Handball begins the first season with Becker

Nearly two years have passed since the Daniel Hand national football team was eligible for a full contact match. On September 10, first-year head coach Erik Becker and Tigers took the field against Fairfield Prep, which proved to be an exciting race.

Hand lost to the Jesuits a 29-16 defeat at the 2021 Fairfield University inauguration on September 10, marking the Tigers ’first regular season defeat after 2017. Despite the loss, coach Becker was pleased with his team to see the preparation game.

“Some things didn’t go our way. When you play a great opponent, the price of the slightest mistake goes up,” said Becker, the handball platform that served as HK’s head coach last year. always really deep and really coached. I think we had a good pre-season and rushed a lot of strong teams. All the shortcomings of our team only concern me and me. “

The hand dominated most of the first half compared to Prep when the Jesuits scored an early field goal during the early part of the year. The Tigers made opposing contacts in the second quarter, led by 6-yard captain Captain Ethan O’Brien, followed by a 17-yard connection from quarterback Patch Flanagan to senior captain Seth Sweitzer, who also ran a 2-point conversion pair with Hand gaining a 16-3 advantage.

In the final minutes of the second quarter, Prep responded to Hand’s two touches with two of his own TDs to equalize the semi-finals 16-16.

– We made a couple of fundamental mistakes, and that applies to me. I’m sure we can use this experience as a way to grow and heal, ”Coach Becker said. -Everyone has their wake-up call by playing college football. I wanted to see us master the clock better at the end of the first half. Because of a few tickets, we couldn’t control the clock, and it stopped several times. “

Fairfield Prep dominated the second half by making one touch in the third quarter and another in the quarter. The Jesuits kept Hand’s attack off the scoreboard and continued their victory 29-16 in Becker’s debut as Tigers head coach.

“We don’t control the event. We control our response,” Becker said. “We need to know what gap we’re getting into and how we’re dropping passport coverage. this is a game where all 11 guys have to do their job in every game, otherwise it can cost a touch. ”

According to Becker, the preparatory competition is just the beginning of what will be a great season for the team. Most importantly, Becker is delighted to be able to return to the field after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 campaign.

“Every year during the pre-season, I use the analogy of building an airplane. You don’t know if it will fly until you try it for the first time, ”Becker said. – It’s been two years since we played real football. There were many unknowns. Our expectation in every game is to play stubbornly and be awesome young men both on and off the field. Our schedule is unforgivable, but we don’t want it to be easy. “

In addition to the three captains – O’Brien, Flanagan and Sweitzer – Hand’s senior class also includes Cam Testa, Connor Powell, Darian McMahon, Wyatt Marcous, Shane Smith, Mario Mazzarella, John Portley, Charlie Keogh, Brendan Walsh, Luke Lerner, Matthew Rossi and Matt Martone.

Coach Becker likes his older troops and believes his three captains are ideal people to lead the team.

– All three of our captains are huge young men. Seth is the seventh member of his family to be the Captain of the Hand, and Patch is the third member of the family to be the Captain, ”Becker said. “Seth is our wide receiver and corner striker, and Patch is our starting defender. Ethan is a great runner for us and he is one of the fastest kids in the state of Connecticut. Leaders of any team and organization create a culture. There could be no three better ambassadors for our program. “

Hand’s junior class includes John Hayden, Jack Drought, Wes Selmani, Cole Daignault, Sam Sisk, Ryan Milliard, Will Klein, John Kelly, Alex Cushing, Brandon Tananykin, Matt Mastoloni and Nick Lombardi.

The list of tigers also includes assistants Jack Shay, John Reh, John Milton, Aidan Dolan, Will Patla, Gavin Wagner, Brady Corsello, Payton Powell, Owen Hardy, Carlos Santos, Tom Meehan, Will Dodd, Bryce Malary, John Pantano, Owen Prescarp and Jack Tompkins.

Coach Becker said there is a lot of versatility in Hand’s roster and that many athletes participate in tigers on both sides of the ball.

“We have a lot of kids in both directions,” Becker said. “We’re not the deepest team, so a lot of guys play both attack and defense on our behalf, which makes them a little tighter, but everyone answers the call.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Ferraiolo and defense coordinator Mike Davis will assist coach Becker in the fall. Former longtime head coach Steve Filippone is also an assistant to the team along with Gary Gravina, John Sagnella, Rich Powers and Tyler Michaud.

“We have great coordinators on both Mikes,” Becker said. “They’re both great guys and very good at what they do.”

Coach Becker knows the Tigers have everything they need to be the top team in the state this season. Starting his first campaign as Hand’s head coach, Becker believes the success process is as important as any outcome.

“I need to focus better on the process and let go of the results,” Becker said. “You don’t always get the results you want, so it’s my job to focus heavily on the process and then end up not taking losses so hard.”

Handball Program 2021

Home games at the Surf Club

September 10: Fairfield Prep 29, Hand 16

Friday, Sept. 17: Against Sheehan at 7 p.m.

Friday, September 24: Against New Canaan at 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 1: at Masuki at 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 15: Shelton at 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 22: East Lyme at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 29: vs. Bunnell at 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 5: Against North Haven at 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 19: Notre Dame-West Haven at Veterans Field at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 24: Against Guilford at 7 p.m.