North-Central Connecticut Sports: Highlights of 2019

NORTH-CENTRAL CT — The final year of the 2010-2019 decade will be remembered by sports enthusiasts in Hartford and Tolland counties as being quite unlike any other in recent memory. It was a year full of joyous on-field triumphs and devastating personal losses, a year of happy stories, sad stories and inspirational stories. We now take a look back at 2019 in sports from the region.

High school action was the primary focus of our sports coverage, and north-central Connecticut fans had a lot to shout about. Eighteen schools from the area captured a total of 35 team championships during the calendar year, and Patch was present for the majority of those celebrations. Teams from Bloomfield and Hall high schools won six state titles, while Tolland won four and East Catholic, Glastonbury, Granby and Windsor each snared two.

• Bloomfield (6) - State Open girls indoor track; S girls indoor track; S boys indoor track; State Open boys outdoor track; S boys outdoor track; S girls outdoor track
• Hall (6) - State Open boys indoor track; LL boys indoor track; L boys outdoor track; State Open girls cross country; LL girls cross country; LL boys soccer
• Tolland (4) - M boys outdoor track; State Open boys cross country; M boys cross country; M girls cross country
• East Catholic (2) - Div. I boys basketball; Div. III boys golf
• Glastonbury (2) - LL boys outdoor track; LL girls soccer
• Granby (2) - M girls soccer; S field hockey
• Windsor (2) - L girls indoor track; L girls outdoor track
• Avon (1) - L girls volleyball
• Bolton (1) - S boys cross country
• Bristol Eastern (1) - L wrestling
• Conard (1) - LL boys cross country
• Coventry (1) - S baseball
• E.O. Smith (1) - MM girls cross country
• Farmington (1) - Div. III boys basketball
• Innovation (1) - Div. V boys basketball
• Newington (1) - M boys volleyball
• Somers (1) - S softball
• Southington (1) - LL softball

Other top sports stories from the area for the year are shown below, in no particular order.

• Days After Family Tragedy, CT Football Coach Returns to Sidelines
• After 52 Years, Legendary Enfield High School Coach Retires
• Pro Baseball Player From Wethersfield Found Dead In New Zealand
• Inspirational Ellington Athlete to Get Statewide Courage Award
• The Pageantry of the 2019 Manchester Road Race [PHOTOS]
• Connecticut Sports Legend John Fontana Dies At 84
• Suffield Runners Shatter State Indoor Track Record
• ESPN Founder Announces He Has Parkinson's Disease
• Standout Runner From West Hartford Wins New England Championship
• Calhoun Refutes Allegations Made In Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
• West Hartford Runner Qualifies For Olympic Trials
• Plane Crash Claims Life of Legendary Stafford Speedway Champion
• Pioneering Hall of Famer to Be Honored By State Sports Media
• Golf Facility In South Windsor Announces Closure
• Longtime East Granby Baseball Coach Steps Down
• Renowned Connecticut Sportswriter Bob Barton Dies
• Hartford Boxing Legend Elected to 3rd Hall of Fame
• Legendary Coaches Honored at Enfield Stadium Dedication [VIDEO]
• The Long-Forgotten NFL Champion From Somersville
• Hartford Baseball Franchise Will Stop Selling Peanuts
• Patriotism, Softball Team Up For Eastern Pitcher In NCAA Tourney
• Winners Crowned In 83rd Manchester Road Race
• Former Stafford Standout Makes Pro Baseball All-Star Game
• UConn Alum Hired As University of Hartford Coach
• Enfield Hall of Famer to Be Honored As Good Sport Award Winner
• 10 Players With Hartford/Tolland County Ties Drafted By MLB
• UConn To Pay $17 Million AAC Departure Fee In Big East Move
• March Madness Takes On New Meaning At XL Center
• Manchester Road Race Bragging Rights, Town By Town
• Lobo To Get NCAA Silver Anniversary Award
• Enfield Resident Realizes Dream of Playing Professional Baseball
• Bees Buzz Into 2019 With Berlin Legend At the Helm
• UConn Legend Shares Special Sports Moments
• Zamboni Accident Postpones Hockey Game In Simsbury
• Patch Editor Elected to 3rd Term As CSWA President