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The Index - Sports
March 2012
Sports
Baseball Team Optimistic about Coming Season The team’s hope to claim the Inter-Ac title, which was narrowly missed last year, comes from the greater sense of camaraderie and team spirit. Will Schwartz ‘12 As Haverford’s baseball team awaits their season opener, it is optimistic about the talent to contend for the Inter-Ac title that eluded them last year. Talent and depth lead many in the squad to feel very confident about the team’s fortunes for the upcoming season. As usual, the schedule will not only be filled with a slate of competitive Inter-Ac games, but also a number of non-conference challenges, featuring defending PIAA Class-AAAA state champions Conestoga, perennial Catholic League powers Monsignor Bonner, usual Central League contender Marple-Newtown, and last year’s number-one seed in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools tournament, Mercersburg Academy. The Fords have a large roster of strong players who will all play a role in a season that could see more than 30 games. The most important position for any baseball team is pitching. The pitching staff is very deep this year, led by Sixth Form righthanders Eric Close, Vince Piccioni, Matt Broomall and Sam Henderson. Fifth Form left hander Matt Galetta should pick up where he left off last year as a key contributor to the pitching staff. Fifth Form newcomer Pat Valentine, who spent the previous two season’s
at St. Joseph’s Prep, should provide a strong presence on the mound in non-league games. Inter-Ac transfer rules prevent Valentine from participating in league games this year. Also, Fifth Former Stewart Denious and Fourth Former Connor Burke provide further depth in the pitching staff, and the potential of flamethrowing Fifth Former Stephen Fitzgerald providing some relief innings this year is a cause for excitement among the squad. There is equally good competition for the catching position as both Sixth Former Tom McCarthy and Fifth Former Sam Bloch look very capable of having great seasons at the position. Needless to say, the coaching staff will have a selection dilemma on their hands. The corner spots in the infield are open as key contributors Sixth Formers Nick Craig and Vince Rondolone have graduated, but the spots look in good hands due to the highly talented underclassmen that look to replace them. Burke looks ready to have a breakout season at first base, and outstanding Third Former Kevin McGowan shows great promise to play a key role as the team’s third baseman. Piccioni is capable at both third base and pitching, but the young talent at the corners should allow him to rest his arm between starts and potentially act as a designated hitter. The middle infield is
Tennis Team Prepares for Season of Success
Not only does the team have some of the most upperclassmen talent in recent memory, but several star underclassmen have shown up to add even more depth to the team. James Shecter ‘13
need to all band together and work as a team, like we have in past seasons, to achieve our Haverford’s two-time defending Inter-Ac ultimate goals.” In addition to accomplishing Champion tennis squad is more set than ever a perfect season, Fords Tennis is aspiring for a to defend its title. Never before has such a top-3 finish at the New-England Mid-Atlantic talented group of tennis-playing Tennis Tournament, otherwise Third Formers been available, known as NEMA. NEMA is held and, as if the younger guys are in Baltimore in late April, and it not enough, the team has so many is essentially a battle for the best talented Upperclassmen that it is independent school tennis program set to dominate yet again. Needless in the Northeast. The Fords finished to say, the future has never been just outside the top ten at last year’s brighter for Haverford tennis. Head event. Coach Mr. Antonio Fink has in his The squad has had two total hands an overachieving group of team losses (excluding tournament play) in the past two seasons – a tennis superstars. pretty remarkable feat. This year, Last year’s team went an however, a superb record will be astounding 8-1 against league no easy undertaking, despite the opponents, losing only to the aforementioned talent. In addition formidable EA by a narrow oneto all of the league-matches, match margin. Additionally, three Haverford Tennis will square times throughout last season, the off against skilled non-league Fords beat their opponents without opponents like Lawrenceville, losing a single match (7-0 sweep). Blair, Radnor, Shipley, Harriton, The Fords were also awarded the and St. Josephs’ Prep. Assistant trophy in late May at the Inter-Ac Index Staff Championships, where every Fourth Former Henry Ortmeyer playing tennis. Coach Dr. Mark Gottlieb acknowledged, “Sure, we’ve player medaled. Now that the team has such an got a tough schedule this year, but the boys are overabundance of sheer talent, the sky is the more than ready to step up their level of play limit. for the challenges.” Despite the ineffable quantity of skill Practice makes perfect in all sports, Haverford Tennis already possessed, the especially tennis. So far this season, the team incoming Third Formers add significantly to has been practicing in chilly weather, which the talent pool. Players like Ben and Zach is not exactly favorable for tennis. “It’s been Lieb, Andrew Gushner, Nathan Kidambi, and pretty cold so far,” both Dr. Gottlieb and Jackson Simon “take our team to the next Brennan admitted, “but if we put in the work level,” in the words of Fifth Form Captain now, we’ll play that much better when it Jordan Lieb. He also added, “We already had finally warms up.” Whether they are running, such a great group; and now we’ve somehow conditioning, or hitting, the players always become even better.” Sixth Form Captain Dan Brennan remarked, practice. “We’ll practice on the courts in all weather except rain,” commented Coach Fink. “There’s no question we’ve got a ton of talent Although the team has an indescribable this year, and there’s a great chance we go amount of talent, the one aspect they have undefeated. But, the most important thing always lacked is fan support. Come out and with such a talented group is team chemistry support the tennis team whenever you get a and camaraderie.” Brennan also added, “We chance. It will certainly be worth your while. ■
