lxxxii
2.7.08
published on 11/07/07
Winter Sports Preview
Brewers prepare for winter season competitions
Joe Bubar
Staff Writer
As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, Vassar’s winter athletes are only just starting their seasons. On snowy days when the rest of the campus goes into hibernation, these athletes are practicing. The sound of bouncing basketballs echoes through Walker Field House as sabres clash and water splashes. Across the campus, squash balls ricochet off the walls of Kenyon Hall next to the gym, where volleyballs fly over nets. Working hard, these athletes are determined to have winters full of exciting wins and new records. To learn more about the teams, their coaching staffs and their schedules, visit the Vassar athletics Web site at athletics.vassar.edu.
Men’s Fencing
Coach: Bruce Gillman
Captain: Paul Brehm ’08
Season Outlook: Last year men’s fencing completed the season with a 14-12 record, its first winning season in 10 years. The addition of eight freshmen including Andrew Fischl, Cody Canning, Dennis D’Urso, Conor Kenney and left-handed Mike D’Urso has added depth to an already talented squad. Although scheduled for some tough matches, Gillman thinks that “this group is the best prepared team that Vassar has had to take up the challenge.” The sabre squad may be the team’s strongest this year. Four freshmen will compete for a spot on this team, which has five returning fencers. “We have very good freshmen,” said Gillman. “The more there are, the harder they push others.”
Challenges: When Alex Snow ’09 goes JYA for spring semester, some challegnes could arise. Snow, the New England Champion, was one victory away from qualifying for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament last season. “We do have another potential New England Champion in Fischl this year,” said Gillman. “And perhaps four other fencers with reasonable chances to make National Collegiate Athletic Conference (NCCA) Tournament if things break correctly.”
Games to Watch: Some of the team’s toughest tests will be against Princeton University, New York University, University of North Carolina, Harvard University and Pennsylvania State University.
Women’s Fencing
Coach: Bruce Gillman
Captains: Emily Frederiksen ’08 and Kristina Poznan ’08
Season Outlook: After finishing even at 15-15 last year, the Brewers hope to expand their number of wins this season. Freshmen Jackie Kory, Julie Carlsen and Sophie Courser should add much needed depth to the sabre and épée squads. Gillman believes the foil squad will be the team’s forte this season. “We have the strongest women’s foil squad that Vassar has had in a long time,” he said.
Challenges: Don’t be surprised if the Brewers start out slowly but finish strong. Three fencers are JYA this fall but will be back in time to compete during the spring season.
Games to Watch: A match at Princeton on Dec. 1 will be a good indicator of the team’s strength.
Women’s Basketball
Coach: Angel Mason (Asst. Fallon Rehmert)
Captains: Emily Haeuser ’10 and Chelsea Katzenberg ’08
Season Outlook: Newly appointed as head coach, Mason wants to instill an aggressive mentality in her team. Pushing the ball up the court, being physical on defense and attacking the basket to get to the free-throw line are the team’s goals for this year. Although the graduation of Rachel Cerlen took some height away from the team, Mason believes that advantage will be “speed against other teams’ height.” Haeuser returns to the post alongside jump-shooters Ashley Sherman ’10 and Carolyn Crampton ’11.
Challenges: With only two returning seniors, Mason sees a team that could improve on its basketball knowledge, which includes learning to depend on one another and reading plays.
Games to Watch: Mason expressed her desire to “protect home court.” The Brewers’ first home game is Nov. 20 against SUNY New Paltz.
Men’s Basketball
Coach:Mike Dutton (Asst. Jamie Snyder-Fair)
Captains: Lawrence Avitabile ’08 and Daniel Forcella ’08
Season Outlook: With 12 players returning from last year’s team, which won the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship, Liberty League Coach of the Year Dutton’s goal for his team is simple: make the NCAA tournament. Vassar boasts an intelligent, experienced team that prides itself on rebounding and defense. Avitabile and Tyson Brazell ’08 return for their senior seasons after earning spots both in Vassar record books and on the All Liberty League teams.
