Fans - UCHOOSE! Vote online each week for your favorite Connecticut student-athlete. Winners are posted on CPTVSports.org each Monday afternoon. Follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook to be notified when voting begins.
CPTV Sports editors select nominees for merit (based on each week's performance as completed by 8 p.m. Saturday.) Fan input is encouraged, and nominations submitted via social media will be considered.
Jawaun Johnson, a sophomore quarterback, from Norwich Free Academy, has been voted our ninth UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week of the fall!
Jawaun ran for 303 yards and seven touchdowns as NFA outscored New London 63-40 Thanksgiving Day in a game seen LIVE on CPTV Sports — our #UChoose game chosen in a statewide vote of fans (highlights above). The victory gave NFA (7-2) the ECC Large Division title and a berth in the Class LL-Large state tournament. The Wildcats will host New Britain Saturday Dec. at 2:30pm.
[NFA coach Jemal] Davis was intrigued by Johnson as a freshman, so much so that the coach elected for spring football, something NFA hasn’t done in the past, to get him as many reps as possible.
“We saw glimpses of greatness, really,” Davis said. “He would do some things out there and (the coaches) would just be like, ‘Wow.’ As he began to learn the signals and concepts which we run our run game from, we knew we he was going to be very talented. We threw it all at him and the whole rationale was he’s going to have three years to get it. If he messes up some, so be it. He’s actually picked it up much better than I thought he would.”
Congrats to Jawaun, who joins Fairfield Warde girls soccer player Taylor Gabrenas, Cheshire girls volleyball player Jillian Haberli, Torrington boys soccer player Kevin Vaca, Cheney Tech-Manchester quarterback Rafael Lebron, Maloney-Meriden soccer player Ricardo Lopez, Danbury boys soccer goalie Ian Shannon, Northwest Catholic-West Hartford running back Delano Robinson and Derby’s Ben Slowik as our UChoose honorees this fall.
Click here on our guidelines for the award, which is determined in an online vote starting Saturday night and ending Monday at noon. Be on the lookout for our Thanksgiving week nominees starting Nov. 29!
DECEMBER 1, 2014 on the CPTV Sports Wire: This fall’s 10th UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week to be named this afternoon (as well as the ESPN979/CPTV Sports High School football player of the week); 16 semis for eight classes are set for the CIAC football playoffs — check our website for the game we’ll cover LIVE Saturday at 2 p.m.; wrapping up the sports weekend, including UConn men’s and women’s basketball, football, Sacred Heart football and Quinnipiac hockey; new Best in Connecticut Sports Spotlight.
The Wire, CPTV Sports’ radio initiative featuring reports by Francesco Graziano Jr. can be heard on our exclusive radio partners, sports stations ESPN 97.9 FM and Fox Sports Radio 1410 in Hartford.
This week’s nominees for CPTVSports UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week (starting Monday Nov. 24 and ending Saturday Nov. 29). Voting ends Monday at noon, so choose your favorite now and tell your friends and fellow fans to vote, too!
• Zach Allen – New Canaan OLB
The senior forced three fumbles and was credited with 3.5 sacks in a 28-21 overtime loss to Darien in the FCIAC championship game Thanksgiving Day in Stamford.
• Jawaun Johnson– Norwich Free Academy QB
Sophomore had 24 carries for 303 yards and seven TDs in 63-40 win over New London seen LIVE Thanksgiving Day on CPTV Sports.
• Jake Kasuba – Foran-Milford QB
Senior was 9-for-16 passing for for 225 yard and three TD and ran 21 times for 114 yards and a TD in 41-21 win over town rival Law. One of the most prolific passers in state history, Kasuba finishes his career with over 11,000 yards of offense.
• Rayshawn Phillips – Capital Prep/Achievement RB
Ran for six TDs in the mud against Prince Tech at Dillon Stadium in Hartford in 44-0 win, helping Blazers clinch Class S playoff berth.
• Jasen Rose – Southington QB
Junior was 21 of 24 passing for 300 yards and 4 TDs vs. Cheshire — at halftim! He finished 30-for-37 with 419 yards and five TDs in No. 1 Southington’s 44-7 win over the Rams in the Apple Valley Bowl.
• Nick Van Dell - Hand-Madison QB
Junior was 19-for-22 with 222 yards and 3 TD passes and ran for a score in a 49-0 shutout of Guilford.
