Canton athletes earn All-State honors for play this fall

Eleven Canton High athletes earned All-State honors for their play on the field this fall. Three players each from the boys soccer, girls soccer and field hockey teams earned All-State honors. Hitter Mia Whilby earned All-State honors for the second consecutive year with the Warrior volleyball team while Brady Morrison earned All-State honors with the boys cross country team.

FOOTBALL
Coach: Erik Shortell
Record: 6-4, 4-3 Pequot Uncas Division (fourth)
All-Conference: Wyatt Bernabucci (OL), Oliver Douglas (DB, Granby), Joe Lewie (LB, Granby), Tristian Jackson (DL, Granby)
All-State: none
CIAC state tournament: Did not qualify
Of note: This was the sixth year of the co-op between Granby and Canton. It was the first time that the co-op team did not qualify for the CIAC state tournament. Douglas, Lewie and Jackson are from Granby. … Bernabucci earned All-Uncas honors for the second straight year.

BOYS SOCCER
Coach: Chris Weller
Record: 15-2-1, 9-1 (NCCC champions)
All-NCCC: Quinn Aleksa, Brad Balgach, Jackson Bowne, Owen Weller
All-State: Quinn Aleksa (midfielder), Brad Balgach (foward), Owen Weller (goalie)
NCCC tournament: No post-season tournament
CIAC state tournament: Lost to Cromwell, 1-0 in Class S quarterfinals
Of note: All three players earned All-State honors from the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA)

GIRLS SOCCER
Coach: Jim Potter
Record: 14-4-1, 7-2-1 NCCC (third)
All-NCCC: Alyssa Koczak, Julia Koczak, McKenzie Yanke
All-State: Alyssa Koczak, Julia Koczak, McKenzie Yanke
NCCC tournament: No post-season tournament
CIAC state tournament: Lost to Old Saybrook, 1-0, in Class S semifinals
Of note: Alyssa Koczak earned All-State honors for the second consecutive year. The three Canton players were named to the Connecticut Girls Soccer Coaches Association All-State team.

FIELD HOCKEY
Coach: Margaret Bristol
Record: 13-3-0-2, 6-2 NCCC (second)
All-NCCC: Janelle Gagnon, Reagan Grecula, Madeleine Tucker, Valerie Naja, Valentina Palomo
All-State: Janelle Gagnon, Reagan Grecula, Madeleine Tucker
NCCC tournament: No post-season tournament
CIAC state tournament: Lost to Nonnewaug, 1-0 in OT in Class S quarterfinals
Of note: Gagnon, Grecula and Tucker were Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) first team selections.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Coach: Andrew Barnes
Record: 18-9, 5-4 NCCC (tied fourth)
All-NCCC: Sophia Mazza, Mia Whilby
All-State: Mia Whilby
NCCC tournament: Lost to Coventry in NCCC semifinals, 3-0
CIAC state tournament: Lost to Coventry in Class S championship match, 3-0
Of note: Whilby earned All-State honors for the second year in a row. It was Canton’s first-ever appearance in the state championship match.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Keith Wilson
Record: 4-7, 4-7 NCCC
All-NCCC: Brady Morrison
All-State: Brady Morrison
NCCC championships: Eighth at NCCC championships
CIAC state tournament: Ninth at Class SS championships

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Keith Wilson
Record: 10-1, 10-1 NCCC
All-NCCC: Helen Canny, Annie Lynch, Macy McCullough, Ruby Theberge
All-State: none
NCCC championships: Second at NCCC championships
CIAC state tournament: No score. Canton had just four runners and you need five runners to finish to register a team score.