By Melanie Cane and Mitch Silver

Captains Margaret Mitchell, Amanda Hartzell, and Haley Nemsick

Girls’ Lacrosse

With ten returning players and an equal number of new ones, this will be a rebuilding season for the Garnet girls. Senior captains Amanda Hartzell and Haley Nemsick, along with junior captain Margaret Mitchell, will lead the way.

Blessed with speed in the midfield and a great offense, the Garnets will need to focus on shoring up their defense, especially because this season they are without All American goalie Micheline DiNardo, who graduated. By the time team returns from a spring break trip to Washington D.C., Coach Dennis Hurlie will have decided who will step into goal.

In addition to midfielders Hartzell and Mitchell, and defender Nemsick, one player to watch is sophomore defender Sara DeGraw.

The Garnets lost to Yorktown in the sectional semifinal by two goals last year. This year they hope to make it all the way.

Their first home game is March 31 against Walton High School from Georgia.

——————————-

Captains Megan Montalto, Sam Bluvol, and Katherine Brown

Softball

The team should benefit from having thirteen returning players, including six seniors. Senior captains Sam Bluvol (center field), Katherine Brown (pitcher and 3rd base), and catcher Megan Montalto have all been starters since freshman year and are hoping to lead the team deep into playoffs.

As yet, Coach Alex Tejera is unsure about additions to the roster, but he is hoping to find a pitcher to back up Brown, the team’s only pitcher. “The veterans know what to expect from our opponents and know what needs to be done,” said Tejera.

The players need to work on limiting their mistakes and being aggressive early in the pitch count. “In order for us to succeed, we will need a team effort, lead by our three captains.”

Last year the team was around .500 and got knocked out of the playoffs in the quarterfinal. Coach Tejera expects the team to do about the same this year in a very competitive league with some of the best teams in the section.

Their first game is March 31 at Nyack.

—————————————————–

Lindsay Powers and Mark Willis, two of the team’s four captains

Track

This season the Boys’ and Girls’ track teams have an enormous turnout with roughly 45-50 girls and over 60 boys. Seniors Mark Willis and Robbie Sims will lead the Boys’ team. The Girls’ captains are seniors Andrea Palu and Lindsay Powers.

Girls’ coach John McGee is anticipating an outstanding season in the distance events, as well as the long and triple jumps, since the indoor track team excelled in these events. Natalie Weiner shined in the 1500 and 3000 and Elena Perez-Segnini just missed qualifying for States in the 1000 and 1500. Powers did well in the jumps. With 20 new girls, McGee is hoping to improve in the sprints and the field events. He is looking forward to working with this great group of girls. “We are looking to build on what we accomplished indoors, and to find out what the new girls bring to the team.”

The Boys’ team is growing in popularity, notes Coach Jim Yedowitz, who is in his 39^th year of coaching track at Rye High, and he hopes this translates to finding some new talent. He expects the team to be competitive in every event and is looking for seniors Chris Tobin, Mark Willis, Robbie Sims, and Jan Nowak to have strong seasons. He anticipates breakout seasons from juniors Marek Nowak, Anders Jeffers, Alec Radtke, Floris Van Beurden, and Bernardo Hammes.

Coach Yedowitz anticipates the team will be stronger than it was last year, and even better next year. “With most of our strength in the juniors and sophomores, it will take some time for them to learn to compete at a higher level.”

Looking forward to another season, he mused, “The high points of coaching are always to find unexpected talent and develop the maturity and ability of any athlete especially when he exceeds my expectations. It’s always fun to win and/or break records!”

The team’s first meet is at home against Yonkers on March 27.

————————————————————

2017 Garnet captains Mat Bruno, Myles Burbank, and Dusty Mion

Baseball

Head Coach — Michael Bruno

16th year, 10th as Head Coach. Assistant Coach Chad Charney is in his 4th year.

2016 Record: “Last year we won the league for the third consecutive year. We lost in the second round of the playoffs to Tappan Zee. Disappointing, because I didn’t feel we played our best.” 

