(Photo courtesy Fiorella Gargiulo)

By Avery Moulton – Staff Reporter 

With the 2024 spring outdoor track season in full swing, the Jonathan Law girls track team is hoping for another successful year.

Sophomore Molly Croce has been one of the key members of the girls outdoor track team this season. At such a young age, Croce has impacted the team very much. 

Croce has already qualified for states and SCC’s and will compete in those during May. 

“So far the season has gone very well,” Croce said. “I have made new personal records, made states in all of my events, including two relays.”

Croce is a sprinter and runs one personal event and two relays. She runs the 100 meters, 4×100 relay, and the 4×400 relays. On her 4×100 team is also senior Caden Simpson, freshman Emily Vella, and sophomore Andrea Crump. The 4×400 team is Croce, sophomore Layla Alogna, junior Natalia Michnick, and freshman Talia Hagan.

“Molly’s times have improved drastically from last year,” senior captain Hailey Russo said. “She is a great leader for under and upperclassmen and has a bright future in track.”

Croce has many goals she would like to achieve before the season comes to an end.

“One of my big goals for this year is to break the school record for the 4×100 relay,” Croce said. “ We have a strong team and a great chance of reaching that goal with a lot of practice and hard work.”

Croce also makes time to help her teammates when struggling. She focuses on supporting others and showing she cares about her friends and teammates. 

“Molly is always there for me as a teammate and is someone who will give me advice and someone to hangout with during practices and meets,” sophomore Charlotte Balderi said. “She is always someone who pushes me to be a better runner.”

With having the experience from indoor track, Croce has been able to practice and improve for months now.

By preparing for the meets Croce works on speed, endurance, and fitness. This all helps her for meets and be successful. 

“Molly inspires me with her positive attitude on and off the track,” freshman Emily Vella said. “She is always focused when she is running but once she is done, she hangs out, cheers people on, and has fun.”

Croce is looking forward to the rest of the season and accomplishing many of her goals. 

(Photo courtesy Harshitha Kothapalli)

By Layla Alogna – Staff Reporter

Sophomore Harshitha Kothapalli has started off her second year on the Law varsity girls tennis team strong.

Kothapalli’s record so far this season is 6-4. She has been a key player who has greatly contributed to the team’s success so far this year.

“My personal goals for this season are to have a good record and to be able to make states personally and SCCs,” Kothapalli said.

The team has been conditioning and practicing since early March. They work towards getting better every day.

“We’ve been practicing every chance we get, highlighting our weaknesses, and making sure we can adapt quickly on the court to any of our opponents,” Kothapalli said.

Kothapalli, who plays second singles for Law, has several individual and team goals for the year. 

“My goal for the team is to be able to make states by winning eight matches,” Kothapalli said. “But more importantly, my goal for the team is to make sure that we’re a tight-knit group that trust each other and learn from one another.”

Head Coach Mr. Kulenych pushes Kothapalli every day. 

“Harshi has established herself this season as one of the best players on our team,” Kulenych said. “She stepped up from doubles to singles this year and has improved every match. She worked extremely hard this offseason and all of that hard work has paid off for sure.”

Kothapalli has been playing tennis from a very young age. She grew up around the sport and has much love for it. She brings that love and passion to the tennis team.

“The biggest thing I love about tennis is the joy I receive from it,” Kothapalli said. “I’ve been playing tennis my whole life and I would not know what to do without it. Whenever I have free time I think of tennis so being able to share that love with my teammates is such an amazing feeling.”

Kulenych said that Kothapalli’s attitude and work ethic have helped her reach the level of success she has had over her first two high school seasons.

“Harshi’s biggest strength is her determination on the court,” Kulenych said. “She has battled through some injuries this year, but she never gives up and fights for every point. She is also a tremendous teammate who brings a lot of fire and personality to the team.”

(Photo courtesy @JLHSAthletics)

By Madi Black and Courtney Russo – Staff Reporters 

Freshmen Lily Stankevich and Alexander Konlian were both named March Student Athletes of the Month. 

Both Stankevich and Konlian start on varsity and play key roles on their team. Stankevich is the starting second baseman on the softball team and Konlian plays midfield for the boys lacrosse team.

“I think of qualities like commitment and time management,” Stankevich said. “I think balancing academics and sports need responsibility and teamwork.”

Stankevich was also a gymnast for Law in the winter. Before coming to Law, she went to both the Little League World Series and the Junior League World Series. 

“I feel proud and happy about being Athlete of the Month,” Stankevich said. “It shows the hard work that I have put into my sport, and that brings me a sense of accomplishment.”

Stankevich is hitting second on the team and is consistently getting on base. Stankevich is always putting the work outside of practice and in practice. 

Konlian is doing the same for boys lacrosse. He keeps his grades up in school and keeps working hard on the field. 

