March Cover.indd - Saint Viator High School

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SPORTS
Girls soccer kicks into shape for spring
A sea of change for water polo teams
Young and dedicated, coaches add new practices, guest players to scrimmage
Caitlin Bremner
Staff Writer
This year is a “new era” for water
polo. The coaches, Everardo Leon
and Sarah Ostling, have decided
to redo the entire program in hopes of
ensuring success both now and in the
future.
Both the boys’ and girls’ water polo
teams are going to great lengths to prepare
for this season. The girls’ team
starts morning practices before school
Sophomore Conor Loy attempts to score.
Photo by Jack Lakowske
MARCH 2013
Sara Lopez
Staff Writer
As the first few days of March
began, senior captains Sarah
Cooney and Erin Murphy anxiously
awaited the beginning of their final
season of varsity soccer at Saint Viator.
During the previous 2012 season, the
varsity girls soccer team made it to the
state playoffs, where they placed third in
their division.
“One of our main goals for this season
will be focusing on taking the title as
state champions during the IHSA playoffs,”
said Sarah, “The whole experience
of going down state is so exciting.”
The team faces several changes in the
upcoming season with Coach TJ King as
an assistant coach on varsity, accompanied
by the absence of last year’s senior
players.
“It will definitely be a challenge adjusting
the team after losing so
many of the seniors from last
year, but I think that we still
have an equal amount of talent
on the team this year,” stated
Erin.
“I think the potential for this
years team to go down state is
definitely there if they want
it to be there, its all in their
mindsets if they want it bad
enough! Coach Taylor also has
the ability to transform any
team into a winning team so I
certainly believe the team will
go far this season!” said Katie
Gavin, ’13, a captain on last years’ varsity
team.
The girls are more than eager to hit
the outdoor fields for their first games of
the season.
“We’ve been conditioning with Coach
at 6 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and
Friday.
The boys’ team has added a twist to
their morning practices this year. Three
days a week before school starts, the
boys’ water polo team and the boys’ lacrosse
team scrimmage each other in
water polo.
“Scrimmaging the lacrosse team in
water polo has been a lot of fun. It has
helped both beams build chemistry and
team spirit,” said varsity junior Tommy
Madaras.
The girls’ team graduated several
senior players last year, including
two varsity starters and their
starting goalie. However, varsity
captains junior Mary Hanisch
and senior Maureen Daday believe
that the players are more
than ready to rise up and meet
the challenge of filling those big
shoes.
“We have a really young team,
so this year is a build-up for next
year and for the next few years to
come,” said Hanisch.
Senior Erin Murphy attacks the ball.
Photo by Tristan Blus
Saey frequently during the off-season,
but we are definitely limited while training
indoors as opposed to outdoors,”
said Sarah.
The varsity team kicked off their season
on March 12th during their first official
game.
One goal the team has for this year is to
help the younger girls develop their skills
so that they can be a championship team
in the future. Hanisch believes that they
have a really good-looking team this year
with solid starters that should bring the
girls to victory.
The boys’ team is also very young,
with three juniors, Eric Sutton, Tommy
Madaras and Robby Battin as varsity
captains.
“The team works together really well
and has great chemistry, but we are focusing
on becoming faster this season,”
said Sutton.
The team welcomes new assistant
coach George Mitchell this year. The
staff and the players are really looking
forward to working with him.
“Our team goal is to improve significantly
since last year. We are really
young, with only one senior, but I think
we are still talented enough to win our
sectional,” said Sutton.
While these two teams are very young,
they couldn’t be more excited to have a
fun and successful 2013 season.
Saint Viator High School
www.saintviator.com