Magnificent! 2023 Fall CHS Boys Cross Country Teams.

SPORTS NOTEBOOK: SEASON RECAP
2023 FALL CHS BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS
ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY FRANK LOGIUDICE

It was a magnificent season for the Fall 2023 Cheshire High School Rams Boys Cross Country Teams. Their record this season was 9 Wins and 1 Loss according to their Head Coach Pam Gunneson. That is pretty impressive.

Here is a recap of the fantastic season they had.

At their season opener the Wilton Invitational Cross Country Meet on September 9, 2023 the Rams Boys CC Team finished strong with the varsity team winning 9th Place. They received 229 points out of the 20 teams that competed that day. New to the varsity team this year were sophomores Zach Chasen & Hanan Talipan-Pinedo due to their strong finishes last year on the frosh team.

CHS Student-CC Athlete Quad Captain & Senior Daniel D’Souza emerged as the top finisher from the CHS team in this meet. He would continue to always be the top runner all season due to his hard work running over ten miles a day during the summer to prepare for the season. After him would be junior James Boyd followed by Senior & Quad Captain Tyler Caron but this order would change after the Guilford meet. D’Sousa would still finish first then it would be Caron then Boyd until the 10-28-23 Manchester meet.

The JV team also did well at this meet coming in at #11 with 282 points. Connor Rayball was the first student-athlete from CHS to cross the finish line time of 22:11.9. Frosh student-athlete Raine Ma was the first from CHS to cross the finish line time 8.46.1. coming in at #9. Followed by Miquel Miquel Monreal #14 & Josh Lengyel #73.

At their first home meet at Cheshire Park on September 12, 2023 against Guilford, Notre Dame & Wilbur Cross we learned that the CHS Boys Cross Country Teams know how to “Move It, Move It.” They won first place with a score of 37, Guilford 39, Notre Dame 51 & Wilbur Cross 118.

The next meet they traveled to Branford on September 19th against Branford, Hamden, & Hillhouse high schools. They won 2nd Place.

On September 23rd was the Winding Trails Invitational in Farmington. Not even the stormy weather during the meet could dampen the spirit and enthusiasm of the CHS Boys CC Teams. They won 3rd Place with a score of 70. First place went to New Canaan 42 and 2nd Place Glastonbury 63.

The next meet was the SCC Divisional Championships September 27th in Guilford. In what was a very close race the CHS Boys Varsity Cross Country Team won 2nd Place. The score was Amity 31, Cheshire 32, Shelton 92 and Lyman Hall 91. This race was definitely a nail biter to watch as the CHS Runners were coming in. Frosh student-athlete Raine Ma competed at the SCC Varsity Cross Country Meet where he finished #20.

The Wickham Invitational in Manchester was canceled on October 7th due to the heavy rain in the forecast and this team received an unexpected vacation from their competitions. The next meet was on October 10, 2023 at Milford’s Eisenhower Park the Rams Cross Country Team competed against Foran, East Haven & Fairfield Prep. The Rams won 1st Place. The score was CHS 23, Fairfield Prep 47 & East Haven 116.

At the second home meet at Cheshire Park on Friday The 13th, October 2023 they competed against Lyman Hall of Wallingford. Nothing bad happened, just good fortunes for the CHS Boys CC Teams. They won 1st Place-CHS 21 Lyman Hall 34. Head Coach Gunneson singled out Quad Captain & Senior Tyler Caron by stating “Tyler is getting his rhythm back.”

On October 18th was the SCC Championship at East Shore Park in New Haven. The CHS Varsity Team won 3rd Place with a score of 125.

Quad Captain & Senior Daniel D’Souza claimed 1st Team All SCC Honors with his 11th Place finish. Quad Captain & Senior Tyler Caron and Junior James Boyd won 2nd Team All SCC Honors for their 15th & 18th Place Finishes. The CHS JV team made the Top Ten Teams coming in with their 8th Place Finish with 222 points. Frosh Student-CC Athlete Raine Ma 12th Place 20:08.9 and Miquel Monreal 4th Place 21:03.5.

Next up on the schedule was the CIAC Cross Country Championships at Manchester's Wickham Park on Saturday, October 28, 2023. This meet was the most difficult not because the course was tough but because of the unseasonably hot temperatures that were in the 80’s during the race causing the CIAC to postpone the Class LL girls and boys races to Tuesday, October 31st. The extreme heat caused many student-athletes from many teams to collapse due to dehydration during the Class L girls and boy races. Once they crossed the finish line the student-athletes just wanted to lay down once they got there. Who could blame them?

The Cheshire High School Boys Varsity Cross Country Team won 4th place at this meet with a score of 163. CHS Quad Captain & Senior Daniel D’Souza finished #10 with a time of 17:07 followed by James Boyd, Tyler Caron, Jack Lengyel, Hanan Talipan-Pinedo, Brian Krzanowski & Zach Chasen. Due to D’Souza’s 10th place finish he qualified for the CIAC State Open on Monday, November 6th. Right after this race Head Coach Gunneson stated, “Daniel is definitely going.” She was pleased with her team’s 4th place finish on Saturday. “I’m thrilled. They gave everything they had. They should be proud. They did their best.”

At the CIAC State Open at Manchester’s Wickham Park on November 6th CHS Daniel D’Souza ran with the best and top runners at this meet. He fitted right into that group of accomplished and high caliber runners. He finished #86 with a time of 17:25. That is no small feat. His exemplary and remarkable Cross Country senior year as a Ram Runner came to an end. His varsity teammates were at the State Open cheering him on.

The CHS Boys Cross Country Team met its goal of being one of the top varsity teams in Connecticut. Their 4th Place victory at the CIAC Cross Country Championships on October 28, 2023 along with Daniel D’Souza qualifying for the State Open speaks for itself. They finished in the Top 5 Teams coming in at #4 that is Magnificent!

Coach Gunneson commented about her team regarding the season that ended. “Our season record is 9 and 1. We had an amazing season placing 3rd at the SCC Championship and 4th at the Class L State Championship. Daniel D'Souza finished the season as an All State athlete finishing 10th at the Class L Championship and All SCC First Team finishing 11th at the SCC Championship. Tyler Caron finished 15th and James Boyd 18th at the SCC Championship becoming All SCC Second Team athletes. We will miss all of our senior athletes next year. They each had their own positive impact on the team and we wish them well with all of their future endeavors.”

Congratulations to the CHS Boys Cross Country Teams for an amazing and exciting season. Great Team Effort!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Enjoy The Video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwaxNPY5nIY