Cheerleading

The competition cheerleading team is looking to improve overall this year after placing thirteenth in the State Competition last year. “This upcoming season, we plan to place [in the] top five a lot more. With more players, we will be able to achieve a harder and more appealing routine. We did not lose any seniors last year, there-fore our talent can only increase,” senior captain Nicole Dastoli said. Last season, the girls took the first place ti-tle at the Southington competition.

Winter warm-upBoys’ Basketball

Last year, the boys’ basketball team concluded the season at 7-13. Near the end of the year, the team began play-ing well together and winning more of its games. “I’m looking to pick up this year where we left off last year,” Coach White said. “If we can play as a unit, we can complete our goals.” The team’s goals for the season are to win a dozen games or more and to qualify for

the State and FCIAC playoffs.

Boys’

Swim-

ming

Coming off of a successful 8-2 season, the boys’ swim team has big aspi-rations for its upcoming season. “We want to go undefeated during the dual meet season and win both FCIACs and States. It’s a big goal, but I think we have a real shot at accomplishing it,” senior captain Andrew Hendrickson said.

The team’s accomplished returning swimmers include Hendrickson and ju-niors Jeff Anderson and Kareem Saleh. Westhill’s more difficult meets will be against Greenwich, New Canaan, and Ridgefield. Although the team’s sched-ule is far from easy, it feels that through hard work and determination, it will ul-timately be able to accomplish all of its goals.

Boys’ Hockey

The boys’ hockey team wants to be over .500 this year after its 9-11 season last year and is looking to dominate with seniors Doug Graves and Brian Rotkewicz. “The goals for the 2011 season are to have a winning season and make it to States. Also, [we want to] beat Stamford High and Trinity,” Graves said. See page 36 to read about the team’s new coach, John Santagata.

Gymnastics

The gymnastics team is hoping to bet-ter its record this season after going 1-7 last year. With several returning gymnasts such as juniors Christina Zendman and Blair Downey and senior captains Lizzie Hart and Sarah Gayda, the team feels optimistic about completing its goals for the year. “If every team member works hard to achieve their individual goals, we should be able to achieve our goals as a team,” Gayda said. Coach Ellie Southworth added, “We need to recruit a few more experienced gym-nasts and build up our physical strength.”

Girls’ Hockey

Girls’ ice hockey is

making its debut this sea-son as a junior varsity team. “It’s

going to be cool to represent my school and also my city,” junior goalie Sarah Ehrlich said. Westhill and Stamford High are forming a co-op team because there are not enough players for two teams. Fe-male hockey players have been looking to start a team since the Stamford Spinakers were disbanded last year. The Stamford-Westhill team will be the first high school girls’ hockey team in Stamford’s history. The team has been working hard in order to prepare for the season. As it is the team’s first season playing together, the girls must develop good chemistry in or-der to succeed. The team will get things started with a jamboree on December 4 and is hoping for a strong turnout from classmates at both schools.Briefs by Gerald Morgan, Matt Schwartz, and Ethan Peikes / Photo Editor, Staff Writer, and Sports Reporter

Next season’s sports prepare for competition

Illustration by Zach Eisen and Sydney Olshan / Photo Editor and Illustrator

Boys’ Swim

Girls’ Basketball

The girls’ basketball team hopes to improve after last year’s record of 7-13. The girls did not qualify for FCIACs or the State tournament last season and are hoping to change that. “I’m relly excited for the season. We have a great group of girls and we are hoping to make FCIACs and the State Tournament,” senior co-cap-tain and four-year starter Suzanne Cohen said.

Indoor Track

The indoor track team will face many tough opponents this season, including Danbury, Ridgefield, and Staples. “We struggle to keep team members,” senior captain Lizzie Van Name said. “A lot of people are turned off by the fact that we run outside during the winter.” According to Van Name, sophomore Nicole Ambro-secchio is a runner to watch. Ambrosec-chio said, “My goals [for the season] are to bring my times up and not get injured.”

With a tough schedule and young team, the indoor track team will need to unite to dominate this season.

37SPORTS November 2010www.thewestwordonline.com