ECC Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Chris Morth (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. Callaway Scott (sprints/jumps), Sr. Beck Schultz (distance), Sr. Kai Ritz (distance), Jr. Sean McCauley (distance), Jr. Thomas Matlock (throws), Sr. Jacky Lin (jumps), So. Sam Leone (distance), Sr. Matt Leone (hurdles), Sr. Darius Kirvelevicius (distance), Jr. Jack Jensen (distance), Sr. Mason Hintze (distance), Sr. Maddox Grillo-Smith (distance), Sr. Finian Gates (distance), So. Adrik Gates (distance), So. Gavin Fant (distance), Jr. Matt Carrier (distance), Jr. Andrew Carrier (distance), Sr. William Chekal (distance), Sr. Nate Bergman (distance), Jr. Jilali Benjdid (distance), Jr. Declan Bee (jumps), Jr. John Poirier (sprints), Jr. Jacob Scott (sprints), Jr. Jacob Cabral (sprints), Jr. William Grant (sprints), So. Ivan Butova (distance), Jr. Jaxon Vargas (hurdles), So. Oliver Lopez (jumps).

Top newcomers: Fr. Syed Rayaan Asghar, Fr. Justin Belzard, Fr. Karthik Bolineni, Fr. Tom Butler, Fr. Owen Garabedian, Jr. Mark Gendron Jr., Fr. Sahir Gupta, Sr. Jeremiah Jean. So. Dominic Kuzak, Fr. Tyler Palumbo, Fr. Joey Papalia, Fr. Ricardo Rojo Graham, Fr. Keegan Stadler, Jr. Jason Stahl , So. Xavier Stefanski, Sr. Hayden Torrisi, Fr. Kaden Vargas.

Outlook: The Vikings have put together a string of state championships, winning the Class M indoor track title last winter and, most recently, taking the Class MM cross country championship. Morth, who takes over for longtime coach Steve Hargis, has that entire distance crew at his disposal, including the ECC cross country champion in McCauley, as well as Matlock, who was the State Open shot put champion in the spring with a throw of 55-4.5 and improved that to 59-4 in a developmental meet last week. East Lyme is the two-time defending ECC Division I champ and Morth said expectations are high, despite a few key losses, that the Vikings will have a well-rounded team to compete at the conference and state levels.

Fitch

Coach: Rich Kosta (46th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Ryan Dunning (distance), Sr. Kaiden Chandler (distance), Sr. Zayshawn Griffin (jumps), Sr. Gianni Colebut (jumps), Sr. Amill Houston (sprints), Sr. Calvin McCoy (sprints/jumps), Sr. Bernard Drayton (sprints), Sr. Tim Miller (sprints/jumps), Jr. Jermain Manning (hurdles), Jr. Caylen Morris (jumps).

Top newcomers: So. Porter Carter (sprints), So. Julian Silva (distance), Jr. Evan Vitagliano (distance), Jr. Shea Cahill (distance), Sr. Adonis Fine (sprints), Jr. Jeffrey Ward (hurdles).

Outlook: Fitch has balance and experience in the sprints, jumps, hurdles and distance events, according to Kosta. This combination, as well as the addition of football all-stars Fine and Carter in the sprints (Carter won the 300 meters in a developmental meet last week) and with Silva (6th in the ECC in cross country) and Vitagliano adding depth in the distance events, should translate into success at the ECC and state levels. Colebut is the defending ECC champ in the high jump (5-8) and Griffin in the long jump (20-2).

New London

Coach: Jelani Lucas (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. Chris Jones (sprints/jumps), Jr. Tyree Barnes (sprints/jumps), Sr. John Mancuso (sprints/jumps), So. Kenya Snell (sprints), Sr. Kyntrel Witherspoon-Dessources (sprints/throws), Sr. Kyle Parkes (sprints/throws), Jr. Nico Churis (distance), Sr. Frankee Morocco (distance), Jr. Antonio Carmona (sprints).

