Linked Up – Spring Championships 2017

Posted on June 12, 2017 by John Holt

The excitement of a championship goal for Branford while winning the Class M crown. GameTimeCT.

Just like that, it’s all wrapped up. Forty-six championship stories in all, recapping a thrilling few weeks of high school sports. The thrilling sprint of the spring championship season concluded over the weekend, (on the team side, we will add stories on the individual track and field events in the coming day) and Linked Up has all the stories. There were incredibly dramatic and competitive competitions throughout the spring, and these stories help relive the excitement, passion, and joy of earning a state championship.

Thank you all for following along with us for an exciting few weeks of high school sports championships.

Girls Lacrosse:

From the Danbury News Times: New Fairfield held off its league rival to earn the Class S state crown.
From the Stamford Advocate: After holding off a comeback Darien got its big celebration with another Class L title.
From GameTimeCT: Branford’s coach was there at the start and was there for the celebration as the team won the Class M championship.

Foran celebrates a home run during its Class L title win. Catherine Avalone – New Haven Register.

Baseball:

From GameTimeCT: A remarkable tourney run ended with a Class L baseball title for Foran.
From the Waterbury Republican American: A troublesome streak came to an end as Holy Cross slugged its way to the Class S championship.
From The Day of New London: Waterford had a perfect day while earning the Class M crown.
From the Norwalk Hour: A passing of the baton helped Staples captured the Class LL championship.

Joel Barlow celebrates its Class L softball championship. Arnold Gold – Hearst CT.

Softball:

From the Danbury News Times: The stars shone bright to help Joel Barlow earn the Class L state title.
From the Waterbury Republican American: Little things led to a very big thing as Seymour rallied for the Class M crown.
From the Connecticut Post: The Trumbull team “wrote its legacy” and picked up the Class LL championship.
From the Waterbury Republican American: Holy Cross continues to lay claim to the Class S tournament with a third-straight win.

New Canaan holds aloft its Class M championship plaque. Lindsay Perry – Hearst CT.

Boys Lacrosse:

From the New Canaan Advertiser: The Rams were pushed, but responded to earn a third-straight Class M title.
From the Hartford Courant: It took some time for Somers to get going, but once they did it was on its way to another Class S win.
From the Stamford Advocate: Darien had it all working to come away with the Class L championship.

Darien celebrates its win in the Class L volleyball championship. Gregory Vasil – Hearst CT

Boys Volleyball:

From the New Britain Herald: On the strength of a stirring comeback, Newington captured the Class M crown.
From the Stamford Advocate: Darien earned redemption in winning the Class L title.

It was a second-straight Division IV title for Portland. Peter Wallace – GameTimeCT

Boys & Girls Golf:

From GameTimeCT: Driven by some tight losses, Xavier claimed the program’s first golf title by winning the Division I title.
From the Stamford Advocate: New Canaan’s surprise girls golf title had its coach grinning broadly.
From GameTimeCT: Portland battled through a tough course and conditions to defend its Division IV title.
From the Collinsville Press: After coming close many times recently, Avon broke through and won the Division II crown.
From the Hartford Courant: The Suffield players were unanimous in saying they won the Division III championship for their coach.

Bloomfield ran to another Class S championship. Brad Horrigan – Hartford Courant.

Girls Outdoor Track & Field:

From the Norwich Bulletin: Plan B was the winning one for Griswold’s Kalli’Ana Botelho in the heptathlon.
From the Hartford Courant: Bloomfield wants to go down in history after another State Open championship.
From the Hartford Courant: It came down to the final event but Simsbury was able to earn the win in Class L.
From the Hartford Courant: There were too many strong performances to highlight as Bloomfield captured the Class S crown.
From the Danbury News Times: It might have been a subdued celebration but Danbury still claimed the LL championship.
From the Hartford Courant: It was a pleasantly shocking result for Northwest Catholic in earning the Class M title.
From the Hartford Courant: Tolland track and field just keeps rolling after earning the Class MM crown.

Daniel Hand celebrates its first State Open track title. Photo courtest Mysportsresults.com via twitter (& GameTimeCT).

Boys Outdoor Track & Field:

From the Collinsville Press: Last year he watched the finish, this year Dustin Van Kirk came out on top in the decathlon.
From GameTimeCT: Daniel Hand surprised even itself in winning its first State Open championship.
From GameTimeCT: Middletown’s title in Class L came in the most dramatic fashion.
From the Hartford Courant: Emotions were high as Bloomfield continued its run of championship success with a win in Class M.
From GameTimeCT: Derby earned the Class S championship for the first time since 1976.
From the Norwalk Hour: Staples was a little surprised to find itself earning the LL title.
From the Hartford Courant: Masuk claimed the first outdoor track & field title in program history with a win in MM.

Glastonbury celebrates its team’s Class LL championship. Jared Silberkleit – Hartford Courant.

Girls Tennis:

From the Hartford Courant: Lexi DeNucci went out on a sweet note with a second-consecutive State Open singles title.
From the Stamford Advocate: A pair of twin sisters shone for Stamford in winning the State Open doubles title.
From the Hartford Courant: Glastonbury topped its nemesis to earn the Class L championship.
From the Weston Forum: Weston made it two in-a-row by earning the championship in Class S.
From GameTimeCT: It came down to two tight doubles matches as Daniel Hand outlasted rival Guilford for the Class M title.

Staples’ Evan Felcher earned a singles title and helped his team claim the team crown in LL. David Fierro – Hearst Connecticut.

Boys Tennis:

From GameTimeCT: Staples Evan Felcher came out on top in the State Open singles competition.
From the Stamford Advocate: Tyler Pomerance and Jordan Soifer continued a Westhill tradition winning the State Open doubles competition.
From the Norwalk Hour: Staples continued its three-year run atop Class LL with another championship.
From the Hartford Courant: East Catholic’s doubles success propelled it to a title in Class S.
From the Greenwich Time: A late-season roll carried New Canaan to the championship in Class L.
From the Norwalk Hour: It was a third-straight title for Weston in Class S as well.