Sports
Connecticut Championship Previews: Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, Volleyball
State championship time has arrived for high school baseball, softball, lacrosse and volleyball teams across Connecticut, as the CIAC spring tournaments conclude with 18 title contests slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
All eight lacrosse finals will be played at Fairfield University, baseball finals are slated for Palmer Field in Middletown, softball championships will be contested on Burrill Family Field at the University of Connecticut, and the boys volleyball winners will be crowned at Newtown High School.
Tickets for CIAC championship games are only available digitally, and may be purchased at the GoFan website. There will be no paper tickets.
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Some interesting facts and tidbits about the upcoming finals:
- The finals will have Lions (Foran), Tigers (Ridgefield, Daniel Hand) and Grizzlies (Guilford), oh my! There will be three schools of Falcons (St. Paul, Fairfield Ludlowe, Joel Barlow), and two schools each of Trojans (Lyman Hall, Simsbury), Rams (Cheshire, New Canaan), Spartans (Somers, Maloney) and Crusaders (Holy Cross, Lauralton Hall).
- Masuk softball, which plays the final semifinal contest Thursday against St. Joseph, seeks its seventh straight state championship. Woodland Regional softball is on track for its fourth state crown in a row, while New Fairfield lacrosse (both boys and girls), Daniel Hand boys lacrosse, New Canaan girls lacrosse and Lauralton Hall girls lacrosse hope to duplicate last year’s title success.
- Eight schools will be represented in multiple finals, with St. Joseph having a shot at appearing in three pending Thursday’s softball outcome. Those rooting for dual celebrations are Guilford (baseball, boys lacrosse), St. Joseph (baseball, boys lacrosse), St. Paul (baseball, softball), Cheshire (softball, girls lacrosse), Darien (boys and girls lacrosse), Daniel Hand (boys and girls lacrosse), New Fairfield (boys and girls lacrosse) and New Canaan (girls lacrosse, boys volleyball).
- Three programs still in contention have already claimed more than 10 state titles: Darien boys lacrosse (14), Darien girls lacrosse (12) and Masuk softball (10).
- Of all finals teams with previous state titles under their belts, South Windsor baseball has endured the longest drought, last winning a state crown in 1993.
- Glastonbury baseball, Suffield baseball, Ridgefield softball, Sacred Heart Academy girls lacrosse and Conard boys volleyball are making their first trips to a championship game. Programs which have competed in championship games in the past, yet are still seeking their first title, are North Branford softball, St. Paul softball, Fairfield Ludlowe boys lacrosse, Simsbury girls lacrosse, Cheshire girls lacrosse, Daniel Hand girls lacrosse and New Canaan boys volleyball.
- Just six matchups will feature the top two seeds squaring off: Woodland-Foran softball, North Branford-St. Paul softball, Fairfield Ludlowe-St. Joseph boys lacrosse, New Fairfield-Somers boys lacrosse, Darien-New Canaan girls lacrosse and Simsbury-Cheshire girls lacrosse. A victory Thursday would place top-seeded Masuk softball against No. 2 Waterford.
Here is complete information about each title contest, including championship game histories and links to team rosters and season records. Games are on Saturday, June 14 unless otherwise indicated.
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BASEBALL
CLASS LL
7 p.m.
No. 2 South Windsor Bobcats vs. No. 32 Glastonbury Guardians
Regular season: SW 17-3; GLA 7-13
The road to the finals:
- SW: d. Greenwich 9-3; d. Fairfield Prep; d. Naugatuck 4-2; d. Norwalk 5-3
- GLA: d. Amity Regional 5-1; d. Fairfield Ludlowe 6-4; d. Southington 6-1; d. Fairfield Warde 9-1
Title game record: SW 1-1; GLA 0-0
Last state championship: SW 1993 (L); GLA none
Rosters
CLASS L
noon
No. 3 Lyman Hall Trojans vs. No. 8 Guilford Grizzlies
Regular season: LH 17-3; GUIL 14-6
The road to the finals:
- LH: d. Bunnell 16-0; d. Torrington 12-1; d. New London 5-4; d. Cheshire 3-2
- GUIL: d. North Haven 7-6; d. Notre Dame-West Haven 9-5; d. Brookfield 5-4; d. Berlin 15-1
Title game record: LH 2-0; GUIL 1-2
Last state championship: LH 2002 (L); GUIL 2007 (L)
Rosters
CLASS M
6/13, 7 p.m.
