Spring Athletics Preview

Co-captains Aaron Ugalde ’12, Nick Finn ’12 and Jeff Smolens ’12 are enthusiastic about the Martlet nine this year. Several returning starters and an interesting mix of athletes new to the team will grace the diamond out at Osborne Field this spring. In addition to the captains, Sixth Formers Colin Cross, Brad Gioia, Randy Doyle, Josh Kokulis and Ben Hill are all returning veterans. Alex Tomashoff ’13, Drew Leach ’13, Luke Cordasco ’13 and Ryan Strange ’13 also bring additional experience from last year to the squad. Newcomers Evan Neugold ’12 and Tyler Buckley ’15 promise to offer starting-lineup punch to the season. Rounding out the squad are Emilio Audi ’12, Skyler Wasser ’12, Will Lammey ’13, Mike McNally ’14 and John Dowling ’14. The team opens the season with three contests during the first week. The opener is at home against Kingswood Oxford, followed by a mid-week trip to Kent, capped by a nine-inning home game versus Avon Old Farms.
 

After winning four consecutive Class A Western New England Championships, Westminster Softball is aiming to continue competing at a high level again in 2012. The season began with the team’s 10th consecutive trip to Disney Sports for spring training. It was a terrific week featuring multiple practices and games in Orlando. The Florida trip was followed by a strong scrimmage (7-3 win) at Northfield Mount Herman School. Captains Sydney Daniels’13 and Alli Devins ’13 lead the squad. Other key returning Fifth Formers include Michela Gozzi, Hayley Ahouse and Morgan Rubin. In addition, five outstanding Fourth Formers and one promising Third Former constitute a base of young talent. Standouts Jordan Gowdy ’14, Rachel Monroe ’14, Brooke Wolejko ’14 and Kat Pate ’14 each return for a second season and are joined by pitcher Amanda Savino ’14 and outfielder Jade Marlowe ’15. The Martlets look forward to working together toward a common goal: achieving another enjoyable and successful season.
 

The Westminster golf program is very young this year, including five Third Formers joining the team. Returning captains Nathalie Filler ’12 and Jack Rubino ’13 will lead the team. Both Filler and Rubino have extensive junior tournament experience and should compete with the top players in the league. Also returning to the First team line-up is David Hallisey ’13, who has shown significant improvement over the past year. All in all, this young squad should be very competitive and enthusiastic throughout the season.
 

After a successful 2011 campaign (9-2) that included a Founders League Championship, the Martlets again have high hopes to be one of the top teams in competitive western New England lacrosse. Led by captains Ryan Cholnoky ’12, Andy Dines ’12 and Gordon Santry ’12, a large and experienced Sixth Form crop will be difficult to beat. Additional key returnees include Dillon Tiner ’12, Cory Latour ’12, Miller Steinle ’12, Will Stevens ’12 and Alec Dunn ’13. This returning group provides strong, close defense and experience in the goalie position. With two of last year’s three top scoring players lost to graduation, it will be necessary for newcomers to step up. Postgraduates Will Gould, Tim Lyons and Greg Pietroforte will play a significant role along with Garnder Imhoff ’13, Connor Janson ’13, Sam Dardani ’14 and Matt Knight ’14. The season got off to a productive and fun start with a trip to Florida and three competitive scrimmages against very good teams: Exeter, Brewster and Andover. The Martlets are anxious, however, to see how they will fare back in New England.
 

After a productive spring trip to St. Pete Beach, Fla., the First Girls’ Lacrosse team is ready to tackle the spring season with a new and exciting group of talented players. Despite losing 11 players from the 2011 squad (10-6), this year’s team looks to be solid this season with many new players added to the roster, including some new, young talent combined with several experienced and seasoned Seconds players.
 

Under the leadership and skill of Sixth Form captains Meaghan O’Herron, Rachel Kennedy and Brooke Heron, this new team will look to build strong chemistry and work hard to earn success and results on the field. Molly O’Sullivan’s ’12 leadership and experience as a goaltender will be critical in the defensive end this season. The team will look for contributions in low defense from Nina Gozzi ’12, Hadley DesMeules ’12, Charlotte Gould ’13, Madison Caan ’13, Olivia Bey ’15 and Margot Frank ’15. Kennedy, Tyler O’Neil ’12, Eleni Tebano ’13, Eliza Christman ’15, Tori D’Angelis ’14, Sandra Stephan ’14, Mary French ’15 and Annie French ’13 will use their speed, endurance and skill to pace the team in the midfield. On attack, the Martlets will look for offensive support from Alana Carpenter ’12, O’Herron, Heron, Lindsay Hanau ’13, Kaitlin Tse ’14 and Alex Regan ’13. There is a lot of exciting potential for this new group.
 

The Martlets return with a solid nucleus from last year’s 9-5 squad. Captains Cam Kurtz ’12 and Sandro Giacometti ’12 are back along with Dillan Gomes ’12. New to the team this year are postgraduate Emil Henry and Charlie Russell ’14, who should add some depth to the squad. John Vantine ’13, Andrew Bell ’14 and Harry Ganek ’14 round out the team. The boys got off to an early start to the season when they spent the last week of spring break honing their skills in the Dominican Republic. It should be another great season for the First Boys’ Tennis team.
 

First Girls’ Tennis is hoping to maintain the solid momentum from last year, a season in which the team finished 9-5, with a core group of returning players, some tested girls who moved up from the Seconds team, in addition to a couple of new players. Back from the singles ladder are Skyy McGeachy-Campbell ’13 and co-captain Kathleen Gudas ’12. Other girls with the potential to play singles are returning player Katherine Kelter ’13 and newcomer Lia Petersen ’13. From the Second team, Lulu Spalding ’12 and Christi DeSimone ’12 also have experience at singles. Anchoring the doubles are some new players, in addition to returnee and co-captain Libby Kelter ’12, but the doubles teams will be new, as many of the girls from last season were lost to graduation. A group of girls traveled to Naples, Fla., in March, where they had the opportunity to practice and scrimmage with two strong teams: Naples High School and Barron-Collier High School. Early in the season, it is evident that this is a mature and hard-working group, excited by the prospect of a winning season in a very competitive league.