Dreams of State Titles Begin as Tolland High School Opens Practice

TOLLAND, CT — The day has finally arrived - Thursday, Aug. 24, the first official day of practice for high school teams across Connecticut. With the beginning of a new season springs hope for a successful year, and perhaps even the ultimate goal - a state championship.

Dating back to 1932, schools from Patch towns in Hartford and Tolland counties have captured 416 state titles in fall sports, with Farmington and Glastonbury tied for the region lead with 35 championships each. Glastonbury lays claim to being the only school in the area to win at least one state crown in each of the eight fall sports currently offered - boys and girls soccer, boys and girls cross country, football, field hockey, girls swimming and girls volleyball.

Four local teams will be defending titles won in 2016: Tolland boys cross country (Class M) and girls cross country (MM), Farmington boys soccer (LL) and Glastonbury girls soccer (LL).

Several schools in the region have never won a fall championship: East Windsor, Cheney Tech and several of the small Hartford magnet schools which have cropped up in recent years. Among the schools with at least one fall title, the longest droughts have been endured by East Granby, which last won an autumn crown in 1970, and Bulkeley, which seeks its first fall champion since 1975.

By sport, here are the winningest programs in Hartford and Tolland counties:

• boys cross country: Manchester, 20
• boys soccer: Wethersfield, 15
• field hockey: Granby Memorial, 13
• girls cross country: Glastonbury, 12
• girls volleyball: Farmington, 8
• girls soccer: Simsbury, 7
• girls swimming: East Catholic, 4
• football: (tie) East Catholic, Glastonbury, Southington, Weaver, 3

Tolland High School owns 25 fall state titles:

• boys cross country (11): 2016-M, 2011-MM, 2010-Open, 2010-M, 2009-M, 2008-M, 2003-M, 1992-SS, 1991-SS, 1989-SS, 1974-S
• girls cross country (9): 2016-M, 2015-Open, 2015-M, 2014-Open, 2014-M, 2013-Open, 2013-M, 2012-M, 2011-M
• girls soccer (3): 1985-S, 1984-S, 1983-S
• boys soccer (2): 2015-M, 2009-M

Patch file photo