SCHOLAR-ATHLETES: Barner burned the midnight oil for Blue Knights
SOUTHINGTON — If scholarships reflect the measure of a student, then Allie Barner stands plenty tall.
The 2022 Southington High School graduate heads to college to study biology with the stamp of approval from the Nellie F. Shepard Scholarship, Rose S. Castaldi Scholarship, Bradley Memorial Hospital Scholarship, Plantsville Elementary Scholarship and Great Kid Scholarship.
Barner graduated with a 103.145 academic average.
A National Honor Society inductee, she participated in Unified Sports, Unified Theater and the Interact Club. She was president of Best Buddies and played in the school orchestra.
Barner also played field hockey and lacrosse, earning a “Golden Stick” award in both sports.
This spring, Barner scored 12 goals and set up 12 others to help the lacrosse squad put together one of its best seasons ever. The Lady Knights went 12-6 and scored their first-ever CIAC state tournament victory, 11-5 over Westhill.
“A tremendous component to our team; did all the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet,” remarked coach Dave Sargent. “She was a tremendous team leader who helped guide underclassmen. A wonderful teammate who always put the team before her self. Her energy on and off the field was contagious and her positive encouragement was often mirrored. We will miss her next year.”
Barner was among eight Record-Journal Scholar-Athletes selected by their coaches at Southington High School for the 2022 spring season. Here are the others.
■Jack Freyler, boys track: The top area thrower this spring, Freyler was a finalist for Record-Journal Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
Freyler did well in all three throwing events: javelin, shot put and discus.
His accomplishments in javelin are a picture in consistent improvement. Freyler won the CCC West at 165 feet, 6 inches and won again at Class LL at 176-11.
A 180-8 earned him a silver at the State Open and his second-place throw of 185-5 at the New England Championships, coming on his final attempt, goes in the books as his personal best.
In the shot put, Freyler was second in Class LL at 48-9¼ and third at 50-4¼ at the State Open. A throw of 150-7 in the discus placed Freyler second in Class LL.
Go back and look at that ledger for Freyler in the Class LL championship meet: first in javelin, second in shot and discus.
■Rita Gocllari, girls tennis: In her first year of competitive tennis, junior Rita Gocllari not only earned a starting spot at No. 4 singles, she won the majority of her matches.
“Rita was a welcome surprise to our team this spring,” remarked coach Robin Thompson. “It was apparent from our first day of tryouts that Rita had the necessary skills to warrant her being selected to join our team.
“In the month and a half that I have had the opportunity to get to know her and work with her, Rita has been extremely coachable and has worked on her skills to continue her improvement.”
Gocllairi heads into her senior year with an academic average of 106.8.
■Owen Huard, boys lacrosse: This senior midfielder played four years of lacrosse for the Blue Knights, starting on varsity since his sophomore season.
He’s now headed to Illinois Tech after graduating with an academic average of 106. A National Honor Society student, he took AP courses in calculus and computer science.
He was very much involved with Unified Sports and Project Lead The Way.
“Owen is the model student-athlete; he takes his academics very seriously as well as his dedication to the lacrosse program,” stated coach Ron Chase. “Owen is a hard worker in the classroom and on the field, always going above and beyond to prepare and better his athletic skills and academic abilities.
“Additionally, he somehow finds time to give back and volunteer to work with special needs students,” Chase added. “This year, Owen and his Unified teammate were the only ones selected to reperesent SHS at the state banquet.”
■Lily Kenefick, softball: Senior Lily Kenefick was the sure-handed second baseman for the Southington Lady Knights, who defended their Class LL state championship and won a national record 20th overall in the process.
Kenefick was part of a senior class that never lost a postseason softball game. She’ll continue playing at Eastern Connecticut State.
■Riley Kofsuske, girls track: A sprinter and jumper, Riley Kofsuske wrapped up her Southington track and academic career this spring. She’s now bound for Central Connecticut State University, where she’ll major in Secondary Education in Mathematics.
Kofsuske was also an inductee into the World Language Honor Society. She was a tutor in the SHS Language Department.
■Joe Meade, baseball: This senior outfielder was off to an outstanding start in the 2022 baseball season. Through eight games, Joe Meade was batting .600.
Then an injury ended his campaign, which ultimately saw the Blue Knights reach the Class LL state championship game.
Academically, Meade took it all the way down the line with a 106 average.
A National Honor Society inductee and a member of DECA, Meade will be attending Penn State.
“Great kid, works hard, no issues,” said Southington baseball coach Stan Switala. “Only reason he did not have more playing time is because of season-ending injury.”
■Matt Morgan, boys volleyball: The Record-Journal’s Boys Volleyball Player of the Year was also a top academic. He was Salutatorian of Southington’s Class of 2022.
A standout in both soccer and volleyball, Morgan made All-State in the latter game this spring with a team-high 221 kills and 211 digs.
Morgan will be attending UConn in the fall to study mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace.