Barlow Spring Sports Has Most Successful Season

REDDING, Conn. – The Joel Barlow boys' lacrosse team won the CIAC Class S state championship with a 15-2 win against Somers, the school’s first state championship since 2007, when boys' soccer and girls' basketball won titles.

Lacrosse is only one of Barlow’s spring sports success stories.

“This was probably by far the most successful season we've had here because of the largest numbers and the overall records,” said athletic administrator Michael Santangeli.

The largest numbers refers to the fact 428 out of 1,007 students participated in spring sports, a good portion of the 65 percent of the student body that participates in all school sports programs – 333 boys and 318 girls. Two years ago the total was 52 percent so participation in Barlow sports is growing.

There were a number of team and individual honors. The girls' golf team, a new sport at Barlow, came in second in the SouthWest Conference in its first season.

The boys' and girls' track teams had several first-place finishes in the CIAC Class MM Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Logan Fulton won the 1,600m and the 3,200m, Brittney Dumas won the pole vault and Hannah Makowske won the hammer throw.

The boys' golf and girl's track & field teams won the SWC Sportsmanship Award and the baseball team won the Western Connecticut Umpires Association Sportsmanship Award.  

Michael Mattson and Nolan Stauffer of the boys' lacrosse team made the All-America team and Paige Kirby and Olivia Sennett of the girls' lacrosse team were academic All-Americans.

John Distler and Adam Lanehart were named Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year (Class S) by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and by U.S. Lacrosse for the State of Connecticut.  

A number of athletes in lacrosse, track and field, baseball, softball, golf and tennis received all-state recognition.

“The teams performed so well not just on the field but emotionally,” Santangelli said. “There’s a lot of school spirit. It’s nice to be a part of it.”

Click here to follow Daily Voice Westport and receive free news updates.