Fall season opens Friday

There is a wide variety of sports offered at area high schools beyond football and soccer. Here follows previews of high school girls swimming, girls volleyball, field hockey, cross-country and fall crew.

Girls swimming MIDDLETOWN

The Blue Dragons were 10-1 last season, the team’s best record since the city’s two public high schools merged in 1984. For that and for winning the Central Connecticut Conference South title, the CCC rewarded the team with a much tougher schedule.

“Due to last year’s success, we were bumped up and have a far more challenging schedule,” said coach Trevor Charles. “The team hopes to build upon last year’s excitement and is a focused group of hard workers.”

The big swimmers are seniors Jennie Hawkins (freestyle), Hallie McCabe (freestyle), Kim Shekosky (individual medley), Jessica Hart (individual medley) and Cassie

Moore (diver). Charles pointed to Kelley Baran as a promising newcomer.

The Dragons open against Glastonbury at the Parmelee-Baldwin pool at MHS on Tuesday at 4 p.m. They swim city rival Mercy Friday, Sept. 15 at Wesleyan at 7 p.m.

MERCY

Long-time coach Keith Nichols resigned due to work commitments and has been replaced by Alicia Holzer.

“We are excited to begin a new season with a new coaching staff,” said Holzer. “The team is coming into the season with positive energy and determination.”

The key team members are senior Katie Schumann (diver) and juniors Emily Frost (breaststroke) and Sarah San Vincente (distance freestyle). The key newcomers are freshmen Elisa Pagliuca and Katharine Pillion.

Mercy, 4-9 last season, opens at Lauralton Hall on Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Girls volleyball MERCY

The Tigers were 13-9 last season and qualified for both the Southern Connecticut Conference and state tournaments.

Coach Sarah Kelley-Reid is in her seventh season as coach and has a career record of 86-43. She said her key returnees are seniors Lindsey Fritz (OH), Jess Carroll (MB) and Drea DeFilippo (libero).

Duplicating last year’s record might be difficult as seven starters graduated.

“We have a really great group of girls who truly love the sport and are very team-oriented,” said Kelley-Reid. “I really look forward to working with this team and seeing what they can do.”

Mercy opens with Lauralton Hall Friday at 5:30 p.m.

MIDDLETOWN

The Blue Dragons made considerable progress in 2016, finishing at 9-9 and qualifying for both the Central Connecticut Conference and state playoffs. It was the first time in 14 years that happened.

The Dragons lost five key players to graduation and return five players with varsity experience. They are seniors Olivia Lapham (setter), Kelsey Culup (outside hitter), Victoria Bomani (defensive specialist), Meghan Foster (middle hitter) and Whitney Andrew (defensive specialist).

Coach Kelvin Jones, in his fifth year, pointed to junior Leonna Canady, and sophomores Amanda Perrotta and Samantha Kinney as players of promise.

“We have several younger players who will contribute to the team at the varsity level,” said Jones. “We look to achieve more wins on the court.”

MHS opens with Platt in Meriden Friday at 6 p.m.

HALE-RAY

The Little Noises had a spectacular season in 2016, winning the Shoreline Conference championship for the second year in a row and advancing to the Class S title game where they lost to Lyman Memorial.

It may be difficult to duplicate last year’s 22-4 record.

“It is most definitely a rebuilding year,” said 14-year coach Suzy Miner. “But we do have a significant number of returning players who played in the off-season, so I am excited to see their improvement from last year.”

Hale-Ray lost six seniors to graduation, including five starters. The key returning players are seniors Callie Burke (outside hitter) and Nicole Trapp (setter/outside hitter) and junior Skylar Rapuano (outside hitter).

The newcomers include senior Emily Bushnell (middle hitter) and sophomore Brianna Dellalacano ( defensive specialist/libero).

“Despite losing several very impactful players, the leaders of the team this year have the same level of expectation for success. It will be different from last year, but different can also be successful,” said Miner.

Hale-Ray opens at Old Lyme on Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

CROMWELL

Coach Traci Capodice said this will be a rebuilding season for her team after a 14-8 season in 2016 that saw her team advance to the state quarterfinals.

“After losing six seniors to graduation, this will be a rebuilding season,” she said. “We are excited to see our younger players step up this season, as well as our three captains and seniors.”

