By Jake Elpi and Brody Fagan
After another successful winter season, we head into the warm weather hoping for a great start to the 2023 spring sports season. Branford High School is wishing luck to the baseball team, boys lacrosse team, track and field team, golf team, and the boys tennis team. For the latest schedule of all the spring teams click here.
Let’s dive into what the boys’ teams are looking like this year. To see the spring sports preview for boys’ teams, click here.
GIRLS TENNIS
Last spring the girls tennis team had more than a good season, finishing with a record of 15-4. Because of their winning season last year they did in fact move up a division which could affect their success in 2023. Despite this, head coach and BHS teacher Mr. Gruendel mentioned he has a very good returning team and the freshman could play huge roles for the varsity team. He has high expectations for the team and is hoping they can make the SCC tournament after missing it by one match last year. The matchups Coach Gruendel is most excited for are Sacred Heart Academy, Mercy, and Jonathan Law. “Every match counts and everybody will contribute to the wins,” Mr. Gruendel stated. We also got the chance to talk to senior captain Evie Mollow and senior Livie Torello. Evie said that she was most excited about staying active and getting tan during the season. She also said she is excited to take on the challenge of moving up a division. Like her coach, she is most excited to match up against Sacred Heart Academy and Jonathan Law. And Livie was most excited to play Guilford because they lost to them last year and she looks to take them down this year for the first time in her short tennis career.
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
Senior captain Sarar Nwagboli is ready and excited for her last season on the team. She believes the team will do really well and succeed throughout the season. When asked what she is most excited for this season, she said “I’m excited to start using blocks because that’s a big step in my track career.” Sarah, who runs sprints and was a state qualifier in the 200 meters last year, also said she is excited to watch junior Joelle Budz excel and reach her goals. She wants to place in the top three at the state meet for the 200 meters. We also got to talk to Joelle who said she is most excited to break personal records. After not meeting her expectations at states last year, her goal is to make it to the state open and do even better. She is trying a new event this year in the 300 meter hurdlees. She also hopes to beat some of Branford’s all-time records. Sarah and Joelle both said they were most excited to go up against SCC opponent Mercy.
Girls track schedule and results
GIRLS LACROSSE
After the lacrosse season the Hornets will be sending off senior captain and star player Jenny Spencer to Fairleigh Dickinson University to play Division I girls lacrosse. In an interview she said that she thinks the team can maintain a winning record and finish 10-6. She is really excited to play Sacred Heart and hopes her team can take them down this year. Jenny said they are very good competition and will bring a lot of energy. She also mentioned that she is excited and confident to see freshman Eliza Giordano excel this season and play a big role for the varsity squad. The team’s goal is just to get as good as they can and progress in the games and practices they have. “I want to rack up my stats before I head off to college for lacrosse and to hopefully get better,” Jenny said. After going 7-9 last year and not meeting the team expectations, they look to rally this year and make a deep run in the playoffs.
SOFTBALL
The softball team had a very disappointing 4-16 season last year but the star players, Madigan Lawler, Paige Kelly, Caroline Johnson, and Jade Bocciarelli look to lift their team to a better year. Senior captain Paige Kelly said she is very excited to try and make her last season one to remember. She is trying to lead her team to be as best as they can and make the team have good chemistry. She said she is expecting to have a good defense but they need to continuously work on their offense. Paige said “We have a very young team and a pretty small roster so our goals are to do as best as we can in the games we play. We want to be able to capitalize and do well when we are given an opportunity and play to our full potential as best as we can.” The captains of the softball team, Paige Kelly, Caroline Johnson, and Jade Boccciarelli really hope to lead their team to a solid year and end out on a good note.
For the most recent sports updates during the spring season, check out The Branford Buzz on Twitter @BranfordBuzz and The BHS Sports Insider Instagram page @BHS_insider23
