Housatonic’s Emily Geyselaers, the reigning BL girls 100 champion. (RA)
NVL
DERBY
Head coach: Nicholas DiLuggo (9th season)
2016 record: 8-6, 2nd at NVL championships
Key players: Kiley Rodriguez (Sr., capt., NVL champion in 3,200), Ashleigh Schlemmer (Sr., capt.), Rachel Fleischer (Jr., capt., NVL champion in triple jump), Nicole Rizzo (Jr., capt., first team All-NVL), Sabrina Hanock (Fr.), Annaly Khanthaphixay (Fr.), Cassie Battaglino (Fr.).
Coach’s take: “The girls’ team is very small, but extremely talented and experienced. We are hoping for our best season in program history this year.”
HOLY CROSS
Head Coach: Kate Xeller (4th season)
2016 record: 11-3
Key players: Hayley Gilmore (Sr., capt., sprints), Elena Cavallo (Sr., capt., hurdles), Cydney Caterino (Sr., capt., distance), Rose Hill (capt.), Meah Austin (Jr., hurdles), Devan Eason (Jr., sprints), Kiley Harnish (Jr., distance).
Coach’s take: “Our team took a big hit with graduation. However, the crew we have back worked hard in the offseason and is ready to compete with all teams. We have a very promising freshman class, as well as outstanding returners.”
SACRED HEART
Head coach: Tom Festa (2nd season, 5-11)
2016 record: 5-11
Key players: Mariah Francis (capt., sprints, relays), Korrin Chelednik (capt., 100 hurdles, relays), Nehway Sahn (capt., hurdles), Rachel Guay (capt., 1,600, 3,200), Melissa Raymond (capt., javelin), Ashley Vasiliou (hurdles), Jenna French (400, 800), Michele Vasiliou (shot put, discus), Marissa Rodriguez (shot put, discus).
Coach’s take: “We have outstanding, experienced runners and throwers. With the younger girls developing, we will improve on last year.”
TORRINGTON
Head coach: Dylan Kruppa (1st season)
Key players: Catherine Butrick (Jr., capt., middle distance), Alexia Fox (Jr., capt., throws), Riley Silva (Fr. sprints, jumps), Michelle Dube (So., sprints) Rachel Egliskis (So., sprints), Lexi Reginatto (So., sprints), Cara Baker (Jr., sprints), Ariana Santos (Jr., distance), Aubry Toribio (Jr. sprints), Sara Bardwell (Sr., throws), Gabrielle Vega (Sr., distance).
Coach’s take: “The combination of new athletes and veterans is going to make this year great. The early enthusiasm is going to push them throughout the season.”
WCA
Head Coach: Laura Thomas (first season)
2016 record: first-year varsity
Key players: Salma Gudaf (Jr., capt., distance), Valerie Lopes (So., capt., sprints, qualified for states last year in 200 meters), Gloria Avila (capt.), Raianna Grant (So., sprints).
Coach’s take: “We look to build on last year’s performances and records, as well as have several athletes compete at the state championships.”
WOLCOTT
Head coach: Becky Riviezzo (15th season)
Key players: Cynthia Dias (capt.), Mackenzie Gould (capt.), Liz Perry (capt.), Nicole Nelson, Alize Rodrigues, Morgan Veronisi, Taylor Riviezzo, Kaitlyn Rosato, Lauren Wright, Ally Gough, Kim Rosato.
Coach’s take: “The team is very young and excited for the upcoming season. We have a lot of new athletes and we are eager to see what they will bring to the table.”
WOODLAND
Head coach: Jeff Lownds (15th season, 193-34-1)
Key players: Samantha Plasky (Sr., sprints, pole vault), Erin Machado (Sr., middle distance), Stephanie McClean (Sr., throws), Gianna Polletta (Sr., jumps, sprints, relays, Alexa Hassan (Sr., throws), Jordan Williams (Sr., hurdles, relays), Gillian Hotchkiss (Sr., middle distance), Hailey Boris (Sr., middle distance, Emilie Noreika (Jr., long distance, pole vault), Megan Sirowich (Jr., middle distance), Erika Michie (Jr., sprints, relays, hurdles), Kristen Persico (Jr., throws), Jessica Fox (Jr., long distance), Christina Hart (Jr., throws), Alli Cianciolo (Jr., jumps), Casey Donnelly (Jr., hurdles, jumps), Julia Swiatek (Jr., pole vault, jumps), Stephanie Poynton (So.), Kristina Poynton (So., jumps, sprints), Julia Accetura (So., sprints), Syd Grillo (So., sprints, relays), Karly Laliberte (So., sprints), Alyssa Van Alstyne (So., hurdles, jumps), Haley Wolfanger (So., middle distance), Alanna Drmic (So., sprints), Jade Brennan (Fr., sprints), Sophia Vescera (Fr., sprints), Emma Slavin (Fr., long distance), Jill Brotherton (Fr., long distance), Calisa Costanzo (Fr., long distance), Jasmine Michie (Fr., throws).
