Once again, here is your chance to vote for the SCC's 2021-22 "Best of/Moment of Year," presented by Town Fair Tire --- the best place to buy tires.

You can vote once a day until June 28.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8H5XSB7

For the last 28 years, the Southern Connecticut Conference has operated to provide competitive experiences for its member schools and countless student-athletes.  However, as with everything in today’s society, the cost of doing business has increased.

Over the last two-plus years, the league has been able to continue its offerings, while working through the various changes and obstacles thrown our way.   It is a credit to our administrators, coaches and student-athletes for following the “new” routines and procedures.  Unfortunately, continuing to do this comes with a price.

As we close out the 2021-22 academic year, we are, again, asking for your help.   The SCC is holding a fund-raising campaign to help offset some of the costs the league has incurred to operate in the best interests of our member schools and student-athletes.  

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the SCC.   Donations will go directly to league operations – paying for things like league-wide insurance, site fees and game operations, officials and other ancillary costs that continue add up throughout the academic year.   

There are three types of donations

All donations are tax-deductible (and names of donors) will be recognized on our league website – www.SouthernConnecticutConference.org.

Letterwinner:     $25

All-SCC:              $100 – gets an SCC hat

All-American:     $250 – gets an SCC hat and shirt (please indicate size)

You can make your donation via:

Check:  Checks can be made payable to the SCC, and mailed to Steve Trifone, SCC Treasurer, c/o Cheshire High School, 525 South Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410. 

Venmo - @SCCest1994

PayPal:   Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and instructions will be sent to you.

Any questions, please contact Al Carbone, SCC Commissioner (203) 671-4421

THANK YOU and please enjoy the summer!

Congratulations to the Connecticut Orthopaedics Urgent Care/SCC 2022 Spring Sports Player and Coaches of Year.  The awards are voted on by the sport's head coaches and validated by the athletic directors.

About Connecticut Orthopaedics

Expert orthopaedic care for every age and every injury.

What makes Connecticut Orthopaedics different? There’s simply no other Connecticut practice that offers the convenience, speed and comprehensive experience that you’ll find with us. From your first visit, to diagnosing your injury, to treatment and rehabilitation, we offer end-to-end orthopaedic services designed to accommodate your every need.  We started in 1963 with only two physicians. Today we are the largest privately-owned orthopaedic practice in New England. With over 50 doctors serving 20 locations – including multiple Urgent Care | Walk-In centers and our own surgical center – we make it convenient for you to get the orthopaedic care you need, close to where you live.

2022 Spring SCC Player and Coaches of Year, presented Connecticut Orthopaedics Urgent Care

Player of Year

Baseball:  Justin Hackett (Lyman Hall)

Boys Golf:  Mike Rothberg (Fairfield Prep)

Girls Golf:  Ava Gross (Amity Regional)

Boys Lacrosse:  Marco Firmender (Fairfield Prep)

Girls Lacrosse: Maddie Epke (Guilford)

Boys Outdoor Track & Field:  Gary Moore, Jr.  (Hillhouse)

Girls Outdoor Track & Field:  Avery Winters (Sheehan)

Softball:  Emilee Bishop (East Haven)

Boys Tennis:  Utsav Subramani (Cheshire)

Girls Tennis:  Alex Orlins (Cheshire)

Boys Volleyball:  Tim Nugent (Cheshire)

Coach of Year

Baseball: Sal Coppola (Amity

Boys Golf: Dan Lee (Cheshire)

Girls Golf: Jill Waldron (Lauralton Hall)

Boys Lacrosse: Graham Niemi (Fairfield Prep)

Girls Lacrosse: Charissa Zbikowski (Sheehan)

Boys Outdoor Track & Field: Mike Gambardella (Shelton)

Girls Outdoor Track & Field: Charles Farley (Sheehan)

Softball: Ed Crisafi (East Haven)

Boys Tennis: Glen Maxwell (Jonathan Law)

Girls Tennis: David Gruendel (Branford)

Boys Volleyball: Stefanie Reay (Xavier)

Fall 2021 recipients

Winter 2021-22 recipients

Congratulations to the following seven SCC teams who have captured state titles in the spring 2022 season:  

Hillhouse boys outdoor track & field (Class L and State Open)

Sheehan girls outdoor track & field (Class M and State Open)

Guilford girls tennis (Class L) - defeated Newington, 6-1

Fairfield Prep boys golf (Div. I)

Guilford girls lacrosse (Class M) - defeated St. Joseph, 12-8

The follow seven teams were state runner-ups:   

Hillhouse girls outdoor track & field (Class MM)

Daniel Hand boys outdoor track & field (Class M)

Daniel Hand girls tennis (Class M - lost to Stonington, 6-1)

Amity Regional girls tennis (Class LL - lost to Darien, 5-2)

Cheshire boys golf (Div. 1)

Lauralton Hall girls lacrosse (Class S - lost to New Fairfield, 16-1)

Notre Dame boys lacrosse (Class M - lost to Wilton, 22-6)

Two student athletes – Maxine Samperi (North Haven HS) and Jason Raba (Cheshire HS) – are the recipients of the 2022 SCC “Comeback Player of the Year” awards. Both students suffered severe injuries, yet were able to overcome them to become outstanding role models in their respective schools.

A corporate sponsor of the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC), Connecticut Orthopaedics offered a Comeback Player of the Year Scholarship for student-athletes who participated in an interscholastic sport during the 2021-2022 academic year and showed great leadership both on and off the field after their severe injury.

Coaches and school’s athletic directors nominated these student-athletes after they each suffered an unfortunate injury that prohibited them from playing for their high school teams. Both will receive a financial scholarship to be used for their college education.

