Winter sports are in full swing for the five Notre Dame winter sports teams. Here is a quick update of each through the first part of the season.
Basketball
The basketball team is off to a 4-3 start highlighted by winning three games in the KSA Tournament held at the Disney Wide World of Sports in orlando over Christmas Recess. The Green Knights beat Beckman HS from California, Cathedral Prep from Pennsylvania, and Oxbridge Academy from Florida over four days while also enjoying all the Disney Parks in their down time. Connor Raines has led the way as the Green Knights leading scorer in six of the seven games to open the season.
Hockey
The hockey team is off to a solid start winning four of its first six games. Coach Belcher’s team has defeated New Canaan, Simsbury, Ridgefield, and Darien while falling to Hamden and Fairfield Prep. The team has gotten solid goaltending from Brendan Crowley. Offensively, the Green Knights have been led by Michael Bencivengo, Ian Hayden, Chris Hibson, and Mike Ansaldo.
Swimming
UConn-commit North Hansen has led the way for the 2-0 Notre Dame swim team. He won
won six different events in two meets as ND beat both Sheehan and Hamden to open season. He won all freestyle events against Hamden while against Sheehan he won 200 IM, 100 backstroke, and 200 medley relay. Billy Hinckley won a pair of events (200 IM and 100 butterfly) against Sheehan while David Albright won the diving event for the second match in a row. Albright also took home the diving portion against Sheehan earning 175.90 points, qualifying him for the CIAC Class M Meet.
Track
The winter track team has participated in three events. Notre Dame had six athletes qualify for states via their performance at the season-opening SCC Developmental Meet on Dec. 18. Nicholas Petruzzelli took first place in the pole vault clearing 12 feet. He also cleared 6 feet to take second place in the high jump. Also qualifying for states was the 4×800 relay team of Brad Doyle, Jon Katz, Reuben Reyes, and Andrew Marinelli ran in a time of 9:09.56. Joe Mascari was the other Green Knight to qualify for states in the shot put. In its second meet, the Wintergreen Invitational, Matthew Bracale took third and cleared 10 feet in pole vault while Jason Sawicki qualified in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.95.
Wrestling
The wrestling team has had success right out of the gate in their second varsity season. They have a 2-1 dual meet record with wins over Portland and Fairfield Prep. They also finished third at the Shelton Invitational Meet and fared well winning three of its five dual meets at the Law Invitational on December 27, 2017. Derrick Pommills, Jr., Connor Massey, Matt Peters, Jason Kern, and Christian Fillion have fared well in the early season meets. Pommills just won the 222-pound weight class at the Warde Invitational on January 6.