Top newcomers: Jr. Jack Philistin (jumps/throws), Sr. Daren Roberts (sprints), Jr. Cordell Shannon (throws), Jr. Aiden Morales (sprints/middle distance).

Outlook: Lucas jokes that for some reason this competitive group of Whalers believes it can break a few of their coach’s records from back in the day, but with this talented group of sprinters and jumpers, records are a distinct possibility. Parkes, Witherspoon-Dessources and Tyree Barnes are first team ECC all-stars from football and Philistin was the Whalers’ quarterback. Lucas cites New London’s strong junior class. “I’m really excited to see how their hard work during football transfers back to indoor,” Lucas said. “... I believe we might have a few surprises in the 55-meter dash this year and in some of the jumps.”

NFA

Coach: Ted Koziol (2nd season)

Key returnees: Jr. Chris Amy (shot put), Sr. Connor Gaughan (sprints), Sr. Sawyer Barile (distance), Jr. Jesse Croteau (distance), Jr. Patrick Croughwell (distance), Sr. Nick DeBartolo (distance), Sr. Mason Holt (shot put), Jr. Kyle Kornacki (sprints), Sr. Nehemiah Yorke (sprints), Jr. Robinson Meuse (distance).

Top newcomers: So. Fernando Flores (sprints/jumps/hurdles), So. Mardocher Civil (shot put), Jr. Joal Barros (jumps), Jr. Oliver Aubin (sprints), Jr. Greg Bourdon (distance/ pole vault), So. Landon Little (sprints), Jr. Reese Newson (sprints/pole vault), Sr. Moshea Gittens Brown (sprints/jumps/hurdles), Sr. Bryant Beauvil (sprints), Sr. Maddix Edouard (shot put), Sr. Tyler Lin (sprints/jumps), Fr. Magnus King (sprints), Sr. Lucas Cabral (sprints), Jr. Daniel Derjue (sprints), So. Roodkenson Sanon (sprints).

Outlook: NFA’s team of more than 85 includes defending ECC champs Yorke in the 55 dash (6.81), Kornacki in the 600 (1:26.21) and a number of athletes who fared well at the state level in indoor and outdoor track last year including the spring season’s Class LL discus champion in Chris Amy, who was also third in the shot put. Overall, the Wildcats have enough depth to “improve across the board from last year's team and build depth for the future,” Koziol said.

Waterford

Coach: Jay Criscuolo (32nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Elliot Childs (hurdles), Sr. Jon Booth (jumps), Sr. Jay Zimmermann (pole vault), Sr. Rhys Tickner (jumps), So. Brodie Scott (sprints).

Top newcomers: Jr. Cole Baumgartner (distance), Fr. Shane Picardi (sprints, jumps).

Outlook: What the Lancers lack in depth, they make up with a number of talented individuals, including Childs, who is the defending ECC 55 hurdle champion (8.52), going on to finish fourth in Class M. Tickner was third in the ECC in the high jump and Booth was third in the long jump.

(ECC Division I also includes Woodstock Academy)

ECC Division II

Bacon Academy

Coach: Frederick Browning (25th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Aaron Kost (throws), Sr. Jay Wikarska (sprints), Sr. Aaron Fidrych (sprints), Sr. Hunter Walsh (throws).

Outlook: This will be what Browning calls a developmental year for the Bobcats, who graduated a 4:24 miler (Ryan Moore) and state champion in the shot put (Jake Martino). The program does have a number of talented throwers — Kost was fifth in ECC Division II last year in the shot put — and the coaches are looking forward to working with a number of young sprinters and distance runners.

Griswold

Coach: Christopher Collins (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. Maxwell Brown, So. Joshua Montgomery, Sr. Ayden Rourke.

Top newcomers: Fr. Tycen LaBelle, Fr. Sean Silva, Fr. Dylan Bailey.

Outlook: A relatively young team includes a group of freshmen coming off a successful cross country season, including LaBelle, who was second in the ECC championship meet and went on to earn all-state honors by also turning in a runner-up finish in Class SS. Said Collins: “We look to build upon that momentum.”

