Training Together, Boys and Girls Indoor Track & Field Sweep CCC South

Indoor Track & Field Girls and Boys Captains

Faced with a winter as tough as the recent one, most people chose to bundle up inside. Not the high school indoor track & field team, however. This year’s Blue Knights weren’t going to let frigid temperatures stop them from reaching their potential. Southington’s hard work and dedication have paid off, as the boys and the girls squads both won the Central Connecticut Conference South Division.

Before CCCs, co-head coaches Nick Migani and Jaclyn Sullivan asked their team a simple question. They knew they’d have to battle against conference powerhouses such as Bloomfield, Windsor, and Glastonbury. But given the team Southington had assembled in 2026, why couldn’t they take home the conference crown?

“It would be silly to go into it not being like, ‘Can we be CCC South Division champions? Can we win our division, can we battle these teams who want the same thing as us and really go after it together?’,” Sullivan said. “I want to throw down with those teams. Even if we supposedly can’t win, whatever, why can’t it be us at some point? Why can’t we go for it?”

“At some point we’ve got to say, ‘Hey maybe we’re not there yet, but why not us?’ That’s really the mentality we’re trying to foster on them,” Migani added. “You’ve got to fake it a little before you make it. Let’s go out there and expect to compete with some of the best teams in New England, hold ourselves to their standard. We should go out and compete with them, not just be happy to be there. Instead of chasing these teams, we should think we belong.”

Southington wins CCC South

This self-confidence paid off. Southington girls indoor track and field scored a 142 to win the South. They posted a 24.33 in the overall competition, coming in seventh. Every competitor listed below qualified for All-Conference with their results.

Senior Katherine Cavanaugh finished second in the 3200-meters (11:24.22) and fourth in the 1600 (5:14). Fellow senior Adriana Paszkowski placed seventh in the high jump (4’ 6”) and ninth in the 55-meter hurdles (9.48). Junior Sarah Fares earned a third place finish in the shot put (35’  6.5”). Freshman Emily Phipps placed 12th in the 3200 (12:27.87) while junior Martha Siwek finished 12th in the high jump (4’ 4”).

In the pole vault, senior Riley Bassett finished sixth (8’6”), junior Josephine Martin finished seventh (8' 0”) and sophomore Gabriella Paskowski finished ninth (7’ 0”). For the 1000-meters, freshman Madeleine Canner-O’Mealy placed ninth (3:13.15), fellow freshman Giada Pagnucco finished 15th (3:20.79) and senior Shaelyn Flaherty came in 21st (3:26.03).

Southington’s 4x800 relay team of Phipps, senior Jenna Hebert and freshmen Emily Blankenship and Giuliana Angieri came in fifth (10:53.18). The 1600 sprint medley relay team of Siwek, Pagnucco, Canner-O’Mealy and sophomore Olivia Ostopawicz finished eighth (4:40.83) while the 4x400 team of Hebert, Flaherty, Pagnucco and Canner-O’Mealy came in ninth (4:36.38).

The boys too reaped the benefit from believing in themselves. The Blue Knights won the South with a score of 125. Their 37 points in the overall competition led to a fourth place finish. Everyone listed below has made All-CCCs.

Junior Walker Mierzejewski finished fourth in the 55-meters (6.61) while senior Chimdi Ogubagu placed fifth (6.62). Senior Ethan Hoffman finished fourth in the 1000 (2:38.76) while junior Cole Hinckley placed sixth in the 600 (1:28). Junior Michael Blankenship came in eighth in the 3200 (10:03.44) as Senior Luke Wolf was 10th in the 55-meter hurdles (8.39).

Junior Sam Cheek was 13th in the 1600 (4:49.93) as sophomore Berenger Xavier finished 16th in the 300 (37.65). In the shot put, junior Jason Kalawat finished fifth (45’ 4.5”) while senior Jaiden Livers came in sixth (44’ 10.5”).

The Blue Knights’ 4x200 relay team of Ogubagu, Mierzejewski, Hinckley and Xavier won the event with a time of 1:33.32. Southington’s 1600 sprint medley relay team of Mierzejewski, Wolf, and sophomores Ryan Andrews and Logan Perrella placed fourth (3:51.16). The 4x400 team of Wolf, Hinckley, Andrews and senior Croix Pugliese came in fifth (3:41.70) while the 4x800 team of Blankenship, Perrella, senior Jayden Gajewski and junior Stephen Rahenkamp placed sixth (8:42.46).

For both squads, Sullivan felt Southington’s CCC fully encapsulated the team’s ‘why not us’ attitude.

“I think the athletes really took our ‘why not us?’ message to heart. Event after event, both the boys and girls stepped up with tenacity, putting themselves in the best possible position to help the team,” Sullivan said. “The 4x200 relay set the tone with their first place finish and from there the energy only grew. When they weren’t competing, the athletes were on their feet cheering and supporting one another. It was special to see the team come together around a shared goal and deliver the performances they did.”

Indoor Track Teams Combine As One

Sullivan, who is also head coach of the girls outdoor track team, has unofficially been coaching indoor track alongside Migani for the past three seasons. During the 2026 campaign, the Blue Knights moved to an official co-head coach structure with both Migani and Sullivan leading the way.

Seeing all sides of the Blue Knights has only made the program stronger. Each member of the coaching staff is able to give input no matter the team. In turn, Southington’s athletes have an opportunity to compete as one.

“With indoor track in general, all the coaches coach together because of the facilities and the nature of having 100+ kids and six or seven coaches,” Sullivan said. “It’s great that indoor track allows for that opportunity. The boys and girls are different programs, different teams. But it’s fun to see them train together. Working with Nick and the other coaches makes it fun and easy for everyone.”

“It has been great,” Migani added. “The coaches coach with all the kids regardless of their gender. When we’re now creating things like the postseason lineups, all the coaches know all the kids. We’re able to bring all of the knowledge bases. It allows us to put it all together as a team as opposed to divided by gender. It lines up easily and naturally.”

On the boys side, many of this year’s competitors were coming off of a long football season. That offered the coaching staff an opportunity to work with many of the new runners. The girls team has plenty of new faces on the roster this season. Sullivan said those young runners have played a crucial role in the Blue Knights’ success, while the veterans have helped keep the team on course.

Everyone on the team had the same goal in mind. The returners were able to see the Blue Knights’ continued growth. Southington knew they had the opportunity to put together a special season.

“This has been a long time coming,” Migani said. “When we first started here, we felt that three years on, we were going to be in a position to be competitive at CCCs and LL level. Last outdoor, it really came together, with the kids buying into the program and the culture, seeing into the future. This year, the kids are really knowledgeable about what we’re trying to do. Now they’ve bought in and integrated any new kids coming in.”

Perhaps the biggest hurdle standing in their way has been the daunting weather. While they are the indoor track team, most of the Blue Knights’ practice happens outside. As Migani puts it, “90 percent of the time, 85 percent of our athletes are outside.” Many teams are looking to use the gym in the winter, and the athletes need enough space to get their work in.  

Still, that is part of the battle that comes with competing in indoor track. While it could be grueling, looking back and seeing how far you’ve come is the ultimate reward.

“Indoor track is the easiest team to sign up for. It’s also one of the hardest teams to be a part of,” Migani said. “Becoming part of the team is showing up when it’s negative something degrees out and getting better because you need to get better for your team. Staying when it’s still dark, or attending those five, six, seven, 10 hour meets. Those areas are where we see this team coming together. You have to have some shared misery. It really brings them together.”

Southington’s Newest Record Holders, Captains

Indoor track & field doesn’t follow the traditional win-loss schedule. Instead, the Blue Knights compete in invitationals throughout the season. Each coach is able to see how far each athlete has been able to progress. By the time the postseason comes around, Southington already knows how to operate and what it will take to succeed at the highest level.

As the Blue Knights go through their campaign, they are looking to see if anyone will break a school record. During the 2026 season, Southington had numerous athletes do so.