No. 1 Suffield Wildcats vs. No. 15 St. Joseph Cadets
Regular season: SUF 18-2; STJ 12-8
The road to the finals:
- SUF: d. Vinal Tech 10-1; d. New Fairfield 8-7; d. Ansonia 2-0; d. Stonington 5-4
- STJ: d. Abbott Tech 9-2; d. Montville 17-3; d. Ellington 5-3; d. Killingly 3-0
Title game record: SUF 0-0; STJ 5-1
Last state championship: SUF none; STJ 2019 (M)
Rosters
CLASS S
3:30 p.m.
No. 1 St. Paul Falcons vs. No. 10 Holy Cross Crusaders
Regular season: STP 17-3; HC 12-8
The road to the finals:
- STP: d. Stafford 14-0; d. Lakeview 14-1; d. Woodland Regional 4-3; d. East Catholic 7-1
- HC: d. Thomaston 3-1; d. Wheeler 8-1; d. North Branford 4-0; d. Shepaug Valley 5-4
Title game record: STP 4-3; HC 1-2
Last state championship: STP 2022 (S); HC 2017 (S)
Rosters
SOFTBALL
CLASS LL
time TBA
No. 1 Cheshire Rams vs. No. 18 Ridgefield Tigers
Regular season: CHE 18-2; RIDG 11-9
The road to the finals:
- CHE: 1st round bye; d. Trumbull 4-3; d. Norwich Free Academy 8-0; d. Southington 6-0
- RIDG: d. Fitch 4-0; d. Enfield 5-3; d. Fairfield Ludlowe 13-0; d. Fairfield Warde 4-3
Title game record: CHE 1-6; RIDG 0-0
Last state championship: CHE 2016 (LL); RIDG none
Rosters
CLASS L
time TBA
No. 2 Waterford Lancers vs. No. 1 Masuk Panthers/No. 5 St. Joseph Cadets
Regular season: WAT 17-3; MAS 19-1; STJ 17-3
The road to the finals:
- WAT: 1st round bye; d. Bunnell 3-2; d. New Milford 1-0; d. Ellington 1-0
- MAS: 1st round bye; d. RHAM 17-0; d. E.O. Smith 11-0
- STJ: d. Torrington 12-0; d. Jonathan Law 5-4; d. Brookfield 4-0
Title game record: WAT 5-6; MAS 10-2; STJ 6-5
Last state championship: WAT 2019 (M); MAS 2024 (L); STJ 2018 (M)
Rosters: WFD; MAS/STJ
CLASS M
time TBA
No. 1 Woodland Regional Hawks vs. No. 2 Foran Lions
Regular season: WR 20-0; FOR 20-0
The road to the finals:
- WR: d. Notre Dame Prep 13-0; d. Watertown 10-0; d. Tolland 14-0; d. Oxford 12-0
- FOR: d. Bacon Academy 6-2; d. Holy Cross 9-2; d. Seymour 4-3; d. Nonnewaug 14-0
Title game record: WR 3-1; FOR 2-2
Last state championship: WL 2024 (M); FOR 2011 (L)
Rosters
CLASS S
time TBA
No. 1 North Branford Thunderbirds vs. No. 2 St. Paul Falcons
Regular season: NB 19-1; STP 18-2
The road to the finals:
- NB: 1st round bye; d. Lyme-Old Lyme 8-0; d. Immaculate 6-1; d. St. Bernard 2-0
- STP: 1st round bye; d. Thomaston 7-0; d. East Catholic 12-0; d. Hale Ray 10-1
Title game record: NB 0-4; STP 0-1
Last state championship: NB none; STP none
Rosters
BOYS LACROSSE
CLASS LL
time TBA
No. 3 Staples Wreckers vs. No. 4 Darien Blue Wave
Regular season: STA 12-3; DAR 10-5
The road to the finals:
- STA: 1st round bye; d. Norwich Free Academy 23-0; d. Greenwich 10-2; d. Ridgefield 10-9
- DAR: 1st round bye; d. Bristol co-op 25-2; d. Fairfield Prep 12-5; d. New Canaan 8-5
Title game record: STA 2-3; DAR 14-4
Last state championship: STA 2023 (L); DAR 2019 (L)
