Tarantello Inherits Deep Group Of Returning Girls To Track And Field

December 30, 2009 by Greg Lederer

Cheshire’s Joe Tarantello stood out as a distance runner at Holy Cross High School (Waterbury) and Marist College. But while in college, he became more attentive to other aspects of track and field.
He is applying that experience to his first coaching job at Cheshire High School. Kim Kelly chose to step down from leading the girls’ indoor track and field program that is coming off consecutive Housatonic Division and Southern Connecticut Conference titles. Tarantello, who is student teaching at the school, saw the position online.
“I wanted to stay in the Cheshire community and be a part of the school,” explained Tarantello, a 2008 graduate of Marist. “I’m learning. The captains have been great and I’ve been working with (first-year boys’ indoor track and field head coach) Jim Bennett. (Athletic Director) Steve Trifone has been helpful as well.”
Tarantello feels fortunate to inherit a distinguished program. Senior captains Rachel Aliotta, Julie Hart, Kylee McIntosh, and Casey Nowakowski lead a deep group of returning letter winners this winter.
“It’s always good to be a leader,” said McIntosh. “There is added responsibility with him (Tarantello) being a new coach.”
It is hard to be more dominant than Aliotta was in the shot put last season. She went undefeated en route to winning the Hartford Public Invite, Housatonic (38 feet, 11 inches), SCC (42 feet, 2.5 inches), Class LL (40 feet, 10.5 inches), and State Open (41 feet, 6.5 inches). The closest a Connecticut athlete came to her was four feet.
Her expectations are high again. The 2009 New England Championship (third, 40 feet and 9.5 inches; Roxbury, Mass.) and National Championship (ninth, 41 feet and 0.5 inch; New York Armory) were the only places she didn’t secure gold medals.
“It’s good to have an athlete that has achieved so much already,” stated Tarantello. “She has been a huge resource. Everyone gets along very well and the captains have taken control of the team.”
The Rams graduated Caitlin Victory, Maddie Gelmetti, and Sarah Bell in the throws. Junior Breslyn Goodison has developed alongside Aliotta, who has committed to Monmouth University (West Long Branch, New Jersey).
Whether in soccer or track and field, Nowakowski and McIntosh have made an impact together. Both figure into multiple relays and possess versatility to contribute key points individually. Nowakowski, who cracked the top 10 of the SCC 300-meters (seventh, 44.04), has run from 55- to 800-meters and competed in long jump (Housatonic; fifth, 14 feet and five inches).
“It has gone fast. Track season is one of quickest seasons for us,” said Nowakowski, who was named team MVP as a freshman. “Every time we (McIntosh and I) run together, it’s interesting.”
One of their highlights came at the 2009 Housatonic Championship, in which 12 girls won their first division title. Of that number, only graduated captain Lynelle Schmidt and Marnee Dupont didn’t return to the team. Nowakowski contributed to the 4x800-meter relay (senior Caitlyn Criscuolo, junior Sarah Fusco, Hart; 10:29.42) and joined McIntosh on the 4x400-meter team (Fusco, graduated Schmidt; 4:25.2). The 1,600-meter sprint medley (seniors Jill Jackson, Alisha Wright, Taylor Altieri, Dupont; 4:49.47) was also victorious and McIntosh anchored the 4x200-meter team (Jackson, Wright, senior Meghan Fackler; 1:57.87) to complete a relay sweep.
Four more top six relay finishes helped Cheshire earn a share of the SCC title (70 pounds) with Hillhouse. A collision occurred just before the final straight away of the 4x200-meter relay (1:54.10), but McIntosh avoided the congestion and sprinted to a critical third place.
“It’s been nice to have the experience and depth,” added Tarantello. “We want to improve each athlete and fill all of the events.”
The Rams qualified all their relays for the Class LL Championship (fifth, 32 points), with the 4x800- and 4x400-meter teams running at the State Open.
“We have a lot of standout kids across events. We are covered,” stated Tarantello. “The upperclassmen can help younger athletes develop.”