Cavanaugh broke – or in Sullivan’s words, “smashed”  - her own 3,000-meter school record with a time of 10:24:

In Ogubagu’s first meet of the season - after transferring from football due to injuries - he set Southington’s 55-meter record, before breaking it yet again with a time of 6.57.

Mierzejewski is the new 200-meter record holder with a time of 22.79, while Kalwat took the weight throw crown with a distance of 58’ 0.5”. In their first attempt of the season, the boys’ 4x200 relay team became school record holders with a mark of 1:31.86.

In addition to setting school records, Cavanaugh is a captain of the girls’ team next to fellow seniors Hebert and Adriana Paskowski. To Sullivan, all three have helped elevate the culture she is trying to help build with the Blue Knights. 

“They’ve brought a lot of communication, positive team culture, encouragement between all event groups, really just phenomenal leadership,” Sullivan said. “I see them as an extension of the coaching staff. They have a lot of experience and knowledge. They’re open and willing to help everyone and still focus on their own events.”

For the boys, Hoffman, Wolf, seniors Nicholas Fusco, Zachary Belcourt and junior William Wu are captains. All five are intent on moving the Blue Knights forward. But it’s important to the captains that Southington has fun doing it.

“The boys team is a little bit different, they’re a rambunctious group,” Migani said. “They maintain the best they can, the organization, the routine, the expectations. But they really keep it fun. Running outside in this weather is not fun. We tend to lose some of that engagement when it is negative something and snowy. Our captains have done a great job of saying, ‘Hey we can work hard and have fun.’ That’s helped our culture. Making sure the kids are coming back, and when they’re here, they’re getting in good work, it isn’t just a mess around type of day.”

Outside of the captains, Migani was quick to praise athletes like Hinckley, who moved from short sprinter to long sprinter, making major strides in the process. Likewise Xavier, who as only a sophomore has managed to make a pivotal impact. Kalwat, the reigning outdoor track & field javelin champion, and Livers have come up clutch for the Blue Knights in the throwing events.

For the girls, Sullivan has been impressed with many of Southington’s newcomers this season. Joining the team as a sophomore, Ostapowicz has become a staple on the Blue Knights’ sprint teams. Angieri and Canner-O’Mealy broke SHS freshman records in the 600 and 1,000 respectively, qualifying for the Class LL State Tournament.

Blue Knights Always Ready To Battle

Southington competed in the Class LL State Tournament on February 14. Both the boys and girls finished 10th overall, with scores of 18 and 18.5 respectively. Full results can be found here.

As they close out their postseason, Southington’s coaches are looking for both teams to capitalize on their success. They understand the level of competition they’ll be facing. But they have put in the work all year for these kinds of races.

When the Blue Knights return to compete next season, plenty of talented seniors will have graduated from the program. Still, Sullivan isn’t expecting Southington’s standards to drop. Indoor track & field is often seen as an individual sport. This year’s squad didn’t view the sport that way, helping build the foundation on which the Blue Knights want to stand.

“The fact that they’re willing to view it as a team sport is what’s helping them standout,” Sullivan said. “The team is not complete without each other. These kids are willing to literally put their bodies on the line to want to achieve a performance for themselves, but know that it’s really for a bigger goal, and for their team.”

Through the snow and cold, the Blue Knights trudged forward. Southington wanted to show the state of Connecticut just how good they can be. But to reach the heights they did, this year’s team needed to do it together.

“It draws them closer together, everyone is in it,” Migani said. “No one is skipping the hard part. As a team, is really where they’re showing growth. A freak can show up and do freakish things. It takes a team to come together to really do something special.”

Southington Gymnastics Ready for Postseason after Undefeated Run

Blue Knights Gymnastics DEREK SMITT PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CASSIDY CHAMBERLAND

After seeing so many athletes graduate from the previous team, Southington gymnastics coach Cassidy Chamberland didn’t know what to expect in 2026. But after seeing 16 girls show up to their October interest meeting, Chamberland knew the Blue Knights had the potential for something special. Those prospects have come to fruition, as Southington is entering the postseason with a perfect 7-0 record.

