Boys Tennis and Girls Lacrosse Make History
It was another exciting and history-making spring season for Harvey athletics as the boys tennis team won the HVAL championship for a record fourth consecutive year and the girls lacrosse team won its first ever league title. Meanwhile, the boys rugby team advanced to play in the state championship game, but came home with the second place trophy.
Boys Tennis – Champs for Four Straight Seasons
The boys tennis team did it again! The Cavaliers, with head coach Marty Bernstein and assistant coach Tim Cornell at the helm, won their four consecutive HVAL championship, finishing the season with an overall record of 13-1.
This year’s title game was a match for the ages as South Kent came close to taking the league crown way from Harvey. Coach Tim Cornell called Harvey’s 5-3 victory over South Kent “the closest, most tense match I have witnessed in my time with the tennis team here at Harvey. It really could have gone either way, but as we did all season, we played consistent tennis and the boys never let the pressure get to them.”
Team captains Alec Roslin and Tyler Levy and their teammate Zach Goligoski had outstanding years and were acknowledged by the league. Roslin, undefeated at 13-0 and Levy at 12-1, were named HVAL All League. Goligoski at 13-1 was All League Honorable Mention. Roslin dominated his competition with his closest match being 10-6. At number two, Levy also played extremely well with his only regular season loss coming in a matchup against South Kent’s number 1 player when Roslin was out. Goligoski’s matches were almost always nail biters which he managed to come out on top.
“Overall, the team this year truly exemplified everything that we teach -- consistency, resiliency, effort and mental toughness,” said coach Cornell. “When a team refuses to lose with indomitable will, it carries over not just from game to game – or match to match – but from season to season – even when the new season brings mostly new players,” he said. “This team represented their parents, and their school with dignity and class, and we as coaches were proud to be a part of a special season with special players.”
The coaches selected the following players for team awards:
- Most Valuable Player Alec Roslin
- Most Improved Player Daniel Qiu
- Best Attitude Tyler Levy
- Coaches Award Zachary Goligoski
Girls Tennis – Year Three and Growing
Coaches Lesley Boltz, Christine Cahill and Julia Gooding saw the fruits of their labor ripen this season as the girls varsity tennis program ended its second season with a 4-6 record overall and 2-6 in league competition.
Coach Boltz said, “Although the girls didn’t post a winning record, they learned to be better teammates, became stronger competitors and improved their communication and tennis skills.” Pivotal to the improvement were the key additions of eighth-grader Nicole Warshaw who stepped into the number 1 singles role and sophomore Hannah Paul who played at number three singles. Warshaw and Paul were selected as HVAL All League players.
Coach Cahill credits the veterans on the team with helping the program grow this year. “Our returning players from last season all built on their skills by practicing over the summer and taking indoor lessons over the winter. Our only senior, Carly Kaplan, a founding member of the girls team, was a player the younger teammates looked up to, and the entire team will miss her next year.”
Coach Cahill says the future looks bright for girls tennis. “As a younger program and a team made up of mostly sophomores and two middle school students, our prospects for the future are promising,” she said.
At the team dinner, the coaches announced the following winners of the team awards:
- MVP Hannah Paul
- MIP Giana Yang
- Sportsmanship Nicole Warshaw
Girls Lacrosse Are League Champs!
It was tremendous season for the girls varsity lacrosse team who finished the season a perfect 12-0 and captured the HVAL championship, the first time in program history.
Guided by head coach Greg Janos and assistant Christina Binns, the girls also finished with the best record in the Class C division of the Western New England Prep School Women’s Lacrosse Association (WNEPSWLA).
With captains Aliya Mayers, Julia Kravitz, Melissa Shaw-Patino and Sarah Chintz helping to lead the way, the team’s outstanding season garnered a MaxPreps.com No. 3 ranking among New York private schools and a LaxPower.com ranking of No. 8 for all prep schools in New England.
Coach Janos said the highlights of the season include going undefeated and winning the HVAL title, both firsts in school history. Janos said playing with a short roster turned out to be an advantage. “Being able to play the whole team in numerous games was extremely important because we only had three subs and having them being able to jump into any game at any time was so important to give our players a rest when they needed it and it allow a great opportunity for the younger girls to gain valuable playing experience for next season when they will be relied on to carry more weight.”