Rosters
CLASS L
time TBA
No. 1 Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons vs. No. 2 St. Joseph Cadets
Regular season: FFL 12-4; STJ 11-5
The road to the finals:
- FFL: 1st round bye; d. Windsor 20-1; d. Newtown 19-5; d. Conard 17-7
- STJ: 1st round bye; d. Enfield 17-0; d. New Milford 12-2; d. Cheshire 7-6
Title game record: FFL 0-1; STJ 7-5
Last state championship: FFL none; STJ 2021 (S)
Rosters
CLASS M
time TBA
No. 1 Daniel Hand Tigers vs. No. 3 Guilford Grizzlies
Regular season: DH 10-6; GUIL 9-7
The road to the finals:
- DH: 1st round bye; 2nd round bye; d. RHAM 19-4; d. Brookfield 18-5
- GUIL: 1st round bye; d. Watertown 21-1; d. East Lyme 12-3; d. Joel Barlow 8-7
Title game record: DH 1-7; GUIL 0-1
Last state championship: DH 2024 (M); GUIL none
Rosters
CLASS S
time TBA
No. 1 New Fairfield Rebels vs. No. 2 Somers Spartans
Regular season: NFF 14-2; SOM 15-1
The road to the finals:
- NFF: 1st round bye; d. Morgan 18-0; d. Granby Memorial 16-5; d. Haddam-Killingworth 5-4
- SOM: 1st round bye; d. Holy Cross 19-1; d. Old Saybrook 12-8; d. Sheehan 16-9
Title game record: NFF 4-3; SOM 5-3
Last state championship: NFF 2024 (S); SOM 2017 (S)
Rosters
GIRLS LACROSSE
CLASS LL
6/15, 4 p.m.
No. 1 Darien Blue Wave vs. No. 2 New Canaan Rams
Regular season: DAR 14-1; NC 10-6
The road to the finals:
- DAR: 1st round bye; 2nd round bye; d. Fairfield Ludlowe 22-5; d. Ridgefield 17-5
- NC: 1st round bye; d. Newington 21-2; d. Staples 16-7; d. Wilton 7-6
Title game record: DAR 12-4; NC 8-4
Last state championship: DAR 2023 (L); NC 2024 (LL)
Rosters
CLASS L
6/15, 2 p.m.
No. 1 Simsbury Trojans vs. No. 2 Cheshire Rams
Regular season: SIM 14-1; CHE 14-2
The road to the finals:
- SIM: 1st round bye; 2nd round bye; d. Farmington 18-1; d. Masuk 7-5
- CHE: 1st round bye; 2nd round bye; d. Fairfield Warde 12-8; d. Amity Regional 14-11
Title game record: SIM 0-1; CHE 0-1
Last state championship: SIM none; CHE none
Rosters
CLASS M
6/15, noon
No. 1 New Fairfield Rebels vs. No. 3 Daniel Hand Tigers
Regular season: NFF 15-1; DH 9-7
The road to the finals:
- NFF: 1st round bye; d. Berlin 16-3; d. Joel Barlow 15-4; d. Suffield 15-5
- DH: 1st round bye; d. Sheehan 18-6; d. St. Joseph 11-4; d. Branford 16-10
Title game record: NFF 7-1; DH 0-3
Last state championship: NFF 2024 (M); DH none
Rosters
CLASS S
6/15, 10 a.m.
No. 1 Lauralton Hall Crusaders vs. No. 6 Sacred Heart Academy Sharks
Regular season: LH 10-6; SHA 7-9
The road to the finals:
- LH: 1st round bye; d. Housatonic Regional 20-3; d. East Catholic 18-9; d. Somers 16-15
- SHA: 1st round bye; d. Haddam-Killingworth 17-7; d. Northwest Catholic 18-9; d. Granby Memorial 11-8
Title game record: LH 1-1; SHA 0-0
Last state championship: LH 2024 (S); SHA none
Rosters
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
CLASS L
6/13, 7 p.m.
No. 1 Conard Red Wolves vs. No. 3 Maloney Spartans
Regular season: CON 17-0; MAL 18-1
The road to the finals:
- CON: d. Ridgefield 3-0; d. Hall 3-2; d. Shelton 3-2
- MAL: d. East Hartford 3-1; d. Darien 3-0; d. Trumbull 3-1
Title game record: CON 0-0; MAL 1-0
Last state championship: CON none; MAL 2005 (M)
Rosters
CLASS M
6/13, 4:30 p.m.
No. 1 Joel Barlow Falcons vs. No. 3 New Canaan Rams
Regular season: JB 15-4; NC 14-3
The road to the finals:
- JB: d. St. Joseph 3-0; d. Newtown 3-0; d. Newington 3-1
- NC: d. Putnam 3-0; d. Cheshire 3-1; d. Masuk 3-2
Title game record: JB 2-3; NC 0-1
Last state championship: JB 2022 (M); NC none
Rosters
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Sports
Volleyball Has Two Named CSC Academic All-Region
To be considered, a student-athlete must have participated in 90% of the team’s matches played or must start in at least 66% of the contests, have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale), and reached sophomore athletic eligibility.
Golden earned CSC All-District honors for the third time in her career and Panzloff earned the honor for the first time in her career.
Golden was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year for the third-straight year and First Team All-Ivy for the third-straight year. The senior was also named ECAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Panzloff was named Academic All-Ivy for the Bears this season and finished third on the team in both kills per set (2.46) and total kills (197).
Golden will be considered for CSC Academic All-America honors. The organization will announce the All-American honorees later in January.
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Sports
USC Men’s Volleyball Head Coach Jeff Nygaard Extended Through 2028
Nygaard—a three-time Olympian in indoor and beach volleyball and a two-time collegiate MVP while playing on a pair of NCAA championship teams—is in his 11th season (2026) as the head coach of the Trojans and holds a career record of 123-136. He also served the five prior seasons as an assistant coach at USC (2011-15). Nygaard led the Trojans to the MPSF championship match in 2025 and had five players recognized by the AVCA’s All-America committee including first-team choice Dillon Klein.
Last year, the Trojans went 21-7, finished second in the MPSF regular season (8-4), and were awarded the second seed into the conference tournament. There, USC finished as runner-up to Pepperdine, which hosted the championship in Malibu, Calif. USC opened the year with a nine-match win streak for its best start to a season since 1991 (28-0) and won 10 matches in a row (Feb. 26-April 3) for the program’s longest win streak since 2012 (18). It was Nygaard’s second 20-win season (20th in program history) and USC led the MPSF for many weeks in all statistical categories but aces. The Trojans finished the season as the NCAA leader in blocks (2.86 bps) with 16 matches in double-digits. USC set a new school record for hitting percentage in a match (.691 vs. Dominican, Feb. 8) and hit better than .300 19 times.
Fifth-ranked USC opens 2026 with a home match at Galen Center against St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday (Jan. 10) at 5 p.m. PT. The Trojans will play 16 home contests this spring and play only two regular-season contests outside of Southern California (at BYU, April 10-11). The MPSF tournament will also be held at BYU’s Smith Fieldhouse (April 22-25). The league champion receives the MPSF’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship set to be played May 9-11 at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.
For more information on the USC men’s volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/MVB. Fans of the Trojans can follow @USCmensvolley on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
Sports
Season Preview: Track & Field Set For 2026 Campaign – UCF Athletics
Sports
Foeman Adds Four Transfers to 2026 Roster
Azra Eriç (Istanbul, Turkey/Kadir Has Anadolu lisesi/Robert Morris), Julia Johnson (Champaign, Ill./St. Thomas More/High Point), Bianca Salvador (Caxias do Sul, Brazil/Campos Salles/Missouri State West Plains/Trinity Valley C.C.), and Mia Schaefer (Willoughby, Ohio/Lake Catholic/Niagara) will join the team.
“Our staff identified these players based on their proven track record of success and experience,” said Foeman. “We believe they will make an immediate impact as we continue to elevate our level of play and competitiveness,” he concluded.
Azra Eriç | MB | Sr. (Istanbul, Turkey/Kadir Has Anadolu lisesi/Robert Morris)
EMU: 2026-27: Joins the program as an incoming transfer after spending three seasons at Robert Morris University.
ROBERT MORRIS: 2025: Appeared in 27 matches, playing 103 sets…Had a career season offensively, landing 172 kills (1.67 per set) off a .172 hitting percentage…Posted a career-high 14 solo blocks, recording 77 total blocks on the season (0.75 per set)…Totaled a career-high 232.5 points (2.26 per set)…Had a career-high 15 kills off a .345 hitting percentage, and a career-best 17.5 points against IU Indy, on Oct. 11…Swatted a career-best 11 blocks versus Duquesne, on Sept. 6…Drilled six kills off a .500 attack percentage, with four blocks at Purdue Fort Wayne, on Sept. 26…Started the season with nine kills off a .227 clip against Saint Francis, on Aug. 30…Had nine games with at least four blocks and 13 games with seven kills or more.
2024: Appeared and started in 29 matches while playing in 109 total sets…Finished first in the Horizon League in all block categories as she finished the year with 127 total blocks, 116 block assists, and 1.17 blocks per set…Closed the season with 71 kills, 65 digs, and 37 aces (second on team)…Had a career-high nine blocks along with two digs and an assist in a five-set win over USC Upstate…Put together one of her most complete performances of the season against Coppin State when she had eight blocks, four kills, three aces, and three digs…Registered eight blocks, four digs, three aces, and one kill against Youngstown State…Compiled seven blocks, five kills, three digs, and an ace against Cleveland State…Posted a season-high six kills along with six blocks, four digs, two aces, and two assists versus Niagara…Registered seven blocks, two kills, two aces, and a dig against Purdue Fort Wayne…Recorded at least one block in all 29 matches played, including five matches with eight or more blocks.
2023: Appeared and started in 29 matches while playing in 100 total sets…Finished fifth on the team with 85 kills, averaging 0.85 kills per set…Was second on the team with 58 blocks…Had a season-high 11 kills against Wright State while also chipping in four blocks and three digs…Recorded a season-best five blocks along with eight kills in a win over Oakland…Tallied seven digs and three blocks in a win against Cleveland State…Registered six digs, five kills, and a season-high three aces against Green Bay…Posted six kills, two digs, one ace, and one block against IUPUI…Had four kills, two aces, two digs, one block, and a season-high three assists in a win over Canisius…Tallied five kills on a season-high 21 total attacks along with five blocks, three digs in a win against Youngstown State.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Kadir Has Anadolu Lisesi in Turkey…Played four seasons for famous Turkey volleyball club, Galatasaray…Took third and fourth place, respectively, in nationals in consecutive seasons.
PERSONAL: Full name: Azra Eriç…Born on Aug. 22, 2005…Daughter of Asli and Gurol Eriç…Has one sister, Irmak…Major: Statistics with the goal of starting a career as a sports statistician.
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Julia Johnson | S | RSo. (Champaign, Ill./St. Thomas More/High Point)
EMU: 2026-27: Joins the program as an incoming transfer from High Point University.
HIGH POINT: 2025: Appeared in seven matches and 10 sets…Helped HPU win its third consecutive Big South regular season and tournament titles…Collected four assists and one dig.
2024: Did not appear in any games.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played all four years of varsity volleyball at St. Thomas More…Was voted a two-time all-conference player, a two-time First Team All-Area News Gazette recipient and a two-time all-state player…During her senior season she was named an AVCA High School All-American…Helped guide her team to multiple championships including an IHSA State Championship (2021), three Regional Championships (2021-23), three Sectional Championships (2021-23), a Super Sectional Championship (2021), three Clinton Tournament Championships (2021-23), two Pana Tournament Championships (2021-22), a Morgan Buerkett Invitational Championship (2021), and two Illini Prairie Conference Championship Titles (2020-21)…As a two-year captain, she led the team in assists and hitting percentage…A four-year high honor roll student…Awarded the IHSA Scholastic Achievement award at the end of her senior year…Three-time Academic All-State recipient…Played club for two different teams, playing for Illini Elite VBC from 2017-21, and also in 2023. She later played for Boiler Juniors Volleyball in 2022 and in 2024.