Coach’s take: “We hope to be among the top teams in the league and to do well in the NVL championships. We want to qualify as many as possible for the Class M meet, and will attend several Invitationals to prepare us.”
Berkshire league
HOUSATONIC
Head Coach: Gary Davis (1st season)
2016 record: 7-2, 2nd Place BL
Key returning: Emily Geyselaers (So., BL champion 100, 200, 400, long jump), Angela Tabor (Sr., shot put, BL champion), Anna Besmer (Sr., sprints, hurdles, high jump), Mari Cullerton (Sr., 800, 1,600), Eve Cullerton (Sr., 1600, 3,200).
Coach’s take: “We should finish in the upper half of the league. We lost a few key members to graduation. We have some promising freshmen, so we shall see how they progress.”
LITCHFIELD
Head coach: Brent Hawkins (24th season)
2016 record: 4-5
Key players: Ali Generali (Sr., sprints, throws), Amber Marino (Jr., sprints), Molly Andrulis (Jr., hurdles), Sarah Beres (Jr., pole vault), Lonnie McKenna (Jr., jumps, relays), Rachel Leigh (So., javelin, hurdles), Hannah Curran (Sr., distance), Landrie Spelman (Fr.), Ailenne Lennon (Fr.), Marilyn Tiul (Fr.).
Coach’s take: “We are a small team, but we have a lot of athleticism and will develop quickly as the season progresses.”
NONNEWAUG
Head coach: Arleigh Duff (22nd season, 213-2)
2016 record: 9-0, BL champions for the 21st year in a row, Class MM state runner-up
Key players: Mary Bibbey (Jr. capt., BL champion distance and 4×800, Class MM state champion in 1,600, 3,200 and 4×800, State Open champion in 2,000 steeple chase), Christina Sordi (Sr., capt., sprints, jumps), Sarah Woodward (Sr., capt.), Emily Wingard (Sr., capt., distance), Alexa Spain (Jr., jumps), Azria Malloy (So., 100, 200, 400), Jacquie Berger (So., 4×800, 300 hurdles).
Coach’s take: “There is some talent on this team. We graduated some talented kids, but have some talented freshmen join the team.”
SHEPAUG
Head coach: Tara Flaherty (2nd season)
Key players: Noelia Aguirre (Sr., capt.), Lauren Bresson (Sr., capt.), Emma Krebs (Jr.).
Coach’s take: “We are looking at having some exceptional individual performances from some of our returning athletes as well as our first-time athletes.”
WAMOGO
Head coach: Rob Andrulis (10th season)
2016 record: 2-7
Key players: Emily Kupcho (Sr., throws), Kyra Beyer (Sr., sprints, throws), Meg Salmon (Jr., distance), Sage Reeves (Jr., distance), Olivia Norris (So., sprints), Nikita Berger (So., sprints). Newcomers: Rita Dezik (sprints), Morgan Fischer (sprints).
Coach’s take: “We look to be competitive in all our meets and try to qualify as many athletes for the state meet in June.”
Other area teams
CHESHIRE
Head coach: Barbara Hedden (25th season, 237-57)
2016 record: 10-1
Key players: Sarah Clark (Sr., capt., 200, 400), Camille Lewis (Sr., capt., 800), Lexi Gula (Sr., capt., jumps, sprints), Amanda Addesso (So., distance), Cali Lonardelli (So., pole vault), Riley Pettit (So., hurdles), Giselle Zumerchik (So., hurdles, jumps, sprints), Lauren Daddi (Jr., distance), Jessica Zanca (Jr.), Abigail Del Vecchio (Sr., hurdles), Chelum Okoro (Sr., 400), Claire Pier (Sr., 200, 400), Angela Zhu (Sr., throws); Ruth Del Vecchio (Fr., sprints), Samantha Nowak (Fr., sprints ,jumps), Emma Stratton (So., hurdles), Sarah Pierpont (Sr., sprints).
Coach’s take: “This year we are looking to rebuild our depth in many of our events. The girls are enthusiastic and working hard to develop their skills.”
POMPERAUG
Head coach: Mark Goodwin
2016 record: 4th in SWC, 9th in Class L
Key players: Samantha DePalma (Sr., capt.), Haley McClure (Sr., capt.), Kim Theleen (Sr., capt.), Lissi Marshall (Jr., hurdles), Natalie Connors (Jr., sprints), Ivy Walker (So., distance), Elizabeth Evans (Jr., jumps), Cassidy Jeche (Sr., throws), Maddie Villa (Fr., distance), Nina Koobiatian (So., distance), Kelsey Savoy (So., throws).
Coach’s take: “We have a young, enthused team, lots of seniors last year. We are looking to get better week by week.”