Winter Sports Preview
Thursday, December 18, 2014
BOYS BASKETBALL
Coach: Scot Wenzel (12th year)
Last year: 9-13, Lost in first round of Class LL tournament
Key losses: Marcus Guadarrama, Edwin Gomez, Evan Mach, Shawn Meggie
Key returnees: Zach Tinkham (jr, G), Jared Simmons (soph, G), Pablo Ortiz (jr. F).
OUTLOOK: The Indians lost Guadarrama, one of the more underrated players in the area, as well as some other effective pieces from last year’s team which won a play-in game in Class LL before drawing Fairfield Prep in the first round and coming back with a fairly competitive loss. Wenzel has players to work with, however, which will allow him to reload the Indians and give them another chance at the tournament.
Helping that cause will be two of the better guards around in Tinkham and Simmons. Simmons averaged 14.5 points a game last year as a freshman, while Tinkham pitched in nearly 12 a night and will have the chance to do more this year with some of the team’s losses to graduation freeing up shots.
“Tinkham and Simmons might be one of the best backcourts in the area,” Wenzel said.
If the Indians are to be successful this season, however, they will need more than just good guard play.
“Brett Frank and Pablo Ortiz have to control the paint,” Wenzel said.
Frank is part of a large group of players who could chip in and provide depth which includes Cam Fedina, Conor Buckley, Nick Guadarrama and Nate Alleyne. None of them are seniors, but they are a big group of potential supporting cast members which could make Newington tough and versatile.
Still, without many seniors, the Indians are going to have to grow.
“We must mature quickly,” Wenzel said.
ICE HOCKEY
NEWINGTON-BERLIN-MANCHESTER
Coach: Dave Harackiewicz
Last year: 16-5-1, Lost in first round of Division II tournament
Key losses: Dan Roberts, Matt Harackiewicz, Mike Davies.
Key returnees: Dante Gugliotti (sr. F), Marco DiPaola (sr. F), Cam Criniti (sr. G), Mitch Pitkin (sr. D), Chris Salvio (sr. D), Luca DiPaola (jr. F), Aaron Lassen (jr. D).
Outlook: The Indians looked to be on pace for a third straight state championship after a wonderful, 16-win regular season. But an upset loss to Hall-Southington in the CCC tournament was followed by another in the state tournament, and the Indians’ remarkable run was over suddenly.
The losses should only make the Indians more motivated this year. The talent on their roster will make them tough, too.
Roberts is playing junior hockey while Matt Harackiewicz is playing at the club level and Davies takes the ice for Eastern Connecticut. Losing such familiar names would be a problem for most teams, but the Indians have no shortage of quality on this year’s team. Marco DiPaola is as good a center as you’ll find, capable of playing in the defensive end while scoring 30 points a year ago. Luca DiPaola should see his numbers go up this year and is a dangerous forward, as is Gugliotti.
Defensively, the Indians will be led by Pitkin, who is tough in his own end but is also useful in the offensive zone, as well as Lassen, another strong two-way defenseman. Salvio is more of a rugged defenseman who can make teams pay for being overly aggressive on offense.
Behind them is one of the best goaltenders around in Criniti, who had a GAA of under two last year and who is well-trained in playing angles and understands the importance of not allowing juicy rebounds.
Harackiewicz lists speed and defense as his team’s strengths, but knows goals won’t come as easily as last year without the departed players. There might not be as many well-known players on this year’s team, but the Indians have veteran players who can and have played well in big games in the past. Division II is loaded again, but the Indians will be a tough out for someone in March.
WRESTLING
Coach: Eric Soucy (3rd year)
Last year: 16-10
Key departures: Christian Zotti, Ryan Goncalves, Alex Skonieczny, Andres Del Valle
Key returnees: Brendan Zotti (152) Joey Briganti (120), Rafael Anderson (138)
Outlook: The Newington Indians had a nice 2013-14 season going 16-10, but graduated a large senior class, and expect to be in a rebuilding year this season. The three senior captains will provide the bulk of leadership, and will help keep the Indians competitive. Head coach Eric Soucy has praised his younger wrestlers work ethic, so as the season progresses the Indians should make take strides in the right direction. The Indians also have football standout Zachary Truhan joining the squad this season, and Soucy has been very pleased with how quick he’s picked up the new sport. Newington will have some growing pains, but will continue to build toward the future.
“This will be a rebuild year for us,” Soucy said. “We have a lot of young wrestlers, so we’re looking for our seniors to be good leaders and teach the younger players. We’re a little inexperienced, but they all work hard and work together and never give up.”
BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING
Coach: Peter Orschiedt (1st season)
Key losses: Robert Boisivert (500 freestyle), Kurt Swenor (100 butterfly and 100 freestyle), Michael Schumacher (100 backstroke) and Kamil Wieczerak (100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke).
Key returnees: Michael Allo (so. 100 breaststroke state qualifier) and Raymond Neistat (jr. state finalist for diving)
Outlook: The Newington boys swimming and diving team has to deal with a lot of change this season and not just in the pool.
The Indians lost four swimmers from last year’s squad to graduation. Those swimmers were Robert Boisivert, Kurt Swenor, Michael Schumacher and Kamil Wieczerak.
Newington will also have a new head coach this year in Peter Orschiedt.
The good news for the Indians, though, is they have some key contributors returning and also some strong newcomers. Michael Allo, who was a state qualifier in the 100 breaststroke, and Raymond Neistat, who is the team’s top diver, both return after strong 2013-14 seasons. And in addition to them, the Indians also have newcomers in Sean Abrams and Robert Nagy that they are relying on.
“We lost some key swimmers last year, but the boys have been working hard to fill in those spots,” Newington assistant coach Kelsey Cronin said. “We are looking forward to a successful season with a lot best times and state qualifiers.
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