5 Super Athletes With Ties To West Hartford

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the West Hartford area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch is celebrating five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. This list is just a snapshot, with countless other athletes helping shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Liz Janangelo (Golf)

West Hartford native Liz Janangelo built an impressive golf career after starring at Conard High School and going on to play at Duke University. During her four years with the Blue Devils, she won seven tournaments, earned four first-team All-America selections and was named the National Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year as a sophomore. She also helped Duke win back-to-back NCAA championships in 2005 and 2006.

2. Carey O'Brien (Soccer, Tennis)

West Hartford native Carey O'Brien starred in both soccer and tennis at William Hall High School before becoming a standout at UConn. As a Husky, she played in 92 games, helped UConn reach three NCAA quarterfinals and the 1997 NCAA championship game, and earned All-BIG EAST honors in 1998 and 1999. O'Brien was also a Second Team NSCAA All-American in 1999 and later played professionally for the San Jose CyberRays, helping the team win the 2001 WUSA Founders Cup. She was inducted into the Connecticut Girls' Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006 and currently serves as an associate head coach for UConn women's soccer.

3. Chantelle Swaby (Soccer)

Chantelle Swaby is another West Hartford soccer standout who went from Hall High School to the international stage. At Hall, she was named all-New England, all-state and all-conference, while also earning recognition on the NSCAA All-Region I Team and at national showcase events. She went on to Rutgers, where she earned All-Big Ten honors in three consecutive seasons and was named to the 2016 Big Ten All-Tournament Team. Swaby has also represented Jamaica internationally and has played professionally, including for Leicester City in England.

4. Matt Sinatro (Baseball)

Matt Sinatro took his baseball career from West Hartford's Conard High School all the way to Major League Baseball. The catcher was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the 27th overall pick in the 1978 MLB Draft after a standout high school career that included a .449 batting average and nine home runs as a junior, according to the Society for American Baseball Research. Sinatro made his major league debut with Atlanta in 1981 and ultimately played 10 MLB seasons, appearing in 276 games. His career also included time with the Athletics and Mariners, and he later worked as a coach for the Tampa Bay Rays.

5. Alex Mighten (Soccer)

West Hartford-born Alex Mighten has taken a distinctly international route in professional soccer. He joined Nottingham Forest's academy as a youth player, made his professional debut at 17 and eventually made his Premier League debut in 2022. Mighten also represented England at the U-15, U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-20 levels before signing with San Diego FC, where he currently plays as a forward. San Diego FC notes that Mighten was born in West Hartford while his father, Eddie Mighten, was working for ESPN, giving the current MLS player a direct connection to the town.

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