Challenges: The team can’t take anything from last year for granted if they wish to qualify for the NCAA tournament. “Complacency is something you fear,” said Dutton.
Games to Watch: All the conference games will be important this year. But the Brewers especially look forward to their games against Hamilton College on Jan. 18 and Feb. 9. Hamilton beat Vassar twice last year.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Coach: Lisl Prater-Lee (Asst. Aubrey Talaska; Diving Coach Tom Albright)
Captains: John Alaimo ’09 and Tom Liu ’09
Season Outlook: After finishing at sixth place in the Liberty League standings last year, Prater-Lee does not expect the team to take a step back. With her biggest roster ever—17 men by spring semester—Prater-Lee sees a program on the rise. “The nature of swimming calls on strength and depth,” she said. Prater-Lee said that having one senior on the roster, diver Andrew Wood, will actually work in favor of her young team. “I’m happy all these guys should be back next year,” she said.
Challenges: Although the team boasts a larger roster than in the past, depth will still be its main concern when it competes this season.
Games to Watch: Meets leading up to the Liberty League Tournament, including Renssellaer on Nov. 10, could prove pivotal.
Women’s Swimming
Coach: Lisl Prater-Lee (Asst. Aubrey Talaska; Diving Coach Tom Albright)
Captains: Elizabeth Gadomski ’08 and Emily Love ’09
Season Outlook: Even with lead swimmers such as Love, who holds five Vassar women’s swimming records, and Allison Koenker ’09, who is currently abroad and holds two, Prater-Lee still insists that it will take a team effort to improve on last year’s fourth place finish in the Liberty League. “I don’t like to highlight one or two people,” she said. “They are only as good as the team can help them become.”
Challenges: Prater-Lee stressed that consistency from one event to another is the key to a successful year. “With people coming from different swimming backgrounds,” she said, “We need to figure out, ‘Where can we best fit you in?’”
Games to Watch: The meet against Rensselaer on Nov. 10 will be a critical for the Brewers.
Men’s Squash
Coach: Jane Parker (Asst. Phil Wilkins)
Captains: Gregory Kantrowitz ’08 and Anshuman Beri ’08
Season Outlook: The men’s team is looking to improve on last season’s 5-13 record. The team looks to Kantrowitz to repeat his stellar performance at the first position after finishing 12-5 last season. Jake Kantrowitz ’09 looks to rebound from an injury that ended his season early. He finished last year with four wins and four losses.
Challenges: With only one freshman on the team—Jose Rivera—the Brewers essentially have the same squad as last year, which could either help or hurt them this season.
Games to Watch: The Brewers look forward to battling Trinity College on Dec. 1.
Women’s Squash
Coach: Jane Parker (Asst. Phil Wilkins)
Captains: Amalia Sax-Bolder ’08 and Teddy Weiss ’09
Season Outlook: After their sixth winning season in as many years and a 19th place finish at Nationals, the Brewers, led by Clarence C. Chafee honoree Parker, look forward to another promising year. Six players return to the team, including Sax-Bolder and Weiss, who will compete at the No. 3 and 4 positions, respectively. Sophomore Emilie Kraft will start at the No. 1 position. She finished last season with 11 wins.
Challenges: A hole at the No. 2 position will need to be filled, as promising freshman Kristine Bell cannot compete this year for medical reasons.
Games to Watch: Vassar enters the Seven Sisters Championship on Jan. 20, the number two seed at home.
Men’s Volleyball
Coach: Jonathan Penn (Asst. Antonia Sweet)
Season Outlook: Finishing last seson with an 8-15 record, the Brewers look improve on their number of wins and qualify for postseason play.
Editors Note: Coaching staff for men’s volleyball was unavailable for further comment on the team’s upcoming winter season.
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