SPRING PREVIEWS: Newtown Girls Track Back To Defend SWC Title

By Kim J. Harmon

Remember how the start of the 2004 fall season was greeted with so much optimism and how the Newtown High School sports programs responded with three South-West Conference championships and two CIAC Class LL state championships?

Much of that same kind of optimism imbues the start of the 2005 spring season as one team defends its SWC championship, at least four others begin legitimate assaults on their own SWC championships, and two individuals are within shouting distance of school records.

There is a whole lot of promise and a whole lot of expectation heading into the season and judging by how successful the Nighthawks have been since the 2004-05 school year started back in September (with a 150-72-1 overall record, a .676 winning percentage), the next couple of months could be humdingers.

GIRLS TRACK

Last year: 14-1-0; SWC Champions

It does not seem possible – or even logical – but a Newtown High School girls’ track and field team, which finished 14-1-0 last year while capturing a South-West Conference championship, could be even stronger this year.

Yeah, that’s right – stronger.

Of course, the Lady Nighthawks will miss the presence of former co-captains Carolyn Brennan and Caitlin Weber, but more than a dozen seniors will provide all the leadership coach Doug Russell needs on a team that numbers about 100 athletes.

Yeah, that’s right – 100.

“This should be an exciting season,” coach Russell stated, “with all the girls who are returning and the numbers we have.”

Leah Herity and Kate Stickles will captain the 2005 team. Herity finished second in the pole vault and fourth in the 200-meter dash at the SWC championships last year while Stickles was third in the 800-meters. They will head a strong stable of returning performers who, for the most part, did virtually all the damage at the SWCs.

Perhaps foremost is junior Alex Konneker who, in her first year on the track, captured SWC titles in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and shared an SWC title in the 4x100 meters with Sadie Ball and Ciara Simek (who return) and Tara Gaston (who is playing lacrosse this spring).

Then there is Jackie Curran (third in the triple jump at SWCs), Quincey Blanchard, Jess Cosgrove (third in discus) and Dana Taylor. And don’t forget the 4x400 relay team, which captured a CIAC Class L state championship, returns virtually intact with Ball, Konneker, Simek and Julie Landin leading the way.

“I feel we have many strengths this year,” said coach Russell. “Each of these girls (mentioned above) have participated at the state level in track and field. We have a strong group of girls returning as well as many newcomers … a number of freshman and sophomores who have strengthened our distance as well as given us some new sprinters.”

New hurdlers and new throwers still working on their techniques could give coach Russell and assistants Holly Ferguson and Laura McLean even more weapons to wield in 2005.

“Based on our performance last year – as SWC champs – and the returnees this year,” said coach Russell, “in addition to some young standouts, we hope to be as successful at the conference level and to improve our performance at the state level.”

BOYS TRACK

Last year: 10-3-1; 6th at SWC championships

There is no mistaking the talent that the Newtown High School boys’ track team lost from its 10-3-1 team of a year ago.

Gone are Edmund Breitling, Dan McIlrath, Tim Carlisle, Adam Konneker, Matt Miller, Joe Sgammato and Phil Zencey and all they did was help lead the Nighthawks to a sixth-place finish at the South-West Conference championships.

But despite those losses head coach Ed O’Bloj believes the ‘Hawks have come back better than ever.

They are certainly bigger than ever; after an incredible indoor track season in which more than 120 athletes participated (girls and boys), more than 70 boys have come out for the 2005 outdoor season and half of them are upperclassmen – most with on the track experience.

Leading the way will be captains Jon Larsen, Pete Dittmar, Ryan Davies and Mike Cash. While Larsen and Davies will be part of a very deep short-distance crew, Dittmar will be at the forefront of the distance events with Mike Cash carrying the load in the field events.

Key returnees include a group of guys who helped lead the cross country team to a second-place finish in the SWCS – Alister Ratcliff, Charlie Baldour, Chris DeRoo and Eric MacKnight. Then there are guys like Liam Cawley, Nick Mentessana, Ryan Peters, Nick Varga, Ryan Kraft, AJ Craparo, Brian Poeltl, Jeff Lipnick, Scott Nichols and Matt Cole who should make a big impact this spring.

The ‘Hawks will also be wielding something of a secret weapon in 2005 as senior Marcus Tracy – the PARADE All American soccer player heading to Wake Forest in the fall – will add a definite spark to the sprints and short distance events. Also coming over from soccer (and basketball, for that matter) are Adam Drummond, Kevin Quinn and Brian Miles.

The team is loaded with athletes and aiming for the top of the SWC.

Look out.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Last year: 12-5-0; SWC runners-up

On the eve of the 2004 season opener, head coach Sara Strait – starting her final season on the sidelines – knew the program was sitting on a strong foundation of young players but didn’t expect those players to emerge until after she was gone.

Well, those players emerged well ahead of schedule, leading the Newtown High School girls’ lacrosse team to a 12-5-0 record and a trip to the South-West Conference championship game. And now incoming coach Maura Fletcher is looking to take this team to the next level.

“I think we have a shot at the SWC championship,” said coach Fletcher, who takes over a program that won its 100th game in its 14th season last year. “We lost in the finals last year and although we lost three key players, I expect this year’s team to be really competitive.”

The Lady Nighthawks had a powerful offensive attack in 2004, but lost the services of former co-captains Kelly Collier (31-10-41) and Kate Fenton (23-13-36) as well as Heidi Ekstrom (19-12-31).

Sure, that’s a sizeable chunk of offense, but the ‘Hawks – here’s the good news – will be returning their two leading scorers: Meg Regnery (59-5-64) and Karli Beitel (34-12-46). Regnery already has 110 career goals and is only 39 shy of breaking the school record of 148 set by Ellie Champagne. Meanwhile, Beitel already has 60 goals and could be a candidate for the 100-goal club.

While Regnery and Beitel will lead the attack, the ‘Hawks will also benefit from the presence of sophomore Rachel Maley (6-1-7) up front.

“Newtown is chock full of young talent,” said coach Fletcher. “We only have one returning senior, but regardless of the age of the players they really seem to be working well together. I think there is a lot of talent on this team.”

Junior goaltender Kerrie Canavan is one of those players who emerged last year and coach Fletcher feels she has stepped up her game even more and could be a real solid force behind a group of fast midfielders and defenders.

“Sophomore Katie Sudby has a great stick and I’m hoping for her to emerge as a strong force on defense as well,” said coach Fletcher. “We have so much speed in the midfield, something a coach always hopes for and sometimes never gets.”

Not this year, not with players like Casey Frobey (7-11-18), Kimberly Solheim (12-10-22), Rachel Eastman (1-0-1) and Moira Collier (8-4-12) returning to the fold. Add to that the presence of Tara Gaston, a very strong athlete who last year helped girls’ track and field 4x100 relay team capture an SWC title.

“We are well conditioned and ready to play,” said coach Fletcher. “It looks like a great year for Newtown.”

Other team members include Kara Whipkey, Brianna Berg, Jen Greenwood, Katie McNulty, Erica Vacaro and Elizabeth Feltch.

BASEBALL

Last year: 7-13

Respect.

Aside from qualifying for the South-West Conference and CIAC Class LL state tournaments – a goal for any team, any season – the Newtown High School baseball team is looking to earn a little more respect in 2005.

“We proved we can play ball with the larger, more dominant teams in the league last year,” said third-year coach Carl Strait. “Now we have to find a way to win those games. The only way we can do that is by staying healthy, working hard and continuing to improve each game.”

The ‘Hawks could suffer with the loss of Matt Myslewski (3-6 on the mound and .300 with five doubles, two triples, two homers and 10 RBI at the plate) and Pat McCarthy (.396 with nine doubles, two triples and 10 RBI) … but nearly a dozen players will return with varsity experience.

The key returnees are catcher Pete Oggeri (.391 with two doubles and two triples), outfielder Brennan Coakley (.471 with two doubles, one triple and two homers in only 17 at-bats) and first baseman Nick Magoulas (.373 with four doubles and 10 RBI).

Magoulas and Oggeri were nominated for the All-Division team a year ago while Coakley, who appeared in only six games after transferring from St. Joseph’s of Trumbull and sitting out the first month of the season, earned honorable mention.

Other key returnees include Ryan McGrath (.327 with five doubles), Mike Tibbetts (.328 with four doubles), Steve Marks (.341 with five doubles), Seth Hull (.385 with one double and one triple), Steve Vichiola (.250) and pitcher Alex Dolan.

Marks and Dolan will do most of the work on the hill, but McGrath has a great arm and nasty stuff and gives coach Strait and assistant Matt Childs another weapon. Put them in front of a solid infield (which includes newcomer Matt Nicoll) and a speedy outfield and the Nighthawks may be able to avoid some of the pitfalls that kept them out of the state tournament last year.

“If we can produce runs,” said coach Strait, “we could be dangerous.”

Other varsity members include Jesse Furphy, Dave Marcucilli, Brian Shimko, Graham Philbrick and Tom Gaboriault. Contributions could also come from Brian Cullinan, Joe DeVellis, Joe Greenfield, Ryan Clark and Tucker Kass, who will open the season on the junior varsity field.

