Five new head coaches highlight Frontier League girls tennis this season.
Two of them are back after having previously coached their respective teams. The changes in leadership make preseason predictions a little more tricky.
"For some programs it might revitalize, bring some more excitement, to the teams," Lowville coach Jim Rhodes said of the coaching change-ups. "Other teams might have some growing pains depending on how much experience a coach has."
Rhodes took over for Dale Crossman-Cole, who retired after last school year. He had coached the Lowville team for 10 years, then left to coach at Jefferson Community College. He served as Crossman-Cole's assistant coach the last few years.
"For us its been a pretty smooth transition," Rhodes said.
The Red Raiders, who have won their last 49 matches, including league and sectional play, are stacked with talent again this year.
Here's a look at all the Frontier League teams:
"A" DIVISION
Outlook: The division may see another battle between Carthage and South Jefferson, which tied for the division tournament title last year.Kailah Kempney, who won the individual "A" Division title, is expected to lead Carthage. Watertown, whose roster is busