The Hillhouse Academics continue their dominance in track and basketball, bringing home more state championships for both sports this year. On Monday night, they were recognized by the Board of Alders for their prowess on the track, the court and in the classroom.
Teams and coaches for both sports were feted during the alders’ regular bimonthly meeting at City Hall.
It was not a first trip for the track teams, both of which are state champions.
The Hillhouse boys track and field team has been making the trip to City Hall for the last five years; this is the second year for the girls’ team.
Assistant Coach Darrell Brown said the members of the team were as talented as they were intelligent.
“In my eyes, nobody is better,” he said.
It’s been eight years since the Hillhouse girls basketball team brought home a state championship trophy. And their coach, Catrina Hawley-Stewart, said the team wasn’t even ranked in the top 10 at the start of the season. But they finished their season No. 3 in the state.
And in March, they brought home the Class L State Championship. Hawley-Stewart said bringing home the trophy “allows Hillhouse to be talked about in a positive fashion.” But she said the basketball program is about more than basketball, noting that two of the teams’ seniors have full scholarships to college.
Hillhouse is making New Haven so proud,” Beaver Hills Alder Jill Marks said.