Spring is just around the corner and so are the USM spring athletic schedules. This week we continue our preview with a look at women’s lacrosse and the men’s and women’s outdoor track teams.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Head Coach: Dave Venditti
2002 Team Records: Overall (5-11), Little East (1-5)
Key players not returning: Jen Young, team’s leading scorer with 51 points.
Newcomers to the team: Attackers Emily Kirkland and Erica Profeno, Defender Amanda Loomis, and midfielder/attacker Kim Wagner.
Team Captains: Avery McGill and Erin Crowley.
What Coach Venditti says about his captains: “They are good players with strong work ethics. They have the respect of the entire team and have strong leadership skills.”
Coach Venditti’s goals for 2003: “To make sure every player develops and becomes better. To play hard every game and to make the Little East playoffs.”
Biggest surprises during the pre-season: Deerdra Beveridge and Lindsey White.
Venditti on practicing indoors: “We don’t have the full length of the field. Therefore we can’t play all-out. However, confined spaces help the players to react quicker and develop their read and react skills.”
Venditti on the toughest opponents: Plymouth State, Eastern Connecticut, Keene State, and Bates.
Key opponents to Venditti: “Every game is tough.”
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Head Coach: Bruce Bickford
Team records broken in 2002: 110-meter hurdles (Linc Bigelow), 800 meters (Darryl Whitney), 3000-meter steeplechase (Darryl Whitney), hammer throw (Mark Joyce), and the decathlon (Jeff Lamirande).
Key players not returning: Jason Tuck and Mike Ward (currently in basic training for the Air Force).
Newcomers to the team: Pole vaulter Pete Marsh, middle distance runner Mark LeBlanc, sprinter Dan Close, decathlete Chris Roux, and sprinter Craig Vicker.
Team Captains: To be announced.
Coach Venditti’s goals for 2003: “To have good numbers of athletes on the team to fill out the roster.”
Athletes to look out for: Darryl Whitney, Mark LeBlanc, and Greg Dolbeck.
Bickford’s biggest surprise of the pre-season: “Greg Dolbeck. Greg is totally focused and he is one of our best racers in the 800 and 1000 meter events.
Venditti on the toughest opponents: RIC, Keene State, Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, and Westfield State.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Head Coach: George Towle
Team records broken in 2002: 100-meter dash (Kendall Guyette), 200-meter dash (Kim Brewer), 100-meter hurdle (Kim Brewer), javelin (Kristen Sinclair), hammer throw (Kelly Busby), high jump (Kim Brewer), long jump (Miranda Derenburger), triple jump (Kim Brewer), pole vault (Amy Swanberg), and the heptathlon (Kim Brewer).
Key players not returning: Miranda Derenburger, Kelly Busby and Stephanie Dubois.
Newcomers to the team: Donna Cowing, Devin Edwards, Rachel Greaton, Tiffany Jones, Linsey Kuhn, Brittany MacLean, Sarah Parsons, Melissa Patten, Heather Peterson, Christine Talamayan, Amanda Wallis, and Andrea York.
Team Captains: Nikki Freeman, Heather French, Kendall Guyette, Jess Short, and Amy Swanberg.
Coach Venditti’s goals for 2003: “To have a good showing in each and every meet.”
Athletes to look out for: Nikki Freeman, Amy Swanberg, Kim Brewer, Kendall Guyette, Kristen Sinclair, and the relay teams.
The team’s toughest opponents: Keene State, Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, and Westfield State.