CHS Boys Reloading On Track And In Field

April 7, 2010 by Greg Lederer

Cheshire High School boys’ outdoor track and field head coach Tom Lewoc stresses building depth each spring. Unlike the winter season, there is an expanded event list and a large quantity of athletes is a key to success.
However since the majority of athletes transition between seasons, the indoor team gives a glimpse of the 2010 season. Cheshire saw significant turnover in sprints, hurdles, and throws. Lewoc will look for leadership from jumpers, along with distance and middle distance runners. Sanjay Raha, Jarrett Bassett, Sergey Lukashenko, and Chris Loiewski are senior captains. Matt Baker is captain at practices.
Cheshire debuts a new team today against visiting Lyman Hall and Wilbur Cross, at 3:45 p.m.
“We lost a lot of strong athletes, so we are working on structure,” explained Lewoc. “We don‘t want just seniors competing. We want our younger guys to progress.”
Jim Bennett succeeded Lewoc as the indoor coach last winter, but Lewoc still played close attention to how the athletes performed. Sophomore Jake Scinto and junior Orlando Marin pushed each other to new heights, qualifying for the New England Championship in long jump. Scinto (21 feet, nine inches) and Marin (21 feet, 9.75 inches) traded the school record, before Scinto (21 feet, 10.75 inches) took it back at the State Open.
“It’s going to be great. We made a lot of strides indoors and want to continue that outdoors,” said Scinto, who captured the Housatonic high jump (five feet, 10 inches) and long jump titles during his first indoor season.
He made an immediate impact last spring, cracking the top 10 of the Housatonic Divisional and Southern Connecticut Conference long jump (fifth, 19 feet and 6.5 inches; eighth, 18 and 10.5 inches) and high jump (fourth, five feet and eight inches; fourth, six feet). He tied for 10th place (five feet, 10 inches) within the Class LL high jump.
“Obviously, I’m excited to be outdoors again. Warm weather helps you get better and PR (personal-record),” Scinto stated. “The high jump and long jump practice is easier with these facilities. New England (meet) will be tougher with more competition, but I’m going after it.”
Marin performed the triple jump (eighth, 38 feet and 4.75 inches) and long jump (sixth, 18 feet and 8.25 inches) at the 2009 Housatonic meet. He achieved a personal breakthrough last winter, eclipsing 21 feet for second place in the SCC.
“They (Scinto, Marin) work well together,” added Lewoc. “Technique events are key places to get points.”
However, Scinto’s versatility translates to the sprints. He anchored the 4x100-meter relay to the Housatonic title (44.29), advancing to the Class LL (fourth, 43.52) and State Open (seventh, 43.77).
“Ability-wise, he got better,” Lewoc stated. “Depending on the opponent, Jake will be a sprinter this year.”
Graduated captains Marcus Wright and Joe Gagliardi, along with Greg Schrier, joined Scinto for the relay team. Their departure takes away crucial points. Wright had a record-setting career, in which he won the Housatonic 100- and 200-meters and 4x100-meter relay for consecutive seasons. He was the Class LL runner-up for the 100- and 200-meters, while finishing second for the State Open 100-meters. He also qualified regionally. Gagliardi placed second to Wright in the Housatonic 200-meters last season.
“We lost a lot of guaranteed finishes from those guys,” said Lewoc.
Cheshire did receive a boost with the addition of senior Ryan Connolly. An indoor captain, Connolly previously played baseball during the spring. Connolly had a strong winter season, breaking the school-record with the 1,600-meter sprint medley team (Raha, junior Phil Caldwell, Scinto; 3:46.97).
“In ability and leadership, that is a great benefit. He can 100- and 200-meters, and 4x100-meter relay,” added Lewoc.
Varun Roy, another graduated captain, and Pat Cuppernull leave a void in hurdles. Roy captured the Housatonic 110- and 300-meters for the first time last season. He also contributed to the 4x400-meter relay and reached the State Open in each of the last two seasons.
“It was tough to see (2007 graduates) Dave Brunetti and Andy Jacobs go. Varun just stepped right in,” recalled Lewoc. “That’s (hurdles) a passion of mine because it takes time to develop it.”
Long and middle distance have depth to make up those points. One of the top runners in the country, Sean Mueller returns for his junior season. Mueller, who competed independently over the winter, achieved his dream of All-American honors. He placed sixth nationally in the 5,000-meters.
“Definitely, I had a good indoor season,” said Mueller. “Time-wise, I wanted to do better. It was a great feeling (to make All-American). That is off my back now. It was a lot of hard work.”
Mueller finished third in the 2009 Housatonic (4:28.98) and SCC (4:22.52) 1,600-meters, claiming another bronze medal for the Class LL 3,200-meters (9:32.24). Mueller also led off the 4x800-meter relay (second, 8:31.18) at the Housatonic meet.
“He is going to be a consistent scorer for the team. He is a tremendous asset to the younger and older kids,” explained Lewoc. “He is looking New England and All-American (levels) if we can keep him healthy.”
As the boys’ cross country and indoor coach, Bennett is very familiar with distance. That experience helps build a new unit. Cheshire graduated veteran runners, such as Sam Montclair, Josh Lucchina, Ben Henderson, and Pat Cavanaugh. However, they have strength in numbers. Seniors Curt Brown, Mike Gozzo, Ralph Sacco, Ian Thornton, Joe Fitzpatrick, and Caldwell run from 800- to 3,200-meters and the 4x800-meter relay. Lewoc feels one key is the health of Lukashenko.
“We want to get him ready to go, so that he peaks at the end of the season,” Lewoc said.
Raha is striving for a strong finish in middle distance. He started quickly indoors by finishing runner-up in the Housatonic 600-meters. An injury kept him out of the SCC meet, but Raha recovered to run for the record-setting medley team.
“I’m avoiding getting injured. Indoor was disappointing at the end,” recalled Raha.
With the graduation of Dru Nag, Raha will lead in the 400-meters. Lewoc plans to combine him, Bassett, and possibly some distance runners in the 4x400-meter relay.
“He has the strength and ability,” added Lewoc, of Raha.
Lewoc feels leadership is essential within a youthful group of throwers. Dan Mazzacane (Housatonic runner-up in shot put; discus, javelin) and Mike Haskell (javelin) graduated. Tom Albanese transferred to Cheshire Academy and junior Aaron Stevenson isn’t competing.
“I feel really confident because the guys are ready to learn,” Loiewski reflected.
Loiewski (shot put, discus) and classmate Alan Bonilla (javelin) want to qualify for states. They both threw into the top 10 of the Housatonic shot put indoors, including a bronze medal from Loiewski (40 feet, 2.25 inches).
“Chris’s biggest thing is leadership. He will help younger throwers and show them how to compete,” explained Lewoc.
Cheshire compiled an 8-3 record last spring. They finished third (80 points) and seventh (40 points) at the Housatonic and Class LL meets, respectively. But, there is change this season. Due to budget cuts, the SCC has condensed four divisions into an East and West Section. The Rams look forward to the East Sectional Meet on May 17.
“It will be a lot different,” said Raha. “We’ll get to compete against some different teams.”
Lewoc likes how the schedule mixes dual meets and invitationals. Cheshire wraps up the dual-meet season against top rival, Amity, and Joseph Foran on May 11, in Woodbridge. The Rams seek to qualify athletes for the SCC (May 25), Class LL (June 1), State Open (June 7), and New England (June 12) meets.
“The potential is always there. It depends how much they want it,” stated Lewoc.