By Donovan West, Sports Editor
@DWest_courant
Alex Benevento: Football
Explosive, persistent, tenacious. According to his football teammates, these are the words that describe senior Alex Benevento’s playstyle. In addition to being one of the team’s captains who sets the example off the field, Alex is a difference-maker on the field.
How does Alex describe himself on the field? “I’m energetic and opportunistic. I always try to take advantage and attack whatever challenge people throw my way,” he said. “I give every snap my all because I love the game, and I love to play.”
Last year, however, Alex was sidelined with an arm injury, forced to watch from the sidelines, forbidden to accompany his troops into battle. “The hardest part of dealing with the injury was constantly being told that I had to wait or that I wasn’t ready,” Alex said.
In the end, though, the team still won the state championship, with no one cheering harder than Alex. “I knew how much work the team had put in, so as hard as it was to watch from the sideline, I couldn’t have been happier to see them win,” Alex said.
This season, to make a postseason push, the team will need Alex. He will have to be a constant spark with the loss of offensive playmakers like Ty Groff and Hunter Telesco. “Alex is a leader. He shows us the right way to play the game, and I’m glad he’s on our team,” junior quarterback Luke Robinson said. “It’s nice to know that I have a wide receiver like him constantly working to get open.”
Alex’s goals for this year reflect the Rams’ team-oriented mindset. “I want to be there to help out the younger guys and help them prepare for the future,” he said. “Also, I want to defend the state title.”
Radea Raleva: Cross Country
4,000 meters in 15:01. 5,000 meters in 19:25. Both of these feats are school records set in FCIACs and CIACs last year. This resume belongs to junior Radea Raleva, a runner who has been breaking records for the past two years, and plans to do the same this year. Radea has her eyes set on new personal records and a team goal of “breaking [their]second-place curse.” This “curse” refers to the girls’ second-place finishes in FCIACs and CIACs last year, something they hope to improve upon.
Despite Radea describing herself as a “gritty” runner who persists through the challenges of cross country, her love of the sport stems from something much different. “I love the fall weather and seeing the leaves change colors,” Radea said. “There’s something amazing about being able to run and spend time with your friends every day after school. That is why I love running.”
Senior captain Elizabeth McLaughlin echoed this sentiment, as well as describing the type of teammate Radea is. “She’s positive, encouraging, and cares for everyone on the team, no matter their ability,” Elizabeth said. “Over the years, Radea has grown into a leader, and now freshmen can look up to her for help and advice.”
Yet, when the time comes, Radea always retains focus and finds her will to win. “She is also competitive,” Elizabeth said. “When called upon, she always is ready to go out and give it her all. She’s a huge reason why the team has seen so much success and will continue to succeed this season.”
Anna Vertin: Volleyball
“She’s a huge presence in the middle of the court. She’s going to make an impact,” said Head Volleyball Coach Amy Warren, speaking on sophomore Anna Vertin. Standing at 6’2, Anna strikes fear into opposing players. From blocking, spiking and hitting, Anna is a player who “could make an All-FCIAC type jump this year,” Coach Warren said.
Yet, Anna’s most significant impact might be her infectious personality. Her teammates and coaches described her as enthusiastic and energetic, an animated character who plays with passion and love for the game.
Anna’s team-first mentality shows this love of the game. Her favorite part of volleyball is the camaraderie and tight-knit bonds formed during the season. “I love the team environment, the feeling of winning a point and celebrating with your team, your friends,” Anna said. “Each win feels that much better when you can share the victory with your teammates.”
Anna wants to keep those victories coming. “We all have our eyes set on FCIAC and CIAC banners,” Anna said. “There still isn’t a volleyball banner in the rafters, and that needs to change. That will change.”
Anna is working hard to refine her skill set to win that elusive banner. As only a sophomore, she is still gaining valuable experience that she continues to apply. “I want to improve my serve, get smarter with the ball, and decrease errors,” she said. “As I play volleyball more and more, the game is slowing down for me. I’m getting used to the mental side of volleyball, and I’m confident I can continue to help our team win.”