“I have two study periods to work in and practice is usually from 4-6 p.m., I can do work before and after,” Konlian said. “I have to plan to get my homework done before the days I have games.”

Konlian worked extremely hard to be starting varsity and his work has paid off. 

“It feels super good winning Athlete of the Month – at the time I was surprised and shocked but I am mostly excited and happy about it,” Konlian said. “The qualities that I think define me as a student athlete are working in school and on the field.”

Law softball coach Mrs. Blude is very excited that one of her players got named Student Athlete of the Month. 

“It is impressive for a freshman to have such a great start to their season,” Blude said “She worked hard all winter and it is paying off.”

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Will Smith – Entertainment Editor

The Jonathan Law boys lacrosse season kicked off March 31 against Lyman Hall.

As of April 17, the team has a record of 4-3 with wins against Notre Dame of Fairfield, Ledyard, Wilbur Cross, and Norwich Tech, and losses to Foran, North Haven, and Lyman Hall. 

This year, the team welcomes a new head coach, Frank Skawinski, who formerly coached at Notre Dame-Fairfield.

Senior captain Dylan Wargo and junior Nathan Marroquin have been key players for the Lawmen so far this season.

“I like the environment that the new coaching staff has created for the team,” Marroquin said.

The team has working on their conditioning to stay strong and healthy for the season so they can achieve their goals. 

“We had two weeks of conditioning, we ran sprints, we did dynamic warmups and we did strength and conditioning in the weight room,” junior Basel Chwiki said. “These helped us get stronger and faster and in shape before the season.”

Senior goalie Aiden Stassun is working towards his goals while trying to help the team reach states.

“My goal for the season is to make states,” Stassun said. “But for my own personal goal I want to get over 400 career saves.”

Freshman Henry Smith is adjusting well to high school lacrosse.

“It’s a bigger commitment than during youth,” Smith said. “A lot more time is being spent on lacrosse and I’m playing against all kinds of different age groups unlike before.”

Junior Tim Firla is another one of the key starters for Law this season.

“I’m excited to see what this season will bring us,” Firla said.

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Zack Sulkis – Social Media Editor-In-Chief

The Jonathan Law girls tennis team has hit the courts and is off to a solid start this season.

The girls currently have a 4-4 record with wins over Shelton, West Haven, Sheehan, and Lyman Hall. The team is halfway to one of its preseason goals of winning at least eight matches and returning to the State Tournament for the fifth straight year.

“The season is turning out pretty well,” senior co-captain Moulika Sivalenka said. “We have expected wins and losses, but we are fighting hard every match. Here and there we might falter a little, but our team spirits are always high and we always support each other during matches.” 

This year’s captains are seniors Isabella Gecaj, Chloe Haasch, Kaitlyn Goldberg, and Sivalenka.

Key singles players this season include Gecaj, Goldberg, sophomore Harshitha Kothapalli, and freshman Courtney Russo. Key doubles players include Haasch, Sivalenka, senior Kayla Nastasia, junior Kacey Pagaduan, junior Brianna Madelung, sophomore Siya Patil, and junior Carol Jiang.

Kothapalli said she is proud of the way the team has navigated a difficult schedule to start the year.

“I think we’ve done well on being able to recover from playing hard teams,” Kothapalli said. “We try to always learn from our mistakes and bring the same level of dedication and determination to each match.”

Head Coach Mr. Kulenych has high expectations that he feels the girls will meet this season.

“This is one of the hardest-working and most dedicated groups of girls we’ve ever had,” Kulenych said. “They trained so hard in the offseason and I’m excited to see how all of that hard work pays off. We have a good mix of experience and new talent, and if we keep our focus on getting a little better every day, we should have a very successful season.”

The team is very well connected and friendly with each other and has a very tight-knit bond. The captains and seniors emphasize this with team bonding activities often and they feel its brought them closer together.

“My favorite thing about Law girls tennis would be the team bond,” Gecaj said. “Everyone is really close and it’s something you don’t always see on a team. Everyone has a lot of respect for each other and it’s great to see so many good sports all on one team.”

(Photo by Fiorella Gargiulo)

By Tim Firla – Entertainment Editor 

The Jonathan Law boys track team is back with high hopes for the 2024 outdoor season.

After a great season last year, the Lawmen are looking to repeat and improve on last year’s results.

Junior captain Brayden Hancock said he has personal goals for himself and the team.

“I want to be the best I can for myself and the team,” Hancock said. “I’m looking forward to our upcoming meet at Branford.” 

In the team’s first meet of the season, DJ Wilder (high jump, long jump, triple jump) and Jack Bretthauer (100M, 200M, 400M) qualified for States in three events. Also qualifying for States were Cam Upchurch (high lump), Joe Richardson (pole vault), JT Nelly (long jump), Dash Gassen (110 HH), Faisal Karzoun (100M, 200M) and Tyson Boehm (javelin).

