Winter Sports Preview, Part 2
Boys Basketball
Following an 8-14 season, the boys basketball team looks to its seniors to step up after losing many key players once again. Matt LaCorte and Jeff Gagum are gone, yet the senior class is determined to get back onto the court and make a name for themselves. Adam McDaniel, Mark Natiello, Dylan Jackson and Chris Wagner headline the group of seniors looking to step up and carry the team to a winning season.
Following an 8-14 season, the boys basketball team looks to its seniors to step up after losing many key players once again. Matt LaCorte and Jeff Gagum are gone, yet the senior class is determined to get back onto the court and make a name for themselves. Adam McDaniel, Mark Natiello, Dylan Jackson and Chris Wagner headline the group of seniors looking to step up and carry the team to a winning season.
“We have some good, experienced seniors along with a lot of hardworking juniors looking to prove themselves. We are trying to make a statement in a very competitive Union County, and hopefully we can make a run deep into the county and state tournaments.”
-Mark Natiello ’18
Wrestling
After an impressive 14-9 season, the WHS wrestling team once again has high expectations. Sophomore CJ Composto was 24-1 last season with 15 pins, and looks to make an impact once again. Without Jack Miller, who graduated last year and currently wrestles at the University of Virginia, the team will be led by seniors Matt Dente and Isaiah Reese, captaining the team in their final season at WHS.
“I feel like our team is bigger and better than last year. We’re putting in a lot of work and effort in not only the weight room but the wrestling gym as well, so even though we lost some key players from last year, I expect big things out of this year’s team.”
-Matt Dente ’18
Girls Basketball
After a 19-6 season that included a six-game win streak and two five-game win streaks, the streaky WHS girls basketball team notched its highest win total since 2013. Danielle Rinaldi and Shannon Devitt played major roles on last year’s team, and having graduated, their voids must be filled by the incoming juniors. The team will be led by senior Molly Ryan, who committed to Tufts University earlier this year.
“We’ve all been playing together forever, so the chemistry is through the roof. There are a lot of talented underclassmen who will need to fill in the roles of the players we lost. But I think our seniors will step up and … lead our team to another winning season.”
-Molly Ryan ’18
-Mark Natiello ’18
Wrestling
After an impressive 14-9 season, the WHS wrestling team once again has high expectations. Sophomore CJ Composto was 24-1 last season with 15 pins, and looks to make an impact once again. Without Jack Miller, who graduated last year and currently wrestles at the University of Virginia, the team will be led by seniors Matt Dente and Isaiah Reese, captaining the team in their final season at WHS.
“I feel like our team is bigger and better than last year. We’re putting in a lot of work and effort in not only the weight room but the wrestling gym as well, so even though we lost some key players from last year, I expect big things out of this year’s team.”
-Matt Dente ’18
Girls Basketball
After a 19-6 season that included a six-game win streak and two five-game win streaks, the streaky WHS girls basketball team notched its highest win total since 2013. Danielle Rinaldi and Shannon Devitt played major roles on last year’s team, and having graduated, their voids must be filled by the incoming juniors. The team will be led by senior Molly Ryan, who committed to Tufts University earlier this year.
“We’ve all been playing together forever, so the chemistry is through the roof. There are a lot of talented underclassmen who will need to fill in the roles of the players we lost. But I think our seniors will step up and … lead our team to another winning season.”
-Molly Ryan ’18
Marquee Winter Showdowns (also Happy Birthday to R3 Sports Editor Danny Bracco)
Boys Basketball: @ Linden at Union High School (12/15), vs. Union Catholic (1/26), vs. SPF (2/12)
Wrestling: @ SPF (12/22), @ Roselle Park (12/29, 1/26), vs. Rahway (1/27)
Girls Basketball: vs. Roselle Catholic (12/16), vs. New Providence (1/9), vs. Patrick Schoool (1/11)
Boys Basketball: @ Linden at Union High School (12/15), vs. Union Catholic (1/26), vs. SPF (2/12)
Wrestling: @ SPF (12/22), @ Roselle Park (12/29, 1/26), vs. Rahway (1/27)
Girls Basketball: vs. Roselle Catholic (12/16), vs. New Providence (1/9), vs. Patrick Schoool (1/11)