By Kendall Upchurch – Staff Reporter

Emma Heinmiller isn’t just a high scoring sophomore, she’s a “coach on the field” for the Law girls lacrosse team. 

As for many athletes, the transition from freshman to sophomore year is simply about getting more playing time. For Heinmiller, it’s been about evolving as a leader on the team. She has combined her work ethic with natural ability to lift those around her. 

Heinmiller’s journey hasn’t been without its hurdles, however. Like many who pick up lacrosse, she found the technical pieces of the sport to be her biggest test. 

Heinmiller identifies cradling as her toughest challenge, specifically maintaining control while being pressured by defenders. 

What sets Heinmiller apart isn’t just her physicality skill, but her mental approach to the game. 

“Emma possesses a “lacrosse IQ” that allows her to think two moves ahead of her competition,” Head Coach Ms. Oliver said.

More importantly, Heinmiller remains incredibly coachable. 

“The cool thing about Emma is that she is always asking questions about how to get better,” Oliver said. “Her humility and willingness to grow, whether in practice or mid-game, set a good example for young athletes.” 

Junior Maddie Nash said Heinmiller’s presence provides a level of stability that is rare for a sophomore. 

“Having her out there makes everything flow better,” Nash said. “I know I can trust her to do her job, communicate, and make smart decisions.”

Nash emphasized that Heinmiller stands out because of her confidence and consistency. 

“She is the type of player who changes the game the moment she steps on the field,” Nash said.

While her stats and IQ speak for themselves, Heinmiller’s impact is felt most deeply by the program’s newest members. 

Freshman Brynne Maida credited Heinmiller with helping her find her footing in a high-pressure environment. 

Heinmiller’s goals extend beyond her own box score. As she looks toward her junior and senior years, her focus is on the growth of the program. 

“I want to get more girls to join, not just to join, but because they want to play the sport,” Heinmiller said. 

For incoming freshmen who might be nervous for tryouts, Heinmiller offered simple, grounded advice. 

“Just play your game and don’t worry about dropping a pass or messing up,” Heinmiller said. “Put in full effort without the fear of failure.”

By Emma Bonanno – Staff Reporter 

Law sophomore Cora Aitkenhead has started out the 2026 girls tennis season strong. 

Aitkenhead has a 11–0 record so far at #4 singles, consistently winning her matches with confidence. She sets the tone for her team and proves herself as one of the top competitors early in the season.

“My season so far has not only been going very well as far as scores, but has been an absolute blast,” Aitkenhead said. “I’ve really enjoyed improving and playing singles, and I think this season I have become really close with some new friends and even closer with old ones.” 

Akeinhead’s impact goes beyond her undefeated record, as her leadership and character have also stood out. Head coach Mr. Kulenych praised Aitkenhead’s dedication and presence on and off the court. 

“Cora is everything a coach wants in a player – she is a leader, she works hard every day to get better, and she is relentless when she gets on the court,” Kulenych said. “Off the court, she is an amazing teammate, always rooting for and supporting the other players and giving the younger players someone to look up to.”

Aitkenhead has clear goals for herself as the season continues, focusing not just on winning but on improving her overall game.

“My goals for this season are to improve my technique and perfect my placement, while also becoming more consistent and playing well no matter the varying level of my opponents,” Aitkenhead said. “By perfecting things like my placement and ground strokes I’ll have more control over my opponents allowing me to win matches more easily.”

Aitkenhead’s impact has also been recognized by her teammates. Junior Courtney Russo has seen how important Aitkenhead has been to the team’s success this season.

“This season, Cora has been a huge asset on the singles line up,” Russo said “There have been times where Cora has secured the win for the team which is so needed, and Cora’s insane record this season truly shows the kind of player she is.”

As the season continues, Aitkenhead looks to build on her record, refine her game even further, and remain a key leader both on and off the court for her team.

“I think my biggest challenge was adapting to the switch from singles to doubles,” Aitkenhead said. “Playing varsity doubles as a freshman was a great place for me to start and get to know the sport as it was my first year playing tennis. I knew that I would be a singles player eventually, but when I got thrown up to singles at the start of this season it was a whole different ball game of running, more strategy, and self-dependence, but I’ve adjusted well. I’ll be honest, the running from my soccer season has definitely translated to the tennis courts.” 

By Eason Dong – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law Junior Captain Aiden Ramos has emerged this season as of the best players in the state.

Ramos has been playing baseball since five years old and is the catcher for Law. He has been one of the best and most dependable players for the Lawmen.

“You know exactly what you’re going to get from him every day,” Assistant Baseball Coach Mr. McPartland said. “Effort, focus, a team-first mindset, and someone that is going to hold his teammates accountable.”

Ramos’ goal for this season is to improve his game as much as possible and be the best role model for underclassmen.

“My goals for this season are to improve in every aspect of my game and to be a good role model to underclassmen,” Ramos said.

Ramos tries to help the underclassmen improve as baseball players and as people. 

“He treats every teammate with respect and treats them like a good human being,” Freshman Gavin Leclaire said, “He is always ready to win no matter what and he tries his hardest to put the team before anything.”

Ramos has impacted this program drastically this season. He is one of the many reasons why Law has won big games over teams like Westhill and East Haven.

“Early on, he was more reserved, but over time he’s become more comfortable taking ownership of his role and impacting the game and our baseball program in bigger ways,” McPartland said.

Recently, Ramos announced his commitment to play Division I baseball at the University of Maine.

“I chose the University of Maine because I truly felt at home at the campus and around the coaching staff, along with the high level of baseball that they compete at throughout the year, and I want to become a part of that,” Ramos said.

Ramos is one of the hardest-working players on the team, always striving for improvement.

“He always works hard,” senior Nick Comas said.

Ramos makes baseball fun not just for himself, but for teammates by always bringing a positive attitude every day.

“Aiden brings a great energy to the team by showing up every day being positive while he helps push us to our best,” freshman Gabe Roberto said.

One piece of advice that Ramos would give to young baseball players would be to go to the gym.

“Hit the weight room,” Ramos said. “You might not realize it, but baseball is and extremely physical game, especially at the college level.”

By Breana Aquino – Staff Reporter

This season marks the second of sophomore Anwita Puttam’s career as a player for the Law girls tennis team.

Puttam has been playing tennis for approximately six years, with both influences from her father and the team.

She joined the team last year as a freshman, gaining experience playing junior varsity matches the entirety of the season. Now as a sophomore in the current season, Puttam has been the recipient of broadening her skillset due to more challenging opponents the team was set to face.

“This season has been absolutely great,” Puttam said. “Since we’ve moved up a division, we’ve played a lot of harder teams, but we’ve been doing really well.”

However, this season was different for Puttam personally. She was able to bag her first varsity win while playing doubles with Senior Captain Siya Patil during a match against Lyman Hall.

Patil expressed how playing the match with Puttam was unpredictable, yet prevailed in the end.

“We had never really gotten many reps together during practice, so I was a little unsure about the outcome,” Patil said. “But we quickly adapted to each other’s skill levels, which helped us win our match.”

This feat in Puttam’s career was not only her first varsity win but also the first varsity match she has ever played for the team.

“Since I never played varsity before, and it was really last minute, I was kind of stressed,” Puttam said. “But we ended up winning in the end.”

Patil characterized Puttam to be a person with motivation.

“She is always ready to play, whether it’s stepping up to a spot in the lineup or cheering on for the team,” Patil said. “As a player, she is very focused during her matches and always perseveres through tough points.”

Puttam believes that she has made an abundance of improvement from the year prior to the ongoing one.

“Last year specifically, I didn’t have as much match experience, but I slowly got more used to them,” Puttam said. “I also improved my serve a lot with some help from (Coach) K.”

Head Coach Mr. Kulenych commended Puttam for the progress she has made from last season to the latest.

“Anwita got some valuable match experience at JV last season and came back a more consistent and powerful player,” Kulenych said. “She has helped us in varsity matches already, and I am excited to see how she continues to develop and improve the rest of the year.”

Puttam expressed how she hopes to continue her tennis journey with the same effort.

“I just hope to keep improving my game as I continue playing through high school,” Puttam said. “I want to also get closer and more involved with my team.”

By Yeiden Nieves and Connor Ryan – Sports Editors

The Law softball team has started the season off strong with a 6-2 record.

They have secured victories thus far over East Haven, North Haven, Branford, Wilbur Cross, Guilford, and Lyman Hall. The Lawmen finished with a 13-7 record last season and lost to St. Joseph’s in the second round of the Class L playoffs.

“We all felt the same way last year after our playoff loss and we don’t wanna feel like that ever again,” senior catcher Sophia Scarpa said. “We worked hard in the offseason to ensure we have a better season this year.”

This year, the team consists of three senior captains: Emily Roos, Charlotte Doyle, and Emily Bassett. They believe they can get the team to work together have a successful year.

“It all starts with us leading by example and having a good attitude,” Doyle said. “That helps us captains keep the team focused which in the end helps us win more games.”

The team consists of many underclassmen who contribute much to the team. Sophomore shortstop Gabby Rodriguez is looking forward to this season.

“Last year we had a good season but not a perfect one,” Rodriguez said. “Going into my second year I’m looking forward to improving personally as a player and improving as a unit overall.”

The Lawmen worked extremely hard during the offseason to prepare the team physically and mentally for this upcoming season.

“We have been practicing a lot through the winter to get ourselves prepared for the season,” Bassett said. “Mentally we have been doing team bonding once a month to build a team culture and our team dynamic which has helped us a lot.”

Head Coach Mrs. Blude has emphasized Law’s depth at every position. The team is confident in every position, from starters to backups.

“We have good pitchers which helps us see how the girls handle live pitching during practice,” Blude said. “We played in a ton of scrimmages to help evaluate how much ground were covering, what mistakes are being made, and to see how well were hitting as well.”

The team is very excited to see how this season will play out and hopes to make an SCC and State Tournament appearance.

“My biggest goal this year is to make it further in the SCC Tournament and the State Tournament,” junior pitcher Maddy Bonanno said.

By Adrian Vitale & Matthew Sanchez – Advocate Editors

Senior Captain David Lickteig is approaching his final season on the Jonathan Law track team.

Lickteig has been running mid distance since freshman year, with his best event being the 800M 

“David Lickteig has been a great inspiration for me as an underclassman,” sophomore Erik Borowski said. “He’s always kind and helpful. I hope he has a great last season and that he enjoys his last year at Law.” 

Teammates said Lickteig benefits the track team greatly with his positive attitude. 

“I think It’s really cool to be a captain,” Licktieg said. “It’s much different than what I’m used to because I’ve only captained smaller teams like cross country, indoor track, and eSports.”

This year, the Law track teams have a combined 170 members, making the role of captain an even more important position.

“We have the responsibility of being the voice of our team,” Lickteig said. “With our team being as massive as it is, Coach Beler needs us to express the general feelings of everyone.”

Lickteig helps to motivate the team as much as he can.

“David is a great leader, he’s a guy who leads by example,” junior Matthew Montini said. “He’s always putting in all of his effort which supports and motivates the team.”

Lickteig has set many personal goals for this spring – on and off the track.

“My personal goal for this season is to make states and get a sub two-minute 800M run,” Lickteig said. “But my goal as a captain is to make sure that our team is prepared enough to succeed next year when I’m gone.”

By Dani Kotansky and Cora Aitkenhead – News Editors 

The Jonathan Law girls track team is ready to start their spring outdoor season. 

Led by captains Avery Moulton, Alani Velez, Molly Croce, and Charlotte Baldieri, the group is ready to compete and excel this season. 