Ben Slowik, a wide receiver/defensive back from Derby High, has been voted our eighth UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week of the fall!
Ben, a senior, had three interceptions, eight tackles, a fumble recovery and caught a 68-yard touchdown pass as Derby held on for a 20-19 win over Woodland Nov. 21 in a game seen LIVE on CPTV sports. Slowik ended Woodland’s last two possessions with interceptions as Derby (7-3) stayed in the running for a Class S playoff berth.
Congrats to Ben, who joins Fairfield Warde girls soccer player Taylor Gabrenas, Cheshire girls volleyball player Jillian Haberli, Torrington boys soccer player Kevin Vaca, Cheney Tech-Manchester quarterback Rafael Lebron, Maloney-Meriden soccer player Ricardo Lopez, Danbury boys soccer goalie Ian Shannon and Northwest Catholic-West Hartford running back Delano Robinson as our UChoose honorees this fall.
Click here on our guidelines for the award, which is determined in an online vote starting Saturday night and ending Monday at noon. Be on the lookout for our Thanksgiving week nominees starting Nov. 29!
This week’s nominees for CPTVSports UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week (starting Monday Nov. 17 and ending Saturday Nov. 22). Voting ends Monday at noon, so choose your favorite now and tell your friends and fellow fans to vote, too!
• Keyion Dixon – Glastonbury football
The junior quarterback ran eight times for 143 yards and four touchdowns to lead Glastonbury to a 55-14 win over simsbury. He also threw for 96 yards and two TDs.
• Newton Frias– Torrington football
The junior ran 20 times for 266 yards and five touchdowns in the Raiders’ wild 75-57 win Crosby. The 132 combined points scored are 2nd all-time in state history, just one point behind St. Joseph’s 84-49 win over Ledyard in last year’s Class M semifinals. Teammate Tyler Marens also had a strong night, running 20 times for 257 yards and three touchdowns.
• Chris Mathews – Crosby-Waterbury football
The senior ran 33 times for 346 yards and four TDs.
• Jon McCray – Montville football
Had seven catches for 183 yards in 40-19 win over Fitch. According to Owen Poole of the Norwich Bulletin, he scored the first three times he touched the ball — a 55-yard catch and run, an interception return for a TD, then a 31-yard touchdown reception. All told, two touchdown catches, two interceptions (one for the TD) and one fumble recovery.
• Eli Parks – St. Paul football
The senior surpassed 2,000 yards for the season after his 39 carry, 328-yard, six TD rushing effort in a 56-41 loss to Naugatuck.
• Ben Slowik - Derby football
The senior had three interceptions, recovered a fumble and caught a 69-yard touchdown pass in 20-19 victory over Woodland Regional seen LIVE on CPTV Sports Nov. 21. According to GameTimeCT.com’s Dan Nowak, the the victory gave Derby (7-3) its highest win total since 1992.
Delano Robinson, a running back from Northwest Catholic-West Hartford, has been voted our seventh UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week of the fall!
Delano a senior, ran for 303 yards and touchdowns of 70, 32 and 20 yards in Northwest’s 30-22 victory over Platt-Meriden seen LIVE on CPTV Sports Nov. 14.
Northwest (9-1) is poised for a high seed in the upcoming CIAC Class S playoffs. Delano (6 foot 1, 185 pounds) has run for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
Congrats to Delano, who joins Fairfield Warde girls soccer player Taylor Gabrenas, Cheshire girls volleyball player Jillian Haberli, Torrington boys soccer player Kevin Vaca, Cheney Tech-Manchester quarterback Rafael Lebron, Maloney-Meriden soccer player Ricardo Lopez and Danbury boys soccer goalie Ian Shannon as our UChoose honorees this fall.
Click here on our guidelines for the award, which is determined in an online vote starting Saturday night and ending Monday at noon. Be on the lookout for our Week 9 nominees starting Nov. 22!
Ian Shannonof Danbury High has been voted our sixth UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week of the fall!
Ian made three saves and and scored one of the goals in a penalty-kick shootout as Danbury stunned Suffield 2-1 (3-2 PK) in the CIAC Class LL boys soccer quarterfinals Nov. 7 in Suffield. Danbury advanced to the LL semifinals for the first time since 1998, losing to Farmington 1-0 in double-overtime Nov. 10.
Ian, a junior, has an 0.70 goals-against average this season. He has seven shutouts and averages 5.6 saves a game for Danbury, which finished 14-4-3. Shannon had two saves against Farmington..