In Law’s second meet, and first meet on the new home track, the Lawmen defeated Foran and Platt Tech.

Senior Zack Sulkis said he is impressed with the performances so far from the team’s throwers.

“I like the effort I’m seeing out of all the throwers and I love seeing the younger talent develop,” Sulkis said.  “We have freshman throwing close to SCC numbers after two meets and I’m convinced we’re only going to get better from here. I’m just hoping our fat-man relay dominates this year to keep the tradition alive.” 

With the loss of some seniors last year, the Lawmen have been relying on several underclassmen to fill the gaps.

“The team has me all over the place and it’s fun to try new events all the time,” junior Cesar Mendez said. “I enjoy watching other people succeed in their event and watch every player grow.”

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Bobby Black – Sports Editor

The Jonathan Law golf team is excited to get started this season after making the State Tournament last year. 

The team has many returning players including captain Jaden Archuleta and other key players. 

“I’m excited to get the season started after having a very successful season last year,” Archuleta said. “The rest of them is also very excited and we are looking to return to the State Tournament like we did last year.”

The team members have set individual goals for themselves as well as the team setting their own collective goals. 

“One of my goals is to play in every match and to try and shoot into the 40s this year so I could be right up their with the starters on the team for every match,” junior Harry Fisher said. 

The team has set one collective goal for themselves that they are working towards every day. 

“Our team goals for the season are to stay consistent, compete with the other team that we play which will lead us to have a strong chance to have a top team score in the State Tournament,” senior Tanner Matchett said.

The team practices three to four days a week at courses around Milford to prepare for the matches throughout the season. 

“One thing I am looking forward to is getting out on the course everyday as well as improving my scores and becoming a better golfer,” Fisher said. “I am also looking forward to getting tips from my teammates and how we can improve each other’s swings.” 

So far this season, Law has three wins in its first four matches. 

“The season has been great so far,” Coach Mr. Maurutis said. “We have struggled with the weather, however my players are playing well and I can’t ask for a better bunch of kids, they are already coming together as a team.”

(Photo courtesy milfordmirror.com)

By Harry Fisher – Sports Editor 

With the 2024 season underway, Jonathan Law is hoping to have a great year of baseball.

After making the Class M State Tournament last year, the Lawmen have high hopes this year. Law has six players who have committed to play college baseball and has been working extremely hard to prepare for the season.

So far, the team is off to a 2-4 start with wins over Hamden and Cheshire with losses to Foran and New Canaan. One of the key players in the team’s wins so far this year is junior Michael Merchant.

Merchant, who is committed to Rutgers University, helped the Lawmen in the win against Hamden where he drove in three runs to help the team come out with a win.

“My goal for myself is to keep our team alive with a lot of energy and my goal for the team is to win the State Championship,” Merchant said. “I am working to get better on a daily basis is also part of my goal.” 

Merchant also talked about the type of intense preparation the team has done to improve. 

“We have been doing a lot of conditioning, especially during the offseason,” Merchant said. “All of our hitting and the defensive drill work we did is starting to show.” 

Merchant’s work ethic and positive attitude shine through in practice and on the baseball field. 

“We have a very good pitching staff and everyone worked hard during the off-season,” Merchant said. “We continue to put in a lot of effort and work hard during our daily hitting sessions to ensure our hitting is sharp.” 

With a quarter of the baseball season completed, the Lawmen are hungry to win as many games as possible to get back to the State Tournament.  

(Photo courtesy @JLHSTrack)

By Cesar Mendez – Sports Editor 

Jonathan Law’s girls track team is starting up its 2024 spring season.

Law has several home meets this season and will look to set as many individual and team records as possible. 

“This outdoor season, I am excited to try new events,” senior Caden Simpson said. “I will be competing in high jump and longer distance races, which will help me get ready for college.” 

Simpson is a captain on the team and holds multiple school records like the 110M hurdles and then 300M hurdles. Simpson has committed to run Division I track at Monmouth University.

Other key members of the girls track team are senior Lexi Borecki, who broke her own school recor din the pole vault in Law’s season-opening meet against North Haven, and senior Claire Moulton.

“I’m most excited for the invitational meets with the 4×800 relay team,” Moulton said. “A goal of mine that I have is making SCCs and States.”

On top of many returning athletes from last season, Law also has many freshmen and sophomores who have joined this year.

“I’m most excited to experience the process of an outdoor meet and cheering on others on the team,” sophomore Fiorella Gargiulo said. “This is my first year doing outdoor track, so I’m excited to run with my friends as the weather gets warmer.”

The team is most excited for their upcoming meet against Foran High School and Platt Tech in what has been dubbed the “Milford City Championship.”

Senior Jessica Brocksom is of Law’s most experience returning throwers.

“For myself, I will be attempting different strategies for throwing and for others I hope to give them advice on form and strategies that will benefit them best,” Brocksom said.

