MANCHESTER, NH – The spring sports season is officially underway across athletics surfaces throughout New Hampshire, including at Derryfield School, where several teams embark on campaigns with championship aspirations. Here’s a glance at those teams and athletes:
Girls tennis
Head coach:
- Gustavo Moral (25th season)
Last season:
- State champions
- 17 -0 regular season
- Sophia Correnti – Finalist in singles tournament
- Sophia Correnti/Charlotte Smith – Finalists in doubles tournament
Top returning athletes:
- Sophia Correnti (No. 1, co-captain)
- Lucy Yakola (Co-captain)
- Briana Sánchez-Camilo (Co-captain)
- Sparda Gurung (Co-captain)
- Pola Jankowska
- Sofia Koshy
- Sarina Punjabi
Promising newcomers:
- Marissa Wu
- Samhitha Maradapu
Biggest challenge:
“This is a rebuilding year for the team. We have the majority of the team playing up from last year as fifty percent of the positions had to be renewed.” – Head coach Gustavo Moral
Expectations:
- To retain all the players that signed up for the team
- For the team to have a good time
- For the team to evidence tangible growth by the end of the season
- To continue to be with the teams in the top tier
- To be competitive in the tournaments
- Make the team tournament final
Boys lacrosse
Head coach:
- Chris Heitler (23rd season)
- 298-59 overall record
- 7 state titles (11 championship game appearances)
Last season:
- State runner-up (lost to Portsmouth, 13-9)
- 17-3 regular season
Top returning athletes:
- Seniors captain RJ Proulx, attack (Union College commit)
- Senior captain Brady Doldo, midfield/LSM
- Senior captain Logan Dyer midfield
- Senior captain Caleb May, defense
- Senior captain Dylan Clyne, fogo
- Sophomore Ryan Maxwell, attack
- Sophomore Dom Cercone, attack
- Sophomore Jackson Hatfield, midfield
- Sophomore Liam England, goaltender
- Sophomore Jaxon DeYoung, goaltender
- Junior Alistair Wright, defender
- Sophomore Dan Roy, defender
- Junior Garrett Lande, midfield
Promising newcomers:
- Freshman Emerson Stover, attack
- Freshman Heath Mueller, midfield
- Freshman Awwab Mousa, fogo
- Sophomore Lukas Gaff, LSM
Biggest challenge:
“The challenge this spring will be getting our talented youth integrated quickly into starting roles to supplement a great senior class.” – Head coach Chris Hettler
Expectations:
“The expectation for the spring is to continue to build our culture of everyone contributing to the team’s success. We always believe that we can compete with the top teams in the league for a final four and finals berth with a chance to win the title. The coaching staff prides itself in team development as well as player development on and off the field. We expect to have a fun and exciting spring filled with growth and development while competing for the D-II title.” – Head coach Chris Hettler
Baseball
Head coach:
- Kevin Gray (2nd season)
Last season:
- 15-2 regular season (upset in D-IV quarterfinals).
Top returning athletes and promising newcomers:
- Junior captains Nate Boudreau and Casey Peters, who each earned All-State honors last season, will lead the middle infield. Both players have demonstrated strong leadership this spring while taking the underclassmen under their wing. Peters pitched in six games last season, including two starts, while posting a 2-1 record (2.69 ERA) with one save. He batted .286 with a knack for excellent situational hitting last season. Boudreau will likely play shortstop when he’s not pitching or catching. The slick-fielding Boudreau batted .295 last season, fourth-best on the team, and had three doubles and a triple.
- Senior captain Noah Bobotas, an athletic fielder and burner on the bases, is poised to take over at the hot corner. Junior Jack Lewis has looked impressive at first base during preseason and will also see time at catcher, among other spots.
- Seniors Ryan Jukes and Aiden Moavenian add depth to the infield and look to add some offensive firepower. Sophomore Keith Townsend, a returning starter, has all the tools to play anywhere on the diamond. Townsend batted .273 with 13 runs scored as a freshman.
- In the outfield, brothers Max and Jake Larson have earned starting roles. Jake, a freshman, is also a vital member of the pitching rotation and earned the win in relief pitching against Goffstown in preseason. Rangy freshman Charlie Olsen has looked impressive in the outfield and earned starts in two preseason scrimmages. Sure-handed sophomore Thiago Butera along with junior Logan O’Leary and freshman Matthew Hitchcock will see time as reserves.
- Freshman Adam Willett played like a seasoned veteran in both preseason scrimmages. The freshman catcher twice delivered run-scoring singles in key situations and caught all 14 innings. A motivated freshman group includes Liam Ryan, a dependable pitcher and corner infielder, along with Ben Zych, George Welsh and Noah Barreto.
Biggest challenge:
“The team graduated six seniors and has nine new faces on the varsity roster, including eight freshmen. Developing that solid young core will be essential to Derryfield’s success as they move up to Division III this season.” – Head coach Kevin Gray
Expectations:
“The team has been building good chemistry since hitting the weight room together in January … We have strong leadership from the captains and a solid freshman class, and they are all pulling for each other. If we focus on what we can control and take care of the little things, it will be a great season.” – Head coach Kevin Gray
Girls lacrosse
Head coach:
- Erin Boucher (4th season, 3rd as head coach)
Last season:
- 12-4 regular season
- Lost tight quarterfinal matchup to Hopkinton
Top returning athletes:
- Senior captain Lily Kfoury, goalie
- Senior captain Bri Murray, defense/draw circle)
- Senior captain Chloe Bremberg, midfield
- Junior captain Teagan Peabody, midfield
- Senior Alex Benson, attack
- Sophomore Maddy Paolino, attack/draw
- Sophomore Sadie Walsh, goaltender
Promising newcomers:
- Junior Chloe Larson, midfield
- Freshmen Finley Llewellyn, attack
- Freshman Charlotte Belanger, midfield/draw
Biggest challenge:
“We have a lot of youth so building experience will be our focus so we have depth and longevity this season.” – Head coach Erin Boucher
Expectations:
“I expect us to have a strong season and go far into the postseason this year.” – Head coach Erin Boucher
Boys tennis
Head coach:
- Rae MacWilliam (1st season)
Last season:
- Reached state semifinals
Top returning athletes:
- Senior captain Davey Schroeder
- Junior captain Johnny Brown
Promising newcomer:
- Freshman Sam Krasnof
Biggest challenge:
- The weather
Expectations:
“Our goal is to play in the final match of the season.” – Head coach Rae MacWilliam
Note: All coaches have been contacted for this post. The teams of those who responded are featured here.