A wave of new opponents awaits the regional high school spring sports teams as the program transitions into the eight-team Cape and Islands league. Coaches echoed this week they are confident their squads will rise to the challenge.
“This will be our first year in the Cape and Islands, so it will be a learning process for us as we get used to the new teams,” said athletic director Mark McCarthy. “A lot of the teams we’re playing this year, we haven’t played before.”
The head coaching lineup also has two new additions, with Kyle Crossland taking over for Gary Simmons on the baseball team and Chris Scott looking to continue the girls’ tennis team’s dominance set under his predecessors Nina Bramhall and Liz Roberts.
Girls Tennis
Four straight state titles can lead to some high expectations for a team and a new coach.
“Given the past record of the team, I really feel that it’s unfair to place the expectation of championship on a new team,” Mr. Scott said. “We’re certainly going to try to uphold the tradition of girls tennis on Martha’s Vineyard.”
All but two players — graduated doubles state champions Kat Roberts and Lizzie Williamson — are back this season. Kelly Klaren, Victoria Scott and Hanna Rabasca continue at first, second and third singles, with returnees Chesca Potter and Molly Pogue stepping up to number one doubles. Alex Rego and Tessa Hammond round out the team at second doubles.
“I’m very pleased with our team,” said Mr. Scott. “Success to me this season would be for the team to put out maximum effort, exhibit great sportsmanship and represent the Vineyard properly.”
The Vineyarders are off to a great start, handily defeating Monomoy 5-0 in their match Thursday afternoon. The team’s first home match against Nantucket is Saturday, April 6.
Boys Tennis
Championship hopes were dashed in a semifinal playoff loss last year, but boys tennis co-coach Tony Omer said the team has nearly everyone back and is playing better than ever. On Thursday they won the home opener 4-1 over Monomoy.
“I think we’re contenders this year,” he said. “It’s amazing to watch them hit the ball. To stand back and watch these guys hit so hard...it’s scary sometimes.”
The starting lineup consists of Chris Ferry, Max Potter and Eric Reubens at first, second and third singles. The doubles group is led by Spencer Pogue and Owen Favreau at first doubles, and David Krauthammer and freshman Ben Belisle at second doubles.
The next home match is against Rising Tide Charter School on April 4 starting at 3 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse
Last year the girls lacrosse team made it to the state quarterfinals. This year’s experienced squad, led by juniors and seniors, is looking to make an even deeper run in the new conference. Co-coach Bob Hayman, alongside Kurstin Moore, said they are taking a Bill Belichick approach this season to focus on defense.
“Lacrosse is a full field sport,” he said. “Defense wins championships. If they can’t score, then we’ll win the game.”
Mr. Hayman pointed to returning senior standouts Addy Hayman, Alexis Condon, Abby Marchand and Sally Caron as players to watch. Two players, Caron and Marchand, have already signed on to play at division one colleges next season.
The team playes Sturgis Charter West at home on April 2 at 3 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse
Boys lacrosse coach Chris Greene said his team is looking for a fresh start after falling short of the postseason last year. This year 49 students signed up, the most Mr. Greene said he’s seen in his 22 years of coaching.
“We’ve got huge numbers this year, which is fun and exciting. The kids have a great attitude and are buying into the process of becoming students of the game.”
Mr. Greene said the large number of incoming players with youth program experience means he can make the playbook more complex. His goal is to have the team playing at a college level. He said leadership from senior captains Sam Wallace, Brendan Morris and Tristan Scheller will play a key role in the team’s success.
The team’s home opener against Monomoy is April 4 at 3 p.m.
Baseball
First-year coach Kyle Crossland is no stranger to the Vineyard baseball field. He played for the team in high school.
“My big thing is not making any mental mistakes,” he said. “We’re trying to have a really smart, disciplined team.”
He said he’ll be counting on team captains Owen Bresnick, Sam Cranston and Michael Habecost to help guide the young team. He said preseason practice has shown that the team has a knack for defense, but there’s plenty of room for great hitters to emerge.
“I would love to see our weakest player be able to compete with our strongest to have a well-balanced team,” he said.
The first home game against Sturgis Charter West is April 9.
The girls’ softball coach could not be reached by press time.
Sailing
The sailing team this year may be small, but it has a lot of talent and promise, according to coach Andrew Burr. The 13-year veteran said there’s no reason the mix of new and returning sailors can’t break the top 20.
“I think within all of New England, there are certain schools that stand out in terms of their strengths and their sportsmanship,” he said. “Coaches in New England...the Vineyard is someone they want to schedule. Year in, year out they know who they are going to get: a team that plays because they enjoy the act of sailing a boat and doing it well.”
Team co-captains this year are senior Katie Morse and junior Jo Serpa, both veterans of the sailing program. Mr. Burr said he’s also been impressed by freshman Miles Wolff. To clinch a postseason berth and compete for the President’s Cup, the team must finish in the top 16 teams in New England.
The Vineyarders host Sandwich in the first home meet of the season on April 9 on Lagoon Pond in Oak Bluffs.
Track
Outdoor track meets have 16 events. Coach Joe Schroeder said he expects to compete in every single one thanks to a huge recruiting class that totals 55 athletes.
“There are so many new people. We’re trying to figure out what they’re going to do,” he said.
On the girls’ side, Mr. Schroeder said he expects big results in the hurdles and jumping events anchored by senior Mackenzie Condon who last month competed in the New England Indoor Track Championships in the 55-meter hurdles. For the boys to watch, it’s senior Nate Packer in the shot put and a hurdling lineup led by Dash Christy and JoJo Bonneau.
The first home track meet against Bishop Stang is April 10.
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