SOFTBALL

Last year: 13-9

Sure – the Newtown High School softball team may have lost two of its biggest run producers, but the Lady Nighthawks have always been about pitching and defense and both of those areas seem to be as solid as ever.

Even though the ‘Hawks will have to learn how to get along without shortstop Trina Ramsdell (.371 with three doubles and nine RBI), third baseman Erin Murdoch (.232 with three doubles, a triple, and 12 RBI) and outfielder Stacy Gordon (.259 with two triples and 12 RBI), but they will return their No. 1 pitcher and the meat of their batting order.

Of course, the pitching circle belongs to senior co-captain Lisa Morgan, who boasts a three-year record of 39-18 with a 0.94 earned run average and 469 career strikeouts. Morgan is fourth on the Newtown High all-time strikeout list, 188 off the school record of 647 set by Cathy Byrne in 2000.

And when it comes to generating offense at the plate, that task will be taken up, in large part, by co-captains Christina Wolf (.355 with six doubles, one homer, and a team-high 18 RBI) and Megan LaFlamme (.356 with two doubles, 15 RBI and a team-high 20 runs) as well as catcher Ashley Ferris (.239 with a double, triple, home run and 13 RBI).

Last year, that threesome combined to produce 92 runs.

Helping to set the table for the Newtown offense will be junior Jenna Van Waalwijk, who hit .241 and scored 10 runs with a double and two triples.

“We look to continue our winning ways,” said head coach Jay Edwards. “Lisa Morgan – who returns to the mound for her senior season – joins captains Christina Wolf and Megan LaFlamme, along with seniors Courtney Brunton and Emily Blewett, and an experienced group who have succeeded together over the years. This team plays hard, and is known for its lock-down defense and aggressive offense.”

The ‘Hawks reached the CIAC Class LL state tournament last year and won a first-round game against a tough Naugatuck opponent, earning the right to play top-seeded Southington … a team which had not allowed a run all season.

The locals acquitted themselves well in a 3-0 loss to the Lady Knights and hope to improve on the successes of 2004.

Other varsity members include Emily Blewett (.250 with two RBI), Lisa Alberico, Sophie Cerreta, Annie Grills (.227 with a double and two RBI), Ali Legros, Sammie Ciaccia and Joanna Barry.

BOYS TENNIS

Last year: 10-4

Head coach Marty Margulies had the Newtown High School boys’ tennis team on the verge of qualifying for the South-West Conference tournament and all it would have taken would have been a victory against Brookfield on the final day of the 2004 regular season.

Alas, that victory did not come and whether or not the Nighthawks can return to that point in 2005 is still unknown.

“This is a re-building year,” said coach Margulies. “We have just one senior, a solid nucleus of juniors, and some promising freshmen and sophomores. But we do not have any superstars such as Jon Perachio from two years ago.”

The ‘Hawks will miss the presence of their former co-captains Matt McFadden and Jason Garbarino, but they will return a solid one-two punch in senior captain Chris Martin and junior Drew Adamek.

“I expect one of them to play first singles and the other second singles,” said coach Margulies. “Chris is one of the smartest players I’ve ever seen, and Drew one of the most patient. Each can play competitively against anyone in the conference and I think that either one of them would have tested Matt McFadden … which is no small compliment.”

Coach Margulies will mold his lineup from a group of solid players like juniors Mike Coster, Max Margulies and Jim Wilkins, sophomore Chris Meier and freshman Mario Roehrs. Presently, Meier and Margulies are slated for No. 3 and No. 4 singles with the rest vying for spots in the top doubles spots.

A number of upcoming players – such as Shane McCarthy, Ben Wicki, Dave Wilkins, Baddredine Ahtchi, Adam Feldman and Evan Ritzinger – will compete for the last doubles positions.

“All of them are serious players with a lot of potential,” said coach Margulies. “I don’t know if we’ll make it to the playoffs this year, but we’ll certainly give it a shot and we should win most of our matches.”

GIRLS TENNIS

Last year: 12-4

Even with two solid seniors – Kim Allen (No. 1 doubles) and Brittany Meier (No. 1 singles) – it was a strong group of underclassmen that led the Newtown High School girls’ tennis team into the South-West Conference and CIAC Class L state tournaments last year.

And the underclassmen could lead the way again in 2005.

Coming off a 12-4 record, the Lady Nighthawks welcome back a strong core of varsity players – the three seniors, Tara Ryan, Michelle Serock (co-captains) and Christina Elsenhans; juniors Emily Fields, Ashley Gabor, Lauren Nemeth, Sarah Salbu and Jill Tanner; and sophomores Nikia McFadden, Jenna Moser and Kristene Salbu.