The girls track team has been very successful in recent years and hopes to continue that this season.

“I’m most excited for the meets this season,” junior Olivia Pisacane said. “ The team is always there for each other and I’m excited to get into the season.”

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Harshitha Kothapalli – News Editor 

The Jonathan Law boys tennis team has started the spring season with a new mindset and by serving up victories. 

The team is off to a 2-3 start to the season with wins over Hamden and North Haven.

“This year we’re more dedicated than ever and play every match to the best of our abilities,” senior captain Srivarsh Gudlavalleti said. “We’ve already started off the season on a better foot and I can’t wait to see where it heads.”

Their biggest goal this season is to make states as a team, meaning they will have to win eight matches. 

“We aim to use the growth and camaraderie we’ve built together to exceed our performance from last season,” senior captain Jon Uruchida said. 

Law has also gained three freshmen starters – Ryan Berendt, Dylan Maselli, and Pierce Marini – which has increased the depth of their team.

“(The upperclassmen) try to create a friendly environment where freshmen feel welcome and part of the team,” senior Saharsh Bhatia said. “My goal is to step up and set an example for the freshmen.”

Captains Gudlavalleti, Uruchida, and Arshaq Ahmed all fulfill their duties through a myriad of aspects from leading practices by teaching gameplay and drills to making sure that each of their teammates are physically and mentally ready for matches. 

“Our main idea this year is to make states, but it’s also really important that we work together and create friendships and experiences on the journey,” Gudlavalleti said. 

Each one of their players is laser-focused through their consistent and structured practices. 

“We’ve been working on being able to address our weaknesses and tackle them so that in a match we can quickly adjust to our opposition,” Bhatia said. 

Uruchida knows that all the boys on the team have worked long and hard but also realizes that the nerves are unmatchable.

“To combat the nervous feeling, before every match, we have a team huddle where we motivate each other through speeches and a group chant,” Uruchida said. “This allows the boys to know that we’re in it together.”

While the team has its own objectives, junior Sean Luxeder maintains his personal goals. 

“My goal this season is to have a winning record and to be able to adapt and strategize quickly on the court,” Luxeder said. 

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Maya Markowitz – Social Media Editor 

The Jonathan Law girls lacrosse team has hit the turf running for the spring season.

The team, with the help of their brand new coaching staff, has been practicing countless hours to prepare for this season. 

Law’s new head coach, Chloe Oliver, graduated from Foran in 2021 and played goalie for the Albertus Magnus lacrosse team. Oliver is ready to take the next step in the game of lacrosse by coaching at Law.

“My favorite part about coaching so far has been watching the girls grow and learn together,” Oliver said. “They definitely have a natural tendency to lift each other up.” 

Apart from the new coaching staff, a number of new players have joined the team this year

“This being the first time I have ever picked up a stick,” freshman Jocelyn Larracuente said. “I’ve really gotten to be a lot more familiar with the game with the help of my teammates and coaches.” 

With all of these adjustments, the team often sticks together by participating in bonding activities including pre-game rituals. 

“We typically have pasta parties the day before a game in order to build a stronger bond as a team and to get us in the zone together,” senior captain Zoe Johnson said. 

Players have set goals both individual and team goals for this season. Some of these goals may include breaking goal records, improving their speed, or increasing their playing time.

Senior Helen Chizmazia has been on the team for four years and was named a captain this year. 

“This season, I definitely came in with a lot more determination and drive than I’ve had before,” Chizmazia said. “Setting expectations for myself as a player in addition to having coaches that constantly implement so much positivity in practice has helped my hold myself accountable this season.”

Law has played four games so far this season and junior Chloe Konareski recently earned her 100th career goal at an away game vs. Lyman Hall. 

“I was really excited to make my 100th career goal,” Konereski said. “I have been working hard in the off season which I believe allowed me to have this accomplishment.”

The team utilizes their strong dynamic and bond to their advantage not only during the toughest of games but even celebrating each other at practices.  

With all of the hard work, dedication, and positivity ready to put into this upcoming season, the team is hopefully looking to grow this season. 

“The girls lacrosse program at Law is a fairly new program,” Assistant Coach Mr. Beardsley said. “I remember I was in high school when the team was started around my sophomore year. To see first hand how far the program has come since then has been awesome and just proves how much more growth is possible.”

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Ella Franzman – Editor-in-Chief 

The Jonathan Law baseball team is anxious and ready for the season to start. 

The Lawmen open on March 30 at home against New Milford with the first varsity pitch at 11 a.m. The team has been preparing very hard for this game since spring tryouts started on March 16. 

“Our team has been preparing by playing in 4 scrimmages over the course of about a week and a half,” senior captain Hunter Hoxie said. “This will help us get everyone used to pitching to batters and hitting against live pitching.” 

Along with Hoxie, the captains for this season are Alex Bludevich and Declan Wywoda. 

