Hills West Fall Sports Season Preview
Girls Volleyball
As the 2014 Girls Volleyball season begins, the Colts are looking to improve upon last year’s 6-10 record. The team lost a few great players from last season, but that will not hold them back. A slew of returning players of great talent, including Sophomore Alex Parkas, a defensive specialist who last year lead the team in digs, have the potential to lead the team to a successful season. The team has put in a lot of hard work and effort as they strive to continue the proud tradition of successful Hills West Volleyball teams. The Colts are looking forward to the long and potentially rewarding season ahead of them.
Boys Volleyball
The Half Hollow Hills Boys Volleyball team is back and better than ever. After a remarkable 2013 season, the Thundercolts are back at it again. Coming off of a 14-6 record last year, the team is optimistic about their upcoming season. The team is confident that talented players on their deep roster will rise to fill the void left by the departed players. Seniors Tommy Oliveri, the team’s leader in assists a year ago, and John Natalone are poised to lead the team to victory as they return for their final seasons. The team has really gelled this preseason, and the confident Thundercolts have designs on this year’s county championship.
Girls Soccer
As the school year dawns, the girls soccer season is nearing full swing. As the long and diligent offseason has come to a close, the team is putting their 9-5 record from last season behind them. Though a respectable mark by any measurement, the Colts are hungry for more this season. With the loss of their leading goal scorer from last year, Gabrielle Costa, the team will need to see a slew of players develop their talent and emerge as significant contributors. The team is confident in their returning players to do just that and lead Hills West to a stellar season. Senior player Joanna Musacchia will be the anchor and last line of defense for the Colts in her role as the starting goalkeeper. Spirits are high and expectations are even higher as the 2014 season kicks off.
Football:
Finally, the new football season is upon us! The Hills West Varsity Football team has been working extremely hard this offseason to prepare for what looks to be a promising season for them. The Colts ended the 2013 season with a 5-4 record, losing to the top-seeded Riverhead team in the first round of the playoffs. Several key players from last season will need to be replaced, but the team is loaded with returning talent that can do just that. Seniors Joe Cipoletti, a linebacker, and Matt Fattibene, a defensive lineman, will anchor the defense this season; Cipoletti was a force to be reckoned with last year as he recorded 72 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries, and 3 interceptions. Juniors Anthony Lucarelli, a quarterback, and Lucas DiGiorgi, a running back, are poised to pilot the offense. Both started in their respective positions last season, and expect to have further improved upon their already phenomenal gameplay. Coach Madden is entering his fourteenth year of coaching the Colts, and he brings a lot of football experience to the team. The Colts open at Newfield on Friday, September 12th, where they hope to begin a successful season.
Field Hockey
The Hills West Field Hockey team is entering this season with a fresh, reinvigorated mindset. Though the team has had little success in the past several seasons, a new coach with a new philosophy is bringing hopes of a brighter future. While the Colts may not be expecting to be competing for a league championship this season, there is hope that the team can be competitive this season in a way that they have not been able to be for these players’ entire high school careers. The future for this program is bright, and the future starts now.
Boys Golf
The Hills West Boys Golf team has high hopes and expectations going into this season. The team last season was a very young one, and as such it lost very few players to graduation. Of the players it did lose, however, were some of the team’s lowest scorers. The team, under Coach Bartolotta, has finished very respectably each of the past several seasons, but has been unable to seriously contend for a team county title. The team is loaded with young talent that can hope to shine even brighter this year, with one more year of experience under their belt.
Boys Soccer
The Hills West Boys Soccer team has a reputation for consistently winning, and they backed it up last year with a stellar season. However, a stunning loss saw the 2-seeded Colts eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, a great disappointment for the team and its fans. This year they seek to win the county championship that has eluded them in recent years. The team has several large voids to fill where last year’s seniors led them, however, and the coaching staff will be looking for new stars to step up. The position of goalkeeper is a particular question mark going into the season, as the Colts seek to maintain their winning tradition.
