By Jenna DeFrancesco
The Branford High School community anticipates an exciting season for the upcoming boys and girls winter sports teams, hoping for early wins and support from the student crowds, known as the “Red Sea.”
The winter track & field, basketball, hockey, and wrestling teams have kickstarted their seasons with practices in full swing, and opening games already occurring. After speaking to a number of the winter sport team captains, excitement is radiating.
Basketball
The boy’s and girl’s basketball teams are hoping to build on last year and are looking forward to successful seasons. Last year the boys were 6-14 and the girls 6-15.
This year’s captains are Nate Florio, Brennan Holmes, and Eric Zielinski for the boys; and Reanna Sachs and Kaylee Tracy for the girls.
“I’m excited for this season, we have a lot of expectations. Definitely tougher standards but there is more high energy and effort already this season, so I am looking forward to what we can do and see what players who have worked in the off season bring to the table,” Tracy said.
The varsity schedules for both teams can be seen here and here.
Ice Hockey
Boys Varsity Ice Hockey had a very successful 2022 season, ending with a record of 12-8 and advancing to Quinnipiac University for the CIAC semifinals. However, after graduating a large senior class, the season’s success is put on the shoulders of the rising juniors and seniors, as well as this year’s team captains, juniors Michael Loomis and Dante DiLegge.
As juniors, Dilegge and Loomis are asked to step up and guide the freshman and the rest of the team through this season.
“This year is really going to focus on getting as good as we can, working up all the younger kids, getting them ready,” Loomis said.
The boy’s schedule can be found at stats.ciacsports.com.
Girls Varsity Ice Hockey, now a combined team with Daniel Hand High School, is also ready to play hard at their matches this season. Branford high school wishes this co-op team luck, and the teamwork anticipated to be seen is motivational.
Wrestling
Wrestling’s 2023-2024 captains, Cole Snider, Max Parsell, Dylan Warner, and Dom Zdunick plan to lead their team to victory this year after a busy season last year. With the roster completed, Branford High’s wrestling team gears up for the winter season. To see their schedule, click here.
Track and Field
Boys and girls winter track & field prepares for their upcoming meets. Captains Sam Harwin, Enaji Muhammad, Sam Cappola, Carter Moore, Joelle Budz, and Chayse Gueco are excited to announce their roles as co-captains this year.
Speaking with Budz, a 55m and 300m runner, she says her goal for this season is to “…have everyone improve with their personal goals including myself. Even though we all compete separately for the most part, there is definitely a team aspect, and I hope for the team to be close.”
Harwin said “we have a really great group of people. I have high hopes for this season.”
Both the boy’s and girl’s teams schedules can be found here and here.
With sports being a large factor contributing to the community feeling possessed at Branford High School, luck is wished to all upcoming sports, as said by various students.
After a group of fall athletes received the recognition of All-SCC, the anticipation for winter sport athletes to follow suit is heightened. The impact of student attendance at sporting events is much larger than we know, and support is appreciated greatly. Good luck to all winter sports teams and their athletes.
Senior Isabella Armellino contributed to this report.
