GOOD Morning Wilton features Wilton High School sports photos taken by Gretchen McMahon Photography, who shot all images unless otherwise noted. The WHS Athletic Department has provided results and updates, including write-ups from coaches, teams and boosters. Scores and results are also compiled from CIAC and FCIAC when available. Additional materials of interest can be submitted to GMW for consideration submitted via email.
[Editor’s Note: This update was originally published Friday, Feb. 4; additional scores have been added or updated.]
Message from the Athletic Director
Hello Warrior Nation!
We started our postseason competitions on Thursday, Feb. 3 with the indoor track teams traveling to the Floyd Little Center at Hillhouse High School in New Haven. Seniors Ryan Johnson (long jump: 20 feet, 10 inches) and Emily Mrakovcic (1000m race: 2:59.53) took home gold in their events and earned the title of FCIAC Champion. They are now on the All-FCIAC Team for track and field.
Congratulations again to the girls ski team, which finished its regular season undefeated. They are no doubt strong contenders for the upcoming state championship.
As we continue through the winter season, I would like to remind everyone that when you come to watch your child compete, please wear your masks properly at all times in each of our venues, home and away.
Next week we will be traveling to Ridgefield for our rival basketball game. They are currently at 50% capacity for spectators like we are. Information related to that game will be coming soon.
I hope you all have a great week.
Go Warriors!
Girls Basketball
The girls varsity basketball team has now qualified for the CIAC Class LL State Tournament after picking up its eighth win of the season with a 76-29 victory over Bridgeport Central. All 11 players saw their way into the scoring column as the team was led by Leah Martins (left) who had 15 points, Ellie Copley tallied 8 along with Brooke Bohacs, Mary Kate Doyle had 7, and Cat Dineen, Gracie Kaplan, and Olivia Rossi had 6 each.
Last Thursday, Jan. 27, the Warriors dropped a tough game to the top team and top-10 ranked St. Joseph, 40-50. The final score is not truly indicative of how close the game truly was, as the Warriors and Cadets played in a one possession game for nearly the entire evening before St. Joseph surged ahead in the final moments on free throws. The Warriors received a superb defensive performance from Katie Umphred and Ashleigh Masterson as they tried to contain three St. Joseph players that all stood over 6 feet. The team was led in scoring by Cat Dineen who tallied 14 points with some sharp-shooting and some run away layups caused by great defense from Martins.
The girls junior varsity team now has a record of 10-2 after splitting a pair of games over the last week. Last Thursday, Jan. 27, the Warriors dropped a tough contest to the Cadets of St. Joseph, 35-52. Maddie Dineen led all scorers with 12 points, Mia Sommers added 9 and Maddie Phelan chipped in with 5. The team rebounded with a resounding win over the Hilltoppers of Bridgeport Central, 50-9. In the Bridgeport game Georgia Russock led all scorers with 14 points and Shayla Kapoor had her first baskets of the season, finishing with 4 points. Erin Getty and Kaitlyn Gilchrist added a bucket each.
The girls freshman team is now 9-1 after beating St. Joseph last Thursday, Jan. 27, 37-25 and dropping the first game of the season to Danbury on Thursday, losing by 3 points. In the game against the Cadets the Warriors were led by the guard duo of Kaitlyn Zizzadoro (10 points) and Abbey Byrnes (8 points) as Wilton turned a close game heading into the fourth quarter into a double-digit victory. Each member of the team made her way into the scoring column as Riley Casey contributed 6 points, Giuliana Sacturchio tallied 5 points, Julia Nanos had 4, Adison Von Loeser added a bucket, and Cosette Lepore and Abby Phelan sank a free throw each.
Boys Basketball
The Warriors came out slow against the preseason FCIAC favorites, trailing the first quarter and half time by 2 (19-21). But the Warriors opened the second half with a 40-7 run to end any doubt in the game, leading to a 62-47 victory. The Warriors hit 6 second-half 3-pointers, three of those from junior Tommy McKiernan (9 points) to get the offense going. Senior tri-captain Kevin Hyzy had a game high with 21 points and team high 11 rebounds and 2 assists. Tri-captain Parker Woodring scored 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Wilton’s other tri-captain Zarius Eusebe also scored in double figures adding 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. The win upped the Warriors’ record to 10-1 overall, 7-0 FCIAC.
Wilton came out hot against the visiting Bridgeport Central Hilltoppers en route to a relaxing 80-43 victory. Eleven Warriors scored in the game. The team’s high scorer, junior Nick Walden, set a career high with 13 points including three 3-pointers. McKiernan and Kevin Hzyz also scored in double figures with 12 points each. Senior Max Anderws chipped in with 9 points and a slam dunk. The rest of the Warriors’ scoring was as follows: Spencer Liston (7 points), Eusebe (6 points), Jarvie (6 points), Woodring (5 points), Declan Brokaw (4 points), Craig Hyzy (4 points) and Henry Roy (2 points). WIth the victory the Warriors were (11-1 overall, 8-0 FCIAC).
The Warriors next game was a big FCIAC matchup against Westhill, which is currently tied for first place in the FCIAC (Warriors lost, 55-68); more on that game next week. On Tuesday night, Feb. 8, Wilton travels to Trumbull.