“I’m looking forward to the meets and meeting new faces,” Moulton said. “ I can’t wait to help some of the freshmen and PR in my own events!”

Junior Taylor Mola is working hard to enrich underclassmen’s understanding of different track events, specifically pole vaulting. 

“With pole vault I really try to be one on one with kids so I can give them my full attention,” Mola said. “I like to try and go slow so they can understand what I’m saying than also give them a visual so they know what they are doing.”

Head coach Ms. Corriveau fosters a positive environment as a leader where athletes can rely on each other to improve and challenge one another to be their best. 

“For the most part, the coaching staff empowers our captains and upperclassmen to help create a sense of community by taking underclassmen under their wing to give advice, warm up with, or to help show them the ropes,” Corriveau said. “We also spend quite a bit of time offering several weeks of conditioning before the season starts to get our newer athletes off to a great start.”

Sophomore Abbi Leydon is ready to improve and work hard this season.

“I am looking forward to being outside with my friends and learning new events and just having fun,” Leydon said. “I can’t wait to push myself and be better, and I can’t wait to hopefully win.” 

The captains are ready to make an impact on younger athletes this season. 

“I work with underclassmen a lot by helping them with workouts, teaching them the proper form to have when running, and being a captain they can look up to and not be afraid to ask questions to,” Moulton said. 

Overall, the team has a bright future ahead of them, led by coaches and captains who care. 

“I’m hoping that students will strive to see continuous improvement over the course of the season and have some fun along the way,” Corriveau said.

By Courtney Russo – Social Media Editor-in-Chief

The Jonathan Law boys’ tennis team enters the spring season with a lot of new faces.

Whether it’s a new coach, players, or opponents, the team is fired up and ready to start the season strong. 

At the end of last season, the team was left with a giant question of who will be their coach for the 2026 season. With a lot of searching, Jonathan Law history teacher Mr. Zuraw offered to step up to the plate.

“The first couple of weeks of tryouts and practices have been great,” Zuraw said. “I am lucky to have a very experienced group, along with some newer guys willing to learn.”

The captains this season are seniors Siddarth Dash, Surya Gautham, Santiago Panegos, and Parth Gokhale. As a captain, Gautham has been working with the new members of the team to help them feel welcome.

“I’ve been trying to prepare the new players by spending extra time with them after practice to teach them basic technique,” Gautham said. “I’ve been helping them with the basics like serving and groundstrokes.”

From early Saturday morning practices to putting in the extra work after scheduled practice, the team has put in the work early in the season.

“We’ve been working on all of our skills and improving as a team to make sure we are putting in our best efforts,” junior Ryan Berendt said. “We scrimmaged the girls’ team to prepare ourselves for our first match.” 

The team’s key players consist of singles players Dash, Gokhale, and Berendt, and doubles players Gautham and junior Dylan Maselli.

“We try to create team chemistry through shared communication,” Gokhale said. “We also use comprehensive planning.”

By Molly Lynch and Ava Grippo – News Editors

The Law softball team recently opened its spring season after weeks of preparation.

One of the key members of the team this season is senior captain and outfielder Emily Bassett. Bassett said she excited to bond with her teammates on and off the field this year.

“I’m looking forward to getting closer with my team – bus rides, pasta parties, and team bonding events,” Bassett said. “It’s always a good time.”

Being a captain comes with many responsibilities and is a great opportunity to gain leadership skills. Bassett explained what being a captain means to her.

“To me, being a captain is being someone who my teammates can turn to on and off the field, and setting the tone for the team with my attitude, body language, effort given, and treating everyone with respect and kindness,” Bassett said. 

The team has spent a lot of time together in the off-season to prepare for the upcoming season.

“We have been working hard in the off-season to get us ready for the season to start, not only on our skills but to create a solid team culture that will reflect on our performance on the field,” Bassett said. “We’ve been meeting once a month since the summer discussing the importance of being a teammate and filling your role on the team. We are working on being the strongest team we can be.”

Having team goals is a good way for all of the players to have something to work towards throughout the season. 

“Some goals our team has for the season are to work to be better every practice than the one before and work together as one unit to be successful this spring,” Bassett said. “We are also hoping to make it far in the SCC tournament as well as the state tournament.”

Bassett said being a good teammate can have a major impact on the team’s overall performance.  

“Being a good teammate definitely has a positive impact on the team’s overall performance – knowing that your teammates are there to back you up and celebrate all of the good with you and lift you up through the bad helps us play more relaxed, which helps us perform better,” Bassett said. “We are all pretty close, so being able to be surrounded by your closest friends helps us enjoy the game and play stress-free while still bringing the intensity and competitiveness to win games.”

By Emma Bonanno and Kendall Upchurch – Staff Reporters

As the spring air begins to settle over the diamond, there is a sense of urgency and brotherhood surrounding the Jonathan Law baseball team. 

The Lawmen will be led by their four captains – seniors Marcus Townes, Brady O’Neil, and Aidan Rascati, and junior Aiden Ramos.

“The obvious goal is to win States,” O’Neil said.  “This is our last year playing together, with a lot of us being really close friends since elementary school, so we all want to go out with a bang.” 

For the team’s upperclassmen, the focus is on leaving a lasting legacy. 

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is to not only lead with my words, but to lead with my actions,” O’Neil said. “Not everyone is going to listen to you, or take you seriously 100% of the time, so reinforcing those statements with physical demonstrations during practice or games will make people more inclined to follow in my footsteps.” 

Sophomore Connor Ryan said he feels confident heading into the new season. 

“It feels good to be out of the ‘freshman phase,’” Ryan said. “The biggest lesson I learned is that a spot on the team isn’t just going to be handed to you and you actually are going to have to work for it.”

Freshman Cole Veteri has set several goals for the season.

“(My goals are) to improve individual skills and succeed in working together as a team to make the playoffs,” Veteri said. 

Veteri is a proud to be a part of the team and is looking to make an immediate contribution. 

“To put on the jersey for the first time was very rewarding and an unforgettable experience,” Veteri said. “It is a moment that will always stick with me throughout my high school career.” 

Whether it’s the underclassmen or the seniors who have been teammates since childhood, the chemistry is growing with the team. 

“Our team culture has changed because we have so many first-year Varsity players and ninth graders on the roster,” Head Coach Mr. Simler said. “Our veteran players have embraced this and are helping create a culture of working hard everyday to get better.”

The goals for this spring are clear: improve individual skills and put the team in a position to make States. 

“We have a fun group this year with a shot to do something by the time playoffs come,” O’Neil said.  

By Abigail Merenda – Sports Editor 

The Jonathan Law boys outdoor track is gearing up for the 2026 season.

The head coach of the track team is Mr. Beler. Key athletes for the boys team include senior David Lickteig (400M, 800M, 4x400M, 4x800M), senior David Guery (long jump, triple jump), junior Jeremiah Dos Santos (4x100M, 100M, 200M), senior Jack Lefevre (javelin, shot put, discus) and senior Kelden Silvester (110 hurdles).

Silvester said he has multiple goals for this season.  

“My goals for this upcoming season are overall to have fun but also to represent our team and school to the best of our ability,” Silvester said. “I would also like to make States and maybe even Nationals if I can get the right times this season. I expect our team to put in the work to succeed and to push ourselves everyday. Other than that, I just hope we have a good season as a team with no injuries and that we push ourselves as far as possible to improve.” 

David Guery said his expectation is for the team to pick up right where they left off last season and continue their success. 

“Our expectations for this season are to hopefully pick up right where we left off last year,” Guery said. “We look like we have a lot of potential talent, and hopefully this year we will be able to win States and make it to State Opens.”

Lickteig has set both personal goals and team goals to lead his team effectively.

“My personal goal for this season is to make States and get a sub two-minute 800M,” Lickteig said. “But my goal as a captain is to make sure that our team is prepared enough to succeed next year when I’m gone.”

Junior Captain Logan Mullarkey said he has high goals for himself and his team. 

“My goals for this track season are to improve my times and help my team succeed, especially in the 4×100 relay,” Mullarkey said. “I want our relay to be strong, clean with handoffs, and compete at a high level with the goal of winning States. I expect to stay consistent, keep getting better each meet, and do whatever it takes to contribute to a championship-level team.” 

By Logan Thomas and Dylan Gaillard – Advocate Editors

The Milford Mariners hockey team recently wrapped up its 2025-26 season with a run to the State Tournament semifinals.

The Mariners finished the regular season with a 12-8 record and earned the #6 seed in the Division III playoffs.

“I think the season went very well, we competed through every game and were all invested in it,” sophomore Nathan Krauss said. “Our teamwork and communication improved a lot throughout the season. We supported each other through it all, and that’s what made us a better team.” 

The Mariners had many big wins late in the seasn, including their first-round playoff game against #3 seed Masuk.

“Overall, the seasons went well, even though we faced some challenges and tough losses,” sophomore Colton Perry said. “We improved as a team and showed resilience by continuing to work hard and stay positive.”

Many Mariners believe they have improved a lot just through this season and through the hard games they played. 

“Despite challenges, we showed resilience and growth, making it a successful season,” sophomore Robert Vercellone said. “I personally improved my skills and confidence through consistent effort, becoming a more effective teammate.”

This offseason, the Mariners are going to work very hard to try to get back to where they went this season and further. 

“In the offseason, we are going to train a lot and condition together,” Krauss said. “We are all going to work on the weak parts of our game and try to become the best players we can be.”

During this season, there were many memorable moments.

“(The best moment) was when we beat Masuk in the quarter finals to go to the Q (the State semifinals at Quinnipiac),” Perry said. “Everyone thought that Masuk was going to win because of their captain, but we shut him down and capitalized on our chances, taking a 5-1 win over them.”

By Henry Smith and Sebastian Beltran – Advocate Editors

The Jonathan Law golf team is entering the season with high expectations, aiming to make a push for States while continuing to grow as a young and developing team.

“My goal for the season is to improve my players skill level, play competitive golf, win the Mayor’s Cup, and make the State Tournament,” Head Coach Mr. Maurutis said.

With a roster full of young players, the team is focused not only on success this season but also on building for the future.

“Our goals this year are to make a push for states and to help the team get set up well for the future since it’s a very young team,” Senior Captain Cooper Pietrowski said. “We have a lot of potential and want to help our young guys grow to be great golfers in the near future.”

The team’s strong core and overall chemistry are expected to play a major role in their development and performance.

“Some strengths we have on our team is that we have a great core group of guys and we all have the ability to be great golfers,” Pietrowski said. ”Our team as a whole has so much potential for the future as well.”

Players are also emphasizing the importance of mindset, especially in a sport like golf where focus is key.

“One part of my game that I’m the most confident in is how if I hit a bad shot I can snap out of it and not fall apart,” sophomore Dylan Gaillard said. “I think your mindset is the biggest thing is golf because once you get down on yourself you won’t be able to hit good shots and score well.”

Players are also looking forward to both the competitive and personal aspects of the season.

“My goals are to make states and to have a lot of fun this year with the team and make a lot of memories,” junior Tyler Stankevich said.

Individually, players are confident in specific parts of their game that will help the team succeed.

“Something in my game that I am confident with is my ability to get off the tee box in a comfortable position,” Pietrowski said. “I’m confident in my ability to put the ball in the fairway and give myself a great look for my setup into the next shot.”

Maurutis emphasized the value of effort and improvement throughout the season.

