Knight Time will focus on giving you the inside information on sports in Southington (Connecticut), with the focus being the Southington Blue Knights. However, it will occasionally touch on various other issues around the sporting arena. It's meant to inform and entertain with both lightheartedness and news aspects. Leave comments!
James Nitz won his second straight Wayton Open tennis tournament, which was in its third year of existence, taking place at Panthorn Park from June 26-28. He defeated Mark Habek 6-0, 6-1, 6-2. Creator of the tournament, Matthew Wayton saw his Southington-based tournament rise to 40 entries since its inception and the recent college graduate is looking to continue to build it in the coming years. Below is a video, courtesy of the Record-Journal, on the Wayton Open as well as full results from the tournament. Check out The Citizen sports section on Friday for further coverage of the tournament.
First Round
Artur Rabiej d. Kris Truncali 6-1, 6-0
Emily Chenard d. Gianna Gurga 6-2, 7-5
Kyle Nitz d. Tim Goldberg 6-4, 6-4
Danny Baker d. Jordon Lamson 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-4
Nicole Marziarz d. Emily Guynn 6-0, 6-1
Jeff Goldberg d. Rick Kania 6-2, 6-3
Corey Wayton d. Dave Cahill 6-2, 6-2
Zak Lunn d. Eric Muroski 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 Second Round
James Nitz d. Artur Rabiej 6-0, 6-0
Jay Ramos d. Ned Cahill 6-4, 7-6(3)
Phil Maddalena d. Emily Chenard 6-2, 6-2
Bruce Rycki d. Dave Gallager 6-0, 6-1
James DiNello d. Kyle Nitz 6-0, 6-0
Michael Howard d. Justin Kahm 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
Mike Rabiej d. Danny Baker 6-0, 6-0
Matt Downes d. Nate Beaumont 6-3, 6-1
Joey Albiach d. Nicole Marziarz Walkover
Bobby Kane d. Joey Enright Walkover
Matt Wayton d. Jeff Goldberg 6-0, 6-0
Nate Pryzbek d. Ian MacDonald 6-1, 6-0
Andrew Zajac d. Corey Wayton 6-0, 6-2
Greg Zmarlicki d. Brian Zmarlicki 7-5, 7-6(5)
Mark Habek d. Zak Lunn 6-1, 6-0
Jason Strachel d. Jon Sadusky 6-2, 6-2 Third Round
James Nitz d. Jay Ramos 6-0, 6-0
Phil Maddalena d. Bruce Rycki 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-3
James DiNello d. Michael Howard 6-1, 6-3
Mike Rabiej d. Matt Downes 6-0, 6-0
Joey Albiach d. Bobby Kane 6-2, 6-1
Matt Wayton d. Nate Pryzbek 6-4, 6-2
Andrew Zajac d. Greg Zmarlicki 7-5, 6-4
Mark Habek d. Jason Strachel 6-1, 6-2 Quarterfinals
James Nitz d. Phil Maddalena 6-0, 6-0
James DiNello d. Mike Rabiej 6-2, 6-3
Joey Albiach d. Matt Wayton 6-1, 6-2
Mark Habek d. Andrew Zajac 6-2, 6-0 Semifinals
James Nitz d. James DiNello 6-0, 6-4
Mark Habek d. Joey Albiach 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 Championship
James Nitz d. Mark Habek 6-0, 6-1, 6-2
This past Saturday, the Connecticut senior all-stars won the 12th annual Governor's Cup over the Rhode Island senior standouts 29-7. The Nutmeg kids are now 9-3 all time in the game that started back in 1999. Southington's lone participant was offensive lineman Shane Duncan (right), who started on the o-line and had a good game. Duncan will be moving on to Utica College to play football at the next level. Read all about his experience at the all-star game and what the future holds in this week's Citizen.
Head coach Ed Kalat has named his girls tennis captains for next year's season (2011). They are, pictured from left, Katherine Otis, Kelley Hwang, Emily Sherwill and Emily Jepson.
OK, so the NBA playoffs are finally over, congrats to Lakers' fans, sorry to Celtics' fans, which is probably most people in the Northeast. Tough loss, no Kendrick Perkins made a difference, but the team with the best player won - Kobe Bryant. But after what seemed like six months, basketball and hockey are over and Americans can now focus on the sport it should be focusing on...not baseball...soccer.
I'm not a big professional soccer fan, admitted. I don't watch soccer, pretty much ever. But it's time to get World Cup fever and hang in for a month (likely less if the US gets knocked out) and support the boys in South Africa. (I mean if you watched the NBA playoffs for five months, you can watch the World Cup for one - it only comes around every four years).
I've committed to the World Cup in the same way I do, and all people do, for the Olympics. No one watches skiing or swimming or ping pong ever, but every two years, whether it's the Summer or Winter Games, Americans tune in. So give soccer its rightful due.