“We graduated a pretty big group last year. I didn’t know who was coming in from the middle school or who was going to join the team from the high school that didn’t do it last year,” Chamberland said. “We had an interest meeting in October and 16 girls showed up, which is pretty big for a gymnastics team. We were really excited. First practice, that group showed up and it has been history since then.”

Once the team was established, Chamberland and company got to work getting the Blue Knights competition ready. The team focuses on how to maximize their start value – that is, the highest score a gymnast could get. Furthermore, the coaching staff must figure out each athlete’s best skills to put them in a position to succeed.

Chamberland compared it to a math equation, finding Southington gymnastics’ perfect combination. It was clear early on that the Blue Knights had a long way to go to reach their potential. But this year’s squad never stopped reaching for the proverbial brass rings. “Reps on reps on reps,” as Chamberland put it, were necessary for Southington to be ready to go into battle.  

“We started off and I knew that we had a lot of work to do,” Chamberland said. “It’s a huge sophomore class, a lot of underclassmen and only a couple upperclassmen. There was a lot to be learned for the younger group. They have pretty much taken off with it. We have made such big strides to where we’re at now to where we were at the beginning of the season.”

Southington Goes Undefeated

Southington’s regular season consisted of seven dual meets against their Central Connecticut Conference foes. Six gymnasts can compete in each of the four events: vault, bars, beam and floor. The top four scorers from each event are tallied up, which then creates your team score.

At the time of the Outsider’s interview with Chamberland, Southington was 4-0. The head coach was more than impressed with her team’s start. She had seen her team put in the hard work, but competition brings out a different kind of challenge.

“I was interested to see how they would be as competitors,” Chamberland said. “They have proven themselves every single time. They really show up for their team and for themselves. They do their best every single meet we go to. Their hard work has paid off so far. I’m really proud of them and how far they’ve come since the beginning of the season.”

Chamberland called Southington’s meet against Farmington, a 138.7 to 135 victory, a standout performance from the Blue Knights. The team knew it was going to be a challenge, and it remained neck and neck throughout. As Southington came away with a win, the head coach began to really see the team’s growth.

During competition, each gymnast is fighting to perfect their landings and routines. Every competitor on the Blue Knights is encouraging their teammates along the way. They’re putting in the work together and battling for a common goal. That growing camaraderie has led to a team-wide confidence boost.

“It’s a very supportive group of girls,” Chamberland said. “They’re doing their bondings and really coming together as a team. They feel supported at the meets by one another. Gymnastics can be super individualized. It’s just you up there doing a routine. When you have your pep talks with your teammates and you feel calm by the presence of your team, that really helps bring out a good performance.”

As they close out their campaign, Chamberland wants Southington to keep their foot on the gas. For all the success they found during their dual meet schedule, the Blue Knights will now be competing amongst the CCC and eventually the state of Connecticut’s best. 

“I want to see them keep improving. We’re not getting complacent, nothing is ever perfect. There’s still a ton of work to be done before we go into Divisionals and States,” Chamberland said. “I want them to keep working, keep improving like they are. Just because we’re 4-0 right now doesn’t mean that can’t change. I want them to keep striving and know the harder they work the better they’re going to get.”

Captains Lead Young Roster

Of the 15 girls on this year’s roster, only four of them are upperclassmen. It was crucial for Southington to have strong leaders in place for the young squad. In seniors Ella Silverman and Taylor Cooley, alongside junior Kacie Riddle, the Blue Knights found three captains dedicated to helping the gymnastics team shine.

Taylor Cooley

“I’ve known them since they were freshmen. Throughout every single season, they’re the example people look towards,” Chamberland said of the captains. “You don’t ever have to tell them to get to work or continue working because they’re always using all of their time, they work their butts off. They lead by example, but they’re also super motivating to their teammates and lead vocally as well. They’ve done such a great job with their leadership this season.”

