Southington's D'Agostino and Castellano win Knights of Columbus 2015 State Championship Soccer Challenge

Katie D'Agostino and Pio Castellano win K of C
State Championship 2015 Soccer Challenge

Southington middle school students, Katie D’Agostino, age 13, and Pio Castellano, age 12,  were each awarded a State Championship Trophy in their respective age and gender classes in the 2015 Annual Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge held at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain on Saturday November 7. 

The two participated in the state competition, along with five other Southington students who had successfully competed in two previous rounds in the K of C Soccer Challenge, sponsored by the Southington K of C Columbus Isabella Council 15, joined this year by the recently formed Rev. Walter F. Geraghty Council 25.  


The five other qualifying Southington kids at the state competition were Kate Hardy Age 12 -girls: Devin Giordano Age 9 - boys: Emma Ruccio, Age 11 - Girls: Kyle Martin Age 11 -boys; and Devan Fox Age 10 - boys.

Phil Mazzatti

“We have had a state championship winner on our team every year since we began competing in the program four years ago.” said chairman/organizer, Phil Mazzatti, of the 2015 Soccer Challenge sponsored by Southington's Knights of Columbus.    

The Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge is an international program designed for boys and girls, ages 9-14, with players competing in the most basic soccer skill - the penalty kick.  At the district level and state level, the competitors must kick 25 shots at the soccer goal with the goal being broken up into 20, 10 and 5 point quadrants.  The competitor within each age and gender group scoring the most points wins.

“This year we had the honor of sponsoring the District level competition here in Southington and received rave reviews by K of C CT State youth director, Tom Sullivan.” Mazzatti said. He thanked the Southington Youth Soccer league, Ed Baker, President, and Dave Lapreay, Parks and Recreation Director, who helped promote the event and secure field arrangements. 

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