Mitchell gets good news as NECC will hold spring season
The New England Collegiate Conference, which includes Mitchell College, announced Wednesday that its Presidents' Council has formally approved the resumption of athletic competition this spring.
The NECC said it would be ultimately up to each member institution "to determine if they can safely participate in intercollegiate athletics this spring and in which sports they will permit competition."
David Longolucco, Mitchell's sports information director, confirmed that the athletic department will indeed move forward with spring sports in baseball, softball and men's and women's lacrosse. The Mariners expect to play NECC schedules in baseball, softball, and women's lacrosse, but with only two men's lacrosse teams in the NECC, Mitchell plans to play an independent schedule.
The Mariners hope to play non-conference opponents in all sports and that complete schedules will be announced soon.
"Consistent with all decisions, the safety and well-being of our student-athletes and campus communities remain the primary focus of the NECC," the Presidents' Council said in a release. "The conference will ensure all student-athletes and appropriate game personnel meet testing standards consistent with current NCAA protocol. Additionally, all NECC student-athletes and game personnel will be required to wear face coverings during all competitions.
"The conference will continue to examine its postseason qualification policies and tournament formats."
H.S. gymnastics
• Stonington defeated East Lyme 129.35-106.7 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference. The Vikings' Kaitlyn Abbey won the all-around honors with 33.3 points and also finished first on bars (9.95) and floor exercise (8.7). Stonington's Katya Torruella, who finished second in the all-around (32.9), won the balance beam (8.8) while the Bears' Lila Rich captured the vault (8.35). Stonington's Desiree Zaharie added a second on vault (8.3) while Hanna Laskey was second on bars (8.35), Rich was second on beam (8.5) and Torruella was second on floor (8.15).
• Norwich Free Academy finished with a team total of 126.85 points during an intrasquad meet used to determined qualifying order for the season-ending ECC Championship meet later this month. Sophomore Sarah Fedeli was the all-around winner with 32.65 points and also won on uneven bars (8.5). Emma Field won on beam (8.1) and floor (8.1) and Arianna Gauthier won the vault (8.5) while Fedeli was second on vault (8.35) and Beam (8.0), Gauthier was second on floor (8.0) and Ja'Ryee Silva was second on bars (7.8).
H.S. boys' basketball
• Five St. Bernard players scored in double figures as the Saints beat Montville 92-40 in an ECC South Division game on Tuesday night. Walker Baillargeon led the Saints, who were up 50-24 at halftime, with 20 points. Tyson Wheeler scored 19, Frank Pacheco and Odin Malz had 12 points each and Cedrick Similien scored 11 for the Saints (3-2). Chas Terni had 16 points and Armanee Davis scored 10 for Montville (1-5).
• Griswold lost to Windham in an ECC North Division game on Tuesday night, falling 60-56 in overtime. Sophomore Evan Merchant led Griswold (2-3) with 17 points, classmate Jacob Strain scored 13 and Tyler Green had 12 points. Devin Marquez led Windham with 23 points, 19 in the second half and overtime.
H.S. girls' basketball
• Karley Belisle scored 16 points to lead Plainfield to a 41-20 win over Lyman Memorial in an ECC North Division game on Tuesday night. Kassidy LaTour led Lyman (1-4) with 10 points.