Congrats to Ian, who joins Fairfield Warde girls soccer player Taylor Gabrenas, Cheshire girls volleyball player Jillian Haberli, Torrington boys soccer player Kevin Vaca, Cheney Tech-Manchester quarterback Rafael Lebron and Maloney-Meriden soccer player Ricardo Lopez as our UChoose honorees this fall.
Click here on our guidelines for the award, which is determined in an online vote starting Saturday night and ending Monday at noon. Be on the lookout for our Week 9 nominees starting Nov. 15!
This week’s nominees for CPTV Sports’ UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week (from Monday Nov. 3 and ending Saturday Nov. 8). Voting ends Monday Nov. 10 at noon; we’ll announce our sixth winner of the fall Monday afternoon!
• Corey Brown – Somers boys soccer
The forward scored four goals in 13-3 win over Whitney Tech-Hamden in second round of CIAC Class S tournament. He has 25 goals this season.
• Hannah Davey – Avon girls soccer
The senior scored with one second left Saturday to eliminate defending champion Guilford 3-2 in Class L tournament. It was the 400th victory for Avon coach Jim Murray, whose Falcons face Mercy in the semifinals this week.
• Hannah DeBalsi– Staples-Westport cross country
The nationally rated junior completed a postseason sweep Saturday, winning the New England title for the second year in a row at Wickham Park. Hannah also won the CIAC State Open, Class LL and FCIAC titles this fall.
• JaiQuan McKnight (QB) – Ansonia football quarterback
The senior led the Chargers to one of their greatest comebacks. Down 28-16 late in the fourth quarter, McKnight threw two TD passes to Tyler Bailey and ran for a two-point conversion to rally Ansonia (8-1) to a 30-28 win over Woodland.
• JoJo Shumaker - Ledyard football running back
The senior ran 20 times for 204 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-14 rout of New London seen LIVE on CPTV Sports. This season, Shumaker has 125 carries for 1,535 yards and 30 touchdowns for No.6 Ledyard (9-0).
• Ian Shannon – Danbury boys soccer goalie
The Hatters have made it to the Class LL semifinals thanks in large part to the junior, who has allowed two goals in three tournament games. Named the state MaxPreps/NSCAA player of the week earlier this seaosn, he saved three penalty kicks and converted one to end three-time defending champion Suffield’s 52-game unbeaten streak in a dramatic quarterfinal victory Friday night. Danbury will make its first semifinal appearance since 1998 against Farmington.
Ricardo Lopez of Maloney High in Meriden has been voted our fifth UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week of the fall!
Lopez scored a goal and assisted another in Maloney’s 2-1 victory over RHAM in the CCC boys soccer tournament championship game Oct. 29 at Middeltown High. Maloney (17-2-1) is the seventh seed in the CIAC Class L tournament.
This week’s nominees for CPTVSports UChoose Student-Athlete of the Week (starting Monday Oct. 27 and ending Saturday Nov. 1). Voting has ended; we’ll announce our Week 6 winner Monday afternoon!
• Ricardo Lopez – Maloney-Meriden boys soccer
Ricardo, a senior, scored then had an assist on the game-winner to give the Spartans a 2-1 victory over RHAM-Hebron in the CCC tournament championship game seen on CPTV Sports.
• Caroline Losure – Nonnewaug-Woodbury girls volleyball
Caroline a junior, had 19 kills and 16 digs to help the Chiefs win their first Berkshire League title with a 3-1 victory over top-seeded Terryville.
• Jared Grant – Cromwell boys soccer
Jared, a junior, scored the game-winner with a header in overtime to give the Panthers a 2-1 win over Old Lyme in the Shoreline Conference championship game.
• Dan Figuenick – Valley Regional/Old Lyme football
Dan, a senior, had two interceptions in the fourth quarter to help the Warriors seal ta hard-fought 6-0 victory over Morgan-Clinton seen LIVE on CPTV Sports. Valley (8-0) is the top-rated team in CIAC Class S.
• Nico Ragaini - Notre Dame-West Haven football
Nico, a sophomore, had 10 catches for 190 yards and three touchdowns as ND (6-2) defeated Cheshire, 31-21.
• Khaleed Exum-Strong – Norwich Free Academy football
Khaleed, a senior, ran for 318 yards and seven touchdowns in a 74-38 ECC win over Bacon Academy.