“I enjoy being out there with the team and seeing them improve throughout the season,” Maurutis said. “It is rewarding to see my players put in the work and when all aspects of the game start to click, we have the ability to play some really great golf.”

As the season begins, the team remains focused on steady improvement and reaching its full potential.

By Delaney Morrin – Staff Reporter

The Law girls tennis team has been working tirelessly for their upcoming spring season.

After an extremely successful season in 2025, the team is working even harder to break records and achieve its goals for 2026. Last year, the team finished with the second-most regular-season wins in school history with 14 and qualified for the SCC and State tournaments.

This year’s team will be led by senior captains Kayla Markowitz, Harshitha Kothapalli, and Siya Patil.

“To me, being captain is not only being able to lead my team on the courts, but also being a positive example for younger players, and a supportive friend who will always lend a helping hand.” Markowitz said, “As captain, the most important thing is that everyone feels like they are an important asset to the team, because I truly believe that every single player contributes so much in a unique way.”

Head Coach Mr. Kulenych said the team has already showcased hard work, dedication, teamwork, and resilience in early-season practices.

“We have so much potential on this year’s team,” Kulenych said. “Everyone on the team embraces the day-to-day grind, pulls for one another, and competes hard no matter the opponent. We have a lot of experience returning at the top of the lineup and a group of young players that will make an impact for years to come.”

Aside from the three senior captains, key contributors to the varsity team this year will be seniors Rose O’Connell and Layla Alogna, junior Courtney Russo, and sophomores Cora Aitkenhead, Isla McKeand, Emma Ciccarelli, and Vanessa Messina.

The upperclassmen on the team have taken leadership in helping the underclassmen feel confident and improve their skills. 

“We encourage and motivate the underclassmen by building their skills, mentoring them on technique, and, most importantly, organizing team-bonding activities so everyone feels welcome and included,” Patil said.

According to Kothapalli, the team is extremely committed and excited for this upcoming season. 

“We went into last season not knowing what our record was going to look like, but we worked twice as hard, and left the season with a record-breaking team,” Kothapalli said. “This season we have a challenging schedule ahead of us, but I know that these girls are more than motivated to constantly be better versions of themselves on and off the court.”

This year’s team has already created strong relationships with one another. Returning players have been a key factor in helping underclassmen who are experiencing their first season on the team.

“So far, my experience on the tennis team has been awesome,” freshman Olivia Armstrong said, “Everybody has been so welcoming and very sweet. My teammates have helped me improve by telling me skills that I could work on to help me become a better tennis player.”

By Alexandra Oliveira – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law girls lacrosse team is looking forward to the upcoming season.

Head Coach Chloe Oliver said Law’s senior captains – Natalie Pank, Nadia Nuzzo, and Mackenzie Forsythe – have set the tone so far.

“They exude warmth and belief in their underclassmen,” Oliver said. “I have no doubt these captains will lead our team to our version of success this year.”

The team is also excited to participate in the annual Morgan’s Message Game dedicated to eliminating the stigma around mental health within the student-athlete community. Pank described the event’s importance and why people should look out for it.

“It’s a great opportunity to support the cause and spread awareness on what it all represents,” Pank said.

The team has been putting in hard work preparing for the season.

“We’re coming off a great winter training and the team is excited to put their skills to work,” Junior Avery Oliveira said.

Oliver shared her expectations for the team for this season.

“I expect this season to be filled with hard work and fun,” Oliver said. “Our 2026 mantra is ‘Hustle and Heart’ and our girls have hit the ground running with their commitment to the team.”

New members of the team are also ready to start the season.

“I’m most excited for bonding with the team and playing in games,” freshman Brynne Maida said.

Manager August Oliveira said the team has excellent chemistry so far.

“Everyone is so kind and supportive to each other and it’s overall such a great atmosphere to be around,” Oliveira said.

By Eason Dong – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law boys lacrosse team is preparing for its 2026 season.

The Lawmen have set lofty goals, including making the CIAC State Tournament.

“I think the overall goal is to make the playoffs; it would be a big accomplishment for our team,” Junior Captain Alex Konlian said.

Law lost 12 players from last year’s team, including the entire defense and its leading scorer, Evan Nash. 

“We will rely heavily on many of our main contributors on offense, including Senior Captains Thomas Lapham and Roman Belbita, Junior Captain Alex Konlian, and rising Junior,Henry Smith,” Head Coach Frank Skawinski said “On defense, we’re lucky to be led by 3-year varsity starting goalie Walat Balu as well as key returning defenders Charles Gombrewicz and Benjamin White. Eli Fernandez will also play a massive role as a two-way midfielder.”

One of the mantras this year for the Lawmen is to “try hard’. This year, fans can expect the Lawmen to put in max effort.

“We don’t give up if a play goes wrong, and you can expect 100 percent effort the whole time,” Belbita said.

The Lawmen have put in a lot of effort in the offseason trying to build on last year’s record of 5-11.

“We did a lot of offseason work this season, including lifting, wall ball, and summer practices,” Smith said. “ It helped us improve our strength, stick skills, and overall chemistry as a team.”

The Lawmen are not letting the loss of many players from last year affect them. As Skawinski and his staff will continue to develop the younger players and help the older players become leaders.

“Don’t worry about what is lost – understand that we need to move forward with who we have and continue to grow,” Skawinski said. “This year’s seniors have big shoes to fill.”

The team’s seniors plan on stepping up and leading the way.

“(The seniors) welcomed me very well and they led the team with no bias helping all new players know what they’re doing in practice and just making us all close and together,” freshman Jackson Lapham said.

This year, fans can expect this team to go to their limits no matter what team they are playing.

“Fans can expect to see the team go full throttle and not back down in tough situations,” Belbita said.

By Ryan Woods & Zachary Hyatt – Staff Reporter

After months of hard practices and competitive meets, the Law indoor track team wrapped up a strong season.

Throughout the winter, runners, jumpers, and throwers worked to improve their performances and compete against other schools, making the season a successful one for the team.

All of this hard work paid off for many track members, including junior Talia Hagan who won the Class M title in the 300M.

“The biggest highlight of my season was definitely winning States,” Hagan said.

Winning states is never easy. There are always struggles to make it to the top and that is exactly what happened with Hagan.

“During this season, running indoors everyday was probably the biggest challenge with the hard floors,” Hagan said. “After States, to train for State Opens, I practiced at the indoor track at Bethel.”

Senior Avery Moulton was also a standout this season as she broke her own school record in the 600M. The girls SMR relay team finished 3rd at SCCs and the girls 4×200 relay team placed 5th at SCCs.

On the boys side, senior David Guery had a solid season in long jump.

“(My favorite meet was) the Bethel Invitational,” Guery said. “I believe it was a great meet for me even though I faulted my best jump it felt amazing competing at that meet.”

This indoor track team was young overall but featured several talented underclassmen, including sophomore Reid Moulton.

“One thing I learned from this season that will help me next season is my starts in short distance races, which were a problem for me the whole season,” Moulton said. “Hopefully with more practice, I’ll be able to get out faster.”

By Kendall Upchurch – Staff Reporter

Law junior indoor track athlete Talia Hagan continued to stride towards success this winter. 

Hagan won the Class M State Championship in the 300M and broke her own school record in the 300M four  different times this season. In the State Championship meet, she placed first with a time of 41.95. 

“Its amazing,” Hagan said. “I’m glad everything paid off, and I’m very excited for next season.”

Hagan thrives under pressure, as shown by her PR of over a second to help her win the race.

She also supports her teammates during meets with motivation and positivity. 

“My expectations for the athletes on the team start with effort and accountability, expecting them to show up prepared and ready to give their best every day,” Head Coach Mr. Gaines said. “I also expect them to respect their teammates.”

Hagan has a routine to prepare herself for each meet. 

“Sleeping well, eating well, icing, heating, and stretching are all really important, but also mentally envisioning my race and writing down my goals is a big part of it,” Hagan said. 

Hagan’s teammates were excited to see all of her success this season. 

“A moment this season that stands out was after she won States because of how hard she worked all season to get there,” junior Emily Vella said.

Hagan had many supporters throughout the season. 

“My friends and family who came and supported me made a huge difference,” Hagan said. “And of course, my coaches that I knew would be proud of me either way, no matter how I raced.”

By Logan Mullarkey – Staff Reporter

After a season full of hard work and determination, the Jonathan Law Cheer recently won the SCC Co-Ed Championship.

After not placing at any competitions last season, Law collected several medals this winter, including the SCC title with a score of 72.15. 

Seniors Charlotte Baldieri, Jordyn Torres, and Mackenzie Forsythe were named All-SCC, and senior Isla Concepcion, junior Cara Mikoliczyk, and freshman Sophia Kiluk were named SCC Rising Stars. Law’s JV Cheer team took second place overall at SCCs.

“This year our team earned 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place titles as well as having athletes earn All-SCC and All-State titles,” Senior Captain Charlotte Baldieri said. “To us, these achievements mean so much since last year our team did not place at any competitions. Our team morale has definitely been boosted because of it.”

The team’s improvement did not happen overnight. It came from consistent practice, focus, and strong teamwork throughout the season. Trust played a major role in their success, especially when performing advanced stunts that require full confidence in teammates.

“We build trust when performing difficult stunts by doing drills and having tight bonds as teammates,” Forsythe explained.

Head coach Morgan Colombo said that trust is what makes everything come together during competition.

“When the athletes truly believe in each other, it shows on the mat,” Colombo said. “That confidence is what allows them to perform at their best.”

By Delaney Morrin – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law gymnastics team recently concluded a successful season by placing in the Top 10 at States.

Throughout the gymnastics season, the girls worked together to reach personal goals and goals as a team.

Due to their hard work and dedication, the team placed 7th with a score of 120 at States. By working as a team, the girls were able to bond and create friendships, even in this individual style sport.

The team captains, Hailey Zapata, Jordyn Fisher, Sam Matist, and Anna Uruchida, helped lead the team and collaborate with teammates to help them succeed. 

“The team was able to improve throughout the season by working together,” SZapata said. “This was shown either by helping each other with routines or helping out with running meets.”

Head Coach Mr. Simon and Assistant Coach Ms. Loch were key components to success for the team. This was Coach Loch’s first year as an assistant coach for the gymnastics team. Loch is also the head coach of the Law volleyball team and a teacher of Algebra II and AP Statistics.

“Ms. Loch, helped make many routines and just add in little things from reading the rules in the book,” Matist said.

With help from their coaches and teammates, Matist and freshman Ella Nora Nelly made the All-SCC team this season. The rest of the gymnastics team played a big part in encouraging and supporting Matist and Nelly through their success.

“Making All-SCC was a fun experience because at first I didn’t know what it meant, but finding out that it meant that I was one of the top gymnasts was incredible,” Nelly said. “I was very proud of myself, Sam, and my team for supporting me.”

Gymnasts were able to make personal bests and achievements throughout the season. Freshman Camryn Pacelli and Uruchida got the opportunity to compete in the State Open meet in late February. Pacelli competed in vault and Uruchida competed in bars.

The coaches were extremely grateful and proud to have been able to watch the girls improve and grow by helping one another.

“Throughout the season, girls earned personal best scores and made states,” Loch said. “It’s interesting to see how the team comes together even though it’s an individual sport.”

Over the years, Simon has watched many gymnasts grow through hard work and determination. Since the team is made up of many different gymnastics levels, the girls put effort into working with each other and individually. Their work together was reflected in their scores and achievements this season.

“The girls worked together to push each other and accomplish personal best scores throughout the season.” Simon said.

