BOYS TRACK
Coach: Jim Blackburn (18th year)
Graduation losses: David Polgar, Anthony Ambrosi, Brendan Rooney, Noah Jampol
Returning varsity: seniors: David Smith, Marvin Chan, Jared Plotkin, Avery Mitchell, Alex Lee, Gordan Forbes, Hymlaire Lamisere, Marvin Chan; juniors: Abasu Wantanabe, Seb Putzeys
Key newcomers: senior: Ryan McCarthy, Adam Bao; sophomore: Sam Arsenault
Season outlook: North rolled to its 59th straight indoor win last night, beating Brookline, which edged the Tigers for the All-State crown last winter. The last remaining members of the stacked Chris Barnicle-led distance crew that helped brought North cross country, indoor and outdoor All-State championships in 2004 (Polgar, Brecher and Jampol) are gone, but a strong group of sprinters is ready to carry the load. Forbes, who rushed for 1,400-plus yards as the tailback for the North football team, runs the 55-dash and will have to fill in for school record-holder and All-State and New England runner-up Robinson, who is out for the season with a broken foot suffered during football season. Rooney, the top 55-meter hurdler is also gone, but McCarthy, Rooney's replacement, was impressive in winning his race last night. Junior miler Putzeys is back strong in the mile, winning his race last night, after missing a chunk of the cross-country season with mono. Sophomore Sam Arsenault, a Junior Olympian high jumper this past summer who has hit 6-foot-4 in practice and is a talented long jumper, could be the Tigers' best weapon once he returns from a hip flexor in two weeks. After taking an All-State title and being named the Tribune's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year last spring, Smith is the state's top returner in the shot put, while football teammates Lamisere (55) and Mitchell (300) join with Forbes and Sam Petersen to round out the formidable sprinting corps. Lee, who signed a partial baseball scholarship to Division 1 Wagner in November leads off a 4x400 team that lost only member of the quartet that placed fifth at All-States, only .07 seconds from earning fourth-place finish that would have given the Tigers the state title. Wantanabe and Mitchell are also on the 4x400 relay, as is Bao, who switched from swimming to track this winter.
Coach Blackburn: ``After (last night), we're hoping for another undefeated season. I didn't think we could pull that off, but the guys came through nicely. It was a good beginning.''
Next meet: Sunday, at the Winter Festival (Reggie Lewis Center, 9:30 a.m).
BOYS BASKETBALL
Coach: Paul Connolly (6th year)
Last year: 28-0, Won Division 1 state championship over Holy Name
Graduation losses: Anthony Gurley, Corey Lowe, Jason Riffe, Jon Laussen, Mike Huberman, Alexis Mongo, Darius Abramson
Returning varsity: seniors: Zach Amato (forward), Larry Brown (guard), Brandon Stephens (forward), Marcel Malafaia (guard); juniors: Tim Abbot (center), Kyle Ross (guard)
Key newcomers: senior: Paul Ward (guard), Zach Cole (guard); juniors: Idan Levy (forward), Matt Alpert (guard), Josh Dulberg (guard/forward), Dave Gentile (forward); sophomores: Craig Marriro (guard), Eric Alleyne (guard); freshman: Greg Kelley (center)
Season outlook: Following one of the most successful two-year runs in Massachusetts high school basketball history Ä consecutive Division 1 state championships and a 53-1 record Ä North will likely come back to earth this year after losing all five starters and three Bay State Conference All-Stars (Gurley, Lowe and 3-point ace Riffe) from last year's 28-0 squad. But as Connolly (a.k.a. the Shot Doctor, cautions, ``We're Newton North''). Gone are the chief architects of the historic Tiger run as Gurley (Wake Forest) and Lowe (Boston University), who are 1-2 in the Tigers' all-time scoring list and tallied 4,000 career points combined, are both enjoying Division I scholarships. Connolly will now have the chance to test some of the talent from last year's sub-varsity teams, which included an undefeated freshman team, as well as last year's reserves as they attempt to extend a 33-game winning streak. The sixth man last year, senior forward Brandon Stephens is poised to be the next Tiger star after averaging 12 points in last year's tournament run and torching AAU competition while playing for the Middlesex Magic this summer. Abbot takes over as the starting center, assuming that role from title game hero Darius Abramson, who's now at Curry College. Larry Brown and Kyle Ross, both of whom saw mop-up duty last season will split time at the point, while Marcel Malafaia (a Tribune All-Star as the Tiger soccer team's goalie) will be the shooting guard and Levy will be the power forward. North will again have little height outside of the 6-foot-6 Abbott and the 6-7 Kelley, but that didn't hurt the fast break Tigers last year, who dared taller teams to run with them. Defensively, North will apply more full-court pressure as opposed to last year's half-court defense and will try top use across-the-board speed and quickness to harass teams into turnovers and easy transition buckets. Never one to back down, Connolly again scheduled some of the best teams in the state and will give nearly every elite team the Tigers dispatched in last year's undefeated run a chance for revenge: Madison Park, Brockton, Central Catholic, Andover, and BC High.
