By Kim J. Harmon

I

t was just 10 months ago that senior Kate Ryan hit the shot that lifted the Nighthawks to their first conference title in more than 50 years but one thing coach Gregg Simon has been most adamant about is reminding his girls that was then.

This is now.

It’s a new season and everything – especially the conference championship – is up for grabs again.

It is going to be hard to convince some people of that, however. As inexplicable as it may seem, the ‘Hawks are even stronger than they were a year ago . . . despite the loss (one of only two on the team, believe it or not) of a strong player like Ryan.

That’s because the ‘Hawks welcome back their center, Amanda Marsilio, who sat out last season while recuperating from a torn anterior cruciate ligament she suffered in a pre-season scrimmage.

The ‘Hawks are definitely better.

Certainly more experienced.

And clearly one of the favorites to win the South-West Conference title again.

So what’s the problem?

Staying hungry.

“This year I’ve already seen complacency,” said coach Simon. “I continue to warn the girls about that. This particular team hasn’t won a game yet. We have to keep working hard every day.”

Even though the ‘Hawks are better, more experienced, and clearly a favorite to win the title it will most definitely not be an easy road. The SWC may be one of the strongest conferences in the state with New Fairfield (having lost just one player), Masuk (having lost no one), Bunnell, and Kolbe-Cathedral (defending CIAC Class S champion) all vying for a crack at the title.

“New Fairfield is a veteran team that has had a lot of success,” said coach Simon, who saw that New Fairfield team beat his squad by 20 points last year. “Masuk didn’t lose on kid and will be very good and Bunnell will be outrageously good.”

If staying hungry is the one of the challenges facing this Nighthawk team, then competing with the rest of the league (stronger and more experienced . . . just like they are) is another.

“The league is as strong as it’s ever been,” said coach Simon. “I really thing a lot of teams have a shot to win it all.”

The third challenge – and one no less perplexing than the others – is finding playing time for the nine or 10 players who will be granted varsity uniforms for the 2000-2001 season. All of them can play and play well.

“The challenge with this much talent,” said coach Simon, “is to make sure everyone feels useful.”

In general the starting five could find Morgan Haines at the point guard, Ally Gellert at the shooting guard, Lori Iwanicki at the small forward, Lisa Masella at the power forward, and Amanda Marsilio at the center. The beauty of that lineup is, each of those players can make a legitimate claim to being the best in the SWC at her position.

But coach Simon might choose to start Lauren Adamek or Jayme Beckham (who flourished in her role of coming off the bench last year) at forwards and then mix or match the guards. It remains a wide open process.

Then there is Shannon Kohn, who has developed into a fine player, and then talented freshmen Kelley Haines and Julie Iwanicki who should also get some playing time. Of course, things will change a bit later on, in January, when senior sharp shooter Jessica Oswald returns from a knee injury suffered during the fall soccer season.

The team is talented, all right, but as coach Simon is quick to remind everyonne, talent won’t mean a whole lot if the ‘Hawks can’t maintain their focus.

“We have to continue to play together as a team,” he said. “It’s very important that we don’t focus on individual accomplishments and focus on team success.”

Getting to the SWC championship won’t be easy – no matter what anyone says or what it says on paper – but no one will deny that this team can definitely get there again.

Schedule

 

December 7th, versus St. Joseph’s, 7 pm; 9th, versus Norwalk, 7 pm; 12th, versus Joel Barlow, 7 pm; 15th, at Weston, 5:15 pm; 22nd, versus Kolbe Cathedral, 7 pm; 27th, at Masuk Holiday Tournament (Masuk), 8 pm; 29th, at Masuk Holiday Tournament (Joel Barlow or Warren Harding), TBA.

January 3rd, at Pomperaug, 7 pm; 5th, at Stratford, 7 pm; 9th, versus New Fairfield, 7 pm; 12th, versus Notre Dame, 7 pm; 16th, at New Milford, 7 pm; 19th, versus Masuk, 7 pm; 23rd, at Brookfield, 7 pm; 26th, at Immaculate, 7 pm; 30th, versus Bunnell, 7 pm.

February 6th, at Bethel, 7 pm; 9th, versus Jonathan Law, 7 pm; 12th, versus Lauralton Hall, 7 pm; 14th, at Foran, 7 pm.

The SWC quarter-finals will be held Saturday, February 17, at Pomperaug.The SWC semi-finals will be held Tuesday, February 20, at Bunnell.And the SWC finals will be held Friday, February 23, at Bunnell.