Six Avon High athletes earn All-State honors for play this fall

Avon senior hitter Emily Dempsey earned All-State and All-Region I honors for her play this fall with the Falcons.

Six Avon High athletes earned All-State honors for their performances this fall. Runners Jack Martin, Tyler Hinrichs, Rhiannon Richmond and Gabrielle Richmond earned All-State honors along with volleyball player Emily Dempsey and field hockey player Megan Gilbey.

Martin, a sophomore, became the fifth boy in school history and the first Falcon in 35 years to win a state title in cross country with a victory at the Class MM championship meet. His 21-second victory helped Avon finish second in Class MM behind East Lyme, 67-87. Teammate Tyler Hinrichs was 12th to earn All-State honors.

In the girls Class MM championship race, senior Rhiannon Richmond became the fifth girl in school history to win a state title with a 15-second victory. She helped the Falcons finish third in Class MM. Rhiannon Richmond was joined in All-State recognition by her sister, Gabrielle, who finished eleventh.

Rhiannon Richmond won the Class MM title to earn All-State honors for the third time. (Photo courtesy Richmond family)

Rhiannon earned All-State honors for the third straight year in cross country and the sixth time in her scholastic career. She was All-State in outdoor track in 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Dempsey, a 6-foot outside hitter, helped lead Avon to their first-ever state championship in volleyball. The Falcons beat CCC rival RHAM in the Class L semifinals and beat Guilford in the state finals, 3-0. She was named MVP of the final.

Dempsey, who led the Falcons with a team-leading 354 kills, earned also All-Region I honors (New England, New York) from the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association). She earned All-State honors from the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and from GameTimeCT, which selected just 12 players to their All-State team.

Avon’s Megan Gilbey and Farmington’s Kylee Ficks, left, battle for the ball during Monday’s Class M field hockey game in Avon. The Falcons won, 1-0.

Gilbey, a junior midfielder, had a team-leading seven goals as the Falcons went 1-1-1 in their last three games to earn a spot in the CIAC tournament. In the Class M tournament, the Falcons beat Farmington before losing to eventual state champion Guilford.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Record: 2-5, 2-5 CCC West. Tenth CCC championships
CIAC Tournament: Second Class MM championships. 16th State Open
All-CCC West: Tyler Hinrichs, Dan Carvalho
All-State: Jack Martin, Tyler Hinrichs
All-Courant: Jack Martin

BOYS SOCCER
Record: 4-9-3, 1-7-2 CCC West Patriot
CIAC tournament: Did not qualify
All-CCC West: Romi Eldah
All-State: none

FIELD HOCKEY
Record: 6-9-2-2, 2-4-0-1 CCC South
CIAC tournament: Lost second round Class M to Guilford, 9-1
All-CCC South: Megan Gilbey, Haylie Thompson
All-State: Megan Gilbey
All-Courant: Megan Gilbey

FOOTBALL
Record: 2-8, 1-3 CCC Division III East
All-CCC Division III East: Sean Nolan, Kevin Mullaj, Quandrell Stewart, Chris Gens, Francisco Longo
All-State: none

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Record: 3-4, 3-4 CCC West. Sixth CCC championships
CIAC tournament: Third Class MM championships
All-CCC West: Rhiannon Richmond, Gabrielle Richmond, Mareen Ek, Sarah Lancaster
All-State: Rhiannon Richmond, Gabrielle Richmond
All-Courant: Rhiannon Richmond

GIRLS SOCCER
Record: 5-10-1, 0-10 CCC West Patriot
CIAC tournament: Did not qualify
All-CCC West: Claire Archer
All-State: none

VOLLEYBALL
Record: 23-2, 10-0 CCC West champions
CIAC tournament: Won Class L championship, beat Guilford, 3-0
All-CCC West: Emily Dempsey, Abby St. Onge, Baylee Braun, Noelle Powers
All-State: Emily Dempsey (CHSCA and GameTimeCT)
Hartford Courant volleyball player of the year: Emily Dempsey
All-Courant: Dempsey and Abby St. Onge.