PERSONAL: Full name: Julia Lauren Johnson…Born on Jan. 9, 2006…Daughter of Jennifer and Lars Johnson…Major: Exercise Science/Pre-Nursing with the goal of starting a career as a pediatric nurse.
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Bianca Salvador | OH | Jr. | (Caxias do Sul, Brazil/Campos Salles/Missouri State West Plains/Trinity Valley C.C.)
EMU: 2026-27: Joins the program as an incoming transfer from Trinity Valley Community College.
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Played two seasons of NJCAA volleyball, starting her career at Missouri State West Plains in 2024, before transferring to Trinity Valley Community College for the 2025 season.
TRINITY VALLEY C.C.: 2025: Named First Team All-America…Named Region 14 Player of the Year and All-Tournament Team at the NJCAA National Championships…Led her team to a Region 14 championship and Mid-South District Championship…Earned Battle at the Beach All-Tournament Honors…Started 37 matches and played 123 sets…Landed 405 kills, averaging 3.29 kills per set while hitting .289…Recorded 48 service aces (0.39 per set)…Grabbed 299 digs defensively (2.43 per set) while notching 56 total blocks (0.46 per set)…Totaled 486 points, average an even 4.0 per set.
MISSOURI ST. WEST PLAINS: 2024: Named First Team All-America…Named Region 16 Player of the Year and All-Tournament Team at the NJCAA National Championships…Led her team to a Region 16 championship and Midwest District A Championship…Earned Battle at the Beach All-Tournament Honors…Played 127 sets while starting all 40 matches…landed 435 kills (3.43 per set) off a .258 hitting percentage…Totaled 63 service aces, averaging 0.59 per set…Defensively, handled 96.0% of her receptions (754-of-778), while grabbing 388 digs (3.06 per set)…Posted 51 total blocks (12 solo, 39 assist), averaging 0.40 blocks per set…In total, produced 529.5 points (4.2 per set).
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Attended Campos salles and played 13 seasons of club ball for Cia do Volei, Apaavolei and Bradesco, training as an outside hitter under Head Coaches Ivanete Salvador, Fernando Lemos and Flavio Aniceto.
PERSONAL: Full Name: Bianca Salvador Cargnino…Born on Feb. 1, 2005…Daughter of Dimar Cargnino and Silvana Maria Salvador…Has one brother, Guilherme…Major: Individualized Studies Program with the goal of starting a career as a dietitian.
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Mia Schaefer | L/DS | Jr. | (Willoughby, Ohio/Lake Catholic/Niagara)
EMU: 2026-27: Joins the program as an incoming transfer from Niagara University.
NIAGARA: 2025: Named MAAC Libero of the Year…Named to All-MAAC Second Team…Earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors…Appeared in 104 sets…Recorded career-high and team-leading 566 digs, the sixth-most among all NCAA players and the sixth-most in a single season by a Purple Eagle.…Averaged 5.44 digs per set during the 2025 regular season, leading the MAAC and ranking third nationally…Tallied 124 assists and 24 service aces…Tallied 32 digs against Quinnipiac, on Nov. 15…Registered career-high 33 digs against Merrimack, on Nov. 15.
2024: Played in 85 sets as a defensive specialist…Recorded 124 digs (1.46 per set)…Served 12 aces with only six service errors for a .974 service percentage…Posted seven kills on the season…Tallied a season-high 11 digs at Fairfield, on Oct. 12…Collected nine digs at both Rider, on Oct. 6, and Bucknell, on Sept. 14…Served two aces in multiple matches, including against Mercyhurst, on Sept. 19, and Saint Peter’s, on Oct. 5…Maintained a .940 reception percentage on 248 total receptions.
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Lake Catholic…Named team captain senior year…Crown Conference Second Team member…All-District honorable mention…AVCA All-American watch list…Won two state championships and three conference championships (2022-24)…Recorded 352 digs, 48 aces and 196 kills.
PERSONAL: Full Name: Mia Schaefer…Daughter of Missy and James Schaefer…Has three siblings, including two brothers, Logan and Chase, and one sister, Chloe…Major: Psychology.
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Sports
One Last Hurrah – Bridgewater St.
By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — The four of them have combined to win 30 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference individual titles, set eight school records and make 10 appearances in the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships.