Harvey’s midfield was a position of strength and looks to be in great shape for the future with eighth-grader Sophia Scarsella and two freshmen, Sadie Albert and Julia Mallon. “Their feistiness and speed made the midfield transitions fast and efficient,” said coach Janos. “They used their size and speed to move the ball quickly down the field,” he added.
Leading Scorers:
- Sadie Albert: 42 goals, 34 assists, for 76 points
- Sophia Scarsella: 28 goals 14 assists, for 42 points
- Aliya Mayers: 28 goals, 12 assists, for 40 points
- Julia Mallon: 25 goals, 6 assists, for 31 points
Harvey featured a tough defense with solid performances from newcomers Jane Kelleran and Tessa Knorr, who joined Sarah Chintz and Julia Kravitz on a strong defensive lineup led by Tiaja Downer who had a breakout season.
The team’s goaltending stood out this year, making huge saves and having the confidence to leave the crease and carry the ball down field. Senior Ariana Weaver had her best season yet with 73 total saves and was a standout in the playoffs. Sharing time with her was freshman Kelly McMorrow who proved she’s ready to step up into the starting role next year. She made 51 saves in a part-time role.
Harvey had two girls, Mayers and Scarsella, selected to play in New England Prep School Women’s Lacrosse Association (NEPSWLA) all-star game. Mayers scored a goal off an 8-meter shot after battling for position proving her selection was appropriate. Scarsella, the youngest all-star, demonstrated her grace under pressure in holding her own against some of the most talented girls lacrosse players in the New England area
Meanwhile, Albert and Downer were named as All Stars by the Western New England Prep School Women’s Lacrosse Association (WNEPSWLA).
Coach Janos said the 2015 champions had the will to win. “Going undefeated in any sport isn’t an easy task and this year’s lacrosse team just refused to lose. Even in the close games they were able to dig deep and find a way to win.”
He added, “I can’t say enough about this year’s team from top to bottom. I am so proud of all of them for what they have accomplished. These girls played their hearts out each game and won with class.”
At the end of the season, the following players earned HVAL awards:
HVAL All League:
- Sophia Scarsella
- Ariana Weaver
- Julia Mallon
- Aliya Mayers
- Sadie Albert
At the team dinner, the coaches presented team awards to the following:
- MVP- Sadie Albert
- MIP- Kelly McMorrow
- Unsung Hero- Sophia Scarsella
- Coaches Award- Lizzie Kavounas
- Players Player- Tessa Knorr
Boys LAX Falls in Title Game
The boys varsity lacrosse team came close to winning an HVAL title, making it to the championship game but losing 9-5 to South Kent. With head coach Jason Hill and assistant coach Mike Barefield at the helm, the Cavaliers, 5-7 overall, but 3-1 in the HVAL, captured the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and hosted South Kent in a game that went back and forth early on but saw the Cardinals score four late goals to get the win and earn the first place trophy.
The Cavaliers set the tone early for their fine season when, in the first game, they showed the league what they were made of after playing 25 minutes of 48 minutes a man down and still came away with a 10-8 win. Other season highlights included taking Fairchester league opponents to tie games at halftime and battling powerhouse Greens Farms into OT. The Cavaliers got to the championship game on the strength of beating Chase twice, the second time in the HVAL playoffs.
Coach Barefield credits the defense with the team getting as far as it did. “Our defense was the strongest it has been in many years. With the talent of first-year goalie Brian Benjamin and with the combination of experience from junior captain Tom Smith and senior Josh Gantt, and the young talent of Connor Philips and Teddy Little, we were able keep very talented teams in check.”
Coach Barefield applauded the team’s offense, too. “Our attack led by senior captain Connor Wilson was dynamic, exploding at the right times and also controlling the game when needed,” said the coach.
He also singled out the outstanding effort of junior Mike DePass. “We are a gritty team who, with barely any subs, works to our limits every game. Mike DePass is a prime example of what we are all about. Every groundball counts and every time you out hustle the other, you are one step closer to victory,” he added.
