Boys Basketball 

The boys basketball team capped off a historic season this winter. They won 15 games this season for the first time in over a decade. In addition to this, they made it all the way to the quarterfinal game of the CIAC State Tournament for the first time in 27 years. There, they unfortunately lost the quarterfinal game to Bunnell. The team was led by seniors Adam Pandolfi, Nigel Ragsdale, Matt Bosticco, Gibbs Wade, Ryan Bernardo, Justin Horn, Carter Mulhern, Khalil Thompson, and Brendan Grudberg. Grudberg also was selected to All-SCC Second Team. Congratulations to the team on a great playoff run and a historic season!

20 Year Old College Sophomore Shocks World, Wins PGA Tour Event

Nick Dunlap Became the First Amateur in Over 30 Years to Win on the PGA Tour

By: Will Sagnella

Professional sports are made for the best of the best. These players have trained their whole lives for a shot at the highest level of competition they will ever face. However, these results don’t come overnight. Reaching the highest level of competition requires hours each day to be put in. Based on these standards, it is very unlikely for young athletes to succeed in professional sports early on in their careers. 

Nonetheless, it still can be done. Not only that; it has been done. Towards the end of January the PGA Tour (Professional Golfers Association) held the American Express Golf Tournament at La Quinta Country Club, in La Quinta, California. Competing in the tournament was 20 year old Nick Dunlap. Dunlap, a sophomore at Alabama University, got into the PGA Tour event through a sponsor's exemption. 

Nick Dunlap took advantage of this opportunity, and led the golf tournament through the first three days of play, with an outstanding score of 27 under par. Going into hole 16 on the last day of the tournament, Dunlap was one shot behind the leader Sam Burns, at 28 under par. Dunlap birdied the par 5 16th to tie Burns for the lead at 29 under. Then, on the par 3 17th, Dunlap hit his first shot on the green, while Sam Burns hit it in the water. Going into the last hole of the tournament, Dunlap now had a two shot lead over Burns. 

Nick Dunlap stood on the 18th tee box facing what was possibly the most important tee shot of his career. He stepped up and hit his driver right of the fairway and into the rough. His next shot ended up just right of the green, leaving him a tricky chip shot. Dunlap hit a spectacular chip to 6 feet, leaving him a putt for the win. Despite all the nerves, Dunlap rolled in the putt for a one shot victory, and let out a huge roar as the ball went in. 

With the win, he became the first amateur to win a professional event in over 30 years. While winning the tournament was an incredible feat, Nick Dunlap was faced with a difficult decision. Because he won the tournament, he had a chance to turn professional and play on the PGA Tour for the next couple years. He now had to choose between a college education and professional golf.

After the incredible win, Dunlap was asked about the upcoming decision he had to make. He responded by saying that he needed to, “take a second to let what just happened sink in a little bit” (Nick Dunlap, CNN). Then, only days later, Nick Dunlap made his decision to turn professional. The decision was not easy, Dunlap said as much. The few days it took Dunlap to make his decision were spent talking with family and friends. In the end, Dunlap chose to turn professional at the age of 20 years old. All of his friends and family supported his decision as well, making it a little easier.

Not only were Dunlap’s family and friends supportive of him turning professional, but his teammates were as well. Dunlap raved about his teammates back at Alabama saying, “my teammates were awesome and very supportive. It goes back to the family that Alabama has; they were very supportive and wanted me to chase my dreams” (Nick Dunlap, CNN). 

After 24 Years and 6 Super Bowl Titles Bill Belichick Calls it Quits

Was he one of the best coaches of all time?

By: Andrea August

After twenty four seasons and six Super Bowl titles, on Thursday, January 11th, 2024, Bill Belichick announced that he is leaving his position as the New England Patriots head coach. During a press conference at Gillette Stadium, the home field for the Patriots, him and the team owner, Robert Kraft, publicized his departure saying it marks, “a day of gratitude and celebration.” 

Belichick began his coaching career as an assistant for the Baltimore Colts, later becoming the defensive coordinator with Bill Parcells and the New York Giants. There, he won two Super Bowl titles together before becoming the head coach for the Cleveland Browns. He remained with the Browns for five straight seasons until he was fired from his first head coaching job. Later on, Belicheck was named the coach of the Jets and resigned after a single day only to accept the head coaching position for the New England Patriots on January 27th, 2000. Beginning Belichick’s first season, the Patriots had a rough start with a total of five wins and eleven losses. In the 2001 season their head quarterback, Drew Bledsoe sheared a blood vessel in his chest during a game against the Jets. Their backup quarterback, Tom Brady, stepped in and led them to their first Super Bowl victory.  Together, the Patriots won seventeen AFC East Division titles, made thirteen appearances in the AFC Championship game and appeared in nine Super Bowl games with six overall wins. In 2019 the patriots had their sixth and final Super Bowl victory with Brady, as he left the patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After Brady left, Belichick and the Patriots have struggled for the past four years, coming short each season. 