Serenity Sands (East Bridgewater, Mass.), Kiara Abrantes (Somerset, Mass.), Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Chigozie Adigwe (Lowell, Mass.) have had distinguished careers with the Bridgewater State University women’s and men’s track & field programs.
When the Bears conclude the indoor season this winter, though, it will mark the end of a successful run in a BSU uniform for Sands, Abrantes, McBirney and Adigwe.
They are competing for the Bears one last time, taking advantage of one final season of eligibility that is available because there was no BSU indoor season in the winter of 2022-23.
Sands, Abrantes, McBirney and Adigwe have returned for a fourth and final indoor season after winding up their outdoor careers last May.
Three of them, Sands, McBirney and Adigwe, are graduate students while Abrantes had one semester of classes to complete this academic year.
The four have the chance to take care of some unfinished business this winter season before closing the curtain on their careers in March.
Here’s a look how four standing track & field athletes are approaching their last season with the Bears, the next meet taking place Jan. 17 at the Tufts University Branwen Smith-King Invitational:
SERENITY SANDS
A two-time NCAA Division III indoor All-American first-team performer in the high jump, Sands was originally planning to attend graduate school at Springfield College this academic year.
But a last-minute change in plans led Sands back to BSU where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in mental health counseling.
“I knew I wanted to do track one more season, and it was up in the air if I was going to be able to do it (at Springfield),” said Sands. “I knew I needed to figure out a way to do it. I knew I had potential and wanted to see how good I could get and that made it an easy decision.
“Then I decided Bridgewater was a better fit for me. I know I really trust the training of Coach K (Christine Kloiber) and that worked out well.”
Sands owns the BSU indoor high jump record of five feet, 8.5 inches. She finished fourth at the national meet during the 2023-24 indoor season and eighth a year ago for All-American honors.
Sands made four trips to the NCAAs in the outdoor season and has won MASCAC and Division III New England championships as one of the programs best high jumpers ever.
In her only competition this season, Sands first in the high jump (5-3) at the Art Kadish Elm City Challenge in New Haven, Conn.
Sands is looking for a strong finish to her career after placing 13th at the NCAAs last spring.
“Last spring was really disappointing for me,” said Sands. “Two weeks before the nationals, I jumped the highest in over a year. I felt pretty good momentum going into the meet and I felt pretty confident with what I could do.
“But I didn’t and it was pretty heartbreaking but also very motvating during the summer when I was working out. I want to place better at the national championship meet.”
Sands graduated from East Bridgewater High in 2019 but was away from track & field for two years before joining the BSU squad in the 2021-22 winter season.
Since then, she has been a consistent points producer for the Bears. Now, a career that has included 25 MASCAC athlete of the week honors is winding down.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Sands of having one more season. “It is scary and exciting. It’s scary because I have one more chance and I know I have really big goals. It’s exciting because I have nothing to lose and just have to give it my all.
“Ultimately, the goal is to be happy and know I did everything to finish my career with no regrets. Being at Bridgewater, it feels like home. I trust my teammates, my coaches wholeheartedly. It feels perfect that I get to wrap it up here where I started.”
KIARA ABRANTES
Abrantes owns BSU indoor records in the 200, 400 and 500 races as well as the outdoor 200 and 400.
She has won eight MASCAC championships (200 and 400) and was the Division III New England champion in the 400 last spring.
Abrantes competed in the NCAA Championships last winter and spring in the 400 and has a goal to be back on the national stage this March before finishing her career.”This winter season, I really hope to be back at nationals and I would love to be an All-American in the 400,” said Abrantes, a secondary education major.
Abrantes started this season by winning the 300 at the Suffolk Relays and placing first in the 400 at the Boston University Mini-Meet with an improved time from a year ago.
It has been a superb start in the grand finale season of a career to remember.
“I never would have thought I would have gotten this far,” said Abrantes. “I’ve made my younger self so proud.
“I’m happy with the career, but I still want more. I’m so proud of myself, but I want a little bit more from my track career and then I’ll be satisfied.”
Abrantes was part of the 4×100 relay team that finished sixth in the nationals last spring in addition to competing individually in the 400 during the winter and spring at the NCAAs.
“It was amazing (to be at the NCAAs), but also super nerve-wracking,” she said. “You get there and look around and you don’t recognize many faces or the schools. Everything is just so much more official. It kind of got to me a little bit, but I’m so happy that I have that experience.
