Boys

ECC Large

FITCH

Coach: Rich Kosta (35th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Frank Norosky (sprints), Sr. Tyler Latham (hurdles, jumps, sprints), Jr. Cameron Wilhelm (middle distance), S.r. Jesse Moroyoqui (distance), Sr. Devin Lehman (middle distance), Jr. Conor O'Donnell (distance), Jr. Adam Reinhold (distance).

Top newcomers: So. Brian Robinson (shot put).

Outlook: The Falcons won the ECC Large Division title a year ago and place third in the Class L state meet, and Kosta believes Fitch is capable if maintaining or possibly even bettering those performances. Kosta loves his combination of experience athletes with some talented newcomers and the Falcons feature one of the state's elite all-around performers in Latham.

LEDYARD

Coach: Dave Tetlow (41st year)

Key returnees: Sr. Max Armstrong (distance, relays), Sr. Joe Brooks (sprints, relays), Sr. Joseph Carter (springs, long jump, relays), Sr. Jake Christenson (sprints, relays), Sr. Trey DeAndrade (distance, relays), Sr. Jeremy Hintz-Valdez (pole vault), Sr. Ryan Johnson (pole vault), Sr. Nick LoBianco (pole vault), Sr. Justice Startz (hurdles), Jr. Bryce Hedman (distance, relays), Jr. Michael Lopes (high jump, relays), So. Aaron Norcia (distance, relays).

Top newcomers: Sr. Brandon Chestnut (shot put), Sr. Parker Cronin (pole vault), Sr. Ashanti Kelly (sprints), Jr. Nick Monroe (distance), Jr. JoJo Shumaker (long jump, sprints), So. Chris Hughes (distance), So. Mike Leandri (shot put), So. Jeff O'Hanlon (shot put), So. Lucas Saccone (hurdles, sprints, relays), So. Josh Snow (distance), So. Nathan Terry (sprints), So. Rigel Wachtmann (distance).

Outlook: The Colonels move up to the Large Division and have the talent and depth to challenge reigning champion Fitch for the team title. Tetlow also expects Ledyard to be competitive in the Class M state meet and has a number of individuals and relays that are capable of qualifying for spots in the New England and national meets. Carter is one of the state's top sprinters while Hedmen is coming off a strong cross country season.

NFA

Coach: James Thompson (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. Kobe Amos (sprints), Sr. Niceforo Reyes (distance), Jr. Joseph DiPietro (sprints), Jr. Josh White (jumps), Sr. Abdiel Hernandez (throws), Jr. William Strong (distance).

Top newcomers: Jr. Andris Vitale (sprints), So. Conor Gralton (distance).

Outlook: The Wildcats were decimated by graduation losses, but still have some talent and depth in the distance events, led by Gralton, a transfer from St. Bernard who won the ECC cross country championship in October. Thompson, who replaces Chad Johnson, said NFA is young in the sprints and jumping events.

ECC Small

MONTVILLE

Coach: Tim Egan (20th year)

Key returnees: Dan Linkinhoker (distance), Justin Longton (sprints), Neil Schneeberg (middle distance), Kevin Fitzgerald (distance).

Top newcomers: Chase Lewis (distance, pole vault), Kevin Murtha (shot put).

Outlook: Numbers are up, but with so many young newcomers to the program Egan still isn't quite sure how the season will play out. One thing he is certain of, however, is Montville's strength in the distance events with veterans Linkinhoker, Schneeberg, Fitzgerald and newcomer Lewis, plus Longton is a proven sprinter for the Indians.

NEW LONDON

Coach: Bob Castronova (4th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Orrin Parke (sprints), Sr. Jose Garcia (sprints), Sr. Nico Ramos (sprints), Sr. David Perry (throws), Jr. Xavier Jones (distance).

Top newcomers: Sr. Dante Alston (sprints), Jr. Qauntique White (sprints, jumps), Jr. Robert Thomas (throws, distance), So. Andrew Souza (distance).

Outlook: The Whalers move down to the Small Division and should be a factor in the division, especially with a strong group of sprinters led by footballs stars Parke, Garcia and Ramos. Castronova also likes what he sees early on in some of his new athletes.