Silverman unfortunately suffered a torn ACL and has been out for the entire season. Chamberland called it a huge loss for the team on the mat, although the senior is still serving as a leader. Alongside their work as captains, the head coach called Riddle and Cooley, who competes in all four events, key parts of the team’s competition success.

Senior Szabina Levai is in her first year with Southington gymnastics. Immediately she has become a crucial addition to the Blue Knights, competing as an all-around gymnast.

Szabina Levai

Sophomore Lily Reed joins Cooley and Levai as four-event competitors. She entered the season on CTInsider’s top 15 CIAC gymnast watchlist. Chamberland said Reed has definitely lived up to the hype.

Lily Reed

Furthermore, the head coach has seen vast improvement from Ermioni Petrosky in her second year with the team. Fellow sophomore Juliette Castonguay is new to the Blue Knights, but Chamberland says she has made some impressive strides. The same is true of freshman Madelyn Krupinski, who the coaching staff is excited to see continue developing in the program.

Madelyn Krupinski

Many of the girls on this year’s Blue Knights squad also compete in club gymnastics. It runs at the same time as the high school season, meaning some gymnasts have a loaded practice schedule. For all their dedication, Chamberland is keeping workload in mind when figuring out how to best operate as a team.

“It’s a lot on the body, and I’m sure on the mind as well,” Chamberland said. “A lot of these girls are doing two-a-day practices. We have to be strategic in what events we do each day so that they’re not totally exhausting themselves. We definitely pay attention because a lot of the girls double up.”

The 2026 Southington gymnastics roster features seniors: Ella Silverman, Szabina Levai and Taylor Cooley; junior: Kacie Riddle; sophomores: Caroline Hlavac, Emily Leger, Ermioni Petrosky, Isabel Rogalski, Isabelle Lalla, Jozie Hamm, Juliette Castonguay and Lily Reed; alongside freshmen: Adrianna Colwell, Madelyn Krupinski and Olivia Bloom. Chamberland is joined by assistant coach Kelsey Lamson.

Southington Trying to Finish Strong

The Blue Knights will compete in the CCC Tournament on February 7. They’ll then enter the Class L State Championship on February 21. At these high levels of competition, Chamberland wants Southington to reflect on how they practice. If they prepare as if the bright lights were on, the glow when they enter the biggest meet of the year won’t seem as blinding.

“Practice like you’re going to compete, so that you compete better than you practice,” Chamberland said. “Always be on. Always be giving your best, always be giving your all. Just because you’re at practice doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be putting your all into it. The more you go hard at practice, the more you act like it’s that moment every single moment, the better you’re going to do when the moment actually comes.”

With a young roster in place, the postseason experience will go a long way towards the team’s development. Chamberland wants to see more gymnasts try out and hopes that Southington’s success this season helps spread the word about what the Blue Knights have to offer.

“I want it to be an environment where they feel like they can enjoy themselves,” Chamberland said. “Sometimes gymnastics can be a strict, nerve-wracking environment. I want high school to be an opportunity for them to have fun. At the same time, I want them to be successful and do great gymnastics. I’m looking for the all-around where they get to enjoy themselves, have that team camaraderie and family environment, but also be successful at what they do.”

The 2026 Southington gymnastics team has set new expectations for the program moving forward. They’ll have an opportunity to cap off their magical run in the postseason. Until their final routine comes, the Blue Knights will be working. Nothing can stop them from trying to be the best gymnasts possible.

“They’re just super productive. They’re hungry to keep going and keep succeeding,” Chamberland said. “The fact they don’t get complacent and they’re always working to do better is what makes them stand out.”

Southington Ski Building Leaders On and Off Slopes

The SHS ski racing team at Mt. Southington. ART RICH PHOTO

Thirty seconds, twenty-five on a good run – that’s all a racer gets to make their marks on the slopes. But for the Southington High School ski team, the time spent off the course is what makes all the difference.

With only 13 skiers on their roster, the Blue Knights must come together to put forth their best times. To head coach Brian Landry, the program’s need for camaraderie is what sets Southington apart.

