8 sports
the
May 2015
Dial
Spring Sports Teams Set High Goals for Season By Chris Chon
This spring season on the hilltop, teams are buzzing with excitement. The Track team is trying to capture its fourth consecutive NYSAIS championship. Senior Ross Hoch, a long distance runner on the team said, “Our goal is purely to win Ivies and NYSAIS.” This year, the team is looking bright as they have both young and old talent that are improving and thriving in the long distance, short distance, and throwing programs. Junior Alexis Arnold is looking to break the current Hackley discus record, after shattering the shot put record last year. The 4x100 team is looking to break Hackley history as well, already having the
Hackley runners excel in the 800m race.
Photo By Max Chen.
Junior golfers Allie Molner and Meghan O’Keefe pose for the camera. Photo by Sonia Singh.
number one state time and being invited to several national tournaments, most notably Penn Relays. The distance team, led by senior captains Tristan Jung and Claire Gomba, is looking to break records in the 800m, mile, two mile and the 4x800 relay as well as running fast times at Ivy and NYSAIS championships. Similarly, the Boys’ Lacrosse team has one and only one goal: To claim the NYSAIS title for the fourth year in a row. Sophomore Will Jones said, “Although we’re looking to claim the NYSAIS title for the fourth year in a row, it’s definitely going to be an uphill battle.” With the loss of key players, such as Damis Yancopoulos, one of the leading scorers of last year’s team and Harry Wechsler, the goalie of the 2014 NYSAIS champs last year, to Colgate and Georgetown, respectively, younger stars are having to fill in their shoes this year. New goalie sophomore Dave Streit, has manned the goal well early in the season. “He’s grown a lot since the beginning of the season and has improved an innumerable measure,” explained Will Jones. “It’s definitely going to be a process, as Harry was a huge part of our team as our previous captain and amazing goalie, but Dave is working hard and doing a great job to fill his place.” For the Girls’ Lacrosse team this year, it’s all about revenge. Last year, Rye Country Day got the best of Girls’ Lacrosse at the NYSAIS championship game by winning a thrilling game in sudden death in double overtime. This year, the team is ready to take the title back. “This year, we have a new, young group that is reenergized and ready to take back the NYSAIS title,” said sophomore Meghan Cunningham. But recently, the NYSAIS championship game teams from last year, Hackley and Rye Country Day, had a rematch in a regular season game. Although Hackley lost by one point, 16-15, the team sees it not as a loss that will define their season, but rather a learning experience that motivates them. “Although the loss was disappointing, we’re ready to move on and make our way back to the NYSAIS championship where we’ll bring Rye Country Day down,” added Meghan. The baseball team’s morale is high after going 4-1 in spring training in Florida. The team had wins over other private and public schools, notably Newark Academy and Montclair Kimberley Academy, both private schools in New Jersey. According to Freshman Lucas Stalman, the team’s goal is to “win as many games as they can and hopefully win the Ivy championship.” Recently, Hackley baseball fended off Riverdale in a ten inning marathon, eventually winning 5-2 by scoring three runs in the tenth. Sophomore Sam Rinzler said, “This win and the effort the team put into this game shows that we have the endurance, durability, and capability to win games and outlast other teams in our league. Hopefully this game will help spur us to continue to win games and use the momentum we gain to make a long run in the playoffs and win the championship.” For the Boys’ Golf team, this year is an exciting year as many young players are taking on bigger roles. Led by co-captains junior James Breen and sophomore Wyatt Khosrowshahi, the golf team is looking to “place well in Ivy standings and play well in the NYSAIS championship,” said Wyatt. Additionally, Wyatt has other goals in mind. “Not only do I hope that Boys’ golf makes a run for the NYSAIS championship, but with great performances during the season and at NYSAIS championships, hopefully some teammates and I will be able to make Federations.” Currently, the Boys’ golf team is 2-2
in the Ivy Preparatory League, having wins against Riverdale and Dalton and losses to Horace Mann and Poly Prep. Girls’ Golf, led by Senior Captain Lauren Fallon, is also in a similar situation as Boys’ golf as they are also priming younger talent while aiming for a championship. Freshmen Cosima Boettner and Alexi Sandhu and Sophomore Rina Jung are all new to the team this year. Junior Meghan O’Keefe, a member of the Girls’ Golf team said, “The Girls’ Golf team are excited to have impressive underclassmen joining the team and can’t wait to see what the season has in store for us.”
Senior George Santangelo winds up to throw a pitch. Photo courtesy of George Santangelo.
Sophomore Will Jones looks for the opportunity to score a goal. Photo courtesy of Will Jones.
Hackley Sports Stars Recruited by College Teams By Hope Weisman
To many, the recruiting process is a rather mysterious thing. Those who don’t directly experience it seem to believe that “getting in” has a completely different meaning when you sign with a collegiate sports program- but that’s not the case. Many Hackley students have been recruited by top colleges over the past few years for their exceptional talents both in the classroom and on the field. In this year’s graduating class, seven students committed to colleges, including Tufts University, American University, and Cornell University. However, the recruiting process doesn’t always start just before your senior year. Junior Sammy Mueller will join the University of Virginia’s Class of 2020 as a Division One Women’s Lacrosse player. Her recruitment process began in the summer before her sophomore year. “I started getting attention from college coaches during the summer going into my sophomore year, and some more at the beginning of sophomore year. But the
majority of schools started showing interest in the beginning of the summer going into my junior year,” Sammy said. She began playing lacrosse after she and her sister, Ally Mueller (Northwestern University Lacrosse), were given sticks for Christmas by their uncle, a former professional lacrosse player. Soon after she got her first lacrosse stick, Sammy entered into the Pelham Rec program and then moved onto a small travel team. Now, she plays for a “pretty intense travel team known as Metro Magic.” Her team practices once a week and attends tournaments all throughout the Spring and Fall. Sammy has also been a member of the Hackley Varsity Lacrosse team since her Freshman year. In the summer of 2014, her recruiting process came to a close after a marathon of camps and tournaments. “I had basically 21 straight days of lacrosse,” she said. On July 3, she verbally committed to UVA, but had made her decision a few days prior. Sammy said that the Hackley Girls Varsity Lacrosse coaches, Ms. Leffler and Ms. Stanek, were invaluable in her recruiting process and that she’s “very thankful for all they’ve done.” Her outside coach was also incredibly helpful. As far as school this year goes, Sammy has to maintain good grades and make sure she stays out of trouble to ensure her spot. This fall, she will sign a National Letter of Intent to make her commitment to UVA official. When it comes time to apply, she still will have to submit an application. “Many people think that my admissions process is incredibly different, however, I basically have to apply
Junior Sammy Mueller wears Virginia gear to represent the school that recruited her before her sophomore year. Photo by Christian Riegler.
like everyone else. The difference is, I only apply to one school, and I know what the letter is going to say when I open it.” Sammy is not the only student to commit as a Junior. In February, Morgan Connor announced that she will be playing Field Hockey for the College of William and Mary, another Division One school. Last year, Joanna Miller committed to American University to play soccer.
“Many people think that my admissions process is incredibly different, however, I basically have to apply like everyone else. The difference is, I only apply to one school and I know what the letter is going to say when I open it.”
Sammy Mueller
This year’s recruiting class includes the following: Joanna Miller, American University Soccer, James Firpo, Tufts University Lacrosse, Kiersten Chu, Northeastern University Swimming, Tyler Curran, Emory University Swimming, Erik Bostrom, Johns Hopkins University Swimming, Sam Welch, Cornell University Lacrosse, and Claire Gomba, Middlebury College Track and Field and Cross Country.