“Our main goal is to be playing for a state championship in June,” Assistant Coach Mr. McPartland said. “However, we are fully aware that in order to accomplish that long-term goal, we must have several micro-goals. Everyday at practice we strive to get a little bit better. ”

The Lawmen lost a handful of seniors last year, but know they have kids who will fill those roles. 

“My two goals this season are to make the state tournament and make the SCC tournament as well,” Wywoda said. “I think our team is very talented and we have the potential to have a special year.”

The team has lots of talent including five seniors who are committed to play baseball in college. Wywoda is committed to George Washington University and Hoxie and junior Michael Merchant are committed to Rutgers University.

“I am really excited to see what the team will bring when the season starts, we have been playing great in our scrimmages,” Merchant said. “I am also very excited to see how our team works together and continues to grow and get better everyday.”

Senior pitcher Brian Goglia, who is committed to Virginia Commonwealth University, agreed with Merchant, and said how eager he was for the season to start. 

“Goals for this season team wise, is to work hard on our offense and apply it to games,” senior Jaxson Smith said. “We have a great pitching staff, we just need to put runs up on the board.” 

After a strong run in the Class M state tournament, going to the second round and falling short to St. Joseph High School last year, the team believes this year will be better.  

“As a team, I think this is the year to make a run at the championship. If we can stay healthy and have all of our players on the field at all times, we are a very dangerous team,” Wywoda said. “Every player on our roster is very valuable and anyone can play at any time and make a huge impact.” 

(Photo courtesy @jlawwrestling)

By Will Smith and Tim Firla – Entertainment Editors

Freshman Selena Batres recently made history by becoming the became the 100 pound girls state wrestling champion.

Batres followed up that performance with a fourth place showing at the New England Girls Wrestling Tournament. Before coming to Law, Batres trained for many years with the South Side Wrestling Club. 

“It feels good to be a state champ, and rep my team,” Batres said. “Ever since I started wrestling when I was younger, it was always a goal of mine to win states, and to do it my freshman year feels very rewarding.”

Batres was not the only Law girls wrestler to have an impressive postseason.

During the state tournament, senior Marissa Wargo came in fourth place at 114 pounds in the final meet of her high school career. This was the third time during her career that Wargo placed in the tournament.

“Selena is a dedicated young wrestler that is determined to compete,” Assistant Coach Mr. Ruzbarsky said.

Other notable placements in the girls state tournament were freshman Nicoletta Pacifico, who finished with two wins and two losses at 114 pounds; junior Sophia Abbaspour, who finished with two wins and two losses at 120 pounds; sophomore Mackenzie Nichols, who finished with one win and two losses at 126 pounds; and sophomore Meghan Velasquez, who finished with two wins and two losses at 152 pounds.

“I think it’s awesome seeing our younger wrestlers thrive,” Sulkis said. “I would love to see this program thrive in the future when I graduate. Selena has a lot of experience and is a real hard worker. When you put in the work she has, the results she gets aren’t shocking seeing her dominate.”

(Photo courtesy Alex Bludevich)

By Ryan Nobles – Staff Reporter

Alex Bludevich is starting his senior season for the Jonathan Law baseball team and is striving to help the team win as many games as possible.

Bludevich and the rest of the team are ready for the season. He and his teammates have put in a lot of work at conditioning and getting togethers to get ready for tryouts and the start of the season.

The team has begun playing scrimmages and practicing to put themselves in the best shape possible to beat any challenges they may face. Bludevich is one of Law’s captains and veteran leaders and has earned the respect of the team’s underclassmen.

“He’s a great leader, always the first one at the field and last one off it, always working hard and giving the team a great example of a true leader,” sophomore Aidan Rascati said.

Bludevich has been playing baseball for basically his whole life. He is devoted to the game and shows his true determination and love for the sport.

“Alex is a great example of what everyone wants to be like, a true captain,” sophomore Brady O’Neil said. “He really shows a lot of heart and passion to the game and will do whatever it takes to help his team win in any situation against any opponent. He helps the team out in many ways and leads by example.”

Bludevich said he takes his role of captain seriously.

“Baseball has always been in my heart,” Bludevich said. “Ever since I was little playing with my family, I take it very seriously because it means the world to me. This season I am going to try my hardest to help the team out in as many ways as possible. I am glad to be a leader because I get to help others accomplish their goal while still accomplishing my own. Having leaders on the team is important because it helps hold the team together and having someone there to lend a hand when needed.”

Law opens its season at home against New Milford on March 30.

(Photo courtesy Roman Belbita)

By Yeiden Nieves and Michael Smith – Staff Reporters

Sophomore Roman Belbita is ready to face off with the Law boys lacrosse team this spring. 

Belbita contributed to the varsity lacrosse team as a freshman last season. He was a key scorer, knocking down shots not shying away from the competition. 

