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Avon athletes earn accolades for performances this winter

Several Avon High athletes were honored for their play during the past winter with their selection to All-Conference teams. One athlete earned All-State honors this past winter. Wrestler Mason Beecher was named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State team for capturing the Class M championship at 126 pounds. Beecher finished fourth at the State Open. He finished second at the Central Connecticut Conference championships, falling to four-time Class S champion Jack Gedney of Lewis Mills.


BOYS BASKETBALL
Coach: Kris Pedra
Record: 5-15, 0-9 CCC Central
All-Conference: none
All-State: none
CCC tournament: Did not qualify
CIAC state tournament: Did not qualify
Of note: This was the 11th season for Pedra at the helm


GIRLS BASKETBALL
Coach: Drew Faucher
Record: 11-12, 3-5 CCC Central
All-Conference: none
All-State: none
CCC tournament: Lost first round to East Catholic, 51-29
CIAC state tournament:  Lost Division III second round to Lewis Mills, 58-33


WRESTLING
Coach: John McLaughlin
Record: 12-11, 2-3 CCC North
All-Conference: Mason Beecher, Liam Hildinger, Ayden Beecher, Thomas Frez, Konrad Lojewski
All-State: Mason Beecher
CCC tournament: 16th place (92 pts.)
CIAC state tournament:  15th Class M (75), 42nd State Open (22½); 81st New England championships (7)
Of note: Beecher (126 pounds) won the Class M championship and finished fourth at the State Open


BOYS HOCKEY
Coach: Mike Barone and Kyle Sopelak (first year)
Record: 14-8-1, 7-4-1 CCC North
All-Conference: Logan Royer
All-State: none
CCC tournament: Lost semifinals of CCC North to NW Catholic 1-0
CIAC state tournament: Lost quarterfinals of Division II tournament to East Haven, 5-2
Of note: Avon was part of the Farmington Valley Generals co-op for the 15th year. The co-op includes players from Farmington (host school), Avon, Lewis Mills and Windsor


GIRLS HOCKEY
Coach: Mike Carerra
Record: 10-10-1, 5-5 CCC
All-Conference: Maya Fanelli, forward (Wethersfield)
All-State: Maya Fanelli
CCC tournament: Lost in semifinals to Hall/Conard, 2-1
State tournament: Lost in first round of Connecticut High School Girls Hockey Association state tournament to Hall/Conard, 2-1
Of note: Club was known as Avon/Southington. Other co-op participants included Bristol, Wethersfield, Lewis Mills, Newington, RHAM and Coventry.


BOYS SWIMMING
Coach: Todd Dyer, first year
Record: 5-6, 2-3 CCC North
All-Conference: Abir Dutta, Lizzie May
All-State: none
CCC tournament: Second at CCC North championships (233 pts.)
CIAC state tournament: 14th at Class M championships (153); 49th at State Open (4)
Of note: The Falcons won the Splash Classic, the girls-only championship meet for girls competing in boys swimming season. It was Avon’s second consecutive Splash Classic title since 2018 and 15th title since 2004.


BOYS INDOOR TRACK
Coach: Courtney Fusco
Record: No dual meet record
All-Conference: Brahm Bulow, Chris Campbell, Andrew Kessler, Riley Klotz
All-State: none
CCC Championships: 12th overall (18); CCC Central: 5th place (47)
CIAC state tournament: 5th place Class M (25); State Open: Did not score
Of note: Bulow set a new school record in the 5,000 meters at the Nike Indoor track and field national championship meet in Boston on March 13. Bulow had a record time of 15:02.98 to finish fourth in the Emerging Elite race.


GIRLS INDOOR TRACK
Coach: Courtney Fusco
Record: No dual meet record
All-Conference: none
All-State: none
CCC championships: tied 15 overall (6); CCC Central: 8th place (23)
CIAC state tournament: 11th place Class M (17); State Open: 0 points


CHEERLEADING
Coach: Alyssa Raponey
Record: None
All-Conference: Thea Gonzalez, Alexis Hoffman

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Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the Connecticut Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2025 and the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

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