By Emma Bonanno – Staff Reporter

Law junior Emily Vella recently announced her commitment to play Division I soccer at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.  

Vella ultimately chose Sacred Heart because it offered her the right balance of athletics and academics. 

“I ultimately committed to SHU because of their very strong nursing program and also their soccer program is excellent,” Vella said. “I felt a good connection to the school and coaches as well.”

Vella has been a member of the varsity soccer team for the past three years. Head Coach Mrs. Francisco described Vella as a great leader on the field. 

“As a junior, Emily is relatable and friendly to all of her teammates.,” Franciso said. “She is very inclusive and a positive influence on them.” 

Freshman Kendall Upchurch agreed that Vella is a great influence and leader on the field. 

“What makes Emily stand out as a leader is how competitive she is,” Upchurch said. “In scrimmages or games it was always fun playing with someone who is so competitive who is striving to win.”

Francisco said she is eager to see Vella continue to grow as a leader. in her final season at Law   

 “She works hard at practice and in games,” Francisco said. “I look forward to seeing her continue on building her leadership skills throughout the rest of her time at Law.”

The recruiting process wasn’t easy for Vella and she attended many showcases and camps.

“I went to multiple showcases with my club team like SUSA and FC Stars.,” Vella said. “I also attended a few camps including Fairfield, Quinnipiac, SHU, URI, and UConn.”

Next year Vella will be a senior and will continue to be a role model for many of the players in the program. 

“Having an athlete play at the collegiate level is such an incredible feat,” Francsisco said. “We have had multiple Law girls soccer players reach all levels – from intramural and club teams to Division I and it is always a positive influence on the younger players.”

While this process wasn’t easy, Vella had many friends and family to help support her and reach her goal.

“My friends and family supported me throughout the whole process by constantly encouraging me and helping me stay on top of all the emails I had to send,” Vella said.

By Eason Dong – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law girls basketball team recently finished its winter season with a record of 9-11 and is currently preparing for the CIAC State Tournament.

The Lawmen went through several ups and downs this season, overall exceeding expectations with a new coaching staff and many young players on the team.

“We’ve definitely had highs and lows, but overall, I’m very proud of how this team has played with a majority of them being first-time varsity players,” Head Coach Jacqueline Jozefick said. “I think to everyone on the outside, we definitely exceeded expectations with a new coaching staff and losing s seniors.”

Team members are very proud of the success they have had this season, including a big win against Hamden.

“My favorite win this season was the Hamden game at home,” Junior Captain Sadie Timmeny said. “We played them twice in a row, which made it even more exciting.”

Sophomore Emma Bonanno said the team never gave up and kept persevering through the challenges.

“From start to finish, our season has had some challenges, but we kept improving,” Bonanno said.

The Lawmen did not let one loss define who they were as a team. Instead of having a negative mindset, they changed it into a way to use it to grow and learn.

“We looked inward and changed our mindsets,” Jozefick said. ”One game, one performance does not decide how our season goes.”

This team was full of up-and-coming players that have a great bond and chemistry together, which will definitely help this team going forward.

“We have a good team bond and team chemistry, and we all share the same goals,” junior Maddy Bonanno said.

This season has taught this young team many lessons that carry into next season.

“Always listen to your coach, whether you like it or not, be a team player, without that, then the team fails,” freshman Kendall Upchurch said. “It’s a team sport; you all have to work together to win.”

Looking forward, this young team of Lawmen has the potential to shock the state next year as most of the starters will be returning.

“We have a pretty young team, so I think the chemistry will carry over and into the next year,” Timmeny said.

With the 2025-2026 season coming to a close, Law has proven itself at developing players at a young age.

“Although our season is not over yet, what I want everyone to take away from the season is that every single one of these girls have grown not only as basketball players but as young women,” Jozefick said.

By Marina Cosmas and Gabby Rodriguez – Staff Reporters

The Jonathan Law boys basketball team wrapped up the 2025-2026 season with a record of 5-15.

This season was Mr. McPartland’s first year as head coach and his players said it was a memorable experience. Throughout the season’s ups and downs, McPartland continued to push the team to play at their best. 

“Overall, I had a blast working with the boys this season,” McPartland said. “Stepping into the head coaching role came with its share of challenges, but it was incredibly rewarding to go through the journey with this group.”

With wins late in the season against East Haven, Fairfield Prep, and Branford, the team feels they have momentum to push them into next year. 

“I believe the team will improve a lot just because of how much we learned this year,” sophomore Dylan Gaillard said. “Most of our team is young, so everyone will develop.”

The team showed up for one another countless times throughout the season, even after tough losses. McPartland felt that he watched the team improve individually and as a whole. 

“Skill-wise, we became more disciplined on both ends of the floor, and guys started to understand their roles more clearly,” McPartland said. “What stood out most, though, was our communication. We talked more on the defensive end and held one another accountable in positive ways.”

Senior Captain Ryan Nobles felt that the team continued to try time after time. Nobles was able to describe the season in one word. 

“Mystery: We dealt with a lot of injuries, and did not play a single game with a fully healthy team,” Nobles said. “If we had just beat one of those teams early on in the season, it would have given us some confidence and helped the team morale before it was too late.”

Despite the late start to their winning streak, that one win that sparked the season was very memorable for the players.

“My favorite memory of the basketball season was beating East Haven for our first win as a team with Coach Parts as a head coach,” junior Matt Witteman said.

The Lawmen saw how good they could be when they played to their abilities, and it was the dedication they held that allowed them to realize it.

“I think our biggest motivation during that stretch was a belief in each other and a commitment to playing relentlessly on the defensive end of the floor,” McPartland said.  “The boys started to see what we were capable of when we played together and trusted each other.”

Senior Marcus Townes said the team was able to grow and bond with each other as the season progressed.

“I will miss practicing every day after school and hanging out with my teammates during and after practice.” Townes said. “Basketball helped me build friendships I likely wouldn’t have without.”

By Teagan Liphardt and Alexandra Oliveira – Staff Reporters

The Milford boys swim team ended the winter season with five consecutive wins. 

After a few close losses to start the year, the team found way to triumph through the tough times.

“I would say this season was such a roller coaster, starting pretty low our first few meets but as the season continues, everyone started pulling it together and setting new personal bests,” Senior Captain Sam Porzelt said. “The improvement was so clear, and we got to show it off even more when we won five meets in a row. It was great seeing everyone hold out despite a rough start and it really paid off in the end.” 

There were many key additions to the team this season that helped lead them to a strong finish.

“It’s been a real advantage to have the team size we do (24 swimmers) and the depth of talent that comes with it,” Head Coach Brian Dooling said. “This combination has been crucial in many of our meets.” 

Along with the team’s wins, there were many personal victories as well, including several by Senior Captain Joe Lahav.

“Across three meets against Wallingford, West Haven, and Cheshire, I’ve swam states times for the 50 freestyle, and in the Cheshire meet I was able to break a minute in the 100 fly with a 59.64 which was very memorable and exciting for me,” Lahav said.

Milford opened its arms to many new swimmers this season. 

“How the team has welcomed me is that they included me in every conversation, I made many more new friends, and that the coaches were nice,” freshman Stanley Jiang said. “All of them were very open and welcoming and I had a very good time with them.”

Manager Anna Rusu described the team’s tight bond and friendship.

“The guys are all friends with each other and you can see that in and out of the pool,” Rusu said. “In a sport that is so individual it’s great to see friendships develop, and I know that the guys will cherish all of the memories and fun times.” 

This season, Milford also participated in the Lion Heart charity event which is an annual fundraiser and swim-athon which raises funds for breast cancer research. Their team raised $2,650 — one of the top fundraising totals among boys’ swimming teams. 

One memorable meet for the team was their second meet against West Haven.

“There were tons of personal records being set, close races, and the energy from the spectators was unmatched,” Porzelt said.

Swimming is an individual sport, but Lahav said teamwork plays a crucial part. 

“Even though swimming is one’s own race, I believe that teamwork is very important in this sport because it can help you build upon your skill,” Lahav said.

By Henry Smith and Sebastian Beltran – Advocate Editors

The Jonathan Law girls wrestling team recently competed at the fourth annual Queen of the Mat Tournament at Foran High School.

The team placed 7th overall at the tournament and had three place winners. 

“The girls did a great job especially for the amount of experience they currently have,” Assistant Coach Alex Kappel said.

Law entered seven girls into the tournament that featured over 280 girls from across the state. The tournament means a lot to girl wrestlers throughout Connecticut.

“Competing in Queen of the Mat has been very important to me for the past four years,” Senior Captain Mackenzie Nichols said. “My first year of wrestling was when they began doing Queen of the Mat and it was very meaningful to participate in an opportunity that was growing this sport. I hope moving forward that Queen of the Mat continues to be the biggest girls tournament in Connecticut.

Nichols finished third in her weight class at the event. Freshman Mia Grandmaison took fourth place in her weight class in her Queen of the Mat debut.

The girls performed and placed well even without filling a full lineup.

“They battled through fatigue and worked hard throughout the long day,” Kappel said. “These types of tournaments can be a mental grind, but they did a great job handling it.“

Junior Selena Batres won her weight class at this year’s Queen of the Mat – her second straight Queen of the Mat title.

“It’s an honor,” Batres said. “When I step on the mat, I’m not just wrestling for myself. I’m wrestling for my team and everyone who supports us.”

Queen of the Mat has been meaningful for the past four years for the Lawmen and they hope it continues.

“The Queen of the Mat is special because it brings together the best competition,” junior Nicoletta Pacifico said. “You’re not just wrestling you’re proving yourself against top talent.”

By Adrian Vitale and Matthew Sanchez – Social Media Editor

The Jonathan Law indoor track teams kicked off their winter season on January 5.

Despite having a smaller team than past seasons, the captains still have high hopes for the season

“I feel like the team is definitely motivated this year,” Junior Captain Matthew Montini said. “We have a smaller team, but most people have been committed and doing well at meets.”

Sophomore Tenzin Gakhang said that the girls team is especially welcoming this year.

“Everyone’s nice – they tell you when practice is and when the meets are,” Gakhang said.

Montini said the team has set both individual and personal goals for the season.

“I’m just hoping to PR in the mile which would be under 5:11,” Montini said.

The captains hold themselves to high standards and push the team to greater heights each year.

“My own goals for this season is to get States in the 600M because I’ve done it before,” Junior Captain David Licktieig said. “We are going for a school record in a rarer event called the DMR. We were four seconds too slow last time, so I definitely believe that we can get it.”

Assistant Coach Mr. Colon said that the boys and girls teams have several main goals this season.

“For the indoor track season, we typically focus on two major goals that go hand in hand,” Colon said. “The first is to have fun. We aim to make the most of every practice and every meet by literally chasing season-best and personal-best performances. The second is putting in the hard work. You get out what you put in, and that’s especially true in indoor track. When those two come together, there’s nothing more rewarding – or more fun – than breaking a record.”

Through their first few meets, several school records have already been broken. Junior Talia Hagan broke her own school record in the 300M (43.57) and senior Avery Moulton broke her own record in the 600M (1:47.88).

By Taylor Mola and Madilynn Black – Advocate Editors

Jonathan Law is excited to introduce its new head boys basketball coach this season – Law Spanish teacher Mr. McPartland.

Before becoming head coach, McPartland was the boys JV basketball coach. He jumped at the opportunity to become the new head coach.

“I tell the boys pretty often that I do what I do for two reasons: because I love working with the players and helping them grow both on and off the court; and because I love the game of basketball and what it can teach us about life,” McPartland said.

