Printer Friendly Version - Hand Tennis Squads, Boys' Golf Aim for Repeats

Senior co-captain Alex Reiger and the Hand boys' tennis squad look to continue their success after a 2013 campaign that saw them claim a SCC Division I Tournament title before sharing a Class L state crown.

Dawn Fagerquist enters her fourth year guiding the defending SCC Division I and Class L co-state champions, who are led by senior captains Alex Reiger (2013 State Open qualifier, state tournament quarterfinalist, All-SCC Division I Team, Most Improved Award, undefeated regular season, 22-2 overall) and Louie Rogers.

The Tigers bring added support with seniors Scott Rubinstein (All-State Team, state tournament semifinalist, All-SCC Division I Team, team MVP, 20-3 overall in 2013) and David Shultz; juniors Collen Nelson, Austin Paresi, James Cutler, and Andrew Goldfeder; plus sophomores Danny Weinreb, Andrew Pace, and Michael Vizziello; and freshman Kyle Fay.

Fagerquist declares the team goals to be having a successful season while also repeating as conference and state title holders.

Kitty Palmer begins her 14th year as head coach led by senior captains and No. 1 doubles tandem Gabby Diotalevi and Megan Sosensky, who have both started in the Tigers' lineup all three of their previous years.

The four-time defending SCC champions also return senior Erin Hart at doubles, along with juniors Clara Wang and Ana Grosso in singles play, and sophomore Ryann Corniello for doubles.

"We are an inexperienced team this year, but we always strive to be competitive in the SCC and hope to be playing our best tennis at the end of the season," said Palmer. "All our matches will be a challenge, but Guilford, Amity, and North Haven will be our toughest competition."

In his sixth season as head coach, Jim Holleran returns a Tigers' squad that captured SCC Hammonasset Division, conference, and state titles last spring following a perfect 17-0 regular campaign.

Three-year letter winners in seniors Brian Carlson (2013 All-State Team, All-SCC Team, team MVP) and John Collins will captain Hand on the links, each of who come off stellar solo seasons. While both were among the team's top scorers in tournament play, Carlson is the two-time defending SCC individual champion.

Holleran added that junior Tommy Pellatt, who shot a 74 in the state meet, will also help the Tigers in their tall tasks of repeating their SCC and state crowns.

"Our goal is to be amongst the best teams in the SCC and the state," said Holleran. "It will be difficult, but we will endeavor to win the SCC and state titles again this year. The SCC has been realigned so all of the teams in the upper division will be excellent."

Hand will also be looking to round out its lineup in the No. 4 and 5 spots with seniors Todd McAndrews, Sam Jablonski, and Phil Crampton; plus juniors Michael O'Sullivan and Justin Freund; along with sophomore Cliff Baird competing for playing time.

Travis LaPointe enters his third campaign as skipper, assisted in the dugout by Travis Gulick, Bill Daunais, Jake Ryder, and Paul Coppola, following a season that saw Hand capture its first SCC Hammonasset Division championship in 15 years. LaPointe professes that the Tigers' key to prominence will be playing like winners 24-7.

"This year's team is going to be a fun group to watch play. They are a fun group to watch practice and there is a lot of talent on this roster," said LaPointe. "If we stay healthy, work hard, and do things the right way, the sky is the limit for Hand baseball this year and in the years to come. Our goals are to get better every single day, be physically and mentally tough, carry ourselves with character and integrity, and be positive role models in our community. If we do those things, the winning will take care of itself."

Leading Hand around the base paths will be a pair of senior outfielders as captains with Scott Braren (.358 average, All-SCC Team, co-MVP for 2013) in center and Josh DeMartino manning right.

The Tigers also return a strong infield with seniors of pitcher/infielder Reed Smith and catcher Blake Egan, alongside juniors with hurler/infielder Brian Anderson and sophomore Ray Miklos at the hot corner.

The depth of the ball club goes even further down the lineup with seniors Jack Pancak, Danny Gardner, Sean Scoopo, and Andrew Card; plus additional help from juniors of shortstop Bobby Lanza, pitcher/first baseman Drew Harmon, and hurler Joe Hill.

The Tigers have big contests with Hammonasset rivals Guilford, Law, and Foran that will prove pivotal in Hand's quest to retain its division crown.

Mike Niekrash and the Tigers will be led by senior co-captains Annah Curcio and Lauren Reid. Hand also maintains strong underclass athletes in juniors Mel Rennie and Katie Omdahl, along with sophomores Allie Buller, Sam Pavano, and Maddie Yaggi.

Niekrash, assisted by Lindsay Wasserman and JV Coach Mary Pat Maloney, said his team's targets are to win the SCC Hammonasset Division and be competitive in both conference and state tournaments. The Tigers will tackle key foes in Guilford, Foran, and Mercy along the way.

Paul Deon begins his Tigers' tenure as head coach following a 10-8 year for Hand. Mike Cinicolo is captain with Reid Sweitzer, Mike Marino, Patrick Rogers, Bryan McManus, and Taylor Houghton all playing pivotal roles.

"We are young and competitive, so only time can tell how good we will be," said Deon. "With such a strong [SCC] league, all games become key."

In his sixth campaign at the helm, Kevin Siedlecki, assisted by Danielle Tammaro and Jill Gerzabek, comes off a campaign in which the Tigers reached the SCC Tournament final and captured a game in the state tournament. Hand will be led by a pair of 2013 All-State midfielders and senior captains in Brooke Barry and Brenna Hobin. Not to be outdone, the Tigers boast a productive underclass in juniors Lauren Cole (2013 All-State Team) and Erin Mammele.

With the objective of winning the SCC title, Hand takes on top competition that includes an opening day matchup with Class S runner-up Haddam-Killingworth, along with a SCC title game rematch with Cheshire.

"We have to rebuild our whole defense, having lost the starting lineup to graduation, but we have some talented and athletic girls who are starting to step up into those roles," said Siedlecki. "Attack and midfield will also be filling in the holes left by graduating seniors and an injury to junior Lucy Edwards."

New Head Coach Mark Figlar, alongside rookie assistants Giovanni Meier and Pat Kelly, will be led by captains in senior outside hitter Wesley Kimmel and junior right side hitter Caleb Bridge. The Tigers additionally return middle hitter Asa Palmer and Jordan Taggert.

With the team goals of making the state tournament and then making a march to the finals, Hand will battle top SCC adversaries in Cheshire, Amity, and Xavier, along with non-conference foe Oxford.

Co-coaches Paul Risseeuw and Maria Keogh feature captains in Kate Mazzeo and Ted Neighbors to lead the 24-sailor squad that has eight newcomers.