some posturing, perhaps

I watched the Southington wresting team, now 17-4 on the season, dismantle a young East Hartford squad. Despite their youth, the Hornets have traditionally been a solid wrestling program and are well coached. Even with three forfeits, the Knights went on to a 51-28 win. They earned two forfeits themselves, and of the other nine matches won seven, five on pins, one on a tech fall and one on a major decision. To add to it, they were shorthanded due to injuries.
And yet all the talk around the team seems to be one of disappointment. Manager Mary Boissoneault (I hope I got that right, and coincidentally Mary is probably the most competent and hard-working manager I've ever met. She's going to go far some day.) spoke despairingly before the match about how injuries have left the team relatively noncompetitive. Coach Derek Dion said afterwards that the team has reassessed its goals since the start of the season. They appear to be without hope of winning a Class LL title, despite being ranked 10th in the current coaches' poll.
17-4. Just a reminder.
Now, with a powerhouse like Danbury standing in the way, there may always be little hope for the rest of LL, but surely Dion and the Knights (not the Belmonts for you fans of an earlier generation out there) have more confidence than this.
I'll say this. Southington may not be as strong as they were last year. But they still have enough talent to finish at least in the top three at the state tournament, if not better. And they still are a very good team. I hope they realize that before all is said and done, because it has certainly been another successful year in Southington.
Maybe they just want to stay under the radar. Could there be some Belichick in Dion?

sad times in the Hill

It is an unfortunate time to be a Rocky Hill fan (or alum). The Terriers, who have never been a powerhouse in the winter season, scattering successful years including a boys Class S basketball title in 2002, are struggling through their worst collective season in years.
One editor in our office, who takes phone calls from coaches, pointed out that she has not taken a call from a Terriers coach after a win in weeks, be it basketball, boys or girls, wrestling, swimming, or hockey.
That is an exaggeration. But, the basketball and hockey teams have a combined 9-15 record since the start of the new year. The last win was the skaters, coming on January 21, while both basketball teams swept RHAM on January 18.
Meanwhile, the wrestling and swim teams continue to struggle with low numbers, a long-standing problem for both.
There is still hope for the basketball and hockey teams to make the state tournament, and maybe get things going. There was high hope in Terrierland for the girls in particular starting the season, and while I'm sure the girls are working as hard as ever, the results have been disappointing.
Here's to hoping February treats the teams better than January, and that there will be time to turn the seasons around.