Sophomore Logan Thomas enjoys having McPartland as his new coach.  

“Coach McPartland has been a great coach on and off the court. He has developed me in various ways since my freshman year,” Thomas said. “He works the team very hard in practice and helps the team chemistry.”

McPartland was already a huge part of the Law community and was glad to help in a new way. 

“Coach McPartland just started as new head coach and has already helped the team on the court by getting better at practice or off the court in the classrooms,” junior Matthew Witteman said. 

McPartland isn’t just a coach, he is also a role model to the boys on the team. 

“Coach McPartland has not only helped me but the whole team this year,” junior Hunter Kendzierski said. “He is always looking out for us on and off the court and trying to help us become better people.” 

Sophomore Dylan Gaillard has high hopes for McPartland leading the team far this upcoming season. 

“This year I’m looking forward to having Coach McPartland as a head coach because he is very close with everyone on the team and that really helps us with team chemistry,” Gaillard said. “This year I believe we will be very successful with Coach McPartland leading the way.”

By Brady O’Neil – News Editor

Marcus Townes is set to begin his final year of basketball a Law with a long stretch of home games in the first half of the season. 

“This season, I want to be someone that my teammates can rely on, whether that’s for leadership, energy, or just being there when they need it,” Townes said. 

Townes had nothing but great things to say about his teammates and how the team prepared for this season. 

“I think that we have a great group of guys who have the potential to do some really great things this year,” Townes said. “Everyone comes into practice ready to work, and you can tell this group cares about getting better and pushing one another.”

Townes has set some goals set for himself this season as well.

“My goals are to push myself to become a better all-around player and to help the team win as many games as I can,” Townes said.

Townes has been staying consistent with his workouts, open gyms, and team conditioning, while also making sure the team atmosphere is in a positive direction and that everyone is focused on improving as a group. 

“Marcus brings a lot to the team,” sophomore Dylan Gaillard said. “He shows up every day, ready to work, and that sets the tone for everyone else. When you have a senior leader who’s giving his full effort and attention to every aspect of the game, it makes it easier on us to continue to work.”

Townes also has some advice for the younger players who are considering joining the program.

“Don’t be scared to make mistakes,” said Townes. “Mistakes are part of the game; they will happen, but making those mistakes is how we improve as players and as a team. If we didn’t mess up, we wouldn’t be able to improve on anything. Just put in consistent effort, and you will see the results show up.”

As a senior, Townes is also responsible for holding his teammates accountable and helping them on and off the court. 

“Marcus helps the team because he doesn’t just point out mistakes,” junior Matthew Witteman said. “He will explain what you can do better and support you to keep going, which is great to have during tough practices and after tough losses.”

Townes has shown growth on and off the court over the past four years. 

“Marcus has grown immensely both on and off the court in his four years with us,” Head Coach Mr. McPartland said. “He has greatly improved as a communicator and talks frequently with the players on the court. He also relays messages during the off-season and makes sure our players get the information they need”.

With a strong core of knowledgable players by Townes’ side, he looks to lead the Lawmen to a strong year and is excited to enjoy the rest of his senior season. 

By Dani Kotansky and Cora Aitkenhead – News Editors

The Milford Mariners hockey team is ready to begin the 2025-2026 season. 

Starting their season at home against Wilton, the Law/Foran/Platt Tech Co-op looks to improve its record and skills from last season. The captains this season are seniors Parker Guarnieri, Joey Kerzner, and Matt Adkins. 

“I am most excited to represent as one of three captains, along with Matt and Parker, and lead our team to success every day,” Kerzner said. 

Sophomore Blaise Strate has set both team and individual goals for the season. 

“Something we are looking to improve on this season is to get a higher win percentage this year,” Strate said. “As for myself, I am looking to improve my vision and hockey awareness.”

Sophomore Alan Brewster is ready for his first season as a Mariner.

“I’m excited to bond with the team and improve my skills,” Brewster said. 

Last season, the team was eliminated in the first round of the State Tournament. Along with the goal of more wins, the team is looking to advance further in the state tournament.

“My goal for this season is to win States and be bound for the postseason,” Kerzner said. 

The team lost nine seniors from last season, but gained faive freshmen. In addition to that, they gained several athletes from other schools this season. 

Evan Farrell, a freshman, is eager to join the team. 

“I’m most excited to work hard and get better every day,” Farrell said. 

To see the Mariners’ full schedule, visit their instagram @milford_puck.

By Sebastian Beltran – Social Media Editor

Senior Captain Samuel Porzelt is preparing for his final swimming season with his first meet set for December 18.

“This season, I see myself as someone new swimmers can turn to for help or advice, and as one of several captains, I see myself as a role model and an uplifting figure,” Porzelt said.

Porzelt spoke highly of his teammates and the team’s work ethic in preseason.

“I see the team as a great group of kids all looking to better themselves each day. Everyone works extremely hard during practice, and it really reflects during meets,” Porzelt said.

Porzelt has set clear goals for both himself and the team as the season begins.

“My goals for my senior year as captain are to set a good example for the younger members while also pushing myself to beat personal and school records,” Porzelt said.

Porzelt has been consistently conditioning and practicing, while also making sure every swimmer is working toward improvement each day. His leadership has made a strong impact on the team.

“Sam helps the team in several important ways,” senior Onuralp Unal said. “First, he leads by example, showing a strong work ethic, discipline, and dedication in both practice and during meetings. This pushes others to work harder and stay motivated. Second, he supports teammates individually by encouraging them and offering advice, especially during tough practices or high-pressure meetings. Finally, Sam helps create a positive and unified team environment by communicating well, keeping everyone focused on team goals, and reinforcing accountability and teamwork.”

Porzelt shared advice for new swimmers or those considering joining the team.

“Some advice I would give to new swimmers or people looking to join the team would be to keep in mind that not everything comes easy to most people. Don’t get discouraged if people in other lanes are swimming faster than you or know more strokes,” Porzelt said. “Just focus on your workout and building skills and techniques, and you’ll quickly be able to start producing new records.”

As captain, Samuel is also responsible for leading up every kid on the team 

“Sam helps in a way that if we do something wrong, instead of criticizing us, he helps us fix it and gives encouraging words to help us improve and strive to do the right thing,” freshman Kellen Northup said.

With strong leadership and a positive attitude, Porzelt is setting the tone for a successful season and making an impact on the team.

“He motivates me since he is such a role model for me, as a new swimmer, to get better at swimming and do my best,” freshman Kingsley Cheng said.

By Yeiden Nieves and Logan Mullarkey – Advocate Editors

Jonathan Law senior guard Ryan Nobles is ready to lead his team for the 2025-2026 season.

Nobles was named varsity captain at their end of season banquet by previous Head Coach Jamie Anderson. 

Nobles has been on the basketball team all four years and has seen the highs and lows. Entering his final season, he hopes the Lawmen will make the postseason and a push to the State Championship at Mohegan Sun.

“My goal is to have a good season and also to have fun playing with my guys,” Nobles said. “We really want to make the postseason which is why we are having practice six days a week and always give our best effort during drills, conditioning, and even stretches.”

Nobles brings refined skills to the team that help them win games. Combined with his knowledge of the game, Nobles is a true asset for the Lawmen.

“Ryan truly helps us out a lot on the court,” junior Matt Witteman said. “He’s a leader and a playmaker on the court.”

Nobles works everyday to be an excellent role model. He guides his team to victory and helps them get better everyday.

“He leads the team by setting an example of him working as hard as he can,” sophomore Dylan Gaillard said. “He always pushes himself and that makes everyone else work harder too.”

Over the past three years, Nobles has gained the respect of his teammates and coaches on and off the field. He sets an example on the court and in the classroom.

“Ryan earned his position as captain of our boys basketball team because of the work he puts in every single day,” Head Coach Mr. McPartland said. “Whether we’re stretching before practice, running through drills, or hitting the weights, he takes pride in everything he does. He is someone we want our players to follow and represents our program to the highest degree. Off the court, he communicates with the boys and does everything he can to make sure they are holding themselves to our five core values – UBUNTU, Accountability, Discipline, Respect, and Grit.”

The Lawmen open up their season on December 16 at home against Bridgeport Central.

By Kendall Upchurch and Marina Cosmas – Staff Reporters

With the season just around the corner, the Law boys’ and girls’ indoor track teams are preparing for their upcoming meets.

The captains consistently work hard throughout the season to prepare themselves and their team. Senior Captain Avery Moulton continues to stand out throughout the seasons of each sport she plays. 

“The most important part of being an indoor track captain is setting the tone for the team, leading by example, and keeping everyone motivated,” Moulton said. “As captain, I make sure everyone feels supported and heard so they can perform to the best of their ability.”

Law’s new indoor track Head Coach Mr. Gaines is ready to make a positive impact on the athletes and program.

“Coach Gaines was always a positive coach during football season and I’m excited to get to know him more during track season,” freshman Malachi Warren said.

Indoor track allows students to condition year-round. Many students use this as a chance to prepare themselves for other sports seasons.

“During this season, I hope to improve on my speed to prepare myself for my next soccer season,” freshman Gianna Depina said. “Doing indoor track during the winter keeps me conditioned and motivated throughout the year.”

Multiple athletes recommended staying consistent since staying consistent is key to having a great season.

“Some tips for staying consistent during the season were sticking to a routine, setting goals, staying mentally disciplined, and focusing on my recovery,” Moulton said. “During track season, I am also in club soccer season, so I am getting extra training.”

All of the events need to get the max amount of training they can before their meets. Athletes have been influenced by others to commit to track during the winter season because it has been helpful for others. 

“The weight room helps me most during the season to prepare and helps me stay consistent with my form and throwing ability,” junior thrower Ashlynn Smithauser said. “Because I didn’t want to stay home and do nothing, (outdoor track coach) Mr. Beler talked about how enjoyable the track season would be overall.”

Smithauser said that getting ready with her friends before meets is one of the most memorable parts of the season. Being able to have her friends do her hair and listen to music together is important to her for getting ready for meets. 

Senior David Guery also said he was encouraged by Beler to join track freshman year, and since then, he has continued to grow as a jumper. He has found differences in the ways both track seasons are constructed.

“I enjoy that the workouts are more focused on strength building,” Guery said. “During the outdoor season, we have the luxury of using more equipment and the track itself; however, during indoor season we cannot, which makes the training different and more challenging.”

By Gabby Rodriguez and Emma Bonanno – Staff Reporters

The Jonathan Law boys basketball team is looking forward to its upcoming season. 

With new Head Coach Mr. McPartland, the Lawmen are prepared for their home game opener against Bridgeport Central on Tuesday, December 16. 

“We are going to play a fast-paced style of basketball that should be fun to watch,” McPartland said. “Both off and on the court we have worked on our communication with one another and I think the boys genuinely enjoy each other’s presence, which isn’t always the case.”

Senior Captain Ryan Nobles hopes that his leadership will further help the team succeed.

“I try to keep everyone focused and motivated by giving effort during drills and practice, and encouraging them to do the same and just always get better,” Nobles said. 

The players have put in the work in the preseason so that it pays off on game days.

“I am preparing for basketball this year by working out and working extra hard with my teammates in practice,” junior Matthew Witteman said. 

This season, the team hopes for improvements in both their team play and the personal performances.

“This season I think we will improve a lot as a team,” sophomore Dylan Gaillard said. “Everyday we will just get a little bit better and stack those days. Personally I’m going to try to improve my communication on defense and overall just playing at a higher level.”

The team has lofty aspirations for their journey this season, but they are focusing on the small goals to get them there.