“It’s a very close-knit group. We work hard together, we have a good time and we really support each other,” Landry said. “It is a team sport, but it does come down to individual races. Each racer has the opportunity to really compete and challenge themselves to be the best they can be. We have various levels of experience within the team. We look forward to those with experience continuing to foster a good environment.”

Landry has been involved in the local ski scene for the past 16 years. He began working with Flanders Elementary School’s ski club before making the transition to Southington High eight years ago. Originally an assistant coach, Landry has been leading the program officially for the past three seasons.

Joining him is assistant coach Eric Galvin, who has been in his post over the last three years. Growing up in Waterbury, he remembers competing against the Southington ski team until his graduation in 1991. Once he was in a position to help lead the next generation, Galvin felt a calling to give back.

“It was really enjoyable, it was a nice next step,” Landry said of joining the high school staff. “I saw the transition from when they were younger. We’re a small group, and we really support each other as a team. We try to foster each other. We try to build camaraderie amongst the racers while still being competitive. We want to be competitive. We want to put our best foot forward and be competitive against some of these big, big schools.”

“Having done this as a high schooler myself, I can’t help but think about the coaches I’ve had and the impact they had on my own learning,” Galvin added. “At this stage of life, I think it’s important to give back to what I think is a really terrific group of students and skiers who just want to be out on the snow. Some of them really want to compete, others want to be a part of a team sport.”

Over Landry’s eight years with the Blue Knights, he has seen anywhere from 10 to 16 racers on the team. For the 13 on this year’s squad, the coaching staff is expecting growth on and off the slopes. The head coach said growing as leaders will be crucial for Southington’s success, along with building of morale.

“We try to build values in these racers,” Landry said. “Encourage personal growth as well as team growth. Trying to teach these racers to be leaders themselves is a big thing.”

How Southington Competes

Southington competes in the Connecticut Interscholastic Ski League. This season, 27 different schools are in the league. To qualify for the team championships, there must be at least six consistent racers. For individuals, times throughout the season determine if one qualifies. From there, selected racers then advance to compete for Team Connecticut at the Regional Championship.

In a race, each competitor gets two attempts. Their fastest time is taken as their official run. It can all come down to less than a second.

“Each race is very short, that tenth of a second can definitely matter,” Landry said. “How fast and quickly do they come out of the gate, and how quickly do they push themselves through the finish line.”

This year, Southington has five races on their schedule. Set to conclude the regular season on February 4, the Blue Knights began their 2026 journey back on January 7. Before their first meet, the ski team had just two practices.

In that first race, 231 skiers competed on the boys side. Freshman Andrew Poulos led the way for Southington, finishing 38th. Sophomore Nicholas Dura finished right behind in 59th.

On the girls side, 168 racers competed. Senior Madalyne Landry finished for the Blue Knights in 54^th, while freshman Sophia Testa finished second in 68th.

As they close out their campaign, Landry expects Southington to continue hitting their competitive stride. They’ll need that fire to reach their pinnacle. Galvin wants resilience. He knows the CISL poses a difficult test. But it is one Southington should be prepared for.

“I look for them to develop and grow by challenging themselves. Improving the skills that lead to better times in future races,” Landry said. “You have to have that competitiveness in you in order to get better. I want them to continue becoming better leaders, mentoring each other, supporting each other. That comes in the future, so very important. It’s a good skill to have.”

“Resilience,” Galvin continued. “There are a lot of schools that have really talented skiers and racers. We want them to recognize that you can win by being the best conditioned, not necessarily having to be the most talented. More importantly than that, we hope to play a hand in developing the very best human beings that we can. They’re great individuals. We just want to do our part.”

Practice Plan Boosts Leadership

The ski team has the luxury of hosting practices and meets right at Mt. Southington. However, all of the 27 other teams in the CISL also practice at Mt. Southington. It has forced the Blue Knights to alter their practice plans.

“This year we’ve tried to be very disciplined about our practice time,” Galvin said. “There are 27 schools, they all practice at Mt. Southington. We’re spoiled that it’s in our town, but burdened to a degree that we have a lot of people who want to use the same small amount of space.”