Coach Connolly: ``Being North, we have a lot of expectations and we had a lot of expectations going in last year. We had a bullseye on our back and I think the kids have become used to that. For every team, North is a big game. We lost a lot with Corey and Anthony, but we've gotten some great leadership from Zach and Brandon and we've got some terrific kids on this team. I like this team a lot.''
Season opener: Today at Brookline, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Co-coaches: Mark Aronson (4th year) and Nicole Conway (1st year)
Last year: 10-11, lost to Sandwich in a Division 1 South Preliminary
Graduation losses: Kymira Woodberry, Michele Barbone, Nina DeSimone, Ashley Sherman
Returning Varsity: seniors: Carly Westman (forward), Alessia Viscomi (center), Emily Adrien (forward), Jill Zeller (guard), Jennie Krasker (forward); junior: Adrien Lichten (guard)
Key newcomers: sophomore: Mariah Wynn (forward), Hallie Batagliano
Season outlook: With 1,000-point scorer and Tribune Player of the Year Woodberry now at Keene State, someone will have to pick up the offensive slack this season. Conway believes this year's squad will be less reliant on one player as was last year's team, which received most of its scoring from Woodbury and fellow and Tribune All-Star Westman. A 6-foot small forward, Westman can post up smaller defenders, but is quicker than most bigs and can stretch the defense with her outside shot. Viscomi, who Conway says is a ``beast down low,'' is the top rebounder and shot blocker, while Wynn, a 5-10 power forward, complements Westman and the 5-11 Viscomi to give North good size inside. Senior Emily Levoy runs the point while Lichten is the shooting guard. The Tigers will look to run if possible and will have to avoid the long scoring droughts that cost them at times last year.
Coach Conway: ``We're definitely hoping to make tournament and send the six seniors off nicely. We have a nice mix of veterans and young players, and we have no one player that is going to lead the team every night.''
Season opener: Today, hosting Brookline (3:45 p.m.).
BOYS HOCKEY
Coach: Jay Ferraro (7th year)
Last year: 6-13-1
Graduation losses: Kurt Rooney (forward), Alex Coletti (forward), Chris Boudreau (defense), Max Abbott (defense), Brian Bannon (forward)
Returning varsity: seniors: Zach Visco (goalie); juniors: Tim Bialecki (defense), Angelo Paolini (foward), Brian Lopez (forward); sophomores: Mike Lopez (forward/defense), Alex Moscatelli (forward), Mike Asaley (forward)
Key newcomers: senior: Joe Cedrone (defenseman), Brian Penta (forward), Rob Fay (defenseman); sophomore: Jake Mahoney (forward), Pat Leblanc (forward); freshman: Mike Sullivan (defenseman), Ben Sauro (defenseman), Scott Guisti (forward)
Season outlook: Ferraro bid adieu to his best scorer (Rooney), his best defender (Colletti, the last of three brothers to play for North) and his best young player (Szerlip, a sophomore who opted to play Juniors), but the 7th-year North coach is still excited about the future of exceedingly young team. Though Ferraro admits his team ``is a year away'' from contending with Bay State Conference powers Weymouth (a legitimate Super 8 threat) and Framingham, citing inexperience on defense, the offense projects to be formidable. Armed with a host of quick forwards who move the puck well and a ``terrific'' power play (five goals in Wednesday's season-opening 9-2 win over Brookline), North will skate three strong lines made up of two seniors, two juniors, four sophomores, and a freshman. Brian Lopez, Paolini, Moscatelli comprise the first line, while Asaley, Mike Lopez, and Penta are the second line and Rosenfeld, Leblanc, and Scott Guisti the third. North's success will hinge on how well the defense, particularly Bialecki and Sullivan, protects Tribune and BSC All-Star and reigning team MVP Zach Visco in net.