The key returning players are senior captains Amaya Feitel (setter), Dana Coughlin (outside) and junior Aijha Caccio (outside). Among the newcomers are sophomores Sadie Budzik, Kaitlin Lewkowicz and Najla Cecunjanin.

Cromwell’s opener is at home with Coginchaug on Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

HADDAM-KILLINGWORTH

After a terrific 22-3 season last season, a year that included a quarterfinal state tournament run, things are upbeat at H-K.

“We should be competitive,” said third-year coach Robin Calender. “We have four returning starters, although our strong middle hitter, junior Kristen Dansereau, is out for the first half of the season with an injury. But other players (Juliette Sasso and Leah Forte) will help out in that area.”

The big players are seniors Kate Porter (setter, outside hitter), Sam Mohammed (outside hitter), Lizzie Doxsee (libero) and juniors Alicia Sleight and Emily Jennings.

Callender said a promising newcomer is sophomore Teagan Chrzanowski, who will be utilized as a right side and outside hitter.

H-K opens at East Haven Friday at 5:15 p.m.

Boys cross-country MIDDLETOWN

After an undefeated dual meet season in 2016, a CCC division championship and a fifth-place finish in the Class L state championship meet, optimism abounds on LaRosa Lane.

“We’re hoping to once again be undefeated on the conference level and win the CCC South championship,” said fifth-year coach Rob Weston. “Our top three returners are in very good shape and hope to make the State Open. If we can stay injury-free and run to our potential, we are hoping to be one of the top teams in Class L.”

The big runners are senior captain Ben Carlson, senior Stefan Mazzeo, junior captain Matt Lecky, junior Konstantin Ditc and junior Dylan Karpel.

Three promising freshmen include Justin Karpel, Sean Ahern and Nick Carlson.

Middletown opens Friday hosting the Blue Dragon Invitational at Veterans’ Park.

XAVIER

The Falcons appear to be loaded. They return their top four runners from a 9-0 dual meet season, a season in which they won the Southern Connecticut Conference crown and finished third in both Class LL and the State Open.

“We feel that we can contend at the postseason championship meets,” said nine-year coach Chris Stonier. “Our success will depend on numerous athletes who trained very well over the summer, which will be very important in establishing tremendous depth out of our fifth, sixth and seventh runners.”

The returnees included seniors Owen Curran, Owen Lally, and Trevor Christie and juniors Dillon Selfors, William Curran and Ryan Grochowski, and sophomore Robbie Cozean. Two newcomers of note are Adam Anziano and Joshua Rahamatullah.

Xavier opens with a fourteam met with Notre Dame, Lyman Hall and Cheshire in Cheshire on Sept. 12 at 4 p.m.

COGINCHAUG

What to do for an encore? The Blue Devils were 15-0 and won the Shoreline Conference title and the Class SS state championship. They finished 10th in the State Open against the big boys.

The key returning runners for coach Matt Diglio, now in his 12th season, are seniors Andrew Meredith, Dan Schumann, Jonah Spector, Conor McCabe, Michael Callas and Kurt Sodergren, plus juniors Kyle Criscuolo and Seth Freeman.

Coginchaug will run in the Blue Dragon Invitational Friday in Middletown.

HALE-RAY

The Little Noises return four runners from the 2016 team that finished third in the SLC and sixth in Class S.

The top returnees for coach Dave Kraszewski are seniors Connor Egan and Ryan Brownell and sophomores James Gagne and Eric Sikorski. The top newcomers are all freshmen -- Micheal Rapuano, Griffin Sullivan, Aiden Behilo, Gabe Hollis and Ethan Theile.

“The freshmen will solidify our lineup,” said Kraszewski.

Hale-Ray will participate in the Blue Dragon Invitational in Middletown Friday.

Girls cross-country COGINCHAUG

Like the boys, the girls were 15-0 and won the SLC crown. They were runnersup in the Class SS meet and equaled the boys with a 10th place State Open finish.

The key returning runners include seniors Kelsey D’Amico, Lexie Bouthillier, Julie Kelley, Maggie Fisher and Grace Lindell, plus junior Emma Anziano.

