Spikers Turn To Sophomore Class

By Andy Hutchison

The graduation of six seniors and loss of a would-be returnee who chose not to play volleyball this fall, leaves the Newtown High School girls in state of rebuilding. With seven sophomores on the court it is a great chance for the Nighthawks to build for the future, but Head Coach Tom Czaplinski is hoping for good things to happen this year.

Newtown had a most rewarding, yet disappointing season last fall. The Nighthawks went 17-1 in the regular season and got all the way to the conference finals and Class LL State Tournament’s semifinals only to fall just short of winning titles in 2008. Despite the graduation of so many key players, including Jordyn Good, Ashley Rothacker, and Jocelyn Pasko — all of whom earned all conference and/or all state accolades — Czaplinski is hopeful the Hawks can build on last year’s success.

“We’re shooting to improve on what we did last year which is reasonable but will definitely take some work,” the coach said.

If Newtown can fight its way back to the South-West Conference championship, the Hawks will hope the third time is the charm. Newtown has lost two straight SWC finales (to Joel Barlow in 2007 and Bethel last year).

“I think we’re looking to get that monkey off our back — so to speak — and win the big match,” Czaplinski said.

Just getting back to the pinnacle match will entail both having the new players step up and lead the way and overcoming a lot of talent around the SWC. The best opponents Newtown will have to deal with are Joel Barlow, Bunnell, Masuk, New Fairfield and Pomperaug, the coach said.

Good, along with now senior captain Megan Casey, were “partners in crime” at the net last season, Czaplinski pointed out. He is hopeful that Casey, an all state and all conference honoree, will step up and take that lead role that Good held in the spiking department last fall.

The other senior captain is Carolyn Fagan, who received all conference honorable mention. Rothacker was the team’s setter and sophomore setters Abbey Doski and Jess Lynch will be turned to for setting up a bulk of the point-getting chances. Other sophomores are Carly Iwanicki, Emma Herring, Alyssa Finkenstadt, Stefanie Clavette, and Riley Wurtz. There are no juniors on the roster, and with only two seniors, youth is prevalent but so to is athleticism, Czaplinski said.

“I think athleticism is our biggest strength. We’re hoping passing becomes the strength,” the coach said. “If we don’t pass we won’t win.”