“I want to help build up the program and help the team get a winning record this year,” Belbita said. “That starts with working with my teammates everyday and helping each other get better.”

Belbita brings many offensive skills to the field this year. He strives to get better everyday in practice. 

“I think this year Roman will bring new and refined skills to the offensive side of the field, and eagerness to learn and get better,” senior captain Dylan Wargo said.

Teammates said that Belbita is a hard worker and always pushes to compete. His hard work and dedication makes him a strong player.

“Roman’s hard work makes him great at getting up and down the field,” freshman Alex Konlian said. “He’s great at helping us clear the ball and scoring.”

Belbita obtained an elbow injury earlier in the year, but that has not stopped him from working hard. 

“Roman adapts to the changes and challenges thrown at him with a positive outlook,” junior Tucker Donegan said. “He doesn’t focus on the negative impact in the situation.”

Belbita has learned and been through a lot with ups and downs in the past season. He is looking forward to this season because of how prepared and comfortable he is.

“Everyday I try to get better than I was yesterday,” Belbita said. “Working hard doesn’t just benefit you but it benefits your team as well which is a big goal of mine.”

Belbita has made sure to be an active member of the team, constantly showing up to captain’s practices, lifts, and conditioning. 

“Being consistent and active with the team is only going to make us better,” Belbita said. “With my injury this year I wasn’t as physical as I wished I was so I made sure I attended conditionings and captain’s practices.”

(Photo courtesy @JLHSAthletics)

By Cesar Mendez and Zack Sulkis – Sports Editor and Social Media Editor-in-Chief

Several Jonathan Law seniors are getting ready to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. 

Over the last few weeks, a number of Law athletes have committed to perform at the next level and are excited for the challenge. 

Senior Caden Simpson will be running Division I track at Monmouth University next year. She holds multiple records at Law including the 110M hurdles and the 300M hurdles. 

“I feel really fortunate to run on a collegiate level,” Simpson said. “I worked hard to get where I am and being able to continue doing what I love in college is exciting and nerve-racking.”

Senior JT Nelly will be playing football at the Naval Academy Prep School for one year and then playing at the Coast Guard Academy for the next four years. Nelly was a captain of Law’s football team and is a captain for the track team. 

“It feels great to be able to compete at the next level,” Nelly said. “I am doing a lot to prepare myself such as working out and going to the field often, and making sure my grades are still high for the end of the year transcript. Track is helping with my preparation and keeping me explosive as I gain weight and muscle.” 

Senior Jack Bretthauer will be running Division I track at Iona University. Bretthauer is a captain of Law’s track team. 

“I am looking forward to the high level I will be able to compete at along with the new resources and tools I will gain access to as I continue to collegiate track,” Bretthauer said. 

Senior Eliot Melgar will be playing soccer at Eastern Connecticut State University. Melgar was a captain of the Law soccer team and led the team in goals scored last season.

“I’m most looking forward to getting to play the sport I enjoy and to improve by challenging myself with harder opposition to improve my own skillset,” Melgar said. “I also look forward to playing in games and helping my team be successful.”

Senior Bobby Black also recently announced that he will be playing baseball at Western New England University next year. 

“I look forward to playing the sport I love and to continue to compete and win with new teammates,” Black said.

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Bobby Black – Sports Editor

The Jonathan Law girls basketball team recently completed a thrilling regular season with a 10-10 record.

After going winless last year, Law was able to qualify for both States and SCCs this season. 

“The team did very well this year,” junior Ella Franzman said. “We finished with a 10-10 in the regular season, qualifying for both the SCC and State Tournaments. Unfortunately, we lost in the first rounds of both tournaments but it was a huge improvement to make it there after having an 0-20 record last season.”

The team has two captains this year – senior Zoe Johnson and junior Chloe Konareski – who both set goals for the season. 

“The team set multiple goals this season,” Johnson said. “Our first goal was to win six games to qualify for States, as well as win 10 games to qualify for SCCs. We were able to achieve both of these goals this season.”

There were many memorable moments throughout the season, such as the team winning on Senior Night as well as qualifying for SCCs in their last game of the regular season. 

“My favorite moment this year was beating Lauralton Hall at home on Senior Night,” Franzman said. “When we played them away we didn’t play our best and lost, but then we were able to play at home and win our last regular season game which also happened to be Senior Night.”

Other key players for Law this season were sophomore Andrea Crump, junior Tessa Piselli, junior Haley Stroffolino, junior Taylor Coretti, and freshman Sadie Timmeny. The team loses only one senior, so most of the team is returning for next year. 

Returning members are already setting goals and working on their skills for next year where they look to make it back to the postseason. 

“I’m looking forward to working with my teammates over the summer and getting better so that next year we can have a winning record and again qualify for the post season tournaments and make a farther run,” Franzman said. “I’m also looking forward to playing one more season with some of my closest friends.”