It's pretty special to see people so engrossed in this world language, known as futbol. And following the USA's performance against England, a 1-1 tie, probably their best result EVER internationally because it was on the biggest stage, the game against Slovenia Friday is bigger. They win and they're in the second round with the chance to do something special led by all-world goalie Tim Howard. They lose, well, American soccer continues along the same path. So if we want to make this sport so big at the professional level, like it is at the youth level growing up, then tune in. Take a half a day off, the game's at 10 a.m., so be in front of a television or radio for two hours and cheer on America...it's the patriotic thing to do. (Plus, it only comes around every four years, at least we have a different Olympics every two.) For a preview of the game, check out the video below.
These are the athletes from Southington High School that were named to their respective Central Connecticut Conference all-conference teams.
Baseball - CCC West
Jr. Sal Romano, Sr. Dylan Danko, Sr. Ryan Govoni
Softball - CCC West
Jr. Julia Bocek, Jr. Jessica Davenport, Sr. Steph Johnson, So. Nicole Rossitto
Boys Golf - CCC West
Sr. Dan Baker
Boys Lacrosse - CCC West
Jr. Jordan Chapman, Jr. Matt Prezioso, Jr. Zack Wholley
Girls Lacrosse - CCC South
Sr. Erika Leitao, Sr. Hyla Costello, Jr. Mirela Sawicka, Jr. Madison Altwies
Boys Tennis - CCC West
Jr. James DiNello, Sr. Ryan Klem, Sr. Mike Rabiej
Boys Volleyball - CCC South
Sr. Brendan Charamut, Sr. Nick DeFeo, Sr. Neal Ayotte, Sr. Mitch Oshana
Boys Outdoor Track - CCC West
Jr. Bryan Wilcox, Jr. Tim Brown, Sr. Bryan McGrane, Sr. Zack Albert, Sr. Ravin Walters, Sr. Pat Conaty, Sr. Jake Rodriques, Sr. Mike Rhodd
After an absolutely thrilling Class L final game (crowd to the left), in which Southington won 3-2, one question was, can we not only see this budding volleyball rivalry in the postseason, but is the Staples-Southington matchup something that we could see possibly during the regular season in an attempt to further promote boys volleyball.
Well, it doesn't look like that's likely in the near future.
Staples head coach Bruce Betts said of their 18 games, they have 15 within the league giving them three dates out-of-conference to schedule.
He says that fact makes it difficult to find an open date for Southington and Staples to meet in the regular year. Although Betts did say that it's better for boys volleyball that someone else wins a state title to show some parody.
Head coach Lou Gianacopolos said this about the possibility of a matchup between the two,
"I would love (it) and I've asked for the last three years.
"After our first loss to Staples, I wanted to toughen our competition and there's only one way to get tougher, it's just to go right at them during the regular season."
Gianacopolos also makes the claim that he's more than willing to try and find a workable date.
"I've asked [Betts] at the end of the regular season, before I book any of my other [games], I ask him what's good for him," Gianacopolos said of the scheduling issue.
He says, though, that he "Never got calls back," from Betts. Gianacopolos says the agendas might be slightly different.
"I'm not looking for the 100 wins," he said.
Staples 101-match win streak just ended in their finals loss. (photo by Matt Leidemer)
The story is old. The script is the same. But the 2010 remake of what has become the annual Staples-Southington Class L boys volleyball final has one page missing, the conclusion and that’s something the Blue Knights hope they can write differently from the past three seasons...For the full preview, click the link. Remember this? Southington Citizen
So what's the difference this year? The last three years have proven to be eerily similar. Southington got swept in year one, then the following two seasons took a game in the state final before conceding to the Wreckers. This season, though, what's different. Head coach Lou Giannacopolous says simply, "chemistry."
Captain Brendan Charamut agrees. In volleyball, the idea of six people playing as one is almost more crucial than in other team sports because the goal is to keep the ball in the air. If guys do not see eye-to-eye, the ball's going to hit the ground. That's where this year's team could have the biggest advantage. A subconscious sense to keep the ball in the air and get the job done.
Another factor that has been less talked about: team defense. This year's team feeds off their great chemistry and turns it into great defense. Both outside hitters Jeff Drogosek and Neal Ayotte may not be the best hitters on the corners compared to pass years, but as all-around players, they excel in the defensive-minded, blocking style of scheme the Knights play. That is crucial.
Finally, there are great role players. Middles Mike Connolly and Mike Cannatta control the middle of the court and have the ability to both block and rack up kills with efficiency. Throw in the cool hand of Nick DeFeo, who is quietly one of the top setters in the state, in the mix and the formula is certainly one that could lead to the prediction that Staples can be dethroned.
Read the full preview in this Friday's (June 11) edition of The Citizen.
