he Hazen Union Track and Field middle and high school team are, front row, (from left) Lucy DiMarco, Lewis LaPierre, Chloe Dyer and back row, (from left) Daniel Pougnier, Manny Fliegelman, Coach Kathy Fortmann, Alden Pougnier and Gabe Aubuchon. Missing from the photo is Eliza Bunten.
MANCHESTER – Gabe Aubuchon and Manny Fliegelman had strong showings in their first state competition for the Hazen Union track and field team last week at the Division IV state championships at Knapp Field.
Aubuchon capped off a high school career for the Wildcats that saw the senior improve his times every season, culminating in a pair of top-ten finishes in Manchester last Thursday. Aubuchon finished seventh in the 400m and eighth in the 200m. Both events were won by Richord’s Daniel Blazevic, who helped lead the Rockets to the boys’ overall state title. Freshman Manny Fliegelman finished off a brilliant first season at the varsity level for Hazen with an impressive fifth place finish in the 3000m. Craftsbury Academy’s (CA) Alex Califano bested the field to take home the title.
Hoffman Shines for Cabot at States
MANCHESTER – Cam Hoffman finished off a breakout senior season with a pair of impressive runner-up finishes at the Division IV track and field state championships, running independently for Cabot.
Hoffman finished second to Northfield’s McKenna Knapp in the 1500m and ran her best time of the season in the 3000m, finishing second to Knapp again by just over a tenth of a second. Knapp led Northfield to the girls’ overall state title. Hoffman finishes off a brilliant multi-sport high school career that saw her earn Mountain League First Team honors on the pitch this past fall for Twinfield-Cabot-Danville(CCSU). It was the inaugural season for the CCSU varsity girls’ soccer team and Hoffman anchored a defense at her sweeper position that saw them claim their first ever Division III playoff win.
Strong Finishes off Regular Season in Style for Rice
BURLINGTON – Finley Strong, daughter of Hazen Union alum Jeff Strong, ended the regular season on a tear for the 11-5 Rice Memorial softball team last week.
The junior captain homered in three of her last four games to help Rice earn the fifth seed in the upcoming Division II playoffs. Strong powered the middle of the Green Knight lineup with nine hits in her last 13 at bats, including three homers, a pair of doubles, and 10 RBI. She is also the granddaughter of Wildcat great Jack Strong, who coached the Hazen baseball team to their last Division III state championship in 1982 and also won a state title as a player for Hardwick Academy.
Strong and the Green Knights hosted Springfield in the opening round of the Division II tournament on Tuesday and if they advance, will likely travel to Middlebury on Friday for a quarterfinal matchup.
