Four Canton High athletes earned first team All-State honors for their play on the field this fall. Alyssa Koczak (girls soccer), Madison Dufresne (field hockey), Lyla O’Connor (field hockey) and Mia Whilby (girls volleyball) earned first team All-State honors.
FOOTBALL
Coach: Erik Shortell
Record: 8-3, 6-1 Pequot Uncas Division (second)
All-Conference: Vin Forte, Carter Chambers, Wyatt Bernabucci, Kendall Thomas (Granby), Ryan Cuniowski, Hayes Horst (Granby), Tristian Jackson (Granby)
All-State: Hayes Horst (CHSCA)
CIAC state tournament: Lost to Sheehan, 20-6 in Class S quarterfinal
Of note: This was the fifth year of the co-op between Granby and Canton and the sixth consecutive year that Granby has qualified for the CIAC playoffs. The 351 points scored was the most in co-op history and 141 points allowed was the second fewest in co-op history
BOYS SOCCER
Coach: Chris Weller
Record: 7-7-3, 7-6-3 NCCC (tied fourth)
All-NCCC: Brad Balgach, Owen Weller
All-State: none
NCCC tournament: No post-season tournament
CIAC state tournament: Lost to Waterbury Career Academy, 4-3 in first round of Class S tournament
Of note: This was Weller’s first season as head coach following Bill Phelps, who coached the team for 35 years.
GIRLS SOCCER
Coach: Jim Potter
Record: 7-8-2, 6-3-2 NCCC (tied fourth)
All-NCCC: Alyssa Koczak, Mckenzie Yanke
All-State: Alyssa Koczak
NCCC tournament: No post-season tournament
CIAC state tournament: Lost to Coventry, 2-1 in 2 OT in first round of the Class S tournament
FIELD HOCKEY
Coach: Margaret Bristol
Record: 11-2-4, 5-1-2 NCCC (second)
All-NCCC: Madison Dufresne, Janelle Gagnon. Reagan Grecula, Lyla O’Connor, Bridget Sonju
All-State: Madison Dufresne, Lyla O’Connor
NCCC tournament: No post-season tournament
CIAC state tournament: Lost to NW Catholic 3-2, 2 OT in first round of Class S tournament
Of note: Gagnon was a second-team All-State selection. O’Connor, a goalie, earned All-State honors for the second straight season.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Coach: Andrew Barnes
Record: 17-8, 6-3 (fourth)
All-NCCC: Mia Whilby, Nora Wallace
All-State: Mia Whilby
NCCC tournament: Lost to Granby in semifinals, 3-0
CIAC state tournament: Lost to Valley Regional, 3-0 in Class S quarterfinals
Of note: Barnes was a first year coach, replacing Joe Sobowicz, who coached for two seasons. It was the first time that Canton had won a match in a CIAC tournament. Two wins put the Warriors in the quarterfinals for the first time. Whilby, a junior, led the Warriors with 122 kills. Fourteen wins in the regular season and 17 wins in a single season set new program records.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Keith Wilson
Record: 4-7, 4-7 NCCC
All-NCCC: none
All-State: none
NCCC championships: Eighth at NCCC championships (190 points)
CIAC state tournament: Ninth at Class SS championships (292 pts)
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Keith Wilson
Record: 6-5, 6-5 NCCC
All-Conference: Macy McCullough
All-State: none
NCCC championships: Seventh at NCCC championships (147 pts)
CIAC state tournament: 15th at Class SS championships (371 pts.)
