Hand set to begin quest for fourth consecutive Class L state championship

MADISON — The Tigers aren’t running from anything. In fact, they have embraced the idea of the journey to get there, not just focusing on the ultimate prize.

“Coach told us we can’t have our heads in the sky thinking about the four-peat immediately. We have think about winning the next game,” junior Scott Testori said.

Said senior Spencer Hartmann: “We always give our all. At the end of the day, you can’t get wrapped up in the hype of it.”

The one-game-at-a-time theory is far from uncommon. Teams preach it all the time. That first game on Saturday for the three-time defending Class L champions is certainly not one to mess with: vs. Guilford under the lights at the Surf Club (7 p.m.)

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“Every single game will be a battle, We won’t have time to look past an opponent,” Cumpstone said. “It will be a challenge knowing we have a target on our back. It will be interesting to see how we cope with it. We have a team of winners, kids who have played at a high level.”

Hand’s senior co-captain Cole Finke speaks about the Tigers attempting to win a fourth consecutive Class L #ctbsoc state championship. pic.twitter.com/cKP54GGGqs

— Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) September 10, 2019

The last team to accomplish such a run actually won five straight: Staples from 1969-73 in Class L when there were just three divisions. The 1970 title was a co-championship with Conard.

The teams to come the closest to the four-peat under the current format were Guilford and Avon. The Indians won Class L from 1976-78, then fell in the 1979 final to South Windsor. Avon won Class M from 1987-89 then fell to Barlow in the 1990 final.

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“You need to stay fit and you need a strong generation of players, not just having one class,” Cumpstone said. “The seniors and juniors who won it the first year are long gone. You need a strong youth program in town and you need players who understand what it takes to win.”

Three years ago, the Register did a preseason story on this program’s success during the regular season. But the Tigers just couldn’t get past the state semifinals (three appearances in a four-year stretch) and hadn’t won a state championship in nearly two decades.

Now, there isn’t a player in the program who has lost a single Class L game.

“Our focus is always on the short-term. If you think long term, that’s a recipe for disaster,” Hartmann said.

Testori, last year’s Register Area MVP, scored the game’s only goal in last year’s final against Maloney.

“I just focus on the game, win this game no matter what kind of game it is, the state final or rival game against Guilford,” Testori said. “We have a target on our back. Every team gets up for us, but we are always up for them.”

Action from a recent Hand #ctbsoc practice. The Tigers open their season Saturday night at Guilford. pic.twitter.com/Di50mChqtj

— Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) September 10, 2019

Hand went 12-1-3 during the 2018 regular season. The Tigers dominated Shelton in its SCC tournament quarterfinal, but lost in double overtime.

That served as proper motivation to complete the three-peat.

“They were angry not being able to defend their conference title,” Cumpstone said. “There was more time as a group to focus on training and re-focus our efforts.”

Now the Tigers begin their quest to be Class L state champions once again.

“We’re all hungry for the season,” Hartmann said.