On the singles court, Ryan, Serock and Nemeth were nearly unbeatable – in fact, Nemeth and Ryan advanced into the semi-finals of the SWC individual tournament and earned spots on the All-SWC team.

On the doubles court, the No. 2 tandem of Field and Gabor started to really come into their own at the SWC tournament while Tanner and Salbu played well throughout the year.

“I believe we have a strong solid team,” said first-year head coach Maureen Maher. “These girls are all very tough players who really want to win.”

Now, the incumbents will find themselves stiffly challenged for playing time since the ‘Hawks are welcoming three strong freshmen players and sophomore transfer from Florida. Freshmen Veronica Parsloe, Katie Serock and Maxx Zimmer figure to get some time on the court, as does sophomore Lauren DeFelice.

The ‘Hawks made some noise in 2004.

Perhaps in 2005, that noise will become much louder.

BOYS LACROSSE

Last year: 10-12; SWC Division I runners-up

First it was a body blow (losing Casey Kirch and Tom Ryan, the No. 1 and No. 2 all-time leading scorers, in 2003) and then it was an uppercut (losing John Oliver and Casey Kirch, 57% of the offense, along with starting goaltender Chris Body in 2004) and if the Newtown High School boys lacrosse team can get up off the canvas after that, everything will be fine.

“We feel good about our depth at the midfield and the experience of the defense,” said head coach Brian Micena. “We have been working very hard and have had a very positive preseason with scrimmages against Branford, Glastonbury, Shelton, Amity and Somers.”

Two years ago, the Nighthawks had one of the highest-scoring offenses in the entire state of Connecticut, but graduation has bled off most of that production and left the coaching staff looking for other ways to win.

At least the ‘Hawks return Grant Speer, who emerged last year as a productive threat and notched 24 goals as the third-leading scorer on the team. Jeff Bell (15-5-20) and co-captain Brendan O’Connor (9-4-13) also return to bolster the offense.

Tyler Law (9-0-9), co-captain Pat Keating (2-2-4), Dan Gindraux (2-0-2), co-captain Bob Pattison (0-2-2), Mike Conroy (1-1-2) and Zach D’Agostino (1-0-1) are the only other returning players who notched at least a point for the ‘Hawks last year.

So the team will look to its midfield and defense in 2005 and while the ‘Hawks will miss the presence of Devon Manfredonia (2-1-3) and Body, they do return top defenseman Marc Ingerman with Scott Regnery, Bob Pattison and Drew Harmata.

“We have a very challenged schedule,” said coach Micena, “playing some of the best teams in the state. We hope to be competitive in the conference, using our athleticism and speed early as our newer players get used to the system that we use.”

By virtue of the odd Division I/Division II alignment of the South-West Conference, the ‘Hawks have already – without playing a game – clinched a berth in the Division I championship game against Joel Barlow.

Last year, no one gave the ‘Hawks much of a chance against the Falcons and, yet, the locals played a competitive game and lost by only three goals. So who knows what could happen in 2005?

As the ‘Hawks welcome 17 freshmen into the program, other team members include seniors John Collins and Alex Read and sophomores Bob Attanasio, Joe Bowen, Greg Hill, Tom Hutchinson, Nick Mauer, Garrett O’Connor, Scott Perry, Max Reed, Kevin Regan, Travis Speer, Brian Stickles and Joe Collins.

GOLF

Last year: 9-4; 2nd at SWC Tournament

It’s nice to look back – like head coach Jen Huettner does – to reflect on the Newtown High School golf team’s second-place finish at the 2004 South-West Conference tournament at Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury.

But then reality slaps you in the back of the head and you realize that four of the five players (Ron Shimko, Ben Moore, Andrew Fiscella and Joe DeFeo) who participated in that tournament and led Newtown to its second-place finish are now gone.

The last remaining holdout is Dave McLaughlin, who carded an 87 on the tough Ridgewood layout at the SWCs.

That has left coach Huettner to sift through a number of new players to try and find a competitive lineup for 2005. Key returning players include seniors Dave Freeston, Nick Moser, Jon Cain, Jake Maher and Matt Ronan.

At press time, coach Huettner was still working with juniors Matt Taylor and Brendan Reilly; sophomores Billy McCann, Drew Taylor, JP McDade, Pat Daly and Evan Gregoire; and freshmen Steve Oberstadt, Kevin Troy and Dan Smith.

The golf team opens the season on Monday at Weston.