“Ultimately, our goal is to be playing for a state championship at Mohegan Sun in March; however, we are well aware that in order for that to happen, there are micro-goals that we need to accomplish,” McPartland said.  “What we have been stressing and emphasizing thus far has been, win today’s practice. We focus on the process and on getting better each and every day and trust that the results will take care of themselves.”

One thing the team values and executes is giving their best effort every time they step onto the court.

“Our team plays hard and gives lots of effort and it definitely benefits us in close games,” senior Marcus Townes said.

By Abigail Merenda – Sports Editor

Junior Samantha Matist is a captain for the 2025-2026 Law gymnastics team. 

Matist wants to make sure everyone feels welcomed on the team. 

“My role as a captain is to not only have leadership on the team but to help my coaches and teammates if they need help on anything,” Matist said. “I also make sure that everyone feels included and to lead by example when it comes to practice and especially cheering on every teammate.” 

Matist wants to improve individually and as a team as the season progresses. 

“My goals for this season for myself is to gain back all my skills since my injuries and progress more,” Matist said. “While I want every girl on my team to keep improving on the scores from beginning to end.” 

Matist is excited to bond with her teammates off the mat as well.

“I’m most excited for bonding with my team,” Marist said. “Before meets and pasta parties so we can all get really close and support each other when we are competing.”

Head Coach Mr. Simon said Matist is a natural leader.

“Sam Matist is a natural leader both in the gym and in school,” Simon said. “She not only helped to choose the items for our team merchandise list she also designed the logo. Sam will be counted on to lead our team throughout the season.”

Sophomore Rainey Haramis said Matist has been an inspiration to her.

“Sam has been an inspiration to me,” Haramis said. “By not giving up when she performed a difficult skill and failed. She has also has given me words of encouragement when I failed. Sam is great at including everyone for teamwork and making sure everyone is included, so Sam is a role model to me by lifting others up and shows great sportsmanship.” 

By Eason Dong – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law football team ended its historic 2025 season 8-3, falling to Ledyard in the first round of the Class SS playoffs.

Even with a disappointing ending to the season, the Lawmen were proud that they achieved most of their goals, including beating rival Foran on Thanksgiving and earning a home game in the playoffs for just the second time in school history.

“The team met our expectations, which was always play hard, compete, and make the black and gold proud,” Head Coach Ryan Pearson said. “One of our biggest goals this season was earn our seniors one more home game, and we did that.”

Many seniors hope that the team will continue to build off of what they left for them into next year and make the Milford community proud.

“First round loss hit me a lot, this program has meant a lot to me over the years, knowing that I can’t go out there with the boys again upsets me,” Senior Captain Nick Comas said. “I hope this program grows to understand that there is a standard now and we have to meet those every year.”

The season may have ended the way that many people did not expect it, but the 2025-2026 Law Football team is one to remember for the books.

“Finishing the regular season 8-2 feels great because it’s one of the best records in Law football history,” Senior Captain Jack Lefevre said. “In 64 years, having one of the best records is something to be very proud of.”

The Lawmen play fast and physical football with their fast no-huddle offense. They also move fast mentally as they’re already preparing for next season with Junior Captain Matthew Witteman leading the charge.

“I’m going to help build off last season by making sure everyone hits the weight room and works extra hard so we don’t lose like this again,” Witteman said.

The Lawmen seniors hope that the underclassmen continue to compete and represent the black and gold.

“I hope the class stays loyal to each other and continues to play for one another to succeed next year as well,” senior Brian Gonzalez.

With the 2025-2026 season ending, the Lawmen have definitely made a statement in the SCC.

“We are here to stay and hope to make the former, the present, and the future of the black and gold proud,” Pearson said.

By Teagan Liphardt and Delaney Morrin – Staff Reporters

The Jonathan Law girls basketball team is thrilled to begin the winter season. 

Law plays its first game on December 12 at home against McMahon, which will also be the debut for new Head Coach Jacqueline Jozefick.

“My favorite part of coaching the team is being able to see the girls grow as the season goes on,” Jozefick said. “Just from when I was hired over the summer to now, I can already see so much growth in these girls, both on and off the court. It’s our job to help them prepare for what’s next for them after Jonathan Law Girls Basketball, whatever that may be.”

Jozefick said she will tell the players to leave everything they’ve learned out on the court for their first game and future games.

“My confidence has boosted a lot just throughout the time she’s been coaching us,” freshman Kendall Upchurch said. “She makes practice enjoyable as well as teaches us the importance of being focused.”

This year’s captains are senior Cassie Rodriguez and junior Sadie Timmeny. 

“One of our biggest goals is making sure the team has good chemistry on the court and off,” Timmeny said.

The team has been not only on their skills, but also on how they work well together. 

“My favorite part about being on the team would have to be seeing my friends and I accomplish so much in practice to be ready for the games coming up,” junior Joeliz Gonzalez said.

The team’s underclassmen said the upperclassmen have set an excellent example so far this preseason.

“The upperclassmen have made this experience enjoyable,” sophomore Emma Bonanno said. “They set a great example and make practice fun while still staying serious.”

By Kayla Markowitz and Harshitha Kothapalli – Editors-in-Chief 

The Jonathan Law football team ended its regular season strong with an impressive win over Foran on Thanksgiving Day.

The final score of 33-6 earned a home playoff game for the Lawmen, and capped off the season with a record of 8-2. Law led for the entirety of the game and brought home a win against Foran for the fifth year in a row. 

“This game is always exciting as it’s the culmination of all of our hard work being displayed to our hometown,” Senior Captain Nick Cosmas said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to come together and have a good time while playing the sport we love.”

Quarterback Matthew Witteman, who was given the Paul Gestapo Most Valuable Player Award, was a large contributor to the win with 102 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, and four touchdown passes.

Witteman opened the scoring when he threw the first touchdown pass of the game to senior Brian Gonzalez early in the second quarter. Gonzalez finished with three touchdown catches for the game.

Despite the high expectations from both sides to perform well, Witteman knows how to stay grounded during a game. 

“I really just try to focus on the game at hand, and that helps distract me from all the outside noise, and once the game starts, all the pressure goes away,” Witteman said. 

Another crucial component of the team’s win was the Joe Beler Defensive Player of the Game, junior Alex Konlian. Konlian, a defensive back, believes that this annual game is the perfect tradition for Milford. 

“Going out and playing against kids I grew up with also adds a unique element to the game,” Konlian said. “It is so special that the game attracts a large crowd, and as a team, we drew from that to show Milford how hard we’ve been working.”

One of the biggest obstacles for any team is adjusting to unforeseen circumstances and quickly adapting to new roles. Cosmas, who received the Robert Taylor Sportmanship Award, stepped up when needed and was a big part of Law’ssuccess.

“Challenges we have faced have been getting prepared, due to injuries, we have a lot of young guys who need to step up and fill big shoes,” Cosmas said.

With 14 seniors leaving the team this year, underclassmen are left to become leaders. Gonzales, who led the team with nine total touchdowns this season, knows that they can succeed with enough grit and dedication.

“For the younger players, they have to stay focused and play for each other just like they did this year, and work hard during the offseason to dominate next season’s opponents, just have a good work ethic, and be mindful of their actions on and off the field,” Gonzales said. 

By Yeiden Nieves and Logan Mullarkey – Advocate Editors

Jonathan Law fell to rival Foran at home in the annual Powderpuff game on November 25 by a final score of 14-7.  

Law fought a tough, rainy defensive battle led by captains Avery Moulton, Alani Velez, Abigail Merenda, Charlotte Doyle, Layla Alogna, and Fiorella Gargiulo. 

“My goal as captain was to make sure everyone was comfortable,” Velez said. “This was especially important on defense because most of our defense consisted of juniors. I hoped to believe that I gave them a safe space to go to when players had questions regarding the game and outside of the game.”

Law scored late in the fourth quarter, with the lone score coming from senior captain Fiorella Gargiulo. The defense held strong the entire game to limit the Lions to only two touchdowns scored.

“Knowing how close the game was, I kept the defense compact and reminded them about how important their positions are,” Moulton said. “Every huddle, I would say something encouraging to keep them in the right headspace, and every good play, I would give them a compliment.”

Previously, the Lawmen had a two-game win streak against Foran. With the streak snapped this year, the battle to retire the trophy continues to rage on.

“We gave it our all on defense throughout the whole game,” Merenda said. “From the beginning of the game to the whole end, I feel like we persevered and played a strong game.”

The previous Head coach, Mr. O’Reilly, did not return this year. Stepping up in his place, English teacher Mr. Nigretti knew the game would not be an easy victory, and thus spent much time practicing to teach the girls the game and their positions.

“Preparation is key, and we only have under three weeks to do it,” Nigretti said. “To maximize the time, having six day practices is essential. I would say that we have had meetings with defensive and offensive players throughout our time together and that is to make sure our girls get the best out of every practice. The coaches group chat was ‘blowing up’ from day one, keeping all coaches on the same page and offering insights about adjustments that we could make. Every year is a different team, and we need to run an offensive and defensive that is conducive to their skill sets. Finally, talking to Coach Kulenych, preparing for next year literally started right after the game. All in all, it is a grind, but every second is worth it because it means so much to the girls. With the amount of effort and dedication these girls invest in the ‘season,’ we owe it to them to be the best possible coaches.”

The juniors, eager for revenge, will never forget this game and are prepared to work hard for next year’s game.

“Advice I would give is don’t let your knowledge of the game discourage you from playing,” junior Talia Hagan said. “The coaches are really good at easily allowing you to understand quickly, and it’s a really fun experience to have.”

Kulenych said that while the result of the game wasn’t what the team had hoped for, he was proud of the way the girls fought through tough conditions.

“We were up against tough competition from Foran and from Mother Nature, but the girls battled the whole game and had a chance late in the fourth quarter,” Kulenych said. “Our message to the girls after was that they should be proud of their effort and proud of the journey they took to learn football in two and half weeks. We had a lot of juniors on this year’s team and the goal is that they use this as motivation to come back and get a win next year.”

The game was followed up with the annual Thanksgiving Day football game, where the Law football team won 33-6 over Foran. 

By Kaylanii Albert & Joeliz Gonzalez – Staff Reporters

Sophomore Roniyla Spellman is a Jonathan Law cheerleader who continues to put in hard work everyday on and off the mat.

Spellman has been doing cheer for four years and has been a part of three different teams – Milford Pop Warner, the U.S.A. Wildcats in Naugatuck, Connecticut, and now at Law.

Spellman has been a two-time State Champion and a two-time Regional Champion. She’s also an All-American cheerleader and received an award from the UCA staff during a youth camp.

“My coaches and captains use so much for the team, and I am very grateful for them,” Spellman said “I feel like the experience has been phenomenal, and I can’t wait for my upcoming seasons.”

Spellman has been on varsity her freshman year and sophomore years at Law.

“From coaching her in Pop Warner, to having her as a freshman alternate for varsity last year, to now earning a varsity position as a sophomore,” Head Coach Morgan Colombo said. “She continues to impress me in so many ways.”

Spellman’s teammates describe her as motivating, hard-working, and encouraging.

“Roniyla is always the first person to motivate me, whether it is encouraging me and everyone on the team to try something new, or just to improve upon something we’ve been doing,” sophomore Emma Ciccarelli said. “She is always ready to push you to do your best.”

Spellman keeps a very positive energy no matter what and helps her teammates if they need a reminder of things.

