Westport’s Simon Sandrew, a student at Saugatuck Elementary School, and Geoffrey Keeton, a student at Coleytown Middle School, placed at the Connecticut State Gymnastics Championships on March 17 in Plantsville.
Keeton placed second on the floor exercise and high bar, and was fourth on pommel horse, vault and rings. Keeton earned fourth place in the all-around in the 11-and-older age bracket. Sandrew placed eighth on the high bar in the 9-and-10 age bracket.
Both gymnasts compete at level 5.
Sandrew and Keeton qualified for the New England Regionals on April 7 in Springfield, Mass.
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Westport gymnasts qualify for New England Regionals
Westport’s DiBartolomeo lauded by NABC
University of Rochester senior guard John DiBartolomeo, of Westport, was one of eight players named First Team All-American by members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
University of Rochester senior guard John DiBartolomeo, of Westport, was one of eight players named First Team All-American by members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
DiBartolomeo led Rochester in scoring (22.6 points per game), rebounding (5.7), assists (5.3) and steals (2.0) this season. The Yellowjackets went 22-5 overall and 10-4 in the University Athletic Association.
He scored 30 points or more six times this season and set a career high with 42 points in a first round tournament win over Fitchburg State on March 2.
DiBartolomeo was a NABC Third Team All-American in 2011.
GFA boys basketball team reels in honors
Senior forward Sean Obi, far right, was named the NEPSAC Class C Player of the Year in boys basketball. Obi led the Dragons to a 24-2 record and Fairchester Athletic Association and New England titles.
Greens Farms Academy senior forward Sean Obi was named NEPSAC Class C Player of the Year in boys basketball, it was announced Tuesday. The 6-foot-9 Obi led the Dragons to a 24-2 record and their first Fairchester Athletic Association and New England titles this season.
Senior guard Hunter Eggers was named to the All-New England Second Team, while sophomore Zach Baines received an honorable mention. GFA head coach Doug Scott was named Co-Coach of the Year, sharing that award with Sean Kelly of the Wheeler School (Providence, R.I.).
U11 Westport Blue wins at Invitational Soccer Tournament
The boys U11 Westport Blue team won a division championship at the 33rd annual Westport Invitational Soccer Tournament, held March 16-17 at Staples High School.
The tournament included 116 teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York with divisions ranging from boys and girls U9 to U19.
Westport Blue’s roster included Emerson Anvari, David Basich, Ben Bony, Joseph Crise, Josh Dedomenico, Chet Ellis, Benny Feuer, Nicholas Hein, Daniel Leaf, Sam Maged, Teddy O’Kane, Patricio Perez Elorza and Avi Shein. The team was coached by Paul Melitsanopoulos.
In the final, Westport Blue defeated Westport White 2-1.
The tournament benefited the WSA and the Coleman Brothers Foundation, created in memory of Keith and Scott Coleman of Westport. The two brothers died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
Staples’ Rankowitz leads Charter Oak in All-Star Game
Peter Rankowitz, a senior guard at Staples High, scored five points to help lead Team Charter Oak to a 113-91 win over Team Constitution in the Class LL/L All-Star Game on Wednesday in Meriden.
Ridgefield’s Kurt Steidl, a Vermont University-bound forward, recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Steidl hit three first 3-pointers in the first half.
Watertown’s John Mitchell led the team with 20 points.
Team Charter Oak
Jonathan Mitchell 8 1-1 20; Keith Porter 7 0-0 15; Schadrac Casimir 2 0-0 6; Kurt Steidl 6 1-2 17; Nick Gaynor 7 0-0 15; Peter Rankowitz 2 0-0 5; Matt Nolting 3 0-0 9; Brandon Kuczenski 4 2-2 10; Chris Walker 1 2-2 4; Jahlil Askew 6 0-0 12. Totals: 46 6-7 113.
Team Constitution
Tim Butala 2 0-0 4; Zac Campbell 1 0-0 2; Jordan Butler 9 3-5 21; Ian Converse 5 0-0 10; Nick Fenton 2 0-0 5; Tim Blair 4 2-2 10; Bernard Brantley 8 1-1 19; Bobby Bynum 2 0-0 4; Wade McNamara 2 0-0 4; Walter Wright 6 0-2 14. Totals: 41 6-10 93.
3-pointers: Ch–Steidl (4), Nolting (3), Mitchell (3), Casimir (2), Porter, Gaynor, Rankowitz. Co–Wright (2), Brantley (2), Fenton.
Charter Oak 35 24 16 38–113
Constitution 20 19 25 29–93
DiBartolomeo named District II Player of the Year
Staples alum John DiBartolomeo, a senior guard for the University of Rochester men's basketball team, was selected as the District II Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
University of Rochester senior guard John DiBartolomeo, of Westport, was selected as the District II (East Region) men’s basketball Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
DiBartolomeo was also named the University Athletic Association Player of the Year, as well as the ECAC Upstate New York Player of the Year. A first-team All-UAA honoree, DiBartolomeo led Rochester in scoring (22.6 ppg), rebounding (5.7 per game), assists (5.3) and steals (2.0). He shot 46 percent from the floor, including 45.8 percent from 3-point range and 90.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Earlier this month, he was also named a finalist for the Josten’s Trophy, which honors the most outstanding men’s and women’s Division III players of the year. The award takes into account basketball ability, academic prowess and community service.
The Yellowjackets tied for the UAA team title (10-4 in conference) and received at-large bid in the NCAA playoffs. They lost to Ithaca College, 70-68, in the second round.
DiBartolomeo finished his college career with 1,779 points, 533 assists and 201 steals.
Staples alum named finalist for Josten’s Trophy
Staples alum John DiBartolomeo, a senior guard for the University of Rochester men's basketball team, has been named one of 10 finalists for the Josten's Award, which honors the most outstanding Division III men's basketball player of the year.
University of Rochester guard John DiBartolomeo has been named a finalist for the Josten’s Trophy, one of the most pretigious awards for a Division-III basketball player.
A native of Westport and an alum of Staples High School, DiBartolomeo led Rochester to a share of the UAA men’s title (21-4, 10-4 conference) and is averaging 22.6 points per game, while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor. He led Rochester in rebouding (5.7 per game), assists (134 total) and steals (50). He was named the UAA’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and First Team All-UAA. It is the third straight year he was selected First Team All-UAA and the second time he was named the Player of the Year.
The Josten’s Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men’s and women’s Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service. The trophy models the Rotary International motto of “Service Above Self” by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well-rounded Division III student-athlete. This year’s class marks the 16th year the award has been presented.
Away from the court, DiBartolomeo has a 3.19 cumulative grade point average. He is majoring in financial economics. He was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Honors Court as a junior. He is a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity on campus. He interned last summer with an advertising agency in New York and is currently interning with a financial services organization in Rochester.
He is also a member of the St. Sebastian Society, a community service-based group for Christian athletes on campus. He is also a mentor in the Yes Pa program, which serves 17- to 21-year-olds currently incarcerated, preparing them for a return to the community. Lastly, he is a tutor at the Nativity School in Rochester.
The nine other men’s finalists for the Josten’s Trophy are Sean Dart (Williamette), Kevin Donohue (Union), Colton Hunt (Randolph), Chris Kearney (Catholic), Taylor Koth (Ripon), Michael Mayer (Williams), Wes Nordquist (Buena Vista), Jason Norsen (St. John Fisher), and Nathan Roeder (North Central, MN).
Water Rats swim to strong finish at Connecticut YMCA championships
The Westport Weston Family Y Water Rats had an impressive showing last weekend in the 12-and-under division of the Connecticut YMCA Swimming and Diving championships.
Of the 10 YMCA teams represented last Saturday and Sunday at East Hartford High School, the 9-and-10 boys had the best finish, taking first in their age group. The 8-and-under girls finished in second place, while the 9-and-10 girls and 11-and-12 boys placed fourth. The 8-and-under boys were sixth place and the 11-and-12 girls took seventh.
Ten swimmers placed in the top six for the 9-and-10 boys team, which scored 552 points (40 more than Wilton). Sean Rogers (50 fly), Mathis DeVos (50 breast) and Nathan Wang (100 breast) took as high as second in their respective events, while Jason Bacon (50 fly) and Justin Lessing (50 free) were third. Patrick Phelan (50 fly), Andrew Lau (50 back) and Benji Clachko (50 breast) had fifth-place finishes. Tucker Ballou (50 fly) and Finn Johnston (50 back) were sixth.
The team is coached by Betsy Matheney, the Connecticut swimming age group coach of the year.
The Water Rats’ championship season continues with a series of meets, including the Connecticut Age Group championships on March 7-10 at Wesleyan University in Middletown.
