Rye High School Fall Previews
By Mitch Silver
Football
Garnet captains, pictured from left: Declan Lavelle, Tyler Webb, Lachlan Nelson, Jack Iuliano, and Brendan Lavelle.
For the second year in a row, Rye High Head Football Coach Dino Garr — at the helm for his 35th season — lost his team’s leading rushers and receivers (all five top pass catchers) to graduation. The players who are back, though, are doing just fine.
The Garnets have already won their first two games. They defeated Byram Hills 37-6 as returning junior QB Declan Lavelle completed 17 of 27 for 197 yards and a TD toss to Matthew Tepedino. Cousin Brendan Lavelle ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns.
Last week, the Garnets defeated Somers by 19-9 after falling behind by a touchdown and safety early. In that one, Declan Lavelle again completed 17 throws, ran for two touchdowns, and threw for one more in a turnover-free effort.
Tonight, Coach Garr goes for the 300th win of his career against Sleepy Hollow. He’s taking nothing for granted. “All the teams in this league are tough. Fortunately for us, our offensive and defensive lines returned virtually intact this season. We’ll go as far as they take us.” Anchoring things up front is Division 1 recruit Jack Iuliano.
After tonight’s tussle with the Headless Horsemen, the Garnets will host former Class AA powerhouse Clarkstown South, dropping down to Class A this season, next Friday under the Nugent Stadium lights. The Rams are also undefeated.
Boys’ Soccer
The Rye team joins Coach Jared Small, top row, in looking forward to the season.
After taking three years off to earn his law degree from Harvard, Jared Small is back as the Garnets’ Head Coach for his 10th season, ably assisted by Prince Danso and Jon Tuttle. Returning four starters from a team that went 8-9-1 last year, Small looks to improved defensive work to trigger the attack, something they worked on during play in the Lakeland Summer League.
The Garnets kicked off their season with a 7-2 victory at Peekskill September 5. Kevin Abbondanza had a hat trick and two assists in the win. Jack Tartaglia, Nic Logan, Jonathan Mehrara, and Jake Creus also scored. Three days later the Garnets dropped a 1-0 decision to a tougher foe in Sleepy Hollow.
Coach Small said, “The program has a lot of positive energy right now. As we discovered this summer, we attack at our best when we play fast, get our outside backs into the offensive third, and look to combine. Overall, the guys have proven these past few months that they can both think and play the game, and I believe this will translate into our being competitive with every team on our schedule this season.”
After meeting Brewster yesterday post-press time, Rye hosts Yonkers tomorrow night under the lights.
Rye/Rye Neck/Blind Brook Girls’ Swimming & Diving
Seniors flanking head Coach Kelly Johanson are, from left: Enora Lauvau; Giania Waldman, Mary Slattery, Emma Capaldi, Ida Henriksson, and Maggie Victory.
New Head Coach Kelly Johanson grew up in Larchmont and swam six years for Mamaroneck High School. She’s coached at Badger Swim Club the last three years and at Pelham Country Club the last two summers.
She takes over a team that, last season, swam and dove in League 2, finishing with a 4-3-1 dual meet record. The team came in sixth in its Divisional meet and 10th at Sectionals. Three Rye High girls and a Rye Neck swimmer competed at the State Level.
The merged team has 32 swimmers and divers this season. One swimmer, a freshman, hails from Blind Brook. The four senior captains are Ida Henriksson and Maggie Victory, both from Rye Neck, and Emma Capaldi and Mary Slattery, both from Rye.
Coach Johanson said, “We are anticipating many great swims and dives. The team relays look strong as well as many of our individual swimmers/divers.” They host White Plains this afternoon at Hommocks Middle School in Mamaroneck.