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Cheshire High honors student science fair finalists, varsity fencing milestone, cheer team and longtime coach
Summary
Cheshire High students won awards at the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair; the school’s fencing program moved from club to varsity and captured state titles in several events; cheerleading qualified for New England championships and placed third; longtime coach Barbara Hedden will be inducted into a national hall of fame.
Cheshire High School students and coaches were recognized by the Cheshire Board of Education for recent competitive and program milestones.
At the start of the meeting, staff recognized three students who participated in the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair: Wendy Kai (third honors), Adhitha Ghanda (second honors and a finalist award) and Suchita Srinivasan (first honors, a finalist award and an invitation to the Connecticut Invention Convention), according to a district speaker.
John Pericino, the district’s athletic director, highlighted a historic year for the school’s fencing program as it transitioned from club status to a fully recognized varsity sport. Pericino reported that the men’s épée team won its conference and the state championship for the second consecutive year; the men’s saber team finished sixth in the state; the women’s foil team placed second in the conference and sixth in the state; and the women’s saber team finished third in the state — a first in Cheshire fencing history. Pericino also noted that more than half of the fencers earned conference academic achievement awards. He thanked coaches Heather Von Fisher, Kyle Mezi, Elizabetha Carianova and Adam Casas.
During audience remarks, an attendee identified as Miss Nichols said one of the fencers had been invited to compete internationally and showed the board a formal convocation from the Brazilian federation; the student (referred to in the meeting as Victoria) is scheduled to compete in Brazil and Spain.
Athletic Director Pericino also recognized the Cheshire High School cheerleading team for an historic season: a second‑place finish at the Class L state championships (the highest in school history) and a first‑time qualification for the New England championships, where the team placed third in New England. Coach Emily Funk was recognized though she was not present.
Finally, the board celebrated longtime girls outdoor track and field coach Barbara Hedden, who will be inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame this June. Pericino and speakers read Hedden’s record, starting with her tenure at Cheshire High School in 1992 and earlier coaching at Mercy High School, and quoted Hedden on coaching philosophy: "I have dedicated my coaching career to helping my athletes and teams fulfill their potential, strive to be better athletes and people, and give back to the team and community."
No board action was required for the recognitions.
