Last year, Holy Child’s soccer team finished with a disappointing 5-10-1 record. Since then, the only senior, Charlotte Elcott, graduated and the coach, Ernest Harmon, left as well.
By Melanie Cane
New Season, New Coach, New Terrain
Last year, Holy Child’s soccer team finished with a disappointing 5-10-1 record. Since then, the only senior, Charlotte Elcott, graduated and the coach, Ernest Harmon, left as well.
The new coach, Peter Haley, who also is the school’s new Assistant Athletic Director, brings with him 31 years of college coaching experience, the last 27 years as the Head Soccer Coach at Springfield University. Coach Haley met the Holy Child team for the first time on August 20, and therefore said he has no idea what to expect.
Only one player from last year’s team graduated, so Coach Haley can only add one new player to this year’s team. Haley said he’s looking forward to taking over the team. “We will have to build on what’s already in place.”
The team chose seniors Jess Ciaccia and Tori Almeida as co-captains at the end of the last season.
Field Hockey Team Shoots for State Championship
After a 10-6-2 regular season, Holy Child’s 2011 field hockey team made it to the semifinals of the New York State Association of Independent Schools tournament where they lost to top-seeded Nichols in double overtime.
Although they lost seven seniors to graduation, the Gryphons have three senior tri-captains and eight juniors returning. The tri-captains are: Elizabeth McCooey, who was the team’s top scorer last year, Mary Murphy, and Grace Jordan.
Practice and tryouts began this week so the final roster is yet to be determined, but there are a lot of high quality athletes vying for the coveted spots. Coach Barb Lorys said her goal is to win the State Championship.
Eleven Cross-Country Runners Return
Last year’s cross-country team enjoyed a very good season, logging a 16-5 record, placing fourth in the Fairchester Athletic Association championship, and seventh in the New York State Association of Independent Schools championship.
This year, the Gryphons must fill a void left by the graduation of eight seniors as well as a departing coach. Cathleen Dee is the new coach and there are 11 runners returning, including senior co-captains Amanda Carlson and Ellen Lautenbach.
Carlson said the team’s goal this fall is to do well and have fun. “We have a lot of strong runners, so we should do well, and fun is a given.”
Volleyball Prospects Up In Air
Holy Child’s volleyball team had a disappointing season last year, finishing the season with five wins and 15 losses.
This year, the team will play without four seniors who graduated, and they had a last-minute coaching change.
The Gryphons’ new coach is Tana McMarrow.
With eight players returning, including senior captain Chelzea Edgar, and tryouts just beginning, the team’s future is unclear.
