BOYS HOCKEY
Last season: 16-6-0 (NEC North champions, lost in Division 2 North quarterfinals)
Head coach: Kevin Brown (6th year, 50-46-11)
Team captains: Joe Strangie, Sr. C; Rob Buchanan, Sr. F; Kevin Hodgkins, Jr. C.
Other key returnees: A.J. Couto, Sr. LW; Jay Calcagno, Jr. RW; Matt Flynn, Jr. LW; Shea Doyle, Sr. D; Tyler Dustin, Jr. RW; Kevin Anderson, Sr. D; Mike Disciullo, Soph. D; Ryan Cassidy, Jr. D; Alec Littlefield, Jr. D.
It’ll be a great season if: The team’s strong corps of forwards and team-wide conditioning are reasons to like the defending conference champions; so is the squad’s commitment to play system-style hockey. One of two sophomore goalies (Jay Joyce or Alex Taylor) will need to emerge as the starter, and the team’s junior defensemen need to make an impact as every-other-shift players.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Last season: 21-4 (Beat St. Joseph’s, 59-47, in Div. 3 state championship)
Head coach: John Walsh (3rd year)
Team captains: Danny Connors, Sr. F; Eric Martin, Sr. G; Nick McKenna, Sr. G; Nick Bates, Sr. G/F.
Other key returnees: Kieran Beck, Jr. G; Vinny Clifford, So. G.
It’ll be a great season if: The Falcons continue to defend and stay patient on offense. Danvers captured the Div. 3 state title last winter by playing tremendous defense, and that’s something Walsh wants to continue. If the Falcons can do that and not settle for the first decent shot on offense, then they have an excellent chance to keep their wins coming.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Last season: 5-15
Head coach: Pat Veilleux (7th year)
Team captains: Kasey Sherry, Sr., G; Sarah Potter, Sr., G
Other key returnees: Emily McNulty, Jr., F; Ally Walsh, Jr., F; Delaney Zecha, Jr., G; Kara Connors, So., G; Ashley Arnoldy, Jr., F; Devin Johnson, Jr., F.
It’ll be a great season if: They can score and make plays late in games. The Falcons are young, with four freshman joining the eight returnees, but they have athleticism and should be solid defensively. That will keep them in games; they just have to make the late baskets to snag some wins.
SWIMMING
Last season: 5-3
Head coach: Barbara Damon (22nd year)
Team captains: Christopher Demirdogen, Sr., distance; Tori Ganley, Sr., distance; Laila Najia, Sr., sprints; Tom Giannino, Sr., sprints.
Other key returnees: Josh Mentzer, Soph., all-around; James Hopkins, Soph., butterfly, freestyle; Sarah Jezowski, Soph., all-around.
It’ll be a great season if: Damon points to conditioning as a key because the Falcons don’t have as much pool practice time as some teams. After that, it’s a matter of adrenaline and teamwork during meets.
BOYS TRACK
Last season: 5-2
Head coach: John Norris (9th year)
Team captains: Matt Hogan, Sr., Middle Distance; Joe Manson, Sr., Shot Put; Mike Mazola, Sr., Sprints; Drew Piazza, Sr., 1000/Mile; Nick Calderone, Sr., Hurdles
Other key returnees: Ryan Levesque, Sr., High Jump/Hurdles; Anthony Garron, Sr., High Jump/Hurdles; Kyle Sullivan, Sr., Hurdles; Connor Rollins, Jr., High Jump; James Bailey, Jr., Distance; Zach Persson, Soph., Long Jump/Hurdles/Sprints; Kevin Hebert, Soph., Distance; John Thomas, Soph., Sprints
It’ll be a great season if: “We can match up well against the incredibly strong teams in our division like Marblehead, Swampscott and Gloucester, said Norris. “We can give them a run for their money, but will have to have strong performances to beat them.”
GIRLS TRACK
Last season: 4-3
Head coach: Sharyn Longo (8th year)
Team captains: Meaghan Kellard, Sr., Shot Put; Corrine Previte, Sr., Middle Distance; Xanthi Pantazelos, Sr., Sprinter
Other key returnees: Gracie Ingraham, Sr., Hurdles; Liana Hebert, Sr., Hurdles; Lexi Bean, Sr., Sprints; Cimbria Dominick, Sr., Distance; Ashley Brooks, Sr., High Jump; Stephanie Kowalski, Jr., Middle Distance; Jessica Driscoll, Jr., Middle Distance; Meaghan McCarriston, Soph., Distance; Christina Parr, Jr., Shot Put; Catalina Dominick, Soph., Distance
It’ll be a great season if: “We can fill the gaps in second and third places. We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores out, so it will depend on how quickly they come along. John Norris and I are lucky to have assistant coach Annie Carter helping with the long distance runners.”
