Winter Season Varsity Previews
By Walter Sharon
2014 Season Preview Varsity Wrestling
The wrestling team that the LCA program boasts this year looks forward to another exciting year full of both challenges and optimism.
Following last year’s EIL Tournament victory, the team looks to build in strength and unity with a skilled and dedicated squad.
Second year coach Charles Cowen is confident in this team’s prospects.
“We are limited to only two seniors this year,” coach Cowen said, “but we have a number of returning skilled Varsity wrestlers.”
Senior Captains Danny Newell and Kevin Lee look to lead a young but talented team including valuable core of Junior wrestlers returning to the program.
The team’s skill is not limited to the upperclassmen however. This year’s incoming freshman show a lot of potential and the 5 returning sophomores are a valuable asset, including last year’s All-League nominee, Jason Calandra (‘17).
A 12-6 team last year rolled into the EIL tournament winning 9 of their last 10 matches, demonstrating how much the program as whole has to build upon this coming season.
“We have been working hard to come together as a team,” said coach Cowen. “I’ve also been impressed by the young talent this year, and time will tell, but we have high hopes for our season.”
A surprising League Tournament win last year turned a few heads in the league, and the team looks to stay healthy and ultimately raise another banner in the gym for the famed LCA wrestling program.
During this season, the team has a tough schedule ahead of them, already competing in a quad-meet in Connecticut last Saturday.
Some things to look forward to from this season are 3 Saturday meets at home in the gym for the first time in years, the Battle on January 30th, and the Tabor Invitational Tournament on December 20th. There is a long road ahead for the wrestling team, but despite their grueling schedule of 25 matches, they are ready for the challenge ahead.
2014 Season Preview Varsity Boys Basketball
This season is one to look forward to for the players, coaches, and fans of the LCA Boys Varsity Basketball team.
Led by seniors Adrian Ibeh, Nick Turgiss, Akwasi Appiah and Mario Beauzile, the team has high hopes for success in a strong league schedule integrated with looming non-league matchups.
This past summer Coaches Jeanine Cavallaro and Robert Scaro led a talented squad to gold at the Bay State Games, rallying behind a perfect 4-0 record of play to win.
At the beginning of the winter season, Robert Scaro was named head coach and immediately started the season with success.
“Not only are we looking for success out of this season,” elaborated coach Scaro, “But we are looking to build a program, one that we can build upon for the years to come.”
The skill of this year’s seniors is matched by a talented junior class including center Jude Guerrier and guard Jack McMahan among others. The Sophomore class is highlighted by returning Varsity players with key roles including guard Dillon Koster, who had a strong freshman season last year.
This season, the boys have nowhere near a weak schedule. Key games include matchups against Roxbury Latin, BTA, St. Andrews and Pingree held at none other than the TD Garden in the heart of Boston where the Celtics play their home games.
So far this year the team has had a scrimmage against against a strong Belmont Hill team where this year’s squad learned about their abilities and as one unit.
Last Friday the team opened their season at home, facing league rival Bancroft at home. After a slow start, the team started to pull away in the second half, fueled by impressive play from Akwasi Appiah (‘15) and Jude Guerrier (‘16).
This season is strongly anticipated by the whole school, but the team has its work cut out for themselves. Even so, their talent and drive hint at a positive outcome from this challenging schedule.
“Our word this year has been focus,” said coach Scaro, “and we see that our overall success is related to how we work and perform with great focus.”
Many league teams will be strong challenges this year, including a versatile Beaver Country Day team and a competitive Pingree squad, but hopes are high and the team is aiming at nothing short of a League Championship this year.
2014 Season Preview Varsity Girls Basketball
Following a strong season at 15-4, this year’s Girls Varsity Basketball team has high hopes and the talent to back it up.
One of the first things that stands out with this year's team is the depth and skill of the team as a whole. First year coach Bill Niland can essentially put any five players on the floor who can compete at a high level.
"This is a deep roster of hard working, very athletic players," coach Niland said. "We will be able to do a lot of different things with the talent we have."
This season is based upon an opportune schedule, laced with non-league games that could potentially boost NEPSAC standings. Key matchups include the Christmas Break Eve game against Providence Country Day on December 19, and the Battle, at home this year, against Concord Academy on January 30.
The team this year is led by senior captain Caroline Niland alongside junior captains Shae Roys and Courtney Teehan.
The junior class is fielding six key contributors, resulting in a rotation of talent that is a crucial advantage in the league.
This year’s team has help from the underclassmen as well, including a hopeful year from contributing sophomores Hannah Gouldrup and Hannah Koizumi, who are coming off solid freshman seasons last year with LCA.
Up to this point, the team has had one game, defeating a physical Winsor squad 54-38, at the hands of tenacious half-court trap.
The depth of this team was evident in that matchup, as an abundance of talent overcame Winsor's size and strength. Stat categories were also balanced across the board from numerous contributors, once again showing this team’s depth on the bench.
Overall the team this year looks for a strong start and is expecting another NEPSAC birth and even a championship to add to the program's legacy of success.