By Kim J. Harmon

Y

ou know, it’s funny, but one might have expected that the graduation losses the Nighthawks suffered following an impressive 19-4 season in 1998 would have crippled the team in 1999. But despite the loss of players like Jenn Corkum, Michele DeLuca, Jenn Swiatowicz and Shana Eigen, the ‘Hawks recovered quite nicely, finishing 7-11 overall, 7-8 in the SWC, and earning a berth in the conference playoffs on the final day of the regular season.

Now the team may be even better.

Tom Czaplinski and Jay Edwards are in their second year coaching the program and this year coach Czaplinski – a former player at St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart University – will be mentoring the varsity program.

And he likes what he sees.

“I’m very excited,” he said. “We have a lot of new faces, but we have so much more experience, too. Experience will be our biggest asset and I think we have a definite chance to improve.”

The ‘Hawks step onto the court this year without the services of their former tri-captains Laura Hammond, Lily Fielding and Andrea Rustine. But in the captain’s chairs this year are Amanda Marsilio and Chrissy Deweese – with Marsilio one of the SWC’s best hitters and blockers and Deweese one of the SWCs most consistent servers.

The captains will lead a team with five new faces – four from last year’s jayvee program and one who is a newcomer to the sport. But there is some solid experience, too, in the return of Ally Gellert, Erin Masterton, Ashleigh Smarrella and Kate Woessner. Gellert is a strong front-line hitter and Masterton was a solid server and nice back row player. Smarrella and Woessner did the all-important work of setting up the front row last year and come back with a solid year of experience to bank on.

The new faces include Erin Carolan, Jaime Lindquist, Kate Anderheggen, Ann Schneider and Shannon Kohn.

Can the team jell and improve on last year?

“My main goal is to get to the states,” said coach Czaplinski, “and I think this team can go far.”

DATE   OPPONENT        TIME

Sept. 15  Stratford               5:15 pm

Sept. 18  at Joel Barlow        5:15 pm

Sept. 22  at Weston             6:30 pm

Sept. 25  Brookfield             6:30 pm

Sept. 27  at New Fairfield     5:15 pm

Sept. 28  at Notre Dame       5:15 pm

Oct. 2     New Milford           5:15 pm

Oct. 4     Bunnell                 6:30 pm

Oct. 6     Kolbe-Cathedral   5:15 pm

Oct. 9     Darien                   5:15 pm

Oct. 11   at Masuk               6:30 pm

Oct. 14   Jonathan Law             3 pm

Oct. 16   at Bethel               5:15 pm

Oct. 18   Foran                    6:30 pm

Oct. 20   at Lauralton Hall   5:15 pm

Oct. 23   Pomperaug            6:30 pm