“Both the girls and boys teams work hard and improve each day in practice,” said coach Matt Diglio. We hope to be competitive in the tough Shoreline Conference and at the state level.”

The Blue Devils will run in the Blue Dragon Invitational in Middletown Friday.

MERCY

Coach John Hastings, now in his 21st year coaching in the Mercy High program, is optimistic.

“We have a very strong and talented senior group with three very promising runners in the junior class,” he said. “We are not as deep as last year. We hope to equal or better our performances in the SCC and state meets.”

Mercy was 8-1 in dual meets last fall, won the Quinnipiac Division crown in the SCC, was third in the SCC meet and sixth in the Class L championship meet.

The key runners are seniors Catie LoBianco (AllSCC), captain Sarah Kohs, Mauve Williams and Emma Ushchak and Autumn Anderson, plus juniors Rachael Cipolla, Mae Grochowski and Nell Kordalski.

Mercy will open in a multiple team meet at Cheshire on Sept. 12.

MIDDLETOWN

Veteran MHS coach Jenn Price, now in her 20th season, is upbeat.

“We have a very promising season ahead of us,” she said. “We have a young team with a ton of potential. With our returning talent and newcomers, we have the talent to have a great season.”

MHS was 5-2 in the dual meet season in 2016 and was 11th in the Class L meet.

“We hope to compete for the CCC South title,” said Price.

The key runners are senior Alexa Gonzalez, junior Kaylee Morosky, and sophomores Ariana Monarca (All-CCC South; State Open qualifier), Nicole Nenninger (All-CCC South) and Sophia Manos.

The promising newcomers are freshmen Emma Zingle and Rola Dagamseh.

MHS will run in its Blue Dragon Invitational Friday at Veterans’ Park.

HALE-RAY

Emily Sienna is back. She’s only a junior and she’s the defending Shoreline Conference and state Class S champion. She was sixth in the State Open.

She will be supported by junior Alexis Belilo and senior Amy Wieleba, plus newcomers — all freshmen — Brianne Goff, Sarah Tozier, Abby Kelly and Kayleigh Champlin.

“We return our top two runners from our team that finished fifth in the SLC and seventh at Class S,” said coach Dave Kraszewski. “A promising group of freshman will make an immediate impact on the team.”

The Little Noises will run in the Blue Dragon Invitational Friday.

Field Hockey MERCY

The Tigers hope to improve on last year’s 6-11-1 season.

“With the potential of an athletic freshman class, along with returning sophomores and juniors, we are very optimistic for a successful season,” said cohead coach Marji Levine. “We have a large, skilled senior class and we will be looking for their leadership and commitment to achieve our goals.”

The key returning players are seniors Kendall Castro (forward), Jessica Gaetgans (midfield), Mary Sposito (midfield), Katherine Sedak (midfield) and Rita Sherban (defense).

“Our team is the most optimistic we have been in this senior class’s years,” said Levine. “We have been working hard in the preseason and understand what it takes to have a successful season. With a competitive conference, our hope is that we win the games we need to and keep the games close that will be a challenge for us.”

Mercy opens with Hamden Friday at home at 3:45 p.m.

Fall crew MIDDLETOWN AND XAVIER

Fall crew is very much a preparation for the regular spring season, but both Middletown and Xavier look upon the fall season as necessary for the spring.

“We always look forward to the fall season of crew,” said Middletown coach Wendy Sheil, who has been coach for six seasons. “The weather and river are usually nice and the kids are eager to get back on the water. We also get the opportunity to welcome a new crop of novice team members and they are always a blast to work with.

“Our captains — Benjamin Clark, Benjamin Tyszka, Zachary Williams, Lauren Deleon, Karolina Tarnacki and Alyssa Trafford — have already proven to be solid leaders. We have solid junior and senior classes with good experience that they can be successful this fall at our regattas.”

Xavier uses the fall much the same way.

“We are down 19 members who graduated, so we are hungry for new members,” said six-year coach Peter Belmonte. “But we are in a similar position as we were last year at this point -- we have the makings of a strong Varsity Four for the Head of the Charles in October and some solid potential for the spring Varsity Eight.”

Xavier’s varsity eight was 12-1 in the spring season while Middletown’s boys were 4-3 and the girls were 3-3.