“If there is confusion for what count a motion should be on, the team can always rely on Roniyla to remember,” Assistant Coach Erica Gray said. “At games, Roniyla can be found encouraging her teammates to be their best but reminding them that it’s OK if mistakes are made.”

By Gabby Rodriguez and Emma Bonanno – Staff Reporters

The Powderpuff game is just around the corner, and starting outside linebacker and defensive captain Avery Moulton is going to be a key contributor for Law as they take down their cross-town rival.

Moulton is a leader on the defensive end of the field and is dedicated to making sure that the Law team is ready for the big game. She has set very high expectations for herself for this year’s game.

“My goal is to have an interception and score a touchdown, grab every person’s flag that comes near me, and as kicker, score many field goals,” Mouton said.

“As an outside linebacker, I am constantly grabbing flags, interceptions, and seeing the play,” Moulton said.  “I am very good at calling the right plays and telling everyone their roles.”

Offensive Coordinator Mr. Kulenych feels that the offense’s biggest challenge in practice everyday is trying to get by Moulton.

“She is a smart, relentless, and fierce competitor who is always in the right place and never gives up on a play,” Kulenych said. “We are very fortunate to have her on our team.”

Head Coach Mr. Nigretti highlighted Moulton’s strengths and what she brings to the team. 

“Avery is one of the purest athletes that I have ever coached, including when I coached high school football,” Nigretti said “She has speed, vision, and leadership skills that are all top-tier.” 

It’s not just the coaches who have noticed her talent. It is also very noticeable to players on the opposing side of the ball.

“Avery is an extremely well-rounded athlete and very gritty,” senior quarterback Charlotte Doyle said. “She’ll do anything to make a play and is always standing out,” 

Moulton tries to help others be their best as well.

“She is always there to give advice, help however she can, and remind you that you are doing great even when you doubt yourself,” junior middle linebacker Abby Merenda said. “Avery is always helpful, she is patient, and always gives feedback to make me and the team better.”

At the end of the day, this is more than just a game, but a town tradition that Moulton is excited to participate in once again.

“I’m excited to see all the hard work and dedication play out from the past two weeks and get another win,” Moulton said. “It is very competitive, but spending time with my friends makes it the best.”

By Eason Dong – Staff Reporter 

Jonathan Law junior defensive end Anthony Scappatura has emerged as one of the best defensive players on the team.

Scappatura is a game-changer on the field with his big, explosive plays, stopping opposing offenses, but also with the power to motivate his teammates.

“He shows a great sign of leadership to everyone,” Senior Captain Nick Comas said. “His impact has been huge at defensive end making huge plays and he motivates the team by getting the energy up in times we are down.” 

Scappatura isn’t just a game changer on the field, but also a great teammate who brings a positive attitude every day. He leads by example, but is also a great leader, motivating teammates on game days.

“He always has a positive attitude…except when he doesn’t get a holding call called against the o line blocking him,” Head Coach Ryan Pearson said. “ He is obviously a great player and leads by example but he’s also a leader by always making sure the team is as fired up as he is.”

Scappatura is a player who sacrifices for the team – from defending his teammates to putting his body on the line.

“He supports the team by having everybody’s back on the defensive and putting his body on the line,” junior Seamus Fedigan said.

Scappatura’s goal for the rest of the season is very different from others. Instead of the goal to be going to states, he expresses how he doesn’t like focusing on the future, but the present, and wants to destroy the Foran Lions on Thanksgiving.

“My only goal for the rest of the season is to dominate the Thanksgiving Day game,” Scappatura said. “ I’m not a fan of thinking too far ahead when it comes to football.”

A person who has influenced Scappatura to become the man he is today is Law alum Matt Ramos. He taught Scappatura so much about football, but also about life.

“That man has earned my respect from the day I met him,” Scappatura said. “He’s instilled in me a level of respect I have for myself and a level of respect that I demand from others.”

Just like how Ramos pushed Scappatura to be his best, Scappatura also pushes teammates to their best by his leadership.

“Something that he brings to the defense that does not show up on the stat sheet would be his leadership,” sophomore Arthur Rossi said. “He’s always pushing people to be better and he has high standards for us he cares about us so much and wants us to be the best we can be.”

Ramos isn’t the only person who has had an impact on Scappatura’s life and career as a football player. His dad is the reason he even started playing.

“I have to give my credit for playing football to my dad. Him signing me up for pop warner when I was 10 opened this chapter of my life,” Scappatura said.

Scappatura is a player that any coach would love to have on their team. 

“Scapp is definitely a one of a kind player and we are happy to have him,” Pearson said.

By Logan Thomas Dylan Gaillard – Advocate Editors

The Jonathan Law boys cross country season has recently come to an end. 

“The season was successful and was capped by winning the Road Runners City Championship,” Head Coach Beler said. “We defeated Foran by one point, (senior) David Licktieg became the two-time city champion and along with (junior)Matt Montini we finished first and second place at the meet.”

The Lawmen runners had a very successful season, and many positives emerged from it. 

“In my opinion, the season went very well, we had a great team and almost everybody got personal bests, we won the Milford championships by one point due to a couple of guys really pushing at the end of the race and beating people by a few seconds,” Montini said. “And I think that really shows what kind of team we were this year.”

Beler has confidence in his runners and has had many goals that we accomplished.

“There were a lot of personal records set, and we did well during our meets,” sophomore Aaryan Doshi said. “Personally, I did very well, I kept getting better each meet, and I set a new PR, which I am very happy with.”

Captain Lickteig has great motivation to win. He shows up to every practice ready to run.

“I mostly doubt myself when it comes to being a leader, but my team has let me know in many ways that I did a good job,” Lickteig said. “I was always real with everyone, and I was told by some teammates that they liked how human I was, so I was easy to work with, it really gave me confirmation that I was doing fine.”

Next year, runners are hoping to have another promising season. 

“I think that next year the team can improve by continuing to do everything we did this year,” Montini said. “We had a great team this year and if we keep it up we should be good next year as well.”

Many runners accomplished multiple personal records and placements in races.

“The final push to win was when (senior) Keldon Silvestor held off the Foran runner by 0.5 seconds,” Beler said. “Freshman Stanley Jiang lost his shoe during the race but still completed the course and took 7th place, and  he took 6th place at the Freshman SCC Championships.”

By Kendall Upchurch – Staff Reporter 

Excitement is building as Jonathan Law welcomes Coach Jaqueline Jozefick to lead the girls basketball team.

For Jozefick, the decision to step into coaching at Jonathan Law was shaped by her own experiences as a player.

“Throughout my playing career, I had some great coaches and some that made it tough to show up each day,” Jozefick said. “I know how much of a difference having a coach that cares can make. I hope to create a space where players enjoy the sport and want to show up each day, for themselves, their coaches, and their teammates.”  

Before coming to Law, Jozefick was a Freshman, JV, and Varsity Assistant Coach at St. Joseph High School. She continues to coach AAU basketball out of Milford, giving her experience with athletes at many levels. 

Her connection to Jonathan Law runs deep, not only professionally but also personally. 

“I grew up in Milford, and my family still lives here,” Jozefick said. “Jonathan Law is where I would have gone if I hadn’t attended St. Joe’s, so I always followed their athletic programs from afar. When the job opened up, it was something I didn’t think I could pass up.”

That sense of local pride and purpose hasn’t gone unnoticed by her players. 

“I think she’s great,” junior Sadie Timmeny said. “She’s super committed to the team and overall a good role model for us. I was definitely excited but nervous to have a female coach. She’s tough, pushing us in conditioning sessions, already getting us in shape.” 

The team’s conditioning sessions have been a key part of Jozefick’s preseason plan. 

“We review our past fall league game at the beginning of every conditioning session,” Timmeny said. “I think that’s an important part of what we do.”

That structure is something teammates said sets Jozefick apart.

 “Something that stands out about how she runs practices and her organization,” sophomore Gabby Rodriguez said. “She has an iPad with conditioning plans, stats, and ideas for improvement. Everything runs smoothly and on time. At first, I think our team was a bit intimidated, but now we enjoy joking around with her between drills. She does a great job balancing focus time and fun.”

Rodriguez described Jozefick’s coaching style as “intense and motivating.” 

“She has been great at getting us more focused and helping us become better versions of ourselves,” Rodriguez said.

Sophomore Emma Bonanno said Jozefick brings both personality and purpose to the team. 

“To describe Jackie in a few words: funny, reliable, and honest,” Bonanno said. “ She’s helping everyone grow their confidence on and off the court. My favorite moment so far was when the girls were talking about our plans for the season, it made me excited and ready to start.”

Senior Cassie Rodriguez said the program already feels revitalized. 

“We’ve been conditioning together and playing in the fall league, and we’ll be much more prepared this season,” Rodriguez said. “I like her coaching style because she encourages us to play at our full potential while holding us accountable.”

Athletic Director Mr. Drew said he is excited to see how Jozefick would impact the team and program. 

“She’s organized, has thorough expectations for those around her, coming into this to establish good relationships with her players,” Drew said.

For Jozefick, those relationships and moments of growth are what coaching is all about. 

“I expect a lot out of the athletes who play for me, but I don’t expect the unimaginable,” Jozefick said. “We set goals together, and if we’re not hitting them, my staff and I will let them know. But I like a very open environment. If a player doesnt understand something or sees something that will help us, I want them to voice it.”

While championships remain a long-term goal, her measure of success goes beyond the scoreboard.

 “We all want to say our main goal is a championship and of course it is, but I also want these girls to keep or rediscover their love for basketball,” Jozefick said. “I want them to enjoy coming to practice, to grow as athletes and as young women who are ready for what’s next for Jonathan Law.”

By Matthew Witteman – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law girls soccer team recently finished their season with a record of 3-8-5. 

Law battled all season against some of the best teams in the state, including Mercy, Sacred Heart Academy, and Hand. Even with all these tough games, they never gave up and kept pushing. 

“Overall, the season had its ups and downs,” Head Coach Mrs. Francisco said. “As a number 1 seed – an incredible accomplishment in itself – also means that we had a hard schedule game after game, and still never backed down or gave up.”

Law also fought through many injuries on the team but just kept building to get better everyday. 

“These injuries helped us comfort one another and brought us closer together,” Senior Captain Avery Moulton said. “On a positive note, new players were able to play a lot and learned so much from the beginning to end of the season.” 

This year, many underclassmen had to step up in big spots, contributing every game. 

“I am proud of the hard work put in from our underclassmen, especially from players who have never played soccer before. They were always working hard and inspired me to be a better player myself,” Senior Captain Fiorella Gargiulo said. 

One highlight of the season was junior Emily Vella breaking the career scoring record. 

“To me, breaking the record was the most important thing that has happened to me throughout my high school soccer career so far,” Vella said. 

Throughout all the ups and downs this season, team members always kept a level head. Returning members are already setting goals for 2026.

“My goals for next season are to qualify for SCC and States, as well as make SCC First Team and become a captain,” junior Talia Hagan said. 

Despite the challenges, the Law girls soccer team ended the season stronger and more united. With lessons learned from tough opponents, injuries, and underclassmen stepping up, the team is ready to build on this year’s experiences. 

With a strong group of underclassmen returning, the future of Johnathan Law girls soccer looks bright.

By Emma Bonanno – Staff Reporter 

The Jonathan Law volleyball team recently ended their season with a record of 7-13. 

The team saw many improvements from last year, including winning three more matches. Varsity Head Coach Ms. Loch felt the team’s dynamic played a role in their success this season.    

“Our team has a great dynamic,” Loch said. “They are hard working and very supportive of each other, and it helps the girls maintain a positive mindset throughout the game.”  