The junior varsity boys basketball team won both of its games this [past] week. They beat St. Joe’s by the score of 68-52. The Warriors pulled away late in the fourth quarter. The Warriors were up 1 (46-45) with 4:30 left. They turned up the pressure and walked away with the victory. The junior varsity team also beat Bridgeport Central. The Warriors came out a little sluggish and were down in the third quarter. But in the fourth quarter they turned up the defense and again pulled away from the Hilltoppers. They extended the lead to 20 before ending with a 58-44 final. The Warriors look to keep the two-game winning streak going against Westhill and Trumbull.
The freshman boys basketball team recently suffered a defeat at the hands of Staples. The final score was 47-72. The game was close until the fourth quarter. The team was led by Stef Cross with 13 points and 9 rebounds. Ryan Luchetta chipped in with 11 points and Liam McKiernan had 6.
On Friday, the boys battled St Joseph of Trumbull in a hard fought contest. The score was tied with two minutes to go when St Joe’s took the lead. The Warriors were forced to foul down the end and lost 42-51. Joey Haggerty led the way with 10 points in a solid effort. Liam McKiernan and Grady Kaliski had 7 points each.
Gymnastics
A Tuesday night, Feb. 1 trip to Staples High School found the Warriors on the short end of a 134.45-129.85 score with Norwalk scoring 61.7. Bright spots for Wilton were vault scores of 9.5 for Olivia Mannino and 9.0 for Justine Biersack, who also scored a season best 9.35 on floor.
Though scoring a season high 133.45, Wilton lost to visiting Fairfield Warde 139.1 and Fairfield Ludlowe 134.6. Though there were no outstanding performances, a collective team effort provided the mark north of 130 for the first time this year. Wilton returns to action next Thursday night, Feb. 10 at home against Greenwich.
Girls Ice Hockey
On Friday, Jan. 28, the Warriors girls ice hockey team defeated the Fairfield Co-op by a score of 10-2. The team used three goalies in the win, led by Emily Johnson who shut Fairfield out for the first two periods. Sabrina Smith and Luciana D’Orio finished off the third period for the combined team win. Scoring for the Warriors were Isabel DiNanno, Ella Noonan and Avery Pettit, each with 2 goals, and Kaelin Burke, Jane Hulse, Kate Lane and Ashley Sparkman each with a goal.
On Wednesday night, Feb. 2, the Warriors fell to the Mercy/NW Catholic Co-op by a 5-8 final. The Warriors fell behind by a 6-1 score going into the third period but the Warriors never gave up and pulled the score back to 6-5 before allowing 1 goal, then an empty net goal to lose by a 5-8 final. Scoring for the Warriors was DiNanno (2), Natalie Richardson, and Lane. Johnson played the first two periods in net and gave away to D’Orio in the third period.
Girls/Boys Indoor Track
The Wilton indoor track teams kicked off the championship portion of the season at the FCIAC meet at Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven on Thursday night, Feb. 3. The girls finished seventh with 34 points, and the boys were ninth with 18.
Each squad had two individual winners. Senior Ryan Johnson continued his outstanding season in the long jump, winning that event by more than a foot by improving his personal best by half an inch to 20 ft. 10 in.
Classmate Emily Mrakovcic used her trademark last lap kick to win the 1,000m in 2:59.53, lowering her personal best by over six seconds. Mrakovcic also anchored two relays, leading the sprint medley to third place in 4:34.79, just 0.07 away from silver, and the 4×400 to fourth in 4:23.64.
Other medalists for the boys included Cole Silvia, fourth in the 55m hurdles in a PR 8.55, Malcolm McCormick, fifth in the 1600m in a PR 4:31.45, and Garret Bouvier, fifth in the 55m in 6.81.
For the girls, other points came from freshman Anna Labant, fourth in the 55m hurdles in 10.04, Caroline Luce, sixth in the shot at 27’1”, Vivien Latt, tied for third in the pole vault at 7 ft. 6 in., the 4x800m relay, fifth in 10:45.48, and the 4x200m relay, sixth in 1:53.20.
The Warriors will return to the FLAC oval next Saturday morning, Feb. 12, for the CIAC Class L championships.
Girls Ski
At the race on Tuesday, Feb. 1, the Wilton girls varsity ski team placed first of 13 teams, and JV finished first of eight teams. While this makes the fourth time Wilton girls have come in first this season, all of the races have been close with Darien and Hand of Madison Wilton’s closest competitors.
The team has qualified for the State Championship which is currently scheduled for next week weather permitting.
Also, three team members raced on Monday, Jan. 31 for a chance to represent Team CT in the Easteren Regional HS Championships. One Wilton skier, freshman Gabby O’Meara, was selected to go on to the second qualifying race next week. The Eastern Regional HS Championships will be held in New Hampshire in March.
Boys Ski
The Wilton boys ski team secured the second spot during its race on Tuesday, Feb. 1, out of a competitive field of 14 teams. Coach Michael Kaulins continues to be blown away by the skill and sportsmanship shown by the Warriors each time they step foot on the hill.
Boys Swim and Dive
The Wilton Warriors boys swimming and diving team faced off against Greenwich High School at home this past Monday, Jan. 31. The team’s meet against Trumbull on Wednesday, Feb. 2 was postponed until Feb. 9. The boys assembled as planned for their annual team photo. On Friday, Feb. 4, Wilton hosted the Darien Blue Wave in what promised to be a challenging meet for the boys. Next week they are looking forward to their first victory of the season against Trumbull at home on the Feb. 9.
Wrestling
The Wilton wrestling team won its first dual meet of the season, 48-30 against Stamford High School. The wrestlers celebrated Senior Night and they were led to victory by seniors Quinn Kiss, Michael Arbisi and Kalman Wilf.