BOYS HOCKEY
Last season: 1-18 (did not qualify for playoffs)
Head coach: Ted Hanley (1st year)
Team captains: Jake Batista, Sr. D; Brett Harring, Jr. G.
Other key returnees: Spencer Bergholtz, Sr. F; Sam Petri, Soph. F; Anthony Maurais, Sr. D; Grant Thompson, Jr. G; Jake Stahlman, Soph. F; Adam Ngo, Jr. D; Matt Jalbert, Jr. F; Killian Fitzpatrick, Jr. F
It’ll be a great season if: The Witches continue to show the same enthusiasm and willingness to work hard and sacrifice themselves for the good of the overall team under Hanley’s leadership. A few wins early on would do wonders for this club’s confidence.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Last season: 11-11 (Lost to North Andover, 53-34, in Div. 2 North first round)
Head coach: Tom Doyle (10th year)
Team captains: None named yet.
Other key returnees: Christian Dunston, Sr. G; Marvin Baez, Sr. G; Billy Muse, Sr. G; Emilio Beato, Sr. F; Jared Louf-Woods, Sr. F.
It’ll be a great season if: Salem can clean up the glass. Once again, the Witches will feature a small lineup and rebounding and defending will be critical to their success. Salem can fill it up with the likes of Dunston, Baez, and Muse roaming the backcourt, and Doyle will lean heavily on Beato and Louf-Woods in the frontcourt.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Last season: 12-10 (Lost to Reading in Division 2 North quarterfinals)
Head coach: John Fortunato (22nd year)
Team captains: No captains named.
Other key returnees: Rachael Zipper, So. G; Jaclyn Panneton, So. C; Shanteliz Nunez, Sr. F; Courtney Shearstone, Sr. F; Kayla Hawland, Sr. G.
It’ll be a great season if: Salem continues to grow as a team. Aside from three seniors who saw some time last year, the Witches are currently in the middle of a youth movement. “The learning curve has been tremendous the first week and a half through practice. We have pretty good chemistry going so it’s really just a question about the learning curve,” Fortunato said.
SWIMMING
Last season: 3-4-1
Head coach: Jayne Mills (2nd year)
Team captains: Hannah Walke, Sr., breastroke; Joni Begi, Sr., backstroke
Other key returnees: Kevin Cline, Jr., freestyle; Julie Nguyen, Sr., all-around; Mike MacMillan, Soph., diving; Reshelle Venico, Fr., all-around
It’ll be a great season if: The return of former head coach John Strom (working with Mills) should help the Witches in every way.
BOYS TRACK
Last season: 3-4
Head coach: Gary Lavoie (4th year)
Team captains: Mitchell Osgood, Sr., 600/4x4 Relay; Greg Speliotis, Sr., Sprints/Shot Put; Jerry Canada, Sr., Sprints/Hurdles/High Jump
Other key returnees: Ben Sattiewhite, Sr., High Jump; Aaron Palmer, Jr., 55 Meter Hurdles
It’ll be a great season if: “We can avoid injuries and continue all season like we have started, said Lavoie. “We have a great group of athletes that work hard and want to win.”
GIRLS TRACK
Last season: 1-6
Head coach: Gary Lavoie (4th year)
Team captains: Marlena Udden, Sr., 600/4x4 Relay; Katie Panneton, Sr., Shot Put/Mile; Rebecca Beaulien, Sr., Mile
Other key returnees: Joy Lima, Sr., Sprints; Vanessa Le, Sr., 55 Meter Hurdles; Deema Hijleh, Soph., 300; Shannon Tucker, Sr., 1000
It’ll be a great season if: “Everybody continues to work hard,” remarked Lavoie. “This may be the hardest working and most coachable team I’ve had. I look forward to seeing every one of them succeed.”
