Winter Season Outlook

Boys’ Basketball
After a challenging 2007-2008 season, First Boys’ Basketball is looking to a new group of players to set the tone.  Captain Kieran McDonald ’09 is the only returning starter and will provide leadership, athleticism and speed on the court. Aaron Halfon ’09 is the only other returning player, and he is joined by new students to the Hill: Stephen Buskey ’09, Calvin Brownridge ’09, Will Manning ’09, Michael Hom ’11 and Tyler Moseley ’10.  Returning players moving from the second team are Greg Miller ’10, Rafi Rojas ’10, Alex Gioia ’10, Sean Kelley ’10, and Oliver Brown ’10.  It will be exciting to see how the team chemistry develops and what they are able to achieve.  

Girls’ Basketball
Barely missing the .500 mark last season, First Girls’ Basketball will rely on some returning players, joined by some new faces, to get over the bar this year.  With the graduation of four-year starter and All Star Michele Ribaudo ’08 and three other key players, the opportunity is available for a change in leadership and style of play.  Captain Corinne Werner ’10, who provided offensive firepower last season, will lead the way along with returning players captain Ashley Jeffress ’09 and Jacki Savage ’09.  The team will also look to Robin Cotter ’09, Louise Marenakos ’11 and Kaleigh Kelley ’11 to play more significant roles this season.  Newcomers Eliza Breed ’11 and Kingsley Schroeder ’10 also have the potential to make immediate and significant contributions.  While this will be a rebuilding year for the team, its strong defensive capability and positive attitude and work ethic should produce success in the weeks ahead.

Boys’ Ice Hockey
With 12 of last year’s starters lost to graduation, First Boys’ Hockey will be replete with new faces and will attempt to improve on its 12-9-4 record in a very competitive league.  Captain Harry Radovich ’09 will provide leadership on the ice, as one of the few returning defensemen.  He will be joined at the blue line by newcomer Alex Pascal ’10.  Charles Corsi ’09 will return for his second year in goal.  On the forward line, the Martlets will look to returning player Joey Campanelli ’09 and first-year players Ryan Tyson ’10 and Daniel Hnatko ’10 to provide offensive firepower. The number of new faces will create uncertainty and excitement. It is clearly going to be a new and different season for the team.

Girls’ Ice Hockey
Having established themselves as one of the best teams in New England over the past few seasons, First Girls’ Ice Hockey will again seek to extend play into the postseason.  While a number of key players graduated, a hardy core of veterans remains and is joined by a talented new group of players.  Captain Emily Walsh ’09 will again be an offensive threat as her quick and aggressive play makes her very dangerous and hard to contain.  Other forwards include captain Sara Ugalde ’10 and newcomers Page Decker ’10, Rachel Farrel ’11 and Rachel Kennedy ‘12. On defense, returning players Amanda Boulier ’11, Casey Breese ’11 and Tori Pizzuto ’10 are joined by Meghan McGunigle ’09, Nina Gozzi ’12 and Erin Wallace ’10. And after the graduation of four-year starting goalie Kayla Lessard ’08, the responsibility will shift to Kristen Maxwell ’10 and newcomer Carmen MacDonald ’11.  The team’s success will likely rest on how well this group of new and returning players comes together.

Boys’ Squash
After only graduating one player from last year’s squad, First Boys’ Squash is well positioned to achieve success from the foundation that was built during the previous season.  Chris King ’09 and Cris Gomez ’10 return at the top of the ladder to lead the team and are joined by key returning players Roger Peiken ’09, Eddie Gentle ’10, Miller Robinson ’09, Nick Marenakos ’09 and Luke Stevens ’10.  Ross Bolling ’12 and Michael LeBlanc ’12 are key new additions to the squad as well. With all players having gained valuable playing experience, the boys are excited to see the improvements they have made and the outcomes they can achieve.

Girls’ Squash
On the heels of an impressive 12-4 season, First Girls’ Squash, with four players returning from the top seven, is anxious to see what it is capable of this season.  The group should prove to be a healthy combination of experienced veteran players mixed with new blood, on which the program will be based in following years.  Second year captain Ali Bragg ‘09 will again play at the top of the ladder and be joined by returning players Claire Corroon ’09 (four-year player), Juliette Ferrari-McComb ’09 and Annie Ulrich ’09.  With a number of new players at the bottom of the ladder, training and development in the early weeks of the season along with strong Sixth Form leadership will be key to the team’s success.  It should be an interesting and exciting squash season.

Swimming and Diving
Both the Girls’ and Boys’ Swimming and Diving teams will look to key individual contributions to push the teams forward and produce success.  For the girls, returning swimmers captain Krissy Schultz ’09, Hannah Dimmit ’09 and Katie Adams ’10, and diver Maddie Garnett ’10 lead the Martlet effort.  They are joined by new swimmers and divers Sarah Dimmitt ’12 and Emily Schwartz ’11, who will help provide depth to the squad. The boys are anchored by a core group of committed swimmers: captain Taylor Gould ’09, Colin McLaughlin ’10 and Connor O’Brien ’10, and outstanding diver Chris Eckerson ’09.  Newcomer Jake Cahill ’12 will also be integral to the team. With strengths in diving, backstroke and breaststroke, the team will rely on dominant performances to win.