plikus (sprints, hurdles).

Top newcomers: Jr. Lindsey Beavan (distance), So. Julia Beaupre (sprints, hurdles), Fr. Maya Suarez (distance).

Outlook: The Indians edged Stonington to win last year's ECC Division II title but must replace a pair of multiple ECC champions in Lauren Ross (55 hurdles, high jump, long jump) and Mady Whittaker (1,000, 3,200). But Buckley returns some experienced veterans, many ECC place-winners in a variety of events and with the addition of some talented newcomers expects to be competitive in the division again.

St. Bernard

Coach: Raymond Forrester (6th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Brigid Kunka (distance), Sr. Sophia Duhig (middle distance), Sr. Hope Geise (jumps), Sr. Bella McClure (jumps), Sr. Allison Codner (jumps), Sr. Victoria Hannaford (middle distance), Jr. Serena Britner (distance), Jr. Juliet Brady (sprints), Jr. Rachel Kunka (sprints), Jr. Aaliyah Masters (hurdles, jumps), So. Adrianna Graul (middle distance), So. Elizabeth Hannaford (sprints), So. Lillian Turner (distance), So. Hallie Jennings (jumps).

Top newcomers: Fr. Katie Power (sprints), Sr. Lauren O'Donnell (sprints), So. Lindsey Reilly (shot put), Fr. Chloe Jennings (jumps), Fr. Isabella Kimball (sprints), Fr. Adeline Arvidson (middle distance), Fr. Phoebe Foley (middle distance).

Outlook: The Saints have experience, depth and some key newcomers that should make them competitive in Division II and in the Class S state meet. St. Bernard returns all four members of its ECC champion 4x720 relay team (Brigid Kunka, Britner, Turner and Duhig) and a pair of talented sprinters in Brady and Rachel Kunka. Reilly (shot) and O'Donnell (sprints) will provide depth.

Stonington

Coach: Ben Bowne (8th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Gwen Anderson (sprints), Sr. Lily Anderson (distance), Jr. Vanessa Benjamin (middle distance), So. Cayla Beverly (sprints), Jr. Kaleigh Bolduc (sprints), Jr. Marley Cannon (distance), Jr. Amelia Caron (sprints), Jr. Margaret Constantine (sprints), Jr. Megan Detwiler (middle distance), So. Piper Doyle (sprints), So. Katherine Glenn (sprints), Sr. Mary Gray (distance), So. Dillon Griscom (middle distance), So. Olivia Habarek (shot put), So. Nancy Inthasit (sprints), So. Lindsey Labbe (middle distance), So. Carli LoPresto (shot), So. Tanzie Mancini (sprints), So. Chloe Morehouse (distance), Sr. Bryn Morgan (middle distance), Jr. Sasha Oakes (distance), Jr. Rachel Sabbadini (middle distance), So. Corinne Steeno (middle distance), Jr. Lucy Turner (sprints), Jr. Hannah Turner (shot), Jr. Madison West (sprints).

Top newcomers: Fr. Madison Allard (sprints), So. Sophia Anderson (sprints), So. Miabella Antonio (shot), Fr. Carly Constantine (sprints), Sr. Nicole Habarek (shot), Fr. Helena Hoinsky (sprints), Fr. Marin Singletary (sprints), So. Phoebe Werling (sprints), Jr. Madison Wing (sprints).

Outlook: The Bears did suffer some key graduation losses, including ECC champions Keegan Donohue (pole vault) and Lindsey Orr (1,600), but Stonington, which always has great numbers, has the talent and experience to challenge for the Division II title. "Many athletes will get their opportunities to move up the ranks and step onto the track and prove themselves," Bowne said. "While there may be unfamiliar faces in some events, (we) still return some of the best in the area."

Waterford

Coach: Jay Criscuolo (7th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Kate Lovell (hurdles), Jr. Lillie Abramowitz (sprints), Jr. Alicia Sanders (middle distance), Jr. Sarah Johnson (distance).

Top newcomers: So. Nicole Li (hurdles), So. Maddie Myers (hurdles), So. Emily Gatse (sprints)

Outlook: The Lancers hope to develop some depth as the season advances, but they return some key pieces in all events and are hoping some of their new athletes step up and perform well. Waterford, which moves down from Division I, expects to be competitive within the division and have some good performances at the state level.