Senior Captains Maddie Benedetti, Nadia Nuzzo, and Lily Plieman played a huge role in the team’s dynamic and success.  

“Their energy and how much they supported us helped us to join together and win games,” sophomore Cayleigh Gylnn said. “They also were very welcoming and made us feel at home.”

Nuzzo finishes her final season at Law. She enjoyed her season and how close the team was. 

“On and off the court no matter what we were all always there for each other,” Nuzzo said. “Whether it be us helping each other shaking off a mistake or just cheering up, throughout the season we become one big family.” 

The team continued to improve as the season progressed.

“Our team has grown in many ways,” Benedetti said. “We all improved in our skills, but also our communication improved as a team which is key for success.”

The team had several memorable wins this year. Nuzzo’s favorite is the second time they got to play against West Haven. 

“The first time we played West Haven was in the beginning of the season, so the second time we got the chance to show them how we had improved,” Nuzzo said. “West Haven is one of the better teams we played this season, and through heightened emotions throughout the game we were able to pull out a win in the fifth set.” 

Junior Chloe Capablo played volleyball her freshman year but didn’t play her sophomore year. She played again this year and loved the atmosphere. 

“Everyone really supported each other and always cheered for one another on a good play or was there to pick up someone if they made a mistake” Capablo said. 

The volleyball team looks forward to seeing more improvements next year. They all have a common goal that they hope to achieve. 

“Next season, I think everyone’s goal is to make the SCC and States,” Loch said. 

By Breana Aquino – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law girls swim and dive season recently came to an end with a record of 5-6.

This year’s season was led by senior captains Kayla Markowitz, Sarah McCann, and Melissa Servas. Despite the loss of last year’s seniors, the introduction of new freshmen, as well as returning members, the team was able to adjust and adapt accordingly for the season.

Head Coach Rob Rosner has been coaching Law for the past 10 years – the last seven as as head coach.

“We had a lot of people step into new roles and do an unbelievable job doing whatever the team needed to make sure we were successful,” Rosner said. “This is one of the hardest working teams we’ve ever had and I think a lot of that has to do with our seniors and the example they set for everyone else.”

Over the course of the season, there were a few great moments from it that stood out to Rosner.

“I’d say as a team, our win over Daniel Hand was one of my favorite moments,” Rosner said. “It was the first time we had ever beaten them, and the way our team came together to get the job done was really special.”

Another highlight was the team’s win over West Haven the night before their senior night at Foran.

First joining the team as a sophomore, senior captain Kayla Markowitz is impressed with how much the team accomplished this year.

“I was so proud to be named captain this year as I can’t imagine a better community to be involved in here at Law,” Markowitz said. “Being surrounded by the most supportive, motivated, and kind hearted girls makes me sad to go but has been so inspiring.”

This season, Markowitz qualified for States in the 100 yard freestyle and the 100 yard backstroke. She competed in SCC finals, which was a huge personal accomplishment for her.

Markowitz committed to the big change of switching from two events, to mainly focusing on her 100 yard freestyle, posing only to further help the team out.

In terms of fundraising, the team has raised a total of $2,438 for their Lion Heart fundraiser. The money is donated to Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven and the Yale Cancer Center to help with breast cancer research.

Assistant Coach Mr. Lui is pleased with how the season went for the team. It overall exceeded his expectations.

“Going into the season, I wasn’t sure how we’d perform as a team after losing so many talented seniors,” Lui said. “Many of our upperclassmen showed tremendous improvement and our freshmen quickly embraced our team culture and contributed right away.”

Lui has been swimming competitively since he was six, with the sport teaching him many valuable things that he translates into coaching to help others. This season was no different. Lui and Rosner share a great relationship, with their shared coaching helping motivate the girls to improve all around.

In spite of the restrictions she faced due to her injuries the prior season, sophomore Tali McHugh got the chance to experience her first year in the pool with the team this fall season.

McHugh swam the 50 and the 100 freestyle, dropping time in all of her events.

“I improved my stroke technique, breathing patterns, and overall endurance,” McHugh said. “I chose this sport because I have swam my whole life and always loved the sport of swimming.”

McHugh aspires to drop even more time in all of her events next year, hoping to swim back to her full potential without injury.

With freshman Vanessa Chen’s first season with the team over, she is already looking forward to next year’s season. The supportive group made her feel welcome.

Chen did not have a specific event for the season, switching between events like the 200 IM or the 500 freestyle, in which she often drops time in.

“There’s no problem bonding with anyone and the coaches will motivate you to do your best,” Chen said. “It naturally makes you a better athlete.”

By Eason Dong – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law football team is off to a hot start this season with a record of 5-1.

The Lawmen all have one common goal for the rest of the season: to keep winning games and play after Thanksgiving in the Class SS playoffs.

“The goals for the rest of the season are to win the rest of our games and work into playoffs,” Senior Captain Nick Comas said.

The Lawmen are having a impressive season with big wins against Notre Dame-West Haven and Branford, who were 4-0 at the time.

“The team’s performance has been very good and we look to keep improving and getting better each week,” Senior Captain Jack Lefevre said.

Heading into the season, the expectations for the Lawmen were modest. Now, Law is 5-1 midway through the season with a schedule filled with strong teams, with only a loss coming against the #3 team in the state, Killingly.

“While there’s always room for improvement, I am very happy with our performance so far, considering the expectations from the outside were not very high, so being 5-1 after six games is right where we want,” Head Coach Ryan Pearson said.

Junior Quarterback Matthew Witteman believes that the Lawmen are playing well and hopes to continue to improve as the season goes on. 

“Our weakness is our running game, but as we continue to improve, it is getting better,” Witteman said. ”I would say we are playing very well so far, but we need to finish the season strong because I’m looking forward to playing after Thanksgiving.”

A big part of Law’s success is how many new names have stepped up for the Lawmen this season.

“Two players that come to my mind are essentially coaches for us on the field, and that is Seamus on the D side and Gonzalez on the O side,” Pearson said. “So it would be easy to say kids like Witt(eman), Cosmas, Hunter (Kendzierski), and other returning starters but I think the amount of success we’ve gotten out of our sophomore class has been incredible from Dylan Gaillard, Reid Moulton, Ryan Woods, Zach Hyatt, Conor Ryan, Art Rossi, and Nick Vancho.”

As the season is slowly coming to a close, the Lawmen are going to continue bringing a physical attitude for the rest of the year. 

“I think the team is been playing solid so far this season despite the hard schedule, and we need to keep up the intensity to continue performing well,” senior Shane Hanson said.

By Teagan Liphardt – Staff Reporter

On the Jonathan Law soccer field this season, there’s a bond that goes beyond teamwork – it’s brotherhood.

Junior Max Moller and freshman Nate Moller have brought both their individual strengths and their family connection to the boys soccer team, creating a dynamic that pushes them and their teammates to new levels. 

“Both have great technical skills and I think another year playing with each other will not only push them but make the boys soccer team stronger,” Head Coach Mr. Gruber said.

What makes their partnership unique is the way their different personalities show up during games. Nate tends to be more vocal, bringing energy and communication to the field, while Max leads quietly, letting his play speak for itself, together the combination adds balance to the team. 

Many players noticed the bond between the brothers even before the season began.

During summer training, it was clear that Max and Nate looked for each other when playing, always pushing one another to improve. Their work ethic and chemistry haven’t gone unnoticed, as their teammates respect the way they use their soccer knowledge to guide and include others.

“Max and Nate are both extremely hard workers both on and off the field and they get along well which is nice to see,” Gruber said. 

Max said there are several benefits about playing on the same team as his bother.

“The best part about getting to play with my brother is being able to yell at him and expect more out of him and what he does,” Max said.

Nate also said he enjoys sharing the field with his sibling.

“Although he is my brother, I have to treat him the same as everybody else because whether they are on the bench or on the field they are all my brothers,” Nate said.

By Cameron Graf – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Cheer team is off to a strong start this fall.

Both the junior varsity and varsity teams have similar goals for the year and have exciting plans for the team’s  future.

“Our goal for varsity is to win competitions and make it to Regionals,” Senior Captain Jordyn Torres said. “Varsity is hoping and working towards bringing home some championships this year.”

Last year at competitions, Law worked together as one big group, but this year, they have been broken up into two different teams – junior varsity and varsity. 

“Last year we didn’t place as high, but my freshman year we got first in the Co-ed Division,” junior Cara Mikoliczyk. “This year’s competition doesn’t start till January but we hope for a more successful season. This year, we have a junior varsity competition team so it will double our chances at success.”

For this year’s upcoming competition, Law has one major goal and a plan for how they want to achieve it.  

“Our number one goal is to make it to States this year at competition and hit zero on every thing (execute it perfectly)” senior Hunter Corris said.

Over the course of the summer, Cheer team members worked together and communicated regularly to make the team feel like a family. 

“The environment is filled with so much laughter and excitement,” Junior Captain Maddie Nash said. “I also love having everyone being so close as a team. Our goals for this season are good teamwork, communication, and for strong bonds throughout the team.”

New members of the team are finding their way around and being welcomed into the Cheer community. 

“For my first year on the team it’s going great,” junior Jocelyn Dimes said. “We are just beginning choreography for comp season. The environment is very welcoming and positive, and is always pushing me to do better.”

By Dani Kotansky and Cora Aitkenhead – News Editors

Senior Molly Croce is continuing to make a lasting impact on the Law girls soccer team. 

Croce has been described as a team player ready to work hard. She will play her final Law soccer season this year.

“My responsibilities as a captain are to work with my other captains to keep the team motivated and also focused,” Croce said. “We also work to keep the team morale up and make everyone feel close and supported. I implement this on and off the field by always supporting my teammates and keeping a positive attitude”

Head Coach Mrs. Francisco describes Croce as a player with the ability to guide the rest of the team. 

“Molly is a leader on and off the field, Francisco said. “She always leads by example during practices and games, always giving 100%.”

Senior captain Fiorella Gargiulo has always had a great relationship with Croce, playing together years before their time at Law. 

“Molly is a team player, no matter how fast or skilled she is, she is always making the best decision for our team,” Gargiulo said. “She passes the ball and handles her composure on the field, and it has been an honor playing with her for almost a decade.” 

Crice has big goals for the team this year, not just for the regular season, but the postseason. As it is her final year she also looks forward to both the competition and the fun that soccer brings. 

“For my last season, I want to make it further in the States and SCC tournaments than we have any other year,” Croce said. “I want to enjoy my last year and have fun spending it with all of my teammates, especially my co-captains who I have been playing with for the last four years.”

Freshman Marina Cosmas feels that Croce’s leadership has helped her adapt to the high school sports environment. 

“She represents leadership by knowing when to take game moments seriously,” Cosmas said. “She gets along with everybody and she is a great player and person off the field.”

The girls soccer team has a very close knit environment, and the captains, including Croce, have created a positive environment for everyone to become better people and players. 

“As captains, and best friends, we prioritize uplifting each other on and off the field,” Gargiulo said. “We have a lot of girls who are picking up soccer skills for the first time, so it’s important to be inspirational and hard-working with our team.”

After a very successful and impactful soccer career at Law, Croce hopes to pass on her positive attitude to the team’s underclassmen.

“Advice I would like to leave behind is to believe in yourself,” Croce said. “You are your own worst enemy and if you have confidence in yourself then it will show both on and off the field.”

The girls soccer team will have its Senior Night on Friday, October 3, at home against West Haven. The Senior Night ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m. with kick-off at 6 p.m.