Knollwood Student Athletes Honored by Fair Haven Board of Education

The Knollwood School boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams and the field hockey team were recently honored for their outstanding seasons by the Fair Haven Board of Education.

A pizza and cake party was enjoyed by all of the athletes and coaches prior to the start of a scheduled Board meeting in the Knollwood School All-Purpose Room on Wednesday, November 19. After Board President Mark Mancuso called the meeting to order at 7 p.m., the awards ceremony commenced. The students were called up individually and given certificates of achievement while their proud parents and coaches looked on.

The boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams achieved spectacular success in their first seasons of competition, each finishing undefeated with a 7-0 record. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams were named 2014 MCISSL League Champions.

In addition, seven students from each team competed in the prestigious 2014 MCISCCL Invitational Meet of Champions featuring over 200 runners from around the state. The Knollwood girls claimed the first-place finish and the Knollwood boys claimed the second-place berth in their competition.

The field hockey team enjoyed a stellar season as well under Coach Jane Sieg, with a record of 12 wins and just one loss. The team, consisting of girls in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, was named the 2014 American League Champion.

“I would like to point out that the boys and girls assembled here are students as well as athletes,” Fair Haven Superintendent of Schools Nelson Ribon said in his opening remarks, “I would like to thank their parents for supporting them and encouraging their success in the classroom as well as on the playing field.”

Earning first place in the MCISCCL Invitational Meet of Champions event were girls cross- country team members Julia Tambaro, 5th place; Olivia Rehder, 13th place; Jackie Hanson, 21st place; Lisa Sandoli, 26th place; Lindsay Boyle, 30th place; Caroline Coleman, 45th place; and Sarah Landy, 50th place.

The boys cross country team members who earned a second place finish at the MCISCCL Invitational were Jake Jakub, 3rd place; Luke Reid, 9th place; David Ham, 16th place; Christian Danielczyk, 18th place; Ford Stevens, 46th place; Jack Nolan, 55th place; and Nolan Kostulas, 63rd place.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with all of these terrific kids who have supported one another throughout the season,” said Knollwood seventh-grade social studies teacher Chris Stephan, who coaches the cross-country teams along with sixth-grade literacy teacher Christina Jarosinski.

Knollwood boys cross country team members are: eighth-graders Quinn Ahimovic, Ryan Daly, Christian Danielczyk, Jake Jacub, Ryan Daly, David Ham, Ryan Kane, Nolan Kostulas, Guy Mazzeo, Quinn Nolan, Luke Reid, and Ford Stevens; seventh-graders Mike Bogardus, Tim Carey, Jack Cusick, JP Davis, Nick Donlon, Thomas Friedman, Colin Gray, Tristan Holter, Andrew Jacomme, Jack Nolan, Matt Padovano, Graham Pfeil, Michael Piperno, Dan Rigby, Thomas Russo, and Luke Turoczi; 6th graders Thomas Elgrim, William Francis, Gabe LePage, Jack Lynch, Andrew Schmid, James Schuldt, Robby Sypeck, Jack Theodore, Drew Venancio, and Gabe Wigington.

Knollwood girls cross country team members include: eighth-graders Emma DeSantis, Grace Geiger, Jackie Hanson, Olivia Rehder, Lisa Sandoli, Bridgette Simpson, and Julia Tambaro; seventh-graders Lindsay Boyle, Caroline Coleman, Stella Demcsak, Emily Everett, Charlotte Henry, Kristin Felsman, Kate Halcrow, Sarah Landy, Alison Lista, and Celeste Winters.

Knollwood field hockey team members include: eighth-graders Alina Arko, Shannah Dolan, Kira Flammer, Jeannie Gagliano, Erin McKay, Caroline McManus, Amanda Merton, Gillian Thorp, Kerry Tuorto, and Elena Werner; seventh graders Jane Banahan, Gibson DiCenso, and Nora Doonan; and 6th graders Corinne Callahan, Madelyn Delvecchio, Madeline Dengler, Sarah Dolan, Sarah Neczesny, and Avery Pawlak.

Sixth graders and field-hockey team members Sarah Neczesny and Avery Pawlak both gave the pizza and cake celebration and awards ceremony a thumbs-up, saying that they “had plenty of food and lots of fun.”

In addition to President Mark Mancuso, Board of Education Members honoring the Knollwood student-athletes were Vice-President Claudia Brasch, Cathy Alescio, Michael Bernstein, Bennett Coleman, Katy Frissora, Tracy Rehder, Jeff Spector, and Randi Walker.