In a given week, Southington will have two to two and half hours of practice time. To maximize their hours, the Blue Knights have divided practice in half. They’ll spend part of the time in a race-like scenario, physically preparing for their next meet. The other half is spent on different exercises to improve things like muscle memory and technique.

When they go through those drills, different leaders will emerge. A racer will lead an exercise, as their teammates stay locked into their guidance. For the coaching staff, it’s an opportunity to learn from their racer’s creativity and experience. For any of the 13 on this year’s squad, it’s an opportunity to show you can take charge.

“Even though we’re a team with four senior girls who have plenty of experience, sometimes that freshman or sophomore boy might have something that is valuable to add,” Galvin said. “Most often, the senior girls have a lot more maturity. They’re able to lead the team through practice and drills.”

“The biggest objective we have is to build these leaders regardless of what year you are, what title you might have,” he continued. “It’s really trying to lead regardless of where you’re coming from from a point of status.”

Captains Step Up

When electing this year’s captains, the coaching staff opened it up to the racers. They asked who wanted to take on the responsibility. Amidst the crowd, seniors Mary Landowski and Madalyne Landry emerged, being named the Blue Knights’ 2026 captains.

Team captains Madalyne Landry and Mary Landowski. ERIC GALVIN PHOTO

“When it came to elect captains, it was really important that Coach Brian step aside and say, ‘Who wants to be a captain?’” Galvin said. “There are responsibilities. Given that we’re a small club type of a sport, it’s not something that is as visible as football or soccer. We asked people who were interested, those were the two that put themselves forward.”

Madalyne, Coach Landry’s daughter, has been skiing since she was three years old. She rose up the elementary and middle school ranks before joining the team as a freshman. Alongside her work on the slopes, Landry serves as Southington’s unofficial PR person, posting on Instagram or doing whatever she can to get the word out about the team.

Landowski is another four-year skier for the Blue Knights. Galvin credited her maturity and willingness to never back down from a challenge.

While everyone has a chance to lead at practice, ultimately a small roster of 13 needs a focal voice. That comes in the form of Landry and Landowski, who do everything in their power to ensure Southington competes to the best of their abilities.

“We couldn’t be happier with who stepped up and raised their hand,” Galvin said. “From a leadership perspective, no matter what you do in life. It’s such a formative experience.”

The Southington ski team features seniors: Mary Landowski, Maya Dura, Julia Davino and Madalyne Landry; juniors: Paige Straub, Brady Galvin and Joshua Smailes; sophomores: Nicholas Dura and Nuno Moreira; and freshmen: Alexis Fortin, Sophia Testa, Alice Reily and Andrew Poulos.

Southington Looking to Grow Family

Since joining the Southington coaching staff eight years ago, Landry has seen five racers go on to compete at the college level. Moving forward, he’s hoping to see the Blue Knights’ numbers continue to increase.

Alongside Landry and Galvin, Southington is aided by the help of a number of parents. Both coaches credited those volunteers for helping keep the program afloat. To Galvin, it’s that community mentality that makes the Blue Knights special.

“Our program within this town is much more akin to family, a close circle of people,” Galvin said. “The high school is a big facility. It’s easy to get lost as an individual in 2,500-ish kids. This is a program that is smaller and more intimate in how you learn about each other and the reliance of one another. Just learning about people you would’ve otherwise not crossed.”

To some, Southington’s roster size may be a disadvantage. Some of their CISL competitors more than double their numbers. But Landry views that as a strength. Thirteen or 1,300, every racer repping Southington has a shared goal in mind. And everyone is going to work together to ensure their objective is complete.

“Some of these other teams have like 60 racers. That’s what stands out, how unique a small team we are,” Landry said. “We support, foster, mentor each other. Coach Eric and I really get to know these racers, them as a whole person. The parents are supportive and we get to know the parents so forth. They want the same for their child, their racer. A good environment where they’re learning to be good racers, if they’re not already. Good growth. We’re all out there for the same reason.”