Fall Athletics 2011 Season Preview

With 11 of the top 14 returning, including captains Emmet Shipway ’12 and Marquez Cummings ’12, the Westminster First Boy harriers will be competitive in all of their regular season meets and move up in the standings at larger meets. Shipway is looking particularly strong after his summer training, leading all runners in the opening tests while Cummings is a strong No. 2 and also is the most vocal cheerleader on the squad. Other returning First team runners include Jake Medina ’12, Gary Yang ’13, Jake Cahill ’12, Ronald Yeung ’13 and Brad Gioia ’12. Competing for those top seven places will be Conor Mullen ’12, Stephan Reyes ’14, Tommy Griffith ’14, Dan Parsons ’13, the vastly improved Travis Percy ’14 and John Dowling ’14. New runners Zac Hamilton ’14 and Bryson Tomcik ’15 add depth to the roster and will also likely compete for the Second Team. This team exhibits a lot of camaraderie and love of the sport; they are willing to push themselves hard to improve as a group and help take on traditional rivals like Avon and Kingswood-Oxford that bested them last year.

The First Girls lost a lot to graduation last year and unfortunate injuries have further thinned the ranks of runners, with top returners Lauren Darnis ’12 (captain) and Molly Mullen ’13, both unlikely participants this season. That said, the other runners have showed promise during the opening testing, including a much stronger Julia Benson ’13, co-captain Lulu Spalding ’12, newcomer Tori DeAngelis ’14, Mae Mullen ’14 and Mary Anderson ’14. Another key returner, Emily Kunsman ’14, will hopefully overcome some lingering injury issues and join the team to add more depth to the top of the pack. Competing for the seventh spot will be a host of runners, some new and some old, including Grace Brown ’12, Dana Niland ’13, Lauren Boures ’15, Sam Boures ’12, Joanne Son ’14 and Morgan Rubin ’13. Last year's squad had a winning regular season record and excellent races at the championship meets; they hope to match those results this season.

First Boys’ Soccer is looking at an exciting season in which (due to high graduation and the loss of a few returning players) the squad will feature more new faces than ever before. Returners Stan Sandoval ’13, Greg Jarvis ’13, Alex Wrona ’14 and goalie Jake Crow ’12 will lead the way with Sandoval, Jarvis and Crow sharing the captain role. PGs Kiki Terry, Jack Zaykowski and Greg Pietroforte figure to play prominent roles. This year’s group seems to be gelling quickly, establishing good chemistry and a one-for-all/all-for-one attitude. This team will be unencumbered by expectations, freeing them to aim high and fear no one.

The Martlets return to the pitch after a tremendous 2010-2011 season, capped by a trip to the New England Class A Championship game. This new edition of the Black and Gold, led by captains Alana Carpenter ’12 and Meaghan O'Herron ’12, brings a mix of returning players and youth to the field. Sixth Formers Darby Drake and Tyler O’Neil are joined by Cara Dealy ’13, Jenn Girard ’14, starting halfback on last year’s team, as well as Ellie Deveaux ’14 and Brittany Swanson ’14, who proved to be valuable substitutes. Westminster’s outstanding goalie, Sydney Daniels ’13, anchors the defense this year. Joining the veterans are newcomers Laura Moore ’14 and Iris Dayton ’14 who will play in the middle of the field. Coaches Swain and Adams are particularly excited to see a strong Third Form group comprised of Sally Sandoval, Megan Richard, Sarah Stevens, Margot Frank, Mary French and Eliza Christman.

The Martlets will look to the strong leadership in captains Brooke Heron ’12 on defense and Rachel Kennedy ’12 at center midfield to help lead the 2011 team toward a successful season. The Sixth Form leadership and experience will be the biggest asset to the 2011 squad with playing experience from the past three seasons, delivering big victories, and helping land the team in the Class A New England tournament for the last three seasons. Alli Devins ’13 and Hadley DesMeules ’12 will anchor the defense along with returner Abby Reed ’14. Marissa Mason ’12 and newcomer Kat Pate ’14 will make contributions in their positions as goalkeepers. Up front, the team will look to Emily Moran ’12 and Eleni Tebano ’13 to lead the forward line. Returner Brooke Wolejko ’14 will undoubtedly be a top goal scorer with her quick stick and knack for scoring off the posts. Marielle Lafaire ’12, a versatile player, will be utilized in positions all over the field. Newcomers Sarah Holmes ’13, Molly O'Sullivan ’12, Lindsay Hanau ’13, Sandra Stephan ’14 and Megan Walsh ’14 will join the experienced squad for what should prove to be another exciting season of Westminster field hockey.

The 2011 First Football team returns seven players from last year’s team. Captains Dillon Tiner ’12 and Andrew Dines ’12 will lead a diverse bunch of highly motivated athletes. The team is relying on Cameron Kurtz ’12, Kevin Murray ’13, Skyler Wasser ’12, Ryan Strange ’13 and a host of others to make the 2011 season a positive and rewarding experience. A few new faces will round out the squad’s numbers and bring experience to an already committed group of dedicated young men. Every coach wishes to achieve success, but to Coach Huguley, they will measure their success by the strength of team bond. The members of this year’s team look to completely embrace the idea of self-sacrifice as they begin the 2011 campaign.