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| M. Pechulis (Keene State athletics) |
The Keene State women’s swimming and diving team won a 12th straight Little East Conference championship last Saturday, and a former Bristol Central standout was right in the middle of it.
Sophomore Madison Pechulis swept the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke events for the Owls. Pechulis swam the 100 in a time of 1:08.7, then finished the 200 in 2:11.34.
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| O. Pechulis (Keene State athletics) |
In an ironic twist, Madison Pechulis was a winner in the same event that her sister Olivia Pechulis won as a freshman. Olivia Pechulis won the 100 breaststroke in 1:11.48 in the 2017 championships, and she finished second in the 200 breaststroke.
Madison Pechulis was part of the winning 200 medley relay team as a freshman in a time of 1:54.59. Her teammates in that relay were Alexandra McCafferty, Sophie Hayes and Paige Westley.
Olivia Pechulis also competed in the 2018 championships. She earned points for the Owls in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and 200 IM.
In two seasons, the Pechulis sisters have had an impact on Keene State swimming and diving, just like they did at Bristol Central.
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| Bonicki (Clark athletics) |
Kyle Bonicki, Clark University baseball
His senior season hasn’t started yet, but the former Chase Collegiate star is already earning national recognition.
Bonicki was picked for the D3baseball.com 2018 All-America second team. The team’s choices are based on All-American and All-Region nominations from the previous season. Bonicki had another amazing season in 2017, and he was chosen as New England Player of the Year by D3baseball.com.
Bonicki was a first team All-NEWMAC selection, and he first team All-Region as chosen by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings. It was the second straight season that Bonicki was first team All-Region.
Bonicki did his damage in the gaps and down the lines as a hitter, leading the NEWMAC in doubles and triples. He also set school records in doubles, runs scored, at bats and total bases. Bonicki owns Clark career records in batting average, hits, doubles and on-base percentage.
Jalissa Rodriguez, Simmons College basketball
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| Rodriguez (Simmons athletics) |
The Waterbury native and former Taft standout had a big game for the Sharks on Jan. 30.
Rodriguez scored a career-high 22 points in the 71-63 victory over Rivier. Twenty of those 22 points came in the first half, including a school record-tying six 3-pointers.
Rodriguez fouled out after 27 minutes in a game that featured 50 team fouls and 57 foul shots. Before leaving the game, Rodriguez was 6-of-13 from the floor, including 6-of-11 from three-point range. She was also 4-of-4 at the foul line.
Rodriguez had three rebounds, two assists and two steals. She has had four other games in double figures in points during her freshman season. Rodriguez scored 17, 13, 11 and 11 points.
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| Siders (AIC athletics) |
Rashana Siders, American International College basketball
The sophomore and former Holy Cross star has played in all 25 games for the Yellowjackets with 20 starts.
Siders is averaging 8.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 27 minutes per contest. She also has 17 steals and four blocks. Siders’ season-high in points is 17, and she has done it four different times.
Siders has started 19 straight games, and she has scored in double figures in four of the last five. She had 12 points against Merrimack on Jan. 23, 17 against Franklin Pierce on Jan. 27, 15 against Le Moyne on Feb. 3, and 11 against Southern Connecticut State University on Feb. 6.
Statistics and information compiled from the team website of each athlete.