The following were named HVAL All League:
- Brian Benjamin
- Tom Smith
- Connor Wilson
The following players were Division 3 All-Star selections:
- Michael DePass
- Connor Wilson
- Tom Smith
- Brian Benjamin
The winners of trophies for team awards were:
- MVP Offense: Connor Wilson
- MVP Defense: Brian Benjamin
- MIP: Jovell Forsythe
- Coaches Award: Thomas Smith
- Sportsmanship: John Mather
- Iron Man: Michael DePass
- MVP Offense Tyler Cox
- MVP Defense Connor Phillips
- Coaches Hunter Hoffman
- MIP Hayden Carillo
Boys Rugby
It was another outstanding season for the boys rugby team, chalking up five league wins against one loss, winning the play-in game for a try at the NYRugby Tier 1 championship, and along the way, achieving a national ranking of No.46. Head coach Luigi Loiola and assistants Mark Brandon, Mike Leone and Phil Lazzaro saw their Tier 2 champs of 2014 return to Utica in June as one of New York’s top four clubs in Tier 1 before losing to Xavier in the championship match. The boys finished at 8-2, the only losses coming against Xavier, the seventh-ranked team in the nation.
Coach Loiola said this year’s team featured the best backline in the entire state with Reed Feldman, Ilan Gressel and Malcolm Koonce. “They are all top players and could probably play on any team in the nation. A solid, great group of guys with a lot of heart,” said Loiola.
This year’s squad also featured five sophomores who had starting roles. They were Peter Lombardo, Dajour Fisher, Rafael Tapia, Kole Dokaj and Dillon Vitello.
Coach Loiola also praised the efforts of his captains, Feldman, Joe O’Connell and Jay Haendler. “They were outstanding performers and good team leaders,” said the coach.
At the awards dinner in June, the following players had their names inscribed on the school’s Rugby Plaque:
- Bravery: Rafael Tapia
- Discipline: Reed Feldman
- Jazz: Ilan Gressel
The Ted O’Connor Alumni Award for having the highest level of commitment and service to the team: John Cunningham and Dillon Singleton
Girls Rugby Makes Strides in Year Two
The girls varsity rugby team (2-3), guided by head coach Ciara Lehane and assistant coach Susan Harris, saw marked improvement in its second year of competition. The tone was set early when the girls made their first spring training trip and won a 7s match in beautiful Bermuda. Coach Lehane hailed it as the team’s “first international win.”
Coach Lehane saw two other games as highlights, namely, beating Monmouth decisively in the first game of the season with several players scoring tries, and playing a 7s round robin against New London as the solid teamwork and selflessness of the Harvey players translated into tries.
Coach Lehane believes the skills of the girls vastly improved in their second year. “A lot of our returning players came into this season with the mindset that they needed to work harder than they had the year before,” said coach Lehane. “As the season went on, the girls grew closer as a team, which culminated in vets assisting rookies in making tries in our last scrimmage against New London,” she added.
Lehane said the best part about coaching girls in rugby is watching them become more confident as they master parts of the game. She said, “We had a lot of new girls this year and they always showed up with enthusiasm to practices and games and that made a big difference to the overall performance of the team. While we’re sorry to see the seniors leave, I think with this particular rookie class, the team is set up well for a successful season next year.”
Senior Laura Spung and junior Claudia Smith served as team captains. Junior back Aila Prieto was named to the NJ/NY All-Star 7s team.
At the end of the season, the coaches announced the following team awards:
- MVP Forward: Ariel Chiverton
- MVP Back: Aila Prieto
- MIP Forward: Alexis Palmer
- MIP Back: Katharine D'Avanzo
- Rookie of the Year: Julia Frisch
Baseball: A Season of Close Calls
The varsity baseball season saved its greatest highlight for the HVALs when the blue and maroon upset Forman in the quarterfinals. The team’s 3-11 record does not tell the whole story as head coach Mike Rubenfeld and assistants Will Diano and Rob Griffin saw their squad suffer through too many close games that went the other way.
The HVAL first round 4-3 win over Forman was another nail biter, but Harvey came out on top to set up a semifinal matchup against Masters of Connecticut, which went the way of the team from West Simsbury.
Coach Rubenfeld said beating Forman in the opening round of the playoffs was a season highlight. “We had lost to Forman twice during the regular season, and senior John Colangelo pitched the best game of his varsity career to get the win.”
The coach also listed the team’s preseason trip to Florida as another highlight. “We had the opportunity to travel to Florida and go on the field with the Yankees and meet Joe Girardi and some of the players. That was an unforgettable moment that we got to experience this year.”
