Skirts, spikes, strides and penalty kicks, oh my!
GIRLS'
SWIMMING AND DIVING
By Megan R.
While
walking down the hallway, one might notice several girls dressed as farmers
or hippies. Without a doubt, these are staring at members of the Hall
girls’ swim team. Led by senior captains Erica H., Lindsay
H., and Allie G., girls’ swimming is looking forward to
a very exciting season. The team’s goals are to improve upon last
year’s record, and to beat cross-town rival Conard in the process.
The swim team lost many valuable players last year to graduation including
Katie Cox and Erica Friedman.
Returning this year as key swimmers are juniors Blair
P. and Jackie R. Newcomer sophomore Sarah H. is also
expected to help guide the team to victory. The tough meets for Hall this
season include contests with conference rivals Wethersfield and Windsor.
Tom’s Take – The girls’ swimming and diving team has the talent and the potential to be successful. Their actual success will depend on the contributions of the new members of the team, who will need to be especially productive this year. Projected Record: 4-7 (prove me wrong).
GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL
By Tom Scully
If you walk into Gym A early in the morning, close your eyes, and really concentrate, you can hear the echoes of the great victories and the bitter defeats. This year’s girls’ volleyball team is looking to improve upon last season’s record of 5-13 and add a few more echoes of victory to Gym A. After losing Katie Krause, Julia Rozovsky, and Maria Agudelo to graduation, coach Ed Adajian has turned to senior captains Rachel G. and Kelly C. to lead the “Spikers” on and off the court. Also returning are seniors Jessica B., Susana G. and Whitney M.. Led by Ginsburg, Chang and company, the 2002 “Spikers” are working hard to make the state tournament and to finish at the high end of the CCC-West.
Tom’s Take – This year’s team needs to maintain their focus and concentration especially in the face of adversity. A key for them will be their ability to recover from error and not compound their mistakes. Key games for them will be Glastonbury, Simsbury and Avon. McGeary will need to step up with the loss of Krause’s height. Size could be an issue. Projected Record: 8-10.
Girls’ Cross
Country
By Emily Walsh
When it rains, many teams move to the shelter from the storm that Gym A provides. But rain has never kept the girls’ cross-country team from their daily 6.2-mile run and rigorous hill work. It is this dedication to practice that pays off for them in competition. Although the team suffers key losses from last year (Ann Hsieh, Lindsay Briden, and captain Lindsey Bourgault), the girls maintain a positive attitude towards the coming season and hope to become the CCC-West champions for the second year in a row. Senior captains Jasmine B., Sonia A., Lauren G. and Noelle C. agree that this appears entirely likely. “I’m really looking forward to this season,” says Coleman. “We have a great group of girls with a lot of potential – it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Tom’s Take – The girls’ cross-country team has been a testament to the old adage that hard work pays off. At times running upwards of 10 miles a day, this team is well trained for the rigors of competition. Projected Record: 17-2.
FIELD HOCKEY
By Tom Scully
 Photo/Zak Shapiro |
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Field
hockey is working hard toward that state tournament birth.
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Field hockey. The Doubleday Dictionary does not have a definition for it. It does however have a definition for successful, and that is exactly what the Hall field hockey team has been in the past few seasons. Last year, under the leadership of Coach Kathy Walling and senior standouts Catherine Chow and Carlie McDermott, the 2001 squad (9-3-3) advanced to the quarterfinals in the state tournament where they were defeated by eventual champion Cheshire. This year’s team, led by senior captains Laura V., Emily W., and Emily N., is determined to continue the winning tradition as they work hard toward the ultimate goal of a state championship. The captains, along with top returning seniors Leanna G., Liz W., Heather C., Jen P. and junior Marissa B., are striving to create an environment conducive to fun, team spirit and victory. With 82 players trying out this fall, Coach Walling will certainly have plenty of talent to choose from
Tom’s
Take – This year’s team has the spirit and will to win;
it is merely a question of execution. Their ability to move the ball precisely
through the opponent’s defense must be improved for them to score
consistently. This will be especially important with the loss of McDermott’s
speed in the forward postion. Another key will be how quickly Perzan adjusts
to the challenging rigors of being a starting goalie at the varsity level.
Projected Record: 11-3-1.
GIRLS' SOCCER
By Jessie M.
 Photo/Zak Shapiro |
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Senior
captain Jenna Woolley clears the ball during a recent scrimmage.
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The girls’ soccer team is off to a great start. Despite losing standouts Gina Mascolo and Alex Ufnal to graduation, the
girls anticipate tremendous
success this fall. With three freshmen making the varsity team this season
– Camilla G., Amy L., and Laura K. – one
teammate notes that their biggest problem could be having “too many
excellent players!”
Senior captains Ali Fantl, Chrissie H.,
and Jenna Woolley have created an environment based on hard work
and enthusiasm, an environment they hope will lead to success in the 2002
campaign. The goals for this year’s team are to make the state tournament,
and then advance as deep into the tournament as fate will allow. They
aspire to defeat conference rivals Simsbury (whom they tied last season)
and Glastonbury, who they defeated last season. The team looks forward
to making 2002 their most successful season to date.
Tom’s Take – With a good mix of veteran savvy and young fresh energy, look for this team to feature a well-balanced and disciplined playing style. With strength in goal (junior Kelly S.) and speed on offense, the Warriors will be able to play an aggressive game on both sides of the field. Projected Record: 9-7.
