Trinity Sports Preview Continued: Winter 1999-2000

In 1999-2000, the Trinity College women's squash program will have one of its deepest and most talented teams in recent memory. With eight returning varsity letterwinners, including two All-Americans, the Bantam women's squash program, under the direction of Head Coach Wendy Bartlett (16th season), is on a path toward its 20th consecutive winning season.

The Bantams will have to recover from the loss of Paige Vollmer, Betsy Paluck, and Sarah Burbank to graduation. Still, six of the top nine players are back, led by three-time All-American senior co-captain Gail Davie and two-time All-American junior Janine Thompson. Davie posted a 15-5 singles mark two winters ago and is healthy after missing the majority of last season with an injury. Thompson had a sensational sophomore campaign, winning 17 of 22 singles matches, advancing to the USWISRA Singles Tournament quarterfinals and capturing the USSRA Singles Championship.

Senior co-captain Randy DePree has been a major contributor to the squash program in her previous three years. She has compiled a 41-19 record in her career, including a 9-3 dual mark in 1998-99. Also returning are highly regarded sophomores Alice Affleck, Mollie Anderson, and Samantha Lewins, who totaled 27 wins among them in 1998-99.

Bartlett is excited about the upcoming season, particularly with the momentum gained from last season's strong fourth-place finish at the Howe Cup. "We have veteran players who have experienced success and know what it takes to achieve it." She adds, "It will be key for us to mix in a talented incoming freshman class with the returning players to keep our success going this season and in the years ahead."

Men's Swimming And Diving:

Having lost just one senior to graduation, the Trinity College men's swimming and diving team, which finished 14th of 25 teams at last year's New England Championships for the third straight year, returns a strong nucleus.

Following three outstanding years, an accomplished senior class led by co-captains Ryan Young and Andrew Lovig, looks to finish with even stronger individual perfromances and improved team results. In 1998-99, Young earned All-New England honors in the 500-yard freestyle and qualified provisionally for Nationals with a College record time in the mile. Lovig is an accomplished veteran in the backstroke and the butterfly and was part of two record-setting units in the medley relay last season.

Mike Gorman returns for his senior campaign already owning all the Bantam backstroke records, while classmate Bradford Albus has anchored the Trinity diving core the past two seasons. Sophomores Alex Blanchard and Christian Sterling return after fine freshman years. Blanchard emerged as the squad's top swimmer in the sprints and the IM, while Sterling joined Young as a New England qualifier in the 1,000 yard freestyle. Juniors Nathaniel Folkemer and Chris Nicholas and sophomore Eric Biegeleson are versatile athletes who will continue to contribute in several events.

Coach Amy Heasley Williams looks for several newcomers to make some noise in 1999-2000. Among the incoming freshmen are sprinters Luke Forshaw, of Trumbull, CT, and Bill Choi, of Tenafly, NJ, middle distance freestyler Maurice Lee, of Wayne, PA, and breaststroker Chris Rorer, of Villanova, PA. With a young and talented team, the Trinity men hope to have a breakthrough season this winter.

Women's Swimming And Diving:

After recording a 4-6 dual-meet record and a 15th-place finish at the New England Championships, the Trinity College women's swimming and diving team returns many key members in 1999-2000. In all, 11 letterwinners return for Head Coach Amy Heasley Williams' squad.

This season's senior co-captains, Emily Polito and Carrie Rorer, both earned All-New England honors in 1998-99. Polito, who excels in both the freestyle and IM, set a College record in the 500-yard freestyle, while Rorer, a sprinter and breaststroker, raced to a new College mark in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Cory Bernard, a versatile junior who holds College records in several IM and butterfly events, returns after a solid sophomore campaign. She swam New England qualifying times in 12 events, and was the Bantams' best performer in both the butterfly and the backstroke. Senior Tabitha Bliven and juniors Jenifer Stelmack and Jennifer Benjamin are valuable athletes who provide depth in several events.

The 1998-99 freshman class was quite impressive as a unit in its first season, as four rookie swimmers earned varsity letters. Lydia Barrett qualified for the New England Championships in both IM events, and Katie Lafleur did so in the 400-yard IM and the 100-yard butterfly. Carey Friedman was a nice addition to the squad in the freestyle and the butterfly, while Lisa Lambrenos contributed in the freestyle. All four will be key members of Coach Williams' squad in their sophomore seasons.

In diving, junior Katie Bryant, who scored at New Englands for the second straight season, and freshman Jessica Harmon, who also scored at New Englands with a team-high 259.85 in the one-meter, return along with sophomore Mollie Malick. The trio is certain to provide the team with valuable points in the diving events once again.

