HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ TENNIS / 2018 PREVIEW CAPSULES
Susan Welshock (10th year) Sr. Davon Chen, Jr. Eric Gu, So. Finn Power, Jr. Sumeet Kadian, Sr. Conrad French, Jr. Jonathan Tan, So. Ethan Stewart. Fr. Sujesh Kurumbail, Fr. Guillem Colon.
The Vikings were perfect last season (140 overall) in winning their 11th straight ECC divisional title. They return ECC doubles champions Chen and Gu, along with other veterans in singles and doubles. Welshock was using the preseason determine her lineup, but said she is excited to have freshmen Kurumbail and Colon join the mix.
Andrew Small (2nd year) Sr. Chris Russo, Jr. Noah Kennedy, Jr. Max Carter, Jr. Aidan Sullivan, Sr. Mathew Krick. Jr. Ron Pfisterer, Fr. Alexander Johnson, Fr. Camden Celtruda. The Falcons suffered some graduation losses, losing their top two singles players and No. 1 doubles team, but Small still expects Fitch to be competitive in the division. Russo, Kennedy, Carter, Sullivan and Krick all have experience while Small said freshmen Johnson and Celtruda will be in the doubles mix.
Jay Bazinet (15th year)
Sr. Nate McCracken, Sr. Jack Woodruff, Sr. Brandon Donovan, Sr. Will Reynolds, Sr. Chris Charette, Sr. Trevor Hutchins.
Sr. A.J. Hoth, Sr. Jakob Maranzano, Sr. Nick DeAndrea, Sr. Terry Zhao.
If there's one team that could challenge East Lyme in Division I, look no further than the Colonels, a senior-laden team that is coming off 12-3 season and returns their No. 1 singles player (McCracken) and No. 1 doubles team (Charette-Hutchins), both ECC Division I all-stars a year ago. Bazinet said this kind of senior experience "should lead to good things."
ECC Division I East Lyme Coach: Key returnees: Top newcomers: Outlook: Fitch Coach: Key returnees:
Top newcomers: Outlook: Ledyard Coach: Key returnees:
Jay Berard (1st year)
Sr. Allan Feng, Sr. Neil Henostroza. The Wildcats went 7-7 a year ago, but lost its top five players to graduation. Feng and Henostroza will occupy the top two singles spots, Berard said, and seven first-time players will battle for the other singles and doubles positions. Berard said NFA is "eager to learn and improve," and their development will determined the level of success they achieve. John Adriano (4th year) Sr. Ben Anderson, Sr. Sam Snediker, Jr. Sean Bessette, Jr. William Michelson, Jr. Kyle Remmert, Jr. Jacob Stiger, So. Filip Aubrecht, So. Alex Mann. Jr. Jack Ramsdell, Jr. Matt Santacroce, Fr. Quinn Hamilton. The Bears are coming off an impressive 14-1 season and the Division II title, and return a pair of ECC all-star singles players in Stiger and Michelson. Anderson and Remmert were ECC doubles all-stars, too, but each graduated a partner. Still, Adrian won't take anything for granted as he works on settling on a lineup for 2018. "We had a successful season last year," he said, "but that will not help us this year. You still have to play the matches."
Ralph DiSaia (16th season)
Sr. James Zhu, So. Fadi Hage, Jr. Alexander Watterson, Jr. Robert Sammataro.
Jr. Elias Picinich, So. Ateeb Mirza, Fr. Kevin McEntarfer, Fr. Julian Perez.
The Lancers were hit hard by graduation, including the loss of ECC doubles finalists Adam Pinch-David Perez, but DiSaia still thinks Waterford will field another competitive team in 2018. Zhu and Hage will play in the top two singles spots while Watterson and Sammataro will be key doubles players. "This will be a chance for the underclassmen to get a chance to show what they can do and prepare for the future," DiSaia said. Meg Fournier (1st year) Jr. Ryan Gallagher, Jr. Jason Chen, Jr. C.J. Jaskiewicz.
Fournier returns to lead the program after a five-year break from coaching and is looking forward to getting the Indians back on track. Gallagher will play No. 1 singles, Chen No. 2 and Jaskiewicz No. 3. "We have a great group of boys this year," said Fournier. "They're willing to work hard and take direction. I'm looking forward to an improving season for us."
Top newcomers: Outlook: NFA Coach: Key returnees: Outlook: ECC Division II Stonington Coach: Key returnees: Top newcomers: Outlook: Waterford Coach: Key returnees:
Top newcomers: Outlook: ECC Division III Montville Coach: Key returnees:
Outlook: St. Bernard Coach: Key returnees: Top newcomer: Outlook: Others Williams Coach: Key returnees: Outlook: MISCELLANEOUS Run to Recovery 5K and Walk for Thought 1K (for concussion prevention)
Andrew Morse (1st year) Jr. Kyle Keefe, Sr. Jordan Cai. Fr. Owen Ou. Morse takes over a program that graduated five seniors, including four-time ECC singles champion Alex Zuczek, who capped his career by winning the Class S state championship. Keefe and Ou will play key singles roles for St. Bernard, which won the Division III title a year ago, and Morse still expects the Saints to be competitive within the division. Linda Bonadies (1st year) Jr. Reese Berman, Jr. Alexandros Tsipouras, So. Devin Shah, Sr. Miles Schuman, Sr. Alec Potts.
Bonadies, an assistant at Hamden High the past two seasons, takes over at Williams, which will be led by Berman, who moves into the No. 1 singles spot following the graduation of Jon Powell. "We are looking forward to a solid season with a group of strong returning players," Bonadies said. "We also have a large group of younger, developing players.
— April 7, 10 a.m., Camp Harkness. The cost is $25, $10 for current college students. SNERRO timed event. Register online at www.southeastsoccerclub.com
Christopher Potvin Scholarship Fund
— Applications for 2018 scholarship are available at www.chrispotvinfund.com. The fund awards 20 $1,000 scholarships. Contact: Wayne Potvin, (860) 848-3643.
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Waterford/Montville Babe Ruth baseball
— Online registration is open for travel and regular season teams. Players from both towns are eligible. Regular season runs from mid-April through June 22 . For fees and to register go to http://www.wbrlct.org/
— Online registration is open for spring and regular seasons at www.mystic.si.play.com. Contact: Craig Koehler, (860) 961-5068.
Mystic Babe Ruth baseball Groton Babe Ruth baseball
— Is looking for assistant coaches for the upcoming season. Contact: Heather at grotonctbaberuth@ gmailcom
14U Cinco de Mayo baseball
— Tournament at Waterford Babe Ruth field, May 5-6. Fee: $500 per team (includes umpires and baseballs). Three-game guarantee. Contact: Lucas Beaney, (860) 625-1831 or beans3@snet.net.