Ledyard

Coach: Dave Tetlow (51 seasons)

Key returnees: Sr. Hayden Baber (distance), Sr. Felix Beltre (shot put), Sr. Sean Harren (middle distance), Sr. Jack Hill (distances), Sr. Gabe Huff (distance), Sr. Steven Ives (middle distance), Sr. Brady Moorehead (pole vault), Sr. Luca Viviano (pole vault), Sr. Mateo Viviano (pole vault), Sr. Christian Wiltshire (high jump/long jump), Sr. Clark Ysewyn (shot put), Jr. Anthony Adamick (high jump/long jump/sprints), Jr. Roan Fothergill (sprints/long jump), Jr. Jamel Kearse (sprints/long jump), Jr. Joey Morales (sprints), Jr. Patrick Scully (sprints), Jr. Antonio Soldato (distance), Jr. Myles Streckfuss (shot put), Jr. Paulo Templeton (sprints), So. Lucas Heide (distance), So. Jacob Parker Widlicka (distance).

Top newcomers: Sr. Brock Isenberg (distance), Jr. Trevor Petrowski (shot put), Jr. Eric William (hurdles/sprints), So. Jack Keskeny (middle distance), So. Ben Patton (pole vault), So. Robert Jackson (hurdles), So. Owen Romero (hurdles), So. Emil Santos (hurdles), Fr. Latham Fothergill (long jump), Fr. Raymond Grogan (distance), Fr. Greyson Stephenson (middle distance).

Outlook: Ledyard is the defending ECC Division II champion. The Colonels did graduate several standouts from that team, but return enough so that Tetlow predicts the Colonels will remain at the top of the ladder in the league and at the Class M state meet, with a chance to break some school and state class meet records, he said. Ledyard is coming off a Class M cross country championship, with Hill (5th), Baber (8th) and Huff (9th) all finishing in the top 10. Luca Viviano was the Class M pole vault champ during outdoor track (13-0) and his twin brother Mateo was fourth in the state (12-0) while also breaking the school record in the event (13-6) at last week’s ECC developmental meet.

Lyman Memorial

Coach: Chantal Fields (4th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Jeremiah Bobbi (sprints), Sr. Kyle Franchi (jumps/pole vault), Jr. Nicholas Zaprianov (sprints/hurdles/middle distance), Jr. Nicholas Chalifoux (sprints), Jr. James Crowley (throws), Jr. Holden LeMay (distance/middle-distance), So. Brandon Simeone (sprints), So. Matthew Williams (sprints/middle distance).

Top newcomers: Fr. Kellen Johnson (distance), Sr. Kenyon Morrissette (sprints), Fr. Sawyer Sanchez (sprints/middle distance).

Outlook: The Bulldogs hope to build upon previous individual successes, including Bobbi’s second-place finish last season in the 300 meters at the ECC Division II championship. This spring, Zaprianov was second in the 300 hurdles at the ECC Division II meet and fourth in the 110 hurdles and Franchi was fourth in the high jump and tied for second in the pole vault. Johnson was an ECC Division III cross country all-star.

Montville

Coach: Kiah Strickland (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Adonis Santiago (sprints), Sr. Christopher Baukus (jumps), Sr. Jack Brehler (distance), Jr. Enzo Valenti (throws), Jr. Brady Bilheimer (sprints), Jr. Noah Keenan (sprints).

Top newcomers: So. Nathan Simon (distance), Fr. Cole Malbaurn (sprints), Fr. Khaj Roache (sprints), Fr. Leandro Vitorino (sprints).

Outlook: Montville has some key returnees that are taking charge and leading the newcomers in the right direction, Strickland said, calling her team a “hardworking and dedicated group.” Keenan and Bilheimer are back from the Wolves’ sprint medley relay team which won the ECC Division II meet last season and joined Santiago and Heyward Williams to win the 4x180 relay at a developmental meet last week. Santiago was named Most Outstanding Player of the Montville soccer team’s ECC Division II tournament championship victory for his spectacular work in goal.

St. Bernard

Coach: Erica Massad (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Luke Brannegan (jumps), Sr. Colin Britner (distance), Sr. Theo Burrell (hurdles), Sr. Robert Girard (throws), Sr. Alex Graul (distance), Sr. Martin Light (sprints), Sr. Matt Pero (sprints), Jr. Alex Acosta (hurdles), Jr. Ben Howes (distance), Jr. Savas Videll (sprints), So. Bryan Lowe (throws).

Top newcomers: Sr. Noah Courter (sprints), Sr. Lucas Dellacono (distance), Sr. Christopher Tonucci (sprints/throws), Jr. Zane Baton (throws/jumps), So. John Lazarou (sprints), So. Desmond Powers (throws), Fr. Conner Gallagher (throws), Fr. Joseph Muscarella (sprints), Fr. Rad Tanksley (distance), Fr. Zion Thatcher (sprints).

Outlook: Burrell (300 hurdles) and Britner (1,600) are coming off State Open appearances during the spring track season and Massad is expecting a strong season from all of the St. Bernard seniors. “I’m hoping their experiences and leadership will be impactfiul,” the coach said. Britner was third in the ECC 1,000 meters last indoor season and the Saints were second in the 4x800 with a team including Britner, Graul and Howes.

Stonington

Coach: Bruce Dixon (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. Hagen Drake (55 hurdles/long jump), Sr. Cayden Trementozzi (200/400/55 hurdles/long jump).

Top newcomers: Fr. Jake Wagner (1,600).

Outlook: The Bears won the last two Class S state championships, but lose a pair of rock stars in Josh Mooney, the national champion last spring in the 110 hurdles who is now competing at UConn, and ECC cross country champion Ryan Gruczka. Also, Dixon replaces Ben Bowne, who retired from coaching after the spring season. “When you lose one of the greatest athletes in school history, there obviously will be some type of rebuild,” Dixon said. “... With that being said, there are high hopes for this program moving forward.”

Wheeler

Coach: Katie McGuire (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. Drew Deary, Jr. Jack Dowery, Jr. Tyler Scarchilli.

Outlook: Between the boys’ and girls’ teams, Wheeler has 15 athletes participating in indoor track for the first time and McGuire is excited to see that growth. “They bring energy and excitement and we can’t wait to see how their skills, combined with our experiences athletes, will make our team even stronger on the track,” the coach said. Scarchilli was third in the 600 in an ECC developmental meet last week.

(ECC Division II also includes Killingly, Plainfield, Tourtellotte and Windham)

Others

Grasso Tech

Coach: Matthew Zagura (9th year)

Key returnees: Jr. Mason Gardner, Jr. Sebastian Canty.

Top newcomers: Fr. Alex Soto, So. Tyler Collins

Outlook: The Eagles were fourth in the Connecticut Technical Conference meet last season and hope to improve their finish, as well as their number of state qualifiers.

Old Lyme

Coach: Alyssa Mercaldi (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. Eric Dagher (distance), So. Trevor Buydos (sprints), Jr. Simon Karpinski (distance), Jr. Nathan Morgan (sprint), Jr. James Straub (distance).

Top newcomers: Sr. Jacob Volkerts (sprints), Fr. Patrick Lynch (sprints/jumps), So. Ryan Ortoleva (distance), Fr. Charles Zelek (throws), So. Tyler Cann (throws).

Outlook: The Wildcats lose Class S shot put champion Dylan Sheehan and also Dylan Hovey and Marco Supersano from the 4x800 relay team which finished third in the state meet, but gain a number of quality athletes, too. Among the newcomers is Jacob Volkerts, the 100-meter State Open champion from the spring season who recently committed to run track at the University of Rhode Island. Lynch, a freshman, also has potential in the short sprints, Mercaldi said.