Coach Williams expects several freshmen to contribute in 1999-2000. Hilary Roberts, of Orange, CT, should supply needed strength in the backstroke, and Karen Huebner, of Burlington, MA, is a sprinter. Kathryn O'Donoghue, of Slingerlands, NY, and Laura Centofanti, of Hanson, MA, will add to the mix in the middle distance events. A nice mix of newcomers and veterans give the Bantams hope and optimism for a top-10 finish at the New England Championships.

Women's Ice Hockey:

The Bantam women's ice hockey team made strides during their first varsity season, and its second overall season under the direction of Head Coach Joe Snecinski (2nd varsity season, 4-18), while competing in the tough ECAC Division III Conference in 1998-99.

The Bantams graduated just three members from last year's squad, but among them was co-captain and all-league goaltender Shanna Henderson.

Junior Vanessa Heaton and sophomores Kim Willis, Jessica Martin, and Alicia Flynn will anchor the defense. They will be joined by freshman prospects Abby Kissel of Far Hills, NJ, Lacey Manzione of Toms River, NJ, Jennifer DeLaurentis, of Easton, MD.

Trinity will benefit from a full season with senior tri-captain Erin Sousa and junior tri-captains Devon Binch and Mandy Lydon. Binch and Lydon studied abroad during the fall semester and missed the preseason and the first five games in 1998-99. This trio, which scored 17 of the team's 24 goals last year, will handle the bulk of the scoring load again this season. Seniors Katie Watts and Emma Fuerst, and sophomores Eliza Nordeman, Kate Heney, Karen Grosso, and Annie Bartsch are also expected to contribute. Incoming freshmen Kate Bowman, of Summit, NJ, Lindsay Peet, of Stowe, VT, Erin Ladelle, of Plymouth, MN, and Caroline Cummings, of Bloomfield Hills, MI, will provide needed depth.

Trinity's Director of Athletics, Richard J. Hazelton, has been pleased with the performance of the women's ice hockey team and is optimistic about the future of the program. "We are committed to gender equity, and we are committed to the women's ice hockey program," he said. "The participation of the women and the enthusiasm that has been generated around campus are outstanding. I am sure the momentum will continue to build." Wrestling:

After posting a second consecutive winning dual season at 12-9 and a best-ever fifth-place finish at the New England Championships, the Trinity College wrestling team, under the direction of Head Coach Sebby Amato (14th season), returns an outstanding core of wrestlers, including six All-New England performers. The program's recent success has yielded benefits in recruiting, as Trinity boasts a talented incoming freshman class to complement 14 veterans in 1999-2000.

Leading the way will be co-captains Tim Barrett and Steve Mulvihill. Barrett, a fifth-year senior, finished third at the New England Championships at 174 lbs. in 1997-98 before sitting out last season with an injury. Mulvihill, a junior, had a great year at 197 lbs. He finished second in New England, and qualified for the National Championships as an alternate.

Five other juniors are also eager to build on solid sophomore campaigns, especially All-New England wrestlers Mike Marcucio, Ted Govola, and Riad deFreitas. Marcucio, who has the most wins on the team over the past two seasons, and Govola combined for a 45-19 record at 133 lbs. and 165 lbs., respectively. Marcucio placed fourth at the New England Championships for the second straight season, while Govola notched his first All-New England performance, also placing fourth. DeFreitas went 22-17, with nine pins, and placed fifth in New England in the 141-lb. class.

Senior Jeff Iudice also was an All-New England performer for the Bantams in his first season on the team. Also a star linebacker for the Trinity football squad, Iudice finished fifth at the Championships at 184 lbs. Senior heavyweight Peter Marino and senior Dan Hughes lead a long list of other experienced veterans. Marino has developed steadily, posting an 11-9 mark last season at 275 lbs., while Hughes came back from a semester abroad to record a 13-8 mark at 125.

Junior Oliver Page and sophomores Matt Banas, Tom Chew, and Noah Cox all hope to build upon promising early careers at the middle weight classes. Other returning starters include senior Cory Madera and junior Eric Gibson. Both are accomplished wrestlers who return to the team after a year's hiatus.

With its team finishing in the top five in the New England College Conference Wrestling Association Championships, the Trinity coaching staff is eagerly awaiting the coming year. "We have made it to the point where we can compete with anybody at all the weight classes," explains Amato. "We have two goals this season: to finish in the top three in the New England Conference, and to continue to qualify wrestlers for Nationals, something we've done six times in the last eight seasons."