All photos courtesy of The Lawrenceville School
Crew
This spring, Boys Varsity Crew will return a number of key veterans, including six V Formers: Captain Conway Staunton ’16, Kyle Fram ’16, Henry Evans ’16, Tom Bischoff ’16, Olivier Malle ’16, and Alexander Milewski ’16 will make up the backbone of the team. On the girls side, Co-Captains Sarah Milby ’16 and Genevieve De Vicq ’16 are excited to see what the newcomers to the team have to offer and for the girls to come together as a team. While boat lineups have not been set, the team will be led by strong group of returning rowers, including Milby, Amanda Cooleen ’16, Melissa Marcus ’16, and Sydney Cikovic ’17. Both teams look forward to strong performances in big dual races against Kent as well as in larger regattas such as Mid-Atlantics, Mercer Sprints, and the Stotesbury Regatta. “At its base, rowing is a team sport, so you cannot count anyone out right now. I’m most looking forward to getting on the water and seeing where the team goes this year,” said Evans. The boys will train in Georgia over break while the girls stay local, rowing on Mercer Lake.
Lacrosse
Between what Captain Jon Coffey ’16 believes to be one of the most talented midfields in the country and a very strong offense, the Big Red lacrosse team is looking to reach new heights this season. Griffin Thompson ’16 was kept out of last season with a hip surgery but will return in goal and anchor the defensive side of the field to complement the team’s offensive firepower. During preseason, the boys will train in Phoenix for four days and San Francisco for three more in hopes of gaining game experience and getting into good shape before the regular season. The girls will be led by the team’s captain and only V Former, Sophie Ochs ’16. Having always been a stalwart of a goalie, Ochs is expected to come up big again this season. Reilly Fletcher ’17 and Kaeli Huesman ’18 will be key assets for the team in the midfield, Emily Walther ’17 will step up as the leader on defense, and Annabelle Albert ’18 is expected to fulfill a bigger role on attack. As a whole, the girls hope to repeat as MAPL champions and get revenge against Notre Dame in the Mercer County championships. “I think we have so much potential and am hoping we can use every person to take home as many championships as we can!” said Ochs.
Baseball
According to Captain Nick Silber ’16, this year’s Boys Varsity Baseball team comprises a nice blend of upperclassmen and younger players, all of whom will look to contribute in one significant way or another. With returning key players Silber, Lorenzo Lagares ’16, and Sam Cabot ’17 teaming up with newcomers Matt Mencl ’17 and Ev Johnson ’17, the team is armed with a deep pitching squad. In terms of hitting, Mike O’Hare ’17, Joe Kalosky ’16, and Will Venizelos ’18 will play essential roles. Other players to watch include catcher Greg Gidicsin ’17, AJ Ryan ’16 at second base, and Sam Waugh ’16 in the outfield. The team will spend spring break in Vero Beach, Florida, to train and play against eight teams from around the country. In terms of the regular season, Silber believes his team has all the pieces to win both the MAPL and state tournaments: “We have the talent to do very well this year; it’s just a matter of going out there and getting it done.” Big home contests to watch include games against Steinert, Hun, and Hill.
Softball
Having lost several V Formers last year, Girls Varsity Softball looks toward Co-Captains Jacqueline Paul ’16 and Kaleigh Gillen ’16 as well as V Former Elyse Kochman ’16 to lead both new and returning players. Amongst them, the sister duo of Megan Kucker ’17 and Lindsay Kucker ’19 will be important talents as a pitcher/catcher combo. PG Sarah Hamre ’16 is also expected to lead the team as a pitcher and infielder. During spring training in Orlando, Florida, the team will not only have the chance to play 10 games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports but also to bond with each other. Megan Kucker hopes that her team will become just as close as last year’s team: “Teamwork is a huge part of the game and after our spring training, I hope that it will show on the field.” Once they get back, the girls have several competitive games lined up, with Peddie being the first. As Gillen remarked, “It’s all about the energy on and off the field. If we can have fun as a team, we should be able to couple that enthusiasm with our skill and have a really successful season.”
Golf
Like girls softball, Boys Varsity Golf also graduated a number of V Formers last year. That said, the team is comprised of a highly motivated group of boys who want to succeed. The team has a lot of away matches early in the season and will be challenged by some hard courses. Captained by Zach McCloskey ’16, the team will also look to Raj Bagaria ’17 and Ryan Miles ’18 to be top contributors. As always, the team is looking forward to competing against MAPL rivals Peddie and Blair. On the girls side, the team is anchored by returning V Formers Scout Hammond ’16 and Cianna Montero ’16, both of whom will be great role models for the newer members of the team. Like the boys, the girls team also looks forward to going deep in the important tournaments. According to Shahin Damji ’17, the girls’ overarching goal for this season is “not only to triple crown [in MAPLs, States, and Mercer County] but also have fun developing both [their] skills and [their] new team!”
Outdoor track
Girls Outdoor Track and Field, led by Co-Captains Irene Ross ’16, Veronica Danko ’16, and Sammy Kunkel ’16, looks to build upon its flawless record from the indoor season. Ross will be an athlete to watch in the jumps along with Kendall Onley ’19, who is currently preparing to compete at Easterns. PG Bre Mucius ’16 will likely continue making waves both in the triple jump and hurdles. Ariel Claxton ’17, a holder of many school records, has maintained her excellence, leading in the 200, 400, and 800m events. Tess Maloney ’18 will look to improve upon her success in the 400m and Jesse Brewer ’18 is coming off a strong indoor season as a long distance runner. The boys team will also be led by a talented group of experienced athletes. Amongst them, Co-Captain Mike Bauman ’16 will try to consistently be a leading scorer in the jumps and sprints, along with Co-Captain Alejandro Roig ’16, who will compete in the high jump, pole vault, and 400m. Other athletes to watch include Michael Troup ’17 in the sprints and Marcus Trenfield ’17 in the long distance. The team will be tested by schools like Princeton High School and Notre Dame and looks forward to contending for the MAPL and State titles and trying to qualify for several events in the Outdoor Nationals in North Carolina.
Boys Tennis
With the return of David Zhang ’16, the blossoming talent of the twins James and Douglas Wellemeyer ’18, along with several strong newcomers, Boys Varsity Tennis is poised to become a force to be reckoned with on and off the court. According to Captain Larry Cummings ’16, the boys have a season full of potential in store for them as they build up to the NJISAA tournament at the end of the season at home. Last year, the team lost in the finals by a small margin and hopes to bring home the crown this year. Perhaps one of the biggest features of this upcoming season is the addition of new head coach Nick Lewis. Said Cummings, “Although Coach Cantlay left some big shoes to fill, I think Mr. Lewis has great coaching ability from observing his incredible success with the girls team this year and will be more than able to lead us through a great season.”
All photos courtesy of The Lawrenceville School
All photos courtesy of The Lawrenceville School
All photos courtesy of The Lawrenceville School