Spring Season Preview

With a returning staff of four veteran pitchers, First Baseball looks to win games with impressive performances on the mound and with solid defense. Co-captains Matt Leach ’11 and Tucker Brumley ’11 will take to the mound, along with returning Sixth Former Andy Kent and first-team-tested Drew Leach ’13. All four pitchers will see action in the infield as well. Alex Gould ’11 will anchor the outfield as a returning first team player and Alex Tomashoff ’13 will lock down first base. Several Fifth Formers have made the jump from the seconds squad, including Jeff Smolens, who will see action in the outfield along with Aaron Ugalde at second base; Colin Cross behind the plate; and Brad Gioia in the outfield. In addition, a complement of players new to Westminster baseball and some younger athletes who have also made the move to the first team will help the Martlets head toward a productive 16-game season.

Despite losing standout golfer Will Smith ’10 to graduation, the team should be very competitive again this season, as four of its top five players from last season return. Leading the team are returning first team players Harry Richards ’11 (captain), Eliza Breed ’11, Nathalie Filler ’12, and Evan Neugold ’12. Strong contributions should also come from returning players Carter Walsh ’11 and Max O'Connor ’11, along with new addition Jack Rubino ’13. It is a team with a great deal of promise and potential.

Having graduated 16 players from last year's 10-3 team, members of First Boys’ Lacrosse will have their work cut out for them this spring. Even with 14 returning players, they will be challenged to find last year's strength at close defense and at the midfield. While the top two scorers have gone on to college, Westminster returns a solid core of last year's points at both midfield and attack. Further, they hope to call upon some seasoned goaltenders to lead the defense. Captains Burt McGillivray ’11, Taylor Paul ’11, Nick Thompson ’11 and Brad Woodruff ’11 will work hard to get this year's group ready for the very challenging West 1 schedule.

Coming off of an 11-4 campaign in 2010, First Girls’ Lacrosse looks strong with 17 returning players on the roster. Captain Gaby Christman ’11 will be a strong force in the midfield with her speed and goal-scoring threat. The defensive unit will be anchored by a strong group of returning defenders, including Sixth Formers Nora Edmonds, Bridget Eklund and Kelsey O'Brien. Alana Carpenter ’12, Leigh Anne Baldwin ’11, Brooke Heron ’12 and Taylor Virtue ’11 will pace the attack for the Martlets, with strong midfield contributions from Rachel Kennedy ’12, Eleni Tebano ’13, Karlyn Calamita-Crowley ’11 and Whit Powell ’11. In goal for the Martlets will be returnee Bella Zimmer ’12 and newcomer Molly O'Sullivan ’13.

With a number of Western New England Championships now to their credit, members of First Softball will again look to dominate their competition. Brittany Sutton ’11 will return for her fourth and final year atop the mound, where she has proven to be a decidedly dominant pitcher. Other Sixth Formers who will play a major role, once again, on the team are Carmen MacDonald and Rachel Farrel. A number of talented first year players have filled in the holes left by a very successful 2010 class of athletes. While new faces will fill out the infield and outfield, the Martlets hope to again be the team to beat in New England.

The 2011 First Boys’ Tennis team returns a good portion of last year's squad with co-captains Tim Welles ’11 and Robbie Hamblett ’11 leading the squad. Sandro Giacometti ’12 and Cam Kurtz ’12 also return from last year's starting lineup. Newcomer Chris Conzelmann ’12 will be a strong addition to the team. Jacob Lee ’11 also returns after taking last year off from tennis. Andrew Fu ’11 and Dillan Gomes ’12 moved up from the top spots on the second team to round out the squad. As was the case last year, depth will be the group’s biggest asset, with a solid lineup from top to bottom. Many of the boys went to Florida for the spring trip, which should give the team an advantage over the competition.

Along with nine returning players from 2010, the 2011 team is infused with three new and experienced players. Given the strength of the Founders League, it is hard to predict how the team will fare with respect to wins and losses, but the Westminster team will be competitive, particularly in doubles. Olivia Frank ’11 and captain Carolyn Zimmer ’11 are in their fourth year on the team, and Kathleen Gudas ’12 returns for her third season. Captain Margaret Berry ’11 returns without the injuries that hampered her much of last season, and newcomer Skyy McGeachy-Campbell ’13 will be an immediate addition to the singles' ladder. Steph Werner ’11 and Hannah Leathers '11 add experience to the doubles teams. Captain Chessy di Galoma ’11, Libby Kelter ’12 and other newcomers Ally Dunne ’12 and Katherine Kelter ’14 will battle to round out the doubles teams as the season progresses.

This years’ squad is a mixture of seasoned veterans and newcomers. Captains Chris Sailor ’11 and Vanessa Larracuente ’11 will lead the diverse mix. Sailor holds the school record in the Triple Jump and will also look to dominate the 100m and long jump. He is joined by key returnees Eric Wainman ’11 (800 m, high jump and long jump), Emmet Shipway ’12 (distance), and Matt Wilson ’11 (shot and discus). In addition to Larracuente in the sprint events, Sarah Ogden ’11 will anchor the distance events and Ana Eckerson ’11 will provide strength in the hurdles, long jump and high jump. In their first year on the team, Myles Marshall ’13, Frankie Iannatuono ’14, Yamilex Munoz ’14, and Yvonne Pruitt ’14 will all make an impact as well. To begin the season, the experience of the captains along with Wainman, Brooke Brazer ’12, Marquez Cummings ’12, Ogden, Emily Schwartz ’11, Brendan Sullivan ’11, Wilson and Eckerson will have to carry the team through the first couple of meets while the young athletes hone their skills.