Index Staff Haverford Baseball player throwing to the Pennsylvania in the steady hands of returning from left field. Sixth Form starters Andrew Independent Schools Landolfi and Gus Costalas, tournament. Sixth Former Cowho were both outstanding last season. Their captain Eric Close certainly agrees with this, experience should be vital in helping the stating, “We have great senior leadership team achieve its aims. Sixth Former Dylan this year, and even though there may be a Anderson and Fifth Formers Jack Armstrong, slight talent drop off from last year, our team Trevor Atkins, and Joe Solomon all look solid camaraderie is so much greater than last and should impress when called upon. The year’s. As a collective unit we will be able to outfield looks strong as well with returning challenge for the Inter-Ac title that alluded us starter Fitzgerald leading the way as the due to a few mishaps and bad influences in the team’s probable center fielder while Sixth team.” Fellow co-captain Landolfi had similar Formers Will Schwartz and Zach DePietro, feelings, commenting, “We have a great Fifth Formers Matt Galetta and Drew Field, group of Upperclassmen who can take on the and Fourth Former Steve Scornajenghi are all leadership roles, and we have some younger competing for the remaining two spots. kids who are definitely going to make great While there was plenty of talent on a team contributions to the team.” that did very well last year, the Fords were There is a strong feeling among the team not as united as they could have been, and that if everybody continues to work hard, great as a result many felt that the team may have things can be accomplished this year. Please had the skill to win the Inter-Ac in addition come out and support the baseball team. ■
Track & Field Team Hopes to Live up to Last Year’s Team The speedy Third Formers and maturation of the team’s most successful runners give the team lots of hope for the coming season. Josh Pau ‘13
Following a record breaking Winter Track season, Haverford’s Spring Track team looks forward to rival the previous season’s accomplishments. Last year, the Spring Track
The Track & Field sprinting squad in a workout.
team had an exceptional showing at the InterAc Championship with Fifth Former Chris Morgan placing third in the triple jump, Sixth Former Geoff Bocobo coming in second in the 200-meter dash, and Fifth Former Lucas Elek winning third place in the 800-meter sprint. Other notable accomplishments included Fifth Former Andrew Wiener’s fifth place finish in the 200-meter race and Sixth Form Captain Brendan Purcell’s fourth place in the 110-meter hurdles. Last year’s spring track squad struggled through a cold and rainy season, which forced the cancellation of several meets. The team also had to push through with a team of relatively inexperienced runners because a large group of core, three-season runners had graduated. Now, the runners have more knowledge of strategy and have gained more fitness. Their work has been shown already: many runners have broken previous personal records, such as Elek, who set the school
record this year for the 800-meter race at an astounding 1:57. On last season’s Sixth Formers lost to graduation, Elek said, “They will be missed, but we didn’t really lose anyone.” This year’s Sixth Formers, including Purcell, Bocobo, and the ever-charismatic Jack Meehan, have taken over the leadership role. They have created a strict but fun environment, and they have set goals for the team this year. This year, the Spring Track team is working towards building a tightly-knit community and improving together. But, “Most importantly, we hope to compete near the top of the league at Inter-Ac champs and score as many possible points as we can,” remarked Purcell. The Spring Track community has also gained some promising prospects in the new Third Form class. Normally, in the Index Staff beginning of the season, most newcomers tend to fall behind some of the Upperclassmen during the workouts, but this has not been the case with this year’s rookies. They have exceeded expectations of the Fifth and Sixth Formers. Fifth Former Grayson Sessa remarked, “From my perspective on the distance team, the Third Formers have been...exceptional because of their wholehearted commitment to improving.” The underclassmen have also shown strong mental toughness and a dedication to the sport. The season is about to kick off with the first meet against Harriton on March 15, “But the real meet is the Penn Track classic on the 31st,” added Elek. The Spring Track roster is looking strong this year and with the new and improved runners, the team may be serious Inter-Ac contenders. “We have a legitimate shot to win the 4x400 meter relay at Penn Relays for the Inter-Ac, a feat we haven’t accomplished in an extremely long time,” asserted Purcell. ■