Branford Hornets' Boys' Indoor Track Prevails at Southern Connecticut Conference Western Sectional Championship

It's rare for any team with just two seniors to prevail at a postseason meet, however, at the SCC Western Sectional Championship on Jan. 26, the Branford boys' track squad proved it could not only beat the odds, but also the nine other teams it was up against.

That's because Rich Biondi's Hornets have a ton of underclass talent and received victories from a pair of juniors-Jared Keck in the high jump and Denis Daly in the pole vault-plus numerous other point-scoring performances from its underclassmen en route to a first-place finish at New Haven's Floyd Little Athletic Center.

The triumph for the Hornets-whose outdoor team won the sectional title last spring-certainly wasn't easy as the meet came down to the final event in the 4x400 relay, yet when the last athlete crossed the finish line, Biondi's squad had totaled 69 points, just enough to best Xavier and North Haven, which tied for second with 65.

Meanwhile, the girls' team also put together a solid night as junior Hunter Carden claimed victory in the pole vault (7-6) and then ran on the school-record breaking 4x200 relay with senior captain Madison Birney, junior Bryanna Willaby, and freshman Shaana Bishop that placed fifth at 1:55.40. As a team, the Hornets' girls finished in fifth place.

"Our athletes understand the tradition we've established over the past 10 years and so they expect to have a chance to win and believe they can do it," said Coach Biondi, whose squad is captained by seniors Austin Connell and Tony Tala. "It says a lot about our team that we won with mostly juniors and freshmen. We know that we can fill all the events, and when you have quality kids in every event, you always have a shot."

Xavier and North Haven still had a shot to win as the Hornets held a slim lead entering the penultimate event in the 3,200. Junior Eric Arsenault came up clutch for Branford by finishing third at 10:17.12, and though he was edged for second by Xavier's Russell Stevens, Arsenault still placed ahead of two Xavier runners, essentially putting the Falcons out of the running. North Haven didn't have anyone in the 3,200 and so all Branford needed to best the Indians was at least a sixth-place finish in the 4x400 relay and the quartet of Jaryd Hobbs, Nathan D'Amico, Bryan Liu, and Steve Perrotti ran 3:53.42 to place fifth and seal the crown.

"I was running for my team and that [knowing the outcome largely hinged on his finish] was in the back of my mind so when he passed me I thought I might have lost it, but fortunately I didn't," said Arsenault. "We're a young team, but we're also a dedicated team that's practiced hard all season"

One of the Hornets' most dedicated athletes is Perrotti, who Biondi called "our heart and soul," and he couldn't have been happier about his team's victory.

"It feels great. Everyone wanted it bad and came up big," said Perrotti, who also set a personal record of 1:32.91 in taking third and making states in the 600. "Our seniors took the underclassmen under their wing this year and we all delivered tonight."

Two athletes who delivered as much as anyone for Branford were Keck, who won the high jump at 5-6; and Daly, who prevailed in the pole vault at 10-6. Keck, who was also fourth in the long jump (18-8½) and sixth in the 55 hurdles (9.05), discussed two of the most crucial components in the Hornets' success.

"Austin and Tony have stepped up and led this team well this season; they consult with everyone and so we all get along with each other, which helps us do better," Keck said. "And Bondo [Coach Biondi] is such a great coach. He always wants you to do better and helps you with your technique because he knows a lot about every event. I wouldn't be nearly as good if not for him."

After winning the pole vault, Hunter Carden expressed similar sentiments about Branford's girls' coach Kevin Connell, saying that "he sees the potential in you and encourages you to realize it." Carden and her fellow members of the 4x200 relay realized their potential at sectionals by breaking the school record.

"I'm really psyched about that, especially for Madison since this is her senior year," said Carden of Madison Birney, who captains the Hornets with Julie Swanson. "I'm a little upset that I didn't get to 8-6 in the pole vault, but I'm still happy to win and I'll go for 8-6 next week."

Indeed, Carden and all the Hornets' athletes will have a chance to do even better at this week's SCC Championship, which takes place at the same venue at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4. Connell and company are now gearing up for that meet and the coach gave an overview of how his Hornets performed at the sectional competition.

"We have a smaller team than past years, but what we lack in quantity we made up for in quality; we scored more points tonight than I thought we would," Connell said. "I was glad to see Hunter win the pole vault and I'm excited that our 4x200 relay broke the school record. I was also happy to see Shaana and Madison finish third and fourth in the 55 [with times of 7.81 and 7.82, respectively], as well as Sharon Bian making states in the 1,000 and dropping seven seconds off her previous best time [placing seventh at 3:25.78]."

Also for the Branford girls, Sophie Bysiewicz finished sixth in the 1,600 (5:51.77), Tracy Crookston was third in the 3,200 (13:08.27), the 4x400 relay of Birney, Alex Tracy, Bian, and Carden came in third (4:34.52); Laura Peterson took third in the high jump (4-6) and sixth in the long jump (15-1), and Alyssa Case was third in the pole vault (6-0).

Additionally scoring points for the boys were Alex Muniz in the 1,600 (6th, 4:57.56), Hobbs in the 55 hurdles (4th, 8.65) and pole vault (3rd, 9-6), the 4x800 relay of Connell, Arsenault, Fischer, and Muniz (4th, 8:51.79); the 1,600 sprint medley relay of Mike DeMaio, Joe Roca, Tala, and Chase Fowler (6th, 4:05.60); John Ainson (2nd, 5-4) and Nick Goglia (4th, 5-2) in the high jump, and James Madelung in the long jump (5th, 18-6¼).