The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Middletown athletic teams dealing with an abrupt end to their seasons
You hear adults say it often, sometimes in jest but oftentimes not.
“I’m day to day.” Because of the coronavirus, our kids are feeling this way, too. COVID-19 has altered our way of life. We especially empathize with young people, because some are losing out on experiences, athletics among them, that they won’t get back.
Situations change by the day because of COVID. Ask a teacher, principal or athletic director and they might say their situations change by the hour. Right now we are doing this, but tomorrow we might have to do something different.
It happened Nov. 2 at Middletown High when the district sent word that one teacher and one student tested positive for COVID-19 and dozens of others were identified through contact tracing. Students will be learning remotely through the end of this week, maybe longer depending on the circumstances.
The remainder of the season for boys and girls soccer, volleyball, boys and girls cross country and girls swimming were canceled on the spot. Coach Sal Emanuele’s boys soccer team was having its best season since the 2014 team finished 12-3-2.
This fall, the Blue Dragons won their first five matches, outscoring their opponents by a 21-0 count. After rallying for a 2-2 draw against Newington, Middletown won its next three.
On Oct. 30, 8-0-1 Middletown and 8-0-0 Wethersfield, in the Central Connecticut Conference, were scheduled for a night game on the Eagles’ home field. Snow, rain and freezing temps that day meant postponement. Little did the Blue Dragons know it was their best chance to play that match.
“We were really looking to test ourselves that night,” Emanuele said. “We had improved as the
season progressed and we were peaking at the right time. I thought it would be a great game against a great team. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.”
Middletown also misses out on the CCC’s regionalized postseason experience that began Monday.
“We knew going in to the season that it could end at any time, so it taught us to appreciate the moment and make the most of every day — training and games,” Emanuele said. “It was obviously difficult to not continue playing, especially to our seniors. My heart goes out to them. It was not the best way to end a high school career.”
In a cruel sign of the times, Emanuele could not share the news face to face with his players. When official word came that Monday morning, he had to share it by text.
“Especially in this type of situation, you want to break the news in person and it wasn’t possible,” he said.
Eleven seniors played for the final time, including leading goal scorers Zach Lombardo and Zach Hartzell ( nine goals each). With seven assists, Lombardo was the team’s top point getter. There is a strong core that will return, which includes Dario Rigano, Marshall Butler, Joao Oliveira, Joe DiMauro, Alex Foligno, Nicholas Edward and keeper Griff Ladd.
“This was certainly one of the best teams I’ve seen since I’ve been at Middletown,” Emanuele said. “There was a lot of potential with this team and with this group of seniors in particular. When I came back to the program in 2018 and they were sophomores, as soon as I saw them play I felt this could be ‘the year.’
“At the beginning of the season, while we didn’t know what to expect, in our goal-setting we said we didn’t want to lose a game. And through their work ethic, commitment and dedication to team, it was some consolation that we were able to accomplish that.”
SHORELINE PLAYS ON
** The Shoreline Conference has done well in providing the normalcy of a postseason tournament for its member schools. Titles will be won in boys and girls soccer, volleyball and field hockey. The H-K boys and East Hampton girls won the team cross country championships last week.
Tournament brackets for competition weren’t finalized until Monday due to the absences of Valley Regional, Morgan and Westbrook. All three have been in a remote setting over the last week. Sign of the times.
Next to undefeated Haddam-Killingworth, Valley had the strongest volleyball team in the conference. The two played an exciting fiveset match just a week and a half ago. The Warriors’ Ava Boyles was named the Shoreline’s Player of the Year on Monday.
Valley’s boys soccer team had a 7-3 record and was ready to challenge for the title. Morgan was 8-2 and on a seven-match winning streak heading into its regular-season finale Thursday against H-K. The match was canceled when the school moved to remote learning. Morgan and Old Saybrook were co-champs in 2019.
** On Wednesday, the boys soccer quarterfinals
are scheduled. The matchups: Hale-Ray at top seed Old Saybrook, Cromwell at East Hampton and H-K at Old Lyme. And on the girls side: Old Saybrook at top seed Old Lyme, Portland at Coginchaug, Hale-Ray at East Hampton and Cromwell at defending champion H-K.
** With the losses of Morgan, Westbrook and Valley, the Shoreline field hockey tournament amounts to just the championship matchup between Old Saybrook and No. 1 seed/host North Branford on Tuesday.
** Named to the AllShoreline Volleyball First Team: Lena Kozik of Coginchaug; Meghan Doxsee, Jessica Timothy and Caitlyn Esposito of H-K; Brooke Praskievicz and Jackie Parker of Hale-Ray; Angela Mercaldi of East Hampton; and Ava Boyles and Alena Crosby of Valley.
TOM SERRA’S REACH
I had the good fortune on a recent weekend to break bread with Maryann Serra, who makes a mean thickcrust pizza and good coffee.
Our conversation revolved around Maryann’s life and times with Tom. Her late husband’s influence has been well documented since his passing in 2019. He was many things to
many people — educator, coach, mentor and general inspiration. And he was inclusive.
In a corner just off the entryway to Maryann’s home is a stack of boxes packed with scores of sympathy cards and notes sent since Tom’s passing. One contains a story that I think best exemplifies Tom Serra’s humanity.
A gentleman once spotted Tom in the grocery store. While they were chatting, the man mentioned that he spotted Tom at a meeting that provided counseling to substance abusers. The man told Tom he was sorry that his former Vinal Tech teacher/principal himself was struggling.
Oh, no, I’m OK, Tom told him. He attended the meeting, he said, to support a former student who was trying to get his life back on a positive track.
Jason and Chris Serra, who are making their own marks in education, told me it’s one of many stories about their father that have come up only after his passing. They didn’t know about it previously.
Maryann, Jason and Chris appreciate knowing it because it helps to explain that Tom was the real deal — loving, kind and supportive and always — always — looking out for others.