BETHEL — You only get one chance to make a first impression. The Nonnewaug Chiefs did it twice.
At the first-ever Berkshire League indoor track championships Feb. 7 at Bethel, Nonnewaug took home the dubs. The boys finished ahead of second-place Shepaug with 127 points and the girls won over second-place Thomaston with 163 points.
“Realizing that this is the first ever BL Championship indoors ever, every person on the team was bound to have some nerves,” said junior Jake Cenatiempo, who won gold in the 600 meters.
Senior Gavin Sandor, who placed in three out of his four events, felt a mixture of emotions before the big meet.
“Before my events, I usually feel a mixture of excitement and nerves,” said Sandor. “I’m always nervous because I want to win, and we were ready to win.”
Although not physically competing, boys coach Deborah Flaherty felt intense emotions prior to the tournament.
“Before any big meet or specifically this championship meet, I literally have butterflies the entire day. It’s like you would think I’m competing,” said Flaherty. “Even talking about it right now my stomach is flipping all around, it’s just exciting.”
Sophomore Charlotte Davis, who helped the 4×200 and sprint medley relays win gold in addition to placing third in the 55 hurdles and 4×400 relay, has a specific routine to help calm nerves before big events.
“I do my warm-ups and stretching routine before my race which is very important to my event,” said Davis. “A routine helps to calm my nerves and also get me more excited for my race.”
Despite the fact of missing the majority of the season with injury, Davis feels she made the most of her season.
“I was out for most of the meets during the beginning of the season because I was injured, but when I was able to run, I have been working on more technical things to improve my hurdling,” said Davis. “I have done lots of form work to make my running smoother and faster … making this season overall very successful after some setbacks.”
While facing nerves and setbacks throughout the season, Flaherty believes the Chiefs deserved the championship.
“The boys deserve it so much,” Flaherty said. “I wanted it for them, and they got it.”
Gold medalists for the Nonnewaug girls included Ellie McDonald (55 meters), Sophia Garguilo (300 and 600), Maddie Garguilo (1,000), and Grace Schmidheini (shot put). Anthony Perez won gold in the boys shot put.
Nonnewaug also won several relays, including the girls 4×200 (Davis, Gianna Perugini, Ella Quinn, and McDonald), boys 4×800 (Liam Sandor, Thatcher Budris, Luke Lodice and Cenatiempo), girls SMR (Davis, McDonald, Sophia and Maddie Garguilo), girls 4×800 (Grace Rubacha, Thea Oleynikov, Sophia and Maddie Garguilo), boys 4×200 (Liam Tracy, Gavin Sandor, James Levario, and Brayden Whipple), and boys 4×400 (Lodice, Gavin Sandor, Whipple, and Cenatiempo).
After the meet ended, the Chiefs returned back to Nonnewaug in time to support the basketball teams during their red-out rivalry games against Shepaug.
“We were hyped up and get back to support the red-out game,” said Whipple, who also finished third in the 55 and the 300. “The bus ride back was lit and we were very excited.”