“I know exactly what it’ll be like and I’ll be a little more calm and less anxious if I get back there.”
Abrantes, who will pursue a Master’s degree in special education after graduating, thinks back to the 2021-22 season and how far she has traveled at BSU, overcoming shin splints from a stress reaction.
“I’ve been thinking about it so much,” she said. “It almost makes me emotional. Having it end in the winter is so strange because I’m used to having a full season.
“Thinking about it coming to an end in the winter is devastating, but also it motivates me because I want to be the best athlete I can be. It’s really pushing me to dig deep and go after my dreams.”
KEVIN McBIRNEY
The BSU indoor record-holder in the 800 and 1,000, McBirney has won 12 MASCAC track & field championships and one in cross country.
He took part in the NCAA Division III Championships last winter and has been an All-New England performer.
McBirney missed time in 2022 due to a stress fracture in his left leg but returned to be one of the region’s top runners.
Now pursuing a Master’s degree in management after graduating last spring, McBirney opened this season by winning the 800 at the Suffolk Relays and placing second at the BU Mini-Meet.
After racing at the NCAAs last March, McBirney wants to get back to that level and improve on his time.
“I want to be an All-American at the end of the year,” said McBirney. “That’s been the goal since I got here and especially since the season ended last year.
“You have one more chance at doing this. You feel like you don’t want to leave anything on the table. It was pretty much a no brainer for me to come back.”
McBirney made an impact right away as a freshman, winning the 1,000 and the mile at the indoor MASCACs and the 800 and 1,500 at the outdoor meet.
He was unsure about attending college while in high school, then didn’t know if he’d run track while at BSU. Now, McBirney has a long list of accomplishments with the Bears.
“I’m not satisfied at all, but at the same time, I didn’t think I’d be doing any of this,” said McBirney. “It’s been better than I expected.
“I’d be a lot more satisfied if I finished top eight in the winter at the NCAAs. But it’s been good. It’s been ups and downs, things I accomplished and things I haven’t accomplished yet that I want to.”
The first two races of the final season have been productive for McBirney, who has four meets before the MASCACs on Feb. 15.
“I feel like I’m completely different than where I was a year ago,” said McBirney. “Me and my coach have been training really hard and I feel like I’m a lot different. The first two meets reflected that. It’s the fastest I’ve run in December since I’ve been here.
“It’s a little bit sad (running one last season). I’m putting everything into it, 100 percent. I feel like I do my best work when the clock is running out, my back’s against the wall. You’re never going to get this again, the college feel of competitiveness, so it’s sad.”
CHIGOZIE ADIGWE
Adigwe graduated last May with a degree in computer science and is studying for a Master’s in cyber security now.
A seven-time MASCAC champion as a hurdler, Adigwe reached the NCAAs during the indoor season of 2021-22 when he was a freshman.
Adigwe has been the MASCAC athlete of the week 11 times and has earned Division III All-New England honors five times along the way.
“I had one more shot at it and I wanted to give it a go again,” said Adigwe of returning this season. “It’s kind of bittersweet. Track has been a part of my life for so long. To have it end is bittersweet. I’m trying to make the most of it.”
Adigwe opened last month by finishing first at the 60 hurdles at the Suffolk Relays.
He put in plenty of preparation to get ready for the finale.
“Going into this year, I have way more experience and now it’s about me combining all that experience and giving it one last push, one last spark.
“I’m going to take every meet, do what I have to do and then be ready for the next one. I’m going to put my best foot forward every meet.”
Adigwe, who would like to do some track & Field coaching in the future, won the 110 hurdles four straight outdoor seasons in the MASCAC and the 400 hurdles three years. He was second in New England as a freshman in the 60 hurdles.
Adigwe is looking forward to his last season on the track, hoping to make the most out of it.
“My ultimate goal is to be a national champion,” said Adigwe. “That’s what everyone wants. My main goal is to get myself back to 100 percent. Once I’m there, it’s to do better than my PR and keep climbing from there on.
I would say I’m satisfied with my career. It’s been a pretty good career. Some seasons didn’t end the way I wanted, but overall, it was a pretty good career.”
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