Senior captains Jackson Roberts, Austin Forman, Marc Catanese and John Colangelo made significant contributions. Roberts led the team in hitting with a .462 avg. Catanese came up clutch in big spots. Forman, selected as HVAL All League, was solid with the bat and flashed a good glove in center field while Colangelo carried a lot of the pitching workload. Senior Marshall Euchner played all-around the infield and had a good year offensively.
At the end of the season the coaches announced the following team awards:
- Silver Slugger – Jackson Roberts
- Gold Glove – Austin Forman
- Coaches Award – Marc Catanese, Marshall Euchner
- MVP – John Colangelo
In reflecting on the season, Coach Rubenfeld credits the team for continuing to play hard when the wins weren’t coming. “We lost five games this season by one run and we could’ve easily gone in the tank and looked toward next year, but that was not the attitude that these kids possessed. They worked extremely hard in practice to get better and we had success at the end of the year.”
In his third year at the helm, Coach Rubenfeld took his team to the semifinals for the first time. He sees positive signs for the future. “We are very excited as we have some nice young talent who are really starting to develop into excellent baseball players,” he said.
Members of JV baseball (4-3) received the following team awards:
- MVP Victor Mizzaro
- Coaches Shawn Mallon
- Silver Slugger David Solano
- Gold Glove Jacob Reber
Softball Season Sees Improved Play
This year’s softball team (2-5) might have struggled to get wins but the girls were strong on effort, teamwork and sportsmanship.
Guided by head coach Jackie Kelm and assistant Carolyn Bean, the team enjoyed a few highlights, including a season opening victory over Poughkeepsie Day School, an opponent Harvey had not beaten in several years. The team captains this year were Jasmine Brouwer, Taylor Williams and Lauren Suna.
Brouwer had a great season, winning the team’s Silver Slugger Award for .375 batting average and 12 RBI. Junior Julia Slater earned the Golden Glove Award as the team’s catcher, a position she played for the first time this season. Coach Kelm said Slater deserved the award. “She worked hard to get to know the position and she was very successful. By the end of the season she was catching pop fly balls behind the plate and she threw out a runner attempting to steal third base.”
Williams, who represented Harvey in the WNEPSBGA All-Star game, was solid at third base. The Coaches Award went to senior Olivia Lindsay for her dedication to the team. Coach Kelm said, “Olivia really stepped up this season, rallying the girls together and motivating our players. She has been a great asset to the team and will be missed next year.” Coach Kelm also recognized the efforts of the team’s two pitchers, Selena Cummings and Hana Cornell. “Selena gave us great pitching with 18 strikeouts for the season and Hana worked hard, adding to our pitching staff throughout the season,” said the coach.
Although playing with a short roster and sometimes being forced to play shorthanded on the bench, the team pulled for each other. “We lost one game game 20-1 but afterward the umpire said to me, ‘I really respect the way you all support each other.’ Even in the rough games our players stood together and always encouraged one another.”
Middle School Baseball Enjoys Success
The Middle School baseball team (6-2), coached by Pat Kennedy and Sam Schursky, had an excellent season this year with several contributions from key players.
The starting pitchers, Ryan Horowitz, Lucas Cohen and Mason Rice, threw a combined 40 innings and only gave up 27 runs. Ryan Horowitz paced a strong offense that put runs on the board against every team that Harvey faced. “We rarely wasted at bats by swinging at bad pitches,” said coach Sam Schursky.
Horowitz led the team in doubles, triples and RBI. The team’s leadoff man Mason Rice was often on base when the batter behind him got to the plate. Aiden Cammisa led the team in stolen bases with 21 and anchored a strong infield defense at first base. “Aiden used his glove to save the team many errors that would have allowed the opposing offense to score,” said coach Schursky. “Our winning defense this year included Ryan Villano, Andrew Ortiz, Max Edelman, Patrick Murphy and Jacob Sklar,” added the coach.
Reflecting on the season, Coach Schursky said, “It was a team effort on the field, and the players really worked well together. Overall it was a fantastic season.”
The coaches selected the following players for team awards:
- MVP: Ryan Horowitz
- MIP: Lucas Cohen
- Coaches Award: Julian Camargo