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SOCCER: The Gryphons won their first NYSAIS championship last season, yet Coach Beau Morki says all the players, even the eight who are returning, have to prove themselves anew.

By Melanie Cane

SOCCER

The Gryphons won their first NYSAIS championship last season, yet Coach Beau Morki says all the players, even the eight who are returning, have to prove themselves anew.

“No one on the team has a secured position. Every year the girls must return ready to play. We have a large junior varsity team from last year who will contribute to the new varsity team.” This being said, returning seniors Samantha Corbi and Alexis Rondanelli have nothing to worry about, nor do the other two seniors, Nicole Shapiro and Julie Pfohl. Corbi was a star in last year’s Championship game. Coach Morki said Corbi, Francesca Cristiano, and Kathleen Daly are the players to watch.

Naturally, the team wants to win another championship this year, but more importantly, they want to have fun. Coach Morki is, “looking forward to watching our Holy Child student-athletes carry a torch that was lit by their sisters last year. Every season is a challenge, but my faith is strong especially when discussing our students. You don’t need a trophy to be a champion, Holy Child girls are champions as soon as they walk through our doors.”

This is a rebuilding year for the team with a new assistant coach, Jessica Lindsay, and many new players.

Their first game is against Marymount at home on September 5.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Holy Child’s team is comprised of 17 runners, the top seven of which make up Varsity. With only three freshmen, there will not be a freshman team, because that requires a minimum of four runners.

Coach Mike Simon, who believes individual times are more important than the team record per se, said last year’s greatest accomplishments were placing fourth in the NYSAIS meet and having two girls miss winning by two seconds. He would be thrilled to see the team do as well or better this year, but with a young team he is primarily looking forward to watching all the runners progress.

The captains are seniors Cameron Kellett and Liz Curcio. The top three runners are juniors Emily Fray and Anna Liddy and sophomore Ruthie O’Driscoll.

On August 29, the team is hosting an inter-squad meet. Their season begins September 17 with the league meet at Sherwood Island Park.

VOLLEYBALL

Holy Child’s Volleyball team is very excited about this upcoming season and is especially thrilled to have returning coach Bill Kutner, as they have had five different coaches in the past five years.  Assistant Coach Noelle Tudor, who has been with the team for five years, said there are a lot of talented girls on the team, especially seniors Molly Leitner and Elizabeth Eiden and juniors Anne Marie Altomare and Francesca LeSalle. Besides these four players, there are three other returning players and they are going to add five new players.

Last year the team had its best season ever, finishing at 11-9 and this year they hope to improve further. Coach Kutner and Coach Tudor are looking forward to working with the girls and watching them become stronger, more cohesive and more consistent as the season progresses.

They have their first scrimmage on September 3 at Greenwich Academy and open the season at home against Dalton on September 5.

FIELD HOCKEY

Coming off a 7-8-1 record last year, the team’s primary goal is to do better. With seven returning seniors, including the two captains, Katie O’Donnell and Lily Dennis, and junior captain Maddy Fitzwilliam, they are looking to add five or more new players.

Coach Barb Lorys says the key to improving will be working together as a team and becoming more aggressive offensively. “If we can achieve these two things, we will have a successful season.” Lorys is depending on her three captains to lead the charge.

Their first game is September 9 at home against Chapin.