The2005-2006 Girls Varsity Squash team is very experienced with most of theplayers back from last year. Filling in one graduated senior, the teamhas two new players this year: Maggie Remsen ’09 and Andrea Mui ’08.Captain Rana Searfoss ’06 will lead the team who has a “particularlystrong top 5,” according to Coach Amy Salot. As the current ladderstands, Lily Cohen ’07 is number one followed by Anne Chang ’07, EllieFoster ’08, Maggie Remsen ’09, and Laura Weyl ’06. Every player fromlast year has raised her level of play, and this year’s team looks“mentally tough” said Ms. Salot. She is very optimistic about the teamand views this season as much stronger than last year’s season. Thegirls have already shown a great improvement on the court with a hugevictory against Exeter on Saturday, December 3rd, with a final score of6-1.

Although theGirls Varsity Hockey team graduated some strong players last year, thisyear several talented new players—Jocelyn Yokow ’09 (goalie),Jodi Yaworski ’06 (defense), Josephine Pucci ’09 (defense), KatieMacKinnon’07  (defense), Michelle Panzika ’07 (defense), Maura Leahy’09 (defense), Emily Vitale ’08 (forward) and Kathryn Stephans’09 (forward)—have joined the capable returning players and are helpingto provide a strong basis for a successful season. The coach,Courtney Riepenhoff, is also new but has help from the co-captains MollyWest’06 and E.J. Costa ’06, and the assistant captain Ashley Bairos’06. Also returning is Hillary Knight ’07, who was last year’sleading scorer with 39 goals.

Alongside her is Bairos, lastyear’s second leading scorer, with 11 goals. “Team goals are to makesure weare moving forward at all times, improving after each practiceand eachgame.  We also need to be mentally as well as physically alerton the ice,” says Coach Riepenhoff. So far the team has played intwo scrimmages and won both.  The Boars played their first game onSaturday December 3rd and beat Gunnery 3-1.

The Boys VarsityHockey team is always one of the most popular winter sports team. Choateplays a very competitive schedule and always draws a big crowd.  Thisyear’steam features three returning first line players; Rence Coassin’06, Sam Bozoian ’06, and Pat Kenney ’06.  Co-captain Justin Mitchell’06 said, “This will be one of the strongest first lines in theentire league.” 

Following the sound first line, Choate’ssecond line will also produce a lot of offense and limit the opposingteam’s scoring opportunities.  This year, the third line will lookto contribute offensively, something it did not do last year.  Choatefans should be excited for a strong display of offense and strongdefense led by goalie Andrew Miller ’06.  The other co-captain, AlfredMeyer’06, and returning players Ryan Corcoran ’07 and AJ Ferraro ’07,who has been on the team since his freshman year, will be joined bynew players, Greg Manz ’07, Jamie Nudy ’08, Anthony DePietto ’07, DanCohen’07, Geoff Anderson ’06, Joe Montini ’07, Jon Kuchar ’07, KentGraham ’06, Scott Jenks ’07, Connor Goggin ’08, Mark Nemec ’07,Rob Wilechansky ’07, and Chris Langstaff ’06. 

The Boarsentered last Saturday’s game against Gunnery at home with highexpectations riding on their shoulders.  The New England Prep preseasonrankings had the boys at the eigth slot, but unfortunately, even thoughthey outshot Gunnery by a 2:1 margin, they were unable to bury the puck,which was the main contributer to their 3-0 loss.  The boys see thisloss as only a positive, as it provides them with an extra edge to beatarchrival Deerfield tomorrow. Everyone will play a key role in thisyear’s success.  The team is already looking forward to the newconstruction and locker rooms which will be finished by the end ofChristmas break.

The 2005-2006Girls Varsity Basketball team looks to be even stronger than last year’steam.  Choate fans should expect to see a solid effort on the defensiveend of the court, which should result in opportunities to run the ballin the open court.  This year’s squad features six returning players,who are complemented by six new team members. Moving up from the JVsquad are Claire Monagan ’08, Erin Grajewski ’08, and Katherine Luby’08.  The other new members of the basketball team—Tasi Kulubya ’08,Kina Kulubya ’09, and Heather Metcalfe ’07—are new to Choate this year. Senior captains Christie Sundberg ’06 and Ashley Thacker ’06 will leadthe team.  According to Coach Davidson, “It is too early to tell who thekey players will be.”  The team is extremely balanced and has manyplayers that will contribute both at the offensive and defensive ends ofthe floor.  

The Boys Varsity Basketball team heads into itsseason confident that it can rebound from a disappointing 2004-2005campaign. “I think we will be better than last year,” predicted ConorMeehan ’07. The team will look to build around veteran scorers andco-captains Meehan and Mike Mackie’07 as well as post-graduate CooperStroman ’06.  Other returning players such as Corey Sherman ’07, DarylWells ’07, and Chi Chi Nwogu ’06 will be significant contributors tothis year’s squad. According to Coach Chuck Timlin, “It all starts withdefense,” as the team lacks a dominant inside presence and will look tocreate scoring opportunities in transition. Timlin pointed to his wingplayers as a strength, and added “We have enough [talent] on our team tobeat anyone on our schedule.” The official schedule kicked off with aFounders League showdown at home against Taft on Wednesday, followed bya tough slate of games throughout the winter.

“I take nobodylightly on our schedule,” said Timlin. Mackie seems to echo thesentiments of the teamfor the upcoming season when he says, “If we playwith energy and passion we will be successful.”