ST. BERNARD

Coach: Bill Schwarzenbach (1st year)

Key returnees: So. James Rose (distance), Sr. Charles Rose (middle distance, pole vault), Jr. Jonathan Cabral (middle distance, long jump), Jr. Ryan Londregan (middle distance), Jr. Will Carver (distance).

Top newcomer: So. Gabriel Britos-Swain (sprints).

Outlook: Schwarzenbach takes over the indoor program and will rely on a strong group of distance runners led by the Rose brothers, Cabral and Londregan. Charles Rose will also score points in the pole vault, but the Saints are young in other field events and the sprints.

Girls

ECC Large

LEDYARD

Coach: Dave Tetlow (41st year)

Key returnees: Sr. Austin Graber (pole vault), Sr. Jordan Houdeshell (distance), Sr. Savannah Johnson (long jump, relays), Sr. Alix Lee (sprints, relays), Sr. Lauren Scahill (distance, relays), Sr. Chenoa Sebastian (hurdles, sprints), Jr. Madison Canestrari (high jump), So. Hannah Arnold (pole vault), So. Olivia Holubecki (middle distance, relays).

Top newcomers: Sr. Coline DeFilippis (sprints), Sr. Julia Driscoll (distance), Sr. Ashlei Ratta (shot put), Sr. Mandy Wong (shot put), Jr. Julia Ecklord (sprints), Jr. Stefanie Wegiel (sprints), So. Megan Brawner (middle distance), So. Emily Kowalski (sprints, relays), So. Alyssa Samson (sprints, relays), so. Hannah Terrapin (sprints), So. May Zhang (distance), Fr. Sanai Carter (sprints), Fr. Erin Gralton (distance), Fr. Alex Houdeshell (distance).

Outlook: The Colonels, who jump up to the Large Division, have the depth and talent to challenge for a divisional championship and also be a factor in the Class M state meet. Sebastian is the reigning State Open champion in the 55-meter hurdles while Johnson, Lee and Scahill have had plenty of succes in individual events and relays.

NFA

Coach: James Thompson (1st year)

Key returnees: MiaLynne Park (sprints, jumps), Camille McKenzie (sprints, hurdles), Taylor Driggers (sprints, jumps), Gabbi Wise (jumps), Sabrina Rickey (sprints, jumps), Charlotte Van Sambeck (distance), Samantha Trombley (distance), Brittani Majcher (throws), Lauren Knerr (sprints, jumps), Alyssa Field (distance), Alexa DeVito (sprints), Amy Chasse (sprints), Evelyn Cournoyer (distance), Henley Smith (distance).

Top newcomers: Nicole Coughlin (sprints), Lindsay Sylvia (distance), Margaret Lewerk (sprints, jumps), Kelsie Hall (sprints, jumps, distance).

Outlook: The reigning Class LL champions (they also finished fourth in the State Open) were hit hard by graduation losses (distance runner Brianna Lenehan and sprinter Dyshelle Pemberton were Class LL champions), but return an abundance of talent led by Park, McKenzie, Van Sambeck, Wise and Knerr. Park, McKenzie and Van Sambeck were members of the Wildcats' Class LL champion 4x400-meter relay team, who set a meet record.

ECC Small

MONTVILLE

Coach: Tim Egan (20th year)

Key returnees: Abby MacAdams (high jump), Nadia Dallas (sprints, jumps), Suzie Fitzgerald (distance).

Top newcomer: Abby Baukus (distance).

Outlook: MacAdams is the reigning ECC high jump champion, Dallas has the potential to be a state place-winner in the sprints and jumping events. If some of Egan's younger athletes mature quickly the Indians are in for a strong season and will challenge within the division.

NEW LONDON

Coach: Bob Castronova (4th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Mercedes Santos (sprints, jumps), Sr. Francine Jacques (sprints), Sr. Manuela Duran (middle distance), Jr. Alyssa Manso (sprints).

Top newcomers: Jr. Enna Pierce (distance), Jr. Phoenix Mitchell (sprints), Jr. Mykell Jefferson (distance).

Outlook: The Whalers certainly have quality as they move down from the Large Division. Santos and Jacques are all-state performers and New London has improved numbers, so look for the Whalers to be competitive in the Small Division.