By: Alex Reiner ’18

Baseball

Last June, the baseball team tackled Chad Knight ’19 and Matt Stone ’18 on the mound of Palmer Field to celebrate the team’s first ever Class LL State Championship. This year the team will be lead by captains Knight, Stone and Chris Drbal ’18. “I am excited to play, like I am every year, but especially this year, because things have come full circle,” Drbal said. “All the kids I have been playing with for years are now seniors, and I believe we can certainly make a lot of noise this year.”

Harry Azadian ’19 will also be a pivotal member of the squad playing first base and making an occasional appearance on the bump. “Last year we had a great season with some great outcomes,” Azadian said. “We believe with the same hardwork and dedication, we can do the same.” The Wreckers take on Masuk on April 4 at Staples to begin their 2018 campaign.

Softball

Following their 7-13 record last year, the Staples softball team looks to bounce back in the 2018 season. Lead by captains Taylor Rochlin ’18 and Sami Levin ’19, the Wreckers are poised for success. “[We] have been working really hard in the off-season so I know that it is going to pay off,” Rochlin said. They open their season with two important FCIAC matchups against the Ludlowe Falcons on April 4 and the Greenwich Cardinals on April 6. The Wreckers defeated both the Falcons and Cardinals last season.

Boys Lacrosse

The Staples boys’ lacrosse team’s 2018 campaign will be led by captains Evan Zinn ’18 – Johns Hopkins University lacrosse commit – Dobson Cooper ’18 – University of Vermont lacrosse commit – and Matt Garber ’18 – Boston University lacrosse commit. Zinn is the number five lacrosse recruit of the 2018 class, according to recruitingrundown.com. Their 2017 season fell short in the first round of the state tournament when they fell to the Greenwich Cardinals 12-11 in overtime. The boys open their season at home against Brien McMahon on April 3.

Girls Lacrosse

The girls’ lacrosse 2017 season ended short with a second round loss in the state tournament to the Greenwich Cardinals. The main contributors to the team will be captains Abby Najarian ’18, Meghan Johnson ’18, Alexa Moro ’18 and Christine Taylor ’18, continuing their skills at Lafayette College, University of Delaware, Villanova University and Trinity College, respectively. “We will be successful because of our senior class,” Johnson said. Alexa Mysel ’19, Elle Fair ’19 and Kyle Kirby ’20, a Notre Dame lacrosse commit, will be pivotal members of the team, according to Moro.

Boys Volleyball

Heading into the 2018, the boys’ volleyball team expects to excel. The team will be led by captains Stedman van Arsdale ’18, who was also a captain his junior season, Sam Greenberg ’18, Luke Press ’18 and Will Hotch ’18. “It should be a great season for us,” Greenberg said. “Our ultimate goal is to win FCIACs and States this year, and I believe the team we have is more than capable to do that.” The squad opens up on the road against FCIAC rival, the Fairfield Warde Mustangs.

Check out the April issue of Inklings for a boys and girls’ tennis preview and inklingsnews.com for a golf preview.