by AJ Ortega and Tim Skeval
Spring athletes are cleaning off their cleats and dusting off their equipment because the spring sports season is back. Jamesville-DeWitt High School Varsity Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Varsity Boys and Girls Track, and Varsity Girls Golf are all coming off successful seasons last year. Boys lacrosse finished 18-2 while girls lacrosse finished 11-7. Track is looking to “improve from (a) good season last year,” said senior distance runner Jackson Kaplan, as are the golfers.
The Varsity Boys Lacrosse team has tied their strings and picked up their sticks and are getting ready for another season. The team got out on the turf right away for their first practice of the season for their first ever year on the turf. The boys had their first game against Oswego at home on the turf on March 29, winning 17-4. The leading scorers were senior Charlie Digristina with four goals, and sophomore Griffin Cook and junior Ryan Archer with three goals each. “I felt good with my preformance, and we worked well as a team,” said Digristina. Junior Casey Platenik is looking forward to the season and thinks the competition in their league is good but they are better. Senior Mike Schwedes is looking forward to his last season at J-DHS. He can’t wait to get a last crack at teams like West Genesee High School, Fairport High School, and Fayetteville-Manlius High School. However, he thinks Cazenovia High School will be their toughest opponent.
The Varsity Girls Lacrosse team got their first win of the season, 19-3, on April 1 vs the team from Syracuse City Schools. Senior Alyssa Phillips thinks the team chemistry is good and she is looking forward to the season. “As a team we are good at picking each other up and we work well together, but we struggle focusing sometimes,” said junior Lizzy O’Brien. Their toughest opponent this year will be Christian Brothers Academy. “They beat us a lot,” said senior Maddy Newman.
J-DHS Boys and Girls Varsity Track team began their season on March 30 with a win at home against Mexico. “I’m looking forward to this season and know we will do well,” said senior long distance runner Andrew Comanici. Kaplan says he is excited and ready for the season. The teams are striving to improve from their season last year and go far in sectionals. One challenge they’ll have is when they face Central Square on April 6.
Girls Varsity Golf wiped the dirt off their clubs and hit the greens. The team is led by four seniors who are enjoying the time they have left with their team. “I am looking forward to playing golf with them because they make us laugh and have a good time,” said sophomore Gabby Gibson. Senior Shelby Woyciesjes is wrapping up her golf career but won’t forget it. “I’m sad about it, but I’m going to make it count,” said Woyciesjes. They will begin their season on April 12 against East-Syracuse Minoa at Butternut Creek Golf Course.
