Girls Volleyball Team Advances to Suffolk County Semifinals

Connetquot High School girls varsity volleyball coach Justin Hertz and his Lady T-Birds, seeded first in Suffolk County League I, hosted Patchogue-Medford High School’s team in the second round of the tournament on Nov. 1. Despite falling behind early, the Lady T-Birds went on to win three straight sets, 26-24, 25-16 and 25-18, to move onto the Section XI Suffolk County semifinal match on Nov. 7.

Kiarra Roth had 12 kills and Diana Migliozzi contributed 23 assists to raise the team record to 16-1 for the season. 

At the semifinals, the team defeated Commack High School, claiming its victory by a final score of 3-2. With this win under their belts, the team is set to play Smithtown West High School on Monday, Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. at Newfield High School. 

During the semifinal game, Katie Hickey and Kylie Wixted led the way with 10 and 9 kills respectively, while Wixted added nine blocks in the win over Commack. Lauren Edwards had five kills and six blocks, as Lauren Konzen contributed five digs of her own. The T-Birds won the first game 25-10, but Commack came back to win the next two. Facing elimination, coach Hertz called another timeout, reminded his team of what they had accomplished so far this season, and encouraged them to reach back and use their experience and poise to get back in the game. With this newly ignited determination, Connetquot went on to win games 4 (25-13) and 5 (25-17) and earn another trip to the Section XI championships. 

The Connetquot High School girls varsity volleyball team were declared New York State champions in 2015 and again in 2017, and hope to follow that path again this season!


Boys Volleyball Team’s Run Ends After Phenomenal Season

The Connetquot High School boys volleyball season has come to an end in the opening round of the New York State Section XI Tournament championships, as the T-Birds succumbed to Northport High School on Nov. 4 in a season filled with exciting wins and very few (close) losses.

Each team came into the tournament with double-digit wins for the season, but the visitors were able to come out on top by a score of 3-1.

Connetquot coaches Jessica Perry and Steve Woessner came into this first round of the tournament confident that the team was ready for any challenge. The T-Birds started the night with an impressive display of enthusiasm and skill to take the first match 25-21.   However, Northport would not be denied. The visitors went on to win the next three matches, 25-22, 25-20 and 25-22, to move on to the next round of the championship series.

Outstanding performances by Trey Cole (14 digs and 21 kills), Stan Maring (23 kills), Connor Ruais (16 digs), Kiernan Ruais (11 kills and 7 blocks) and Dominic Ruggiero (49 assists and 13 digs) contributed to the night’s intense competition. Connetquot finished the season with an impressive overall record of 10-4, while Northport moves on in the tournament. 

“This was really a hard night, but I am so very proud of these young men,” coach Perry said. “They continue to be a great source of pride for the Connetquot community.”


Boys Cross-Country Team Celebrates Senior Night

The Connetquot High School boys cross-country team recently celebrated the conclusion of another outstanding season by honoring its graduating seniors with awards, gifts and a few tears from family members. After the team’s recent participation in the Suffolk County championships at Sunken Meadow State Park, the Connetquot T-Birds finished the season with an overall record of 5-1 and an impressive second-place finish in Suffolk County League III.

Connetquot coach Shelby White thanked the seniors for their dedication to the T-Bird cross-country program and wished them well as they move onto the challenges of college in the fall. The student-athletes’ parents distributed gifts to each of the seniors and provided tasty senior night refreshments for all to enjoy. 

Congratulations and thank you to the following graduating seniors – Chris Andrade, Jeremy Bertolet, Kelby Bishop-Scioli, Brendon Canbulat, Dimitri Cavanagh, AJ Fittipaldi, Aidan Harrington, Dominick Katrivanos, Joseph Mallimo, Sean McCormick, Frank Moceri, Michael Shannon and Aidan Smith.


Gymnastics Team Declared Runner-Up in Suffolk County Championships

Connetquot High School girls varsity gymnastics coach Renee Guerrieri led the 2019 T-Birds to finish the season as the runner-up in the Section XI Suffolk County championships!

“Connetquot’s meet performance was close to perfection,” coach Guerrieri said. “We didn’t have a single fall during any of the four events. The student-athletes rose to the challenge and didn’t let the pressure get to them. They were all calm and cool, like the true athletes they are.”

This was the second consecutive year that the team achieved the Section XI runner-up award. Three years ago, the team finished fourth and the next year finished third. In essence, the team has been working its way up each year, hoping for the championship title next season.

The founder of the Connetquot School District gymnastics program, Vera Truhlar, was on hand to support coach Guerrieri and her talented team as she was surrounded by T-Bird gymnastics alumni. She and district superintendent of schools Dr. Lynda G. Adams congratulated coaches Guerrieri and Tantone and the members of the program for their outstanding successes this season.

The combined Bay Shore/Islip High School team outscored Connetquot 176.2-171.5 for the 2019 championship.