Coach Ferraro ``We're a talented but young team and I think we're still a year away from being really good. (Wednesday night) was a good start, but we have some tough games coming up. We have quick, young forwards who can really move the puck and a terrific power play, but we have to concentrate on playing good, strong team defense in front of Zach and that will determine how successful we are this year.''
Next Game: Saturday at St. Peter-Marian, 2 p.m.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Coach: Karen McCabe (10th year)
Last year: 14-7, lost to Arlington Catholic in the first round of the Division 1 North sectional
Graduation losses:[mc] Katelyn Pohlman (defenseman), Mikaela Hansen (defenseman), Jessi Rubin (forward), Rachel Krasnow (center), Courtney Hendrick (forward), Brooke Butera (forward), Jesse Creedy-Powers (forward), Kate Galogoly
Key returners: seniors: Anna Jekel (forward), Sam Gillies (forward), Liz Gargas (forward); juniors: Gwyneth Ross (forward), Leslie Kim (goalie), Rachel Gilvretti (goalie); sophomores: Amanda Taylor (defenseman), Morgan Abbott
[mc]Key newcomers:[mc] senior: Jessie Cochran; junior: Sarah Harney; sophomores: Mary McGrath (defenseman), Alyssa Hansen (forward); freshmen: Becca Fleming, Kim Gillies, Hannah Jellinek
Season outlook: It's one and done for the brilliant Danielle Doherty, who after finishing in the top five in the state in scoring during a brilliant freshman season last year took her act to the Rivers School in Weston. Luckily, Doherty's former travel teammate Fleming, who along with Jellinek played for Newton South last year as an eight-grader, may take over as this year's fab frosh frosh after racking up five goals and an assist in Wednesday's 9-1 season-opening win against admittedly weak Brookline. Jellinek is also a former Lion who will bolster North offensive attack, while Jekel is the Tigers' top returning scorer. Abbott, along with Jellinek and Fleming, comprise the first line, while Ross is another capable scorer. Kim will man the net, while Gilbretti is a solid backup. Though there are only four seniors on the 15-girl squad, McCabe, who's guided North throughout the program's existence, envisions another tourney run.
Coach McCabe: ``Even though we've had some seniors graduate and Danielle leave, we've got some talented freshman and the kids who've moved up from JV have improved. We lost some people last year as well and we still managed to fare well, so I'm hoping for the same this year.''
Next game: Saturday at Natick, 2 p.m.
WRESTLING
Coach: John Staulo
Last Year:11-9, lost to Waltham in first round of Division 1 state team tournament
Graduation losses: Brian Mozill
Returning varsity: seniors: Matt Clark (135), David Shames (140), Josh Dahlben (145, 152) Cal Gilmartin (160), Marcus Chang (275), Giovanni Clayborne (171, 189); junior: Christian Hoover (119), Ali Zaidi (119); sophomores: Kadeem Hunter (160, 171), Roger Cerqua (160, 171), Hagai Brandon (135), Tom Decko
Season outlook: Only Mozill departs from last year's tournament team, leaving six senior captains to fill the void. The Tigers are off to a 2-2 start, beating Cambridge and Josiah Quincy and losing to Catholic Memorial in a season-opening quad-met before losing to Weymouth Wednesday night. North forfeited three matches in that defeat, but with the senior class as well as sophomores Cerqua and Hunter, North has a solid mix of experience and youth.
Coach Staulo: ``Nobody sticks out as a superstar, but we have a great group of kids. We have a lot of freshman with a lot of promise, so we'll see how this year goes.''
Next meet: Saturday at BC High, Durfee, and Boston Latin (10 a.m.).