Returning starters: “The team is still evolving. Our team captains are Mat Bruno, Dusty Mion, and Myles Burbank.” 

What will it take to be successful? “We have been very fortunate to have great pitching over these past four years. That will be the key, if some of our veteran and young arms can be successful.” 

League changes: Ardsley is in, Port Chester is out.

Opening Day: Home vs. Yonkers, March 30 at 4:15 p.m.

————————–

Senior captains Brendan Dugan, Will Hynson, and Ryan Kirkpatrick are eager for the opening whistle.

Boys’ Lacrosse

Head Coach — Steve Lennon

1^st year. Head Coach at Eastchester last four years. “I grew up in Yorktown, where I played lacrosse for Lakeland/Panas, and then went to SUNY Cortland. At Eastchester High School last year, we won the league championship and made the Sectional semis. I was named Class B Coach of the Year.” Assistant coaches: Justin Otto, Simon Berk, Luke Walsh.

2016 record: 12-6. Both Eastchester and Rye lost in the Sectional semifinals. Rye ended the season with a 13-3 loss to Class B runner-up John Jay/Cross River.

Returning starters: Senior captains Will Hynson, M, Ryan Kirkpatrick, A, and Brendan Dugan, A, all started last year. Other returning starters are: juniors Billy Chabot, M, Peter Chabot, M/FO, and Owen Hull, D; and seniors Zack Samberg, D, and Jamie Chabot, LSM. Players on the verge are: seniors Teddy Aquilino, A, and Chris Kovacs, M/FO; juniors Seamus Carroll, A, Davis Ross, D, and Alex Goldstein, G; and sophomore Patrick Langer, D.

What will it take to be successful? “These days, games are won with face-offs, good play in the goal, and efficient clearing. We will do a lot of work to prepare ourselves in these phases of the game. We have a very deep midfield filled with returning upperclassmen, and a veteran attack unit. These offensive players will need to really step up, and control the tempo of the game. Our three captains are all offensive threats, and need to take over games in order for us to win. Our defense is very solid, and we need big play out of our new starting goalie. Our two returning starting close defenders need to take serious leadership roles, and command discipline from our defense.”

League changes: “Our league is still Rye, Pelham, Harrison, Byram Hills, Eastchester, and now Ardsley was added.” 

Opening Day: Home vs. Mamaroneck, March 28, 5 p.m.

—————————————

Coach Sue Dickson joins her returning players. Back row from left: John Barber, Andrew Graham, Guy Junkins, David Weiner, and James McFarland. Front row from left: Shane Killian, Eddie Collins, Miximilian Olmos-Van Velden, Alex Tretiak, Kenneth Nakamura. (Not pictured: Mehdi and Zachary Gaoud.)

Boys’ Tennis

Head Coach — Sue Dickson

29th year; Girls’ varsity for 7, boys varsity for 11.

Returning starters: “Shane Killian and Alex Tretiak will play the top two spots on the roster. Seniors Andrew Graham, Guy Junkins, John Barber, and James McFarland, are returning starters. They’ll be joined by Kenneth Nakamura and Daisuke Tremonte.  Juniors include starter Eddie Collins, David Weiner, Max Olmos-van Velde. Sophomore twins Mehdi and Zachary Gaouad will also become significant contributors this year.  Our leadership should be solid with this large group of returners who are dedicated to the game.”  

What will it take to be successful? “We hope to have a successful year and that will depend on hard work, grit, and gratitude for the privilege of playing the game. In addition to enjoying the sport of tennis and developing a love of the game and strategies involved, we hope to expand on everyone’s tennis acumen, already strong skills, and to become physically and mentally solid while expanding all aspects of play. I’m very optimistic about this group and excited about how we take shape.”

League changes: “We have a new league this year and will be playing against Pelham, Harrison, Eastchester, Byram Hills, and Ardsley. We are in the process of scheduling crossover matches with several other schools and will begin the season with a scrimmage against Rye Country Day.” 

Opening Day: Home vs. John Jay/Cross River, March 31 at 4:15 p.m.