(Photo courtesy Milford Mariners)

By Harry Fisher – Sports Editor 

After a hard-fought season, the Milford Mariners finished with a 4-15 record on the year.

Throughout the season, the young Mariners team continued to evolve as a team. They battled for pucks in the corner, worked the offensive zones, and showed a lot of growth and improvement.

During his first season as the head coach of the Mariners, JP Shimko worked hard to make sure the team was ready to have a successful season. Despite falling short of the State Tournament, Shimko was still extremely proud of the growth and work ethic the team showed over the course of the year.

“Although our goals were not met this season, we are very happy with our growth over this past year,” Shimko said. 

Shimko said his favorite moment from the season was beating Wilton 2-0 in Ridgefield.

“It was the way we won that game that made me so proud to be a part of this program,” Shimko said. “We played a complete game with everyone contributing in different ways. Specifically, our defensive group came together to shut down Wilton in the third to hold onto the lead. Our goalie, Aiden Riker, stood on his head to preserve the lead and get us the win. An all-around great effort from our group.”

Hunter Griffin, a senior captain from Law, was one of the important pieces on the Milford Mariners lineup. As a captain, Griffin motivated the team and encouraged each player to bring their game to a new level. He showcased his skills while scoring two goals against Norwalk/McMahon to help the Mariners take the victory.

Griffin said he created some incredible memories with the team this year.

“My favorite moment was when we beat Branford in the last 30 seconds of the game for a 4-3 win,”  Griffin said. “My goals this year were to lead the team as a captain and get as many wins as we could. This season both were accomplished.” 

The Mariners are now focused on working hard in the off-season to prepare for next season.

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Aislyn McKernan and Chloe Edmonds – Staff Reporters 

The Milford Co-Op boys swimming season recently ended with many swimmers qualifying for SCCs and states. 

Milford, which is made up of swimmers and divers from Law and Foran High School, recorded many impressive individual and team performances this season. The team even saw one school fall this winter – senior Dylan Morrissey broke the school diving record with a score of 216.6.

Senior captain Chris Rickard, the only Law captain on this year’s Co-Op team, said the team overcame many challenges this season but was happy with the way the season ended.

“It was challenging being the only captain from Law but being able to work with Foran’s captain and the team at Law being very open and cooperative with me it was much easier,” Rickard said. “The season this year was pretty good. We were able to out down a more competitive team and move up in the SCC.”

Junior Logan McCorkle was one of the team’s SCC qualifiers.

“This season, I think my biggest achievement was moving up to SCCs,” McCorkle said.

Sophomore Onuralp Unal made SCCs in one of swimming’s most difficult events – the 100 butterfly.

“My biggest achievement this year was qualifying for SCCs in the 100 fly,” Unal said. “It was challenging but I worked really hard and I’m happy I got the chance.” 

To achieve these accomplishments, team members had to work hard and get through some challenges. 

“For challenges, it was probably not doing club swimming so I didn’t have extra practice throughout the off season,” McCorkle said. 

Team members said that working hard every day at practice helped prepare them for each meet.

“Practices were challenging but they made me work harder and make my goals,” sophomore Yusuf Korkmaz said. “The season was good and I’m glad we made it to SCCs.” 

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Brian Goglia and Alex Rodriguez – Staff Reporters

Senior Dylan Wargo, the captain of the boys lacrosse team, is looking to turn heads this year and exceed expectations. 

This season the team has been working harder than ever and are motivated to win as many games as possible. Wargo is looking forward to this season and going into this year’s game with a different mentality and winning mindset.

“Being the captain means holding myself and teammates to a higher level of accountability,” Wargo said. “I plan on going into every game this year with the mentality of winning and goal of improving as a teammate and player.”

Wargo has faced many challenges throughout his years of being on this boys lacrosse team but this year he is looking forward to overcoming everything. He also can’t wait to go into every game with a confident mindset and ready to go.

“One of the challenges I faced was being confident in a leadership position,” Wargo said. “I overcame this by growing closer to my teammates and being more comfortable explaining expectations.” 

Going into this year, Wargo and his team have been conditioning, lifting in the weight room, and holding many captains practices to be as ready as possible for this season. This is the first year that they have been doing all of this before a season. 

“The biggest difference between this year and last is our consistency,” Wargo said. “We have had significantly more captain’s practices, lifts, conditionings, etc.”

Wargo, a captain for the first time in his high school career, has been trying to push and motivate his team more and more before the start of the season and will continue when the season starts.

“I motivate the team by trying to get everyone on the same page for the season so that everyone is prepared to put in work day to day,” Wargo said. “Along with this try to make the conditionings and practices enjoyable.” 

Wargo has learned and been through a lot with ups and downs in the past season with this team. He is looking forward to this season because of how prepared and comfortable he is.

