Spring Sports Teams Set High Goals for Season
Credit: Will Jones
Sophomore Will Jones looks for the opportunity to score a goal.
May 6, 2015
This spring season on the Hilltop, spring sports 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 4×100 team is looking to break Hackley history as well, already having the 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 4×800 relay as well as running fast times at Ivy and NYSAIS championships.
Similarly, the Boys’ Lacrosse team has only 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 George Washington University, 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 motivate 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.” The Girls’ Golf team is also looking to place well in the Ivy League Preparatory standings as they are standing 1-0 on the young season.
