DANBURY—It’s been an amazing fall athletics season for Immaculate High School in Danbury, which has won two SWC championship titles and one State championship so far this year.
The girls soccer team (19-1) was named Patriot Division champs and then on November 2 won a close, breathtaking game 2-1 against Newtown High School to be named SWC champs. This is the fifth time the lady Mustangs have won the SWC title. Kayla Mingachos ‘19 scored the winning shot with an assist from Meryl McKenna ’21, who was named the tournament MVP. Nicolette Stocks ’18 scored the first goal. The road to winning the SWC tournament began on October 27 when they won the SWC quarterfinal game against New Fairfield 1-0 with Kayla Mingachos ’19 scoring the winning goal, allowing them to move onto the semifinals. The team then defeated Notre-Dame/Fairfield 2-0 as Audrey Sedensky ’18 and Dominique Valentine ’18 each scored a goal.
The team then won on penalty kick’s 4-3 after playing double overtime against Bethel High School in the first round of the CIAC State Championship tournament on November 7.
The girls field hockey team(13-1-1-1)also won the right to be named Patriot Division and SWC champs. Also on November 2, the IHS field hockey program’s second ever appearance in the SWC Championship game ended up with the Mustangs winning the championship title. The third-seeded IHS team defeated Pomperaug 2-1 with goals from Madison Halas ‘19 and Morgan Begler ’21, and Madison Halas and goalie Lauren Oskam ‘20 were named the tournament’s co-MVPs (Oskam had ten saves in the game). The journey to the prestigious title began when the team won 1-0 over Masuk in the SWC quarterfinals on October 27. Then on October 31 they defeated New Milford in the semifinals 2-1 in triple overtime. IHS goalie Lauren Oskam had game winning saves, while Caroline Wax ’18, Meghan Coyle ’18, Mackenzy Garden ’19 and Madison Halas made their penalty strokes to secure the win. The team then won the first round of the CIAC State Championship tournament on November 7, defeating Shepaug 4-1.
The IHS Cross Country teams had outstanding outings at the CIAC State Championship Meet on October 28, where the lady Mustangs won the girls Class S Championship for their fifth title in six years and the boys placed second in the Class SS standings for their highest finish ever. Junior Angela Saidman won the girls Class S race (19:41) with Taylor Mascetta ’19 placing second (20:21). Christina Carboni ’19 finished ninth (21:40), Natalie Dudas ’19 12th (21:56), Katherine Cassetta ’18 19th (22:15), Brigid Gage ’20 26th (22:59) and Maura Murphy ’19 placed 35th (23:51).
On the boys’ side, Connor McNerney ’18 led the Mustangs placing 8th overall, with Patrick Cropsey ’18 placing 13th (17:33), William Gasparrini ’18 20th (18:03), Sean Connolly ’18 31st (18:34), Ryan McNerney ’20 32nd (18:35), James Sullivan ’20 33rd (18:36) and Matthew Villanueva ’18 finishing 39th (18:47). All seven members of the boys team placed in the top 40 of the 173 runners competing in the race.
Additionally, at the CIAC State Open on November 3, junior Angela Saidman placed fifth (19.31) and will go to the New England High School Cross Country Championship in Belfast, Maine on November 11. Angela placed 16th in that race last year.
The co-op IHS/Bethel swimming and diving team competed in the SWC Championship swim meet on October 28. Michelle Soto ’19 set a personal record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 29.14. Kristen Lefebvre ’19 set a personal record in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:15:39. Lauren Petta ’20 qualified for States in the 200 IM with a time of 2:29.94 and in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:09.67. Emily Giampietro ’18 qualified for States in the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:00.82. Farrah Volpintesta ’20 came in second in diving earning all-SWC honors and setting a new record with a score of 455.45.
The CIAC State Championships for swimming is on Wednesday, November 15 at SCSU at 6 pm.
Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. Founded in 1962, Immaculate High School allows students to focus on academic excellence, spiritual development, service to others and personal goals. Located in Danbury, CT, Immaculate High School is part of the Diocese of Bridgeport’s parochial school system. For more information, go to www.immaculatehs.org.