Belichick’s departure marks even more change for the dynamic of the team, hopefully allowing them to redeem new success. Overall, what Belichick accomplished as the Patriot’s head coach will go down in NFL history. Robert Kraft agrees, as he states in a press conference, “Coach Belichick will forever be celebrated as a legendary sports icon here in New England and, I believe, will go in as a Pro Football Hall of Famer on the first ballot. Why? Because he’s the greatest coach of all time.” With 24 years of coaching the Patriots, Belichick says that he will, “always be a Patriot. I look forward to coming back here. But at this time, we’re going to move on and I’m excited for the future. But always very, very appreciative of the opportunity here, the support here. I’ll always have those great memories. I’ll carry those with me the rest of my life.”

Michigan Conquers Washington in College Football National Championship

The Wolverines defeat the Huskies 34-13 to win 12th national championship: GO BLUE!!

By: James Sagnella

            On January 8, 2024, Michigan’s football program claimed their twelfth National Championship. Led by coach Jim Harbaugh, Michigan defeated the Washington Huskies to claim the trophy. Harbaugh's legendary career at Michigan started on December 30, 2014, when Michigan announced that they would be hiring Harbaugh as their 20th head coach in team history. When he was hired, Harbough signed a 7 million dollar contract. In his first season as head coach, Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a 10-3 record. In his second season as head of the football program at Michigan, Harbaugh led the team to wins in their first nine games.

Eight years later, Harbaugh went into the 2023-2024 season with star quarterback J.J. McCarthy leading his offense. Along with running back Blake Corum and wide receiver Roman Wilson, Michigan looked like the best team in the league. They played their first nine games against unranked teams, and sat at second in the nation going into their tenth game against ninth ranked Penn State. With a 24-15 win in Pennsylvania, they headed to Maryland to play yet another unranked team. A 31-24 win in Maryland put the team at 11-0, but dropped them to 3rd in the nation. Heading back home after two weeks on the road, Michigan had a tough match-up against second ranked Ohio State. With a win against Ohio State, Michigan then shutout 18th ranked Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. In the Rose Bowl game against fifth ranked, past champions Alabama, Michigan was 13-0, but still ranked second in the nation. A 27-20 win at home against Alabama gave Michigan a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship. It also marked the last game of famed Alabama coach Nick Saban. 

As the first ranked team in the nation, Michigan faced the second ranked Washington Huskies. The Wolverines led the whole game, and as the Huskies let the time run out, the celebration commenced. With players everywhere, the field was in chaos. The coaches shook hands, quarterbacks met, and players embraced everywhere. However, everyone was waiting for the big moment, when the golden College Football Championship trophy was hoisted into the air. As Jim Harbaugh lifted the trophy into the air, everyone cheered. Harbaugh then stated in an interview after the game, “Glorious win, I could not be prouder or happier of our team, 15-0. Took on all corners. Last one standing. It’s a great feeling… For me personally, I can now sit at the big person’s table in the family. They won’t keep me over there on the little table anymore.” Jim Harbaugh could certainly switch tables now, with Jack Harbaugh, his father, being a past national champion, and brother, John Harbaugh, being a Super Bowl champion. Jim could now consider himself one with the rest of his legendary family.

When asked about the University of Michigan, star running back Blake Corum stated, “This is the best university in the world. I’m so blessed to have a degree from the university. You can’t fail there. You have so much support. So much help.” It was certainly a team effort, and nothing would have happened for the University of Michigan if everyone hadn’t come together to work towards one common goal. Nobody could stop Michigan, as coach Jim Harbaugh led his team full of superstars to a perfect season of 15-0.

But their record wasn’t the only remarkable thing about their year, and when looking back on the year, everyone will remember one key thing that occurred on November 18, 2023. Heading to Maryland that day, Michigan was 10-0, and had a good season going. The unranked Maryland Terrapins were not all their hardest match-up of the year. However, the Terrapins didn’t go down without a fight, and put up 24 points to try their best to steal Michigan's glory. Michigan however, even though they were missing Jim Harbaugh, put up 31 points and took the win. With that, it marked their 1000th win. A historic season to look back on, with over 1000 wins under their belt, along with a well deserved National Championship trophy.

Two North Haven Staff Members Win SCC Coach of the Year

Congratulations on this extraordinary achievement!