“I learned a lot about training hard in practice, making sure each day I’m getting better,” Wargo said. “Training hard in practice translates to playing hard, making you a better player. This will benefit me this year because I’ll be able to make good improvements and be a core part of the team.” 

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Alexa Rosati and Michael Merchant – Staff Reporters 

Junior Tyler Davis, a standout player on Law’s lacrosse team, is not only a skilled athlete but also a leader who embodies the essence of teamwork and dedication. 

Davis’ exceptional abilities and commitment have become an important part of the team’s success. 

“What makes Tyler a good team player is his ability to communicate with his team on and off the field,” junior Thomas Rubenstein said. 

Davis’ leadership qualities have not gone unrecognized. 

“He is able to lead his team in the winning direction,” Rubenstein said. “Tyler knows what he’s going against and does not back down.”

Davis shed some light on his personal goals and offers insight on how he prepares for games.  

“One of my personal goals is to score,” Davis said. “I play defense so it is not that common.” 

He emphasizes the importance of listening to his coaches instruction and practicing repetitively. 

“I prepare for games by listening to my coach,” Davis said. “I like to make sure everyone on the team is ready to go and they know the game plan.”

His teammates see his devotion to the team and his ability to uplift and drive them to success. They highlight his infectious energy and determination.

“Tyler brings a lot of energy to the team,” junior Anthony Malave said. “He is strong and plays hard on the field.”

Davis is eagerly anticipating the upcoming season – which comes with the arrival of a new coach. He stresses the importance of making connections with teammates. 

“This year I’m looking forward to meeting the new coach,” Davis said. “I’m excited to build relationships with my teammates and have a fun season.”

(Photo courtesy Eric Relucio)

By Molly Lynch – Staff Reporter

Sophomore Sophia Scarpa is preparing for her second season on the Law varsity softball team.

Scarpa, a catcher for Law, is a great teammate who is goal-driven and dedicated to her sport. 

“She is always striving to better her craft and she is super coachable, listening to everything the coaches say,” Blude said.

Scarpa is dedicated and always works to her fullest potential.

“Last year, she came in as a freshman and immediately made an impact,” junior Ella Franzman said. “She was huge for us at the plate, she hit a few home runs, and had a lot of clutch hits.”

Scarpa’s work ethic and high energy impacts her teammates as well.

“My favorite quality of Soph as a softball player is that she can bring the mood up on the team if we’re down in the game, she’s the ultimate hype man,” sophomore Charlotte Doyle said. 

Scarpa is very encouraging and is brings a ton of positivity to the team.

“What makes Soph a good team player is that she always contributes to the team,” senior Grace Hess said. “She always cheers everyone and gives 100% no matter what. She is a team player.”

Even as a freshman last year, Scarpa’s leadership skills were evident.

“My favorite quality of Soph as a softball player is her hard work and dedication to the team,” sophomore Emily Roos said. 

(Photo courtesy @mikewywoda)

By Madi Black and Courtney Russo – Staff Reporters 

Senior captain Declan Wywoda is excited for the upcoming 2024 Jonathan Law baseball season.

Wywoda will help lead the Lawmen in many ways this spring – both as a captain and as a pitcher. 

“I plan on being a good leader by holding players accountable and making sure that everyone is working hard to benefit the team,” Wywoda said. “I plan on holding myself accountable as a leader to be a good example for younger players and be someone they look up to not only as a captain but as a friend as well.”

Wywoda has been with the team for all four years of his high school career. He has been leading the team since he was a freshman in many different ways. 

“In high school baseball a pitcher can take on more than 1 role during the season – a starter, middle reliever or closer at the end of the game,” Head Coach Mr. Simler said. “Declan is a very good pitcher that can help us in all of those pitching roles throughout the season.”

Wywoda is not very vocal but leads the team in many other ways. Assistant Coach Mr. McPartland hopes that every player follows Wywoda’s example. 

“He’ll influence the team most through his ability to lead by example,” McPartland said. “Declan is one of our captains this year and we want our other guys to emulate what he does.”

Many players on the team are inspired to follow Wywoda’s work ethic. 

“Declan doesn’t fool around and gets the job done,” senior captain Hunter Hoxie said “He will keep everyone focused and encourage them to play better.”

The team is looking to make it to the state tournament this year after not making it last year. They hope Wywoda’s pitching and leadership will help get them there.

“Declan is a great leader, he’s a great communicator, works well with everybody, and leads by example,” senior captain Alex Bludevich said. “He shows up every day looking to get better and for everyone around him to get better.” 

Junior Christian Galligan agreed.

“Declan will never bring anyone down, no matter who it is, or what they did wrong,” Galligan said. “Declan makes sure everyone keeps their heads up which is a huge key for success.”

The team has already started conditioning in order to get ready for the season. Many players have been practicing on their own, hoping it will help the team out during the season. 

“The goal for the season is to first qualify for states and then to go win the state championship,” senior Tyler Nethercot said.