Tarantello has seen McIntosh provide leadership in high jump. McIntosh came close to championships last season, only to finish as the Housatonic (five feet) and SCC (five feet, two inches) runner-up to graduated Amity standout Allison Barwise. Kylee’s athleticism and technique rival the state’s elite.
“We don’t have a jumping coach yet, so we are working things out,” said McIntosh, who tied for third place (five feet) in Class LL high jump and made the State Open. “I should be able to go after first place (in high jump) with Allison gone.”
Wright, junior Courtney Gendron, and senior Emily Boutsioulis were SCC qualifiers for long jump while also adding to the sprints. Cheshire also possesses experience in pole vault. Seniors Jennifer Jackson (fifth; Housatonic runner-up, seven feet) and Sarah Schulefand (sixth) both cleared seven feet and six inches during the SCC meet, reaching the Class LL together.
“At the high school level, pole vault is an event where you can get big points. Not as many teams emphasize it like they do with the track,” explained Tarantello.
Cheshire returns more than enough depth on the track. Hart contributes from 1,000 through 3,200-meters. The 1,000-meters was her top event last season, winning a Housatonic title (3:16.39) for the first time. She also ran the 1,600-meters at the Housatonic and SCC meets. Sophomore Tesni Phillips (SCC qualifier) has run with her in the 1,000-meters.
“I definitely want to improve my times in the 1,000 (-meters),” said Hart, who finished 11th (3:07.22) at the State Open. “I think I have a lot of room for improvement.”
“She has been a great help. Julie is clearly a good leader,” Tarantello added.
A Class LL qualifier, Fusco took second (1:47.81) for the Housatonic 600-meters. Only 2009 Amity High School graduate Annelies Gamble had a faster time. Criscuolo (sixth, 1:53.81), Altieri (eighth, 1:55.48), Fackler (ninth, 1:57.48; SCC qualifier), and junior Wendy Fang (13th, 2:03.41) also competed in the division race.
“She (Fusco) has been looking good so far,” stated Tarantello.
There will be change in distance running. Graduated captain Irene Kalbian became one of the strongest runners in school history, winning both Housatonic/SCC titles for the 1,600- and 3,200-meters. She finished sixth (3,200-meters, 11:09.86) to earn All-American honors at the National meet.
Her sister is looking to make a similar impact. Freshman Kathleen Kalbian was the top runner for the cross country team last fall, a position that Irene held for four years.
“Hopefully, she accomplishes just a little of what her sister did. Kathleen has a lot of potential,” said Tarantello. “It’s great to have that many girls focus on distance. They are enthusiastic about it.”
While he feels most comfortable with distance, Tarantello has spent a lot of time working with sprinters. Jill Jackson qualified for the Class LL/SCC 55-meters and junior Ashia Wright is a strong newcomer to the indoor team. Ashia Wright won the Housatonic 100- and 200-meters, to go along with anchoring the 4x100-meter relay to another first place in the spring season.
“I think they are really coming along. They’ve had some good workouts,” explained Tarantello.
Cheshire saw an early glimpse during the SCC Developmental on Tuesday. The event has no scoring, so athletes can pick and chose different events. The second developmental will be held Jan. 7.
“I want to see them in a competitive environment,” added Tarantello.
Hurdling is one of the aspects being developed. Lavanya Rajendran contributed since freshman year and captained the team during her final season. Junior Emily Winch has experience from the 2009 Housatonic 55-meter hurdles (10th, 11.59).
“It’s tough to get a group of solid hurdlers because it takes time to develop them. We have a couple kids working on it,” Tarantello said.
The Housatonic (Jan. 12, 4:30 p.m.), SCC (Feb. 5, 4 p.m.), Class LL (Feb. 13, 10 a.m.), and State Open (Feb. 20, 12 p.m.) meets will take place at the New Haven Athletic Center. Cheshire placed 12th (13 points) at the 2009 State Open.
“I think we definitely want to win the Housy (Housatonic) and SCC again. We’d like to make top five at the Class LL,” said Hart.