"This is our 12th year awarding student-athletes from the SCC with scholarships,” said Susan Bader, CEO of Connecticut Orthopaedics. “Our goal is to acknowledge student-athletes who have overcome the challenges of an injury and, through hard work and determination, become positive role models for their fellow teammates. As sports medicine specialists, we have an excellent understanding of what it takes to recover from an injury and return to playing sports at a high level."

“Many thanks to the doctors and staff at Connecticut Orthopaedics for their support of the SCC and these scholarships,” explained SCC Commissioner Al Carbone. “Our league has many outstanding student-athletes who excel in the classroom and on the playing fields; but it is a tremendous gesture to recognize traits like courage, perseverance and selflessness.”

2021-22 SCC/Connecticut Orthopaedics Comeback Players of the Year'

MAXINE SAMPERI, North Haven HS (competitive cheerleading)

A four-year member of the Nighthawks’ successful cheer team, Maxine suffered a torn labrum in her right hip (twice) and a broken left arm, but through her diligent rehabilitation and positive attitude was able to return to lead the squad to a SCC championship and a Class L state title as a flyer in 2019.

This past winter, she served as a captain and was a key part of the team’s second-place finish at the Class L state championship meet.

An honor roll student, she was the recipient of the team’s Sportsmanship award. Maxine will attend Endicott College in the fall with plans to major in criminal justice.

JASON RABA, Cheshire HS (football/lacrosse)

A two-sport standout for the Rams, Jason suffered a season-ending posterior hip dislocation in October 2021 while making a tackle from his defensive end position.   He was diagnosed with gluteus medius tearing and bone bruising secondary to the dislocation.   After a period of non-weight bearing, Jason began therapy to regain his range of motion.  Although he was not able to return to the playing field for the during football season, he stepped up as a leader off the turf to support his teammates.   

After more than two months of rehab, he returned to lacrosse workouts in preparation for the spring season.  Jason earned All-SCC Second Team honors for his outstanding play at the attack position this spring and has led the Rams to a SCC championship and Class M semifinal berth.

Jason will play lacrosse at St. John’s University next year and intends to major in business.

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE

The 2020-21 academic year marked the 27th year of existence for the Southern Connecticut Conference. The SCC is comprised of 23 high schools with more than 23,000 students representing 16 communities. Recognized as one of the best athletic conferences in the state, the SCC also has a great tradition of offering first-rate non-athletic programs and events that enrich the overall high school experience of our young people to help them become responsible students, athletes and citizens. For more information on the SCC, visit www.southernconnecticutconference.org

ABOUT CONNECTICUT ORTHOPAEDICS

Connecticut Orthopaedics is a premier team of orthopaedic doctors, surgeons and health care professionals who provide compassionate and innovative care to keep you moving forward with life. With over 50 doctors serving 20 locations, including 7 Urgent Care | Walk-In centers, two orthopaedic-only Surgical Centers and 12 state-of-the-art Sports Therapy | Rehab locations, we make it convenient for you to get the orthopaedic care you need, close to where you live.

There’s simply no other Connecticut practice that offers the convenience, personalized care and comprehensive experience that you’ll find with Connecticut Orthopaedics. From your first visit, to diagnosing your injury, to treatment and rehabilitation, we offer end-to-end orthopaedic services designed to accommodate your every need. To learn more, visit ct-ortho.com

2022 Southern Connecticut Conference Spring Playoff Results

Girls Golf Championship - Congrats to Amity Regional - 2022 champions

Boys Golf Championship - Congrats to Fairfield Prep - 2022 champions 

Boys Volleyball Championship -  Shelton 3, Cheshire 2 (21-25, 17-25, 25-11, 25-17, 15-10)

Girls Lacrosse Championship -  Guilford 12, Cheshire 6

Baseball Championship -  Fairfield Prep 9, Xavier 4

Boys Lacrosse Championship -  Fairfield Prep 13, Cheshire 6

Softball Championship - East Haven 6, Jonathan Law 1

Boys Tennis Championship - Daniel Hand 5, Fairfield Prep 2

Girls Tennis Championship - Amity Regional 7, Guilford 0

Boys & Girls Outdoor Track & Field - Congrats to Sheehan (girls) and Hillhouse (boys) - 2022 SCC champions

Complete results

SCC Athletes of the Month for MAY 2022, presented by j.roo’s of North Haven

Audrey Kozak, Shelton

Just a junior, Audrey had a stellar month in May for the Shelton girls outdoor track & field team.  At the SCC West Sectional meet on May 18, she set a meet record in the triple jump (18-10.5) as the Gaels captured first place.  A week later at the SCC Championship Meet, Audrey won three events (long jump, high jump and triple jump) and was named as the Meet’s Co-Outstanding Performer. 

Peter Grandolfo, Fairfield Prep

A junior midfielder, Peter had an outstanding month for the Fairfield Prep lacrosse team.  The Jesuits were a perfect 8-0 during the month, including a 13-6 win over Cheshire in the SCC championship game on May 26.   For the month, Peter was a consistent performer, totaling 17 goals and 4 assists and 12 ground balls.   In the SCC final, Peter scored four goals as the Jesuits captured their sixth straight title.  Peter is a two-time All-SCC honoree.

The Southern Connecticut Conference, with the support of presenting sponsor j.roo’s of North Haven, is naming a female and male athlete of the month during the 2021-22 academic year.    Each recipient receives a plaque and $25 gift card to j.roo’s.

Here are the 2021-22 recipients

September 

October

November

December

January

February

March

April 

Here are the 2022 SCC Spring Sports All-Conference Teams.