Linked Up – Fall Championships 2015

New Canaan celebrates its Class L football title. Christian Abraham – Hearst papers.

Welcome to another edition of Championship Linked Up. This has to be one of our favorite recurring features on CIACsports.com because it highlights so many great championship stories, along with the excellent work of the news outlets in covering these events.

For those unfamiliar (or simply as a reminder for those who are previously familiar) Linked Up Championships will provide a link to the local media story for all of the CIAC Championships over the course of the season. Following each championship event this page will be updated with links to all the completed championships, providing a one-stop shop for anyone looking for great stories on championship-winning teams. With the football championships taking place this weekend, it puts a bow on the fall season, and on this Fall Championship edition of Linked Up. Lots of great stories and champions, and thank you for keeping tabs throughout the season.

Football:

• From the Stamford Advocate: Two key players got Darien’s defense started fast and the Blue Wave rolled to a Class LL championship from there.
• From the Stamford Advocate: It seemed every New Canaan player had a hand in the team’s Class L championship.
• From the Danbury News Times: Two players gave Brookfield a spark, and that spark led to a second-straight Class M title.
• From the Hartford Courant: A big passing attack was key to Bloomfield earning the Class S championship.

Thomaston’s amazing run of championships continued with a Class S field hockey title. Joe Palladino – Republican-American.

Field Hockey:

• From the Stamford Advocate: The bounces went New Canaan’s way in earning a narrow Class M state title win.
• From the Waterbury Republican-American: Thomaston continued on an amazing run with a Class S championship.
• From the Norwalk Hour: Wilton made it’s second goal count to earn an overtime win and the Class L crown.

Platt’s Gabriela Vazquez reacts to being chosen MVP after helping her team to the Class L crown. Justin Weekes – Meriden Record-Journal.

Girls Volleyball:

• From the Hartford Courant: Coventry faced its toughest test of the season — and came out on top in a five-set thriller to claim the Class S title.
• From the Norwich Bulletin: Broken bones and other hurdles didn’t stop Waterford from earning its first championship in Class M.
• From the Meriden Record-Journal: Platt earned the Class L championship and brought home the school’s first title in 25 years.
• From the Connecticut Post: Fairfield Ludlowe sped up the rebuilding process and ended the year as the champions of Class LL.

Avon celebrates its boys soccer Class L overtime championship win. Gerry deSimas Jr. – Collinsville Press.

Boys Soccer:

• From the Hartford Courant: It was a last game for Tolland coach Jim Leahy will never forget as the team earned the Class M championship.
• From the Hartford Courant: After being motivated by some other three-peats, Glastonbury produced one of its own with another Class LL victory.
• From the Collinsville Press: A position change sparked a difference for Jack Keenan as he helped power Avon to a championship in Class L.
• From the Hartford Courant: Corey Brown never stopped moving, and that eventually led to a Class S championship for Somers.

Kiersten Daly helped Weston earn another Class S swimming title. John Nash – Norwalk Hour.

Girls Swimming & Diving:

• From the Greenwich Time: A group of Greenwich seniors added to the program’s legacy with a State Open championship.
• From the Stamford Advocate: Westhill’s Rachel Burston donned some fitting accessories after winning another Open Diving title.
• From the Greenwich Time: Greenwich accomplished one of its goals with another Class LL championship.
• From the Norwalk Hour: After a tough league championship meet, Weston cruised to a third-straight Class S meet.
• From the Stamford Advocate: It was familiar faces in Class L with Darien earning a fifth-consecutive Championship.
• From GameTimeCT: Lauralton Hall rode the luxury of depth to capture a second-straight Class M swim title.

Glastonbury girls soccer players celebrate a Class LL title. Johnathon Henninger – Hartford Courant.

Girls Soccer:

• From the Connecticut Post: It felt like it could have been more, but St. Joseph’s two goals were enough to come away with a Class L championship.
• From the Hartford Courant: Nine seniors went out the same way they started; with a state championship for Northwest Catholic in Class M.
• From the Connecticut Post: It was a game neither team deserved to lose, and that’s how it ended as Old Lyme and Notre Dame-Fairfield were co-champions of Class S.
• From the Hartford Courant: The Glastonbury coach wanted more goals, and his team provided them in an explosive Class LL title win.

New Milford ran to a title in the Class L championships. Rich Gregory – Danbury News Times

Boys Cross Country:

• From GameTimeCT: Staples capped an emotional and trying season with a Cross Country State Open title.
• From the Waterbury Republican-American: The Shepaug Valley team was in a familiar spot atop the Class S boys cross country field.
• From the Shore Publishing: A remarkable season was capped by a pair of state titles for Haddam-Killingworth as the boys earned the SS crown.
• From the Norwich Bulletin: After waiting out their coach’s math, Ledyard celebrated its Class M state title victory.
• From GameTimeCT: Guilford and its first-year head coach knew it needed the best from everyone on its team, and it got it as the team captured the Class MM championship.
• From the Danbury News Times: A back-to-back Class L state championship came in the form of a statement from New Milford.
• From GameTimeCT: With a second-straight Class LL championship, Amity proved it is not a one-hit wonder.

Powered by a win from its senior standout, Avon earned the Class MM title. Collinsville Press.

Girls Cross Country:

• From GameTimeCT: The nerves disappeared and the result was another State Open title for Tolland.
• From the Connecticut Post: Screams of jubilation followed the announcement of Immaculate’s Class S championship victory.
• From GameTimeCT: Haddam-Killingworth overcame a spirited challenge to earn the championship in Class SS.
• From the Hartford Courant: A reality check narrowed Tolland’s focus as the team captured its fifth-straight Class M title.
• From the Collinsville Press: A decorated senior did something she’s never done in helping Avon win the Class MM championship.
• From the Hartford Courant: Three top-10 finishers powered E.O. Smith in the Class L meet that opened the day of championship races.
• From the Hartford Courant: Glastonbury got all it could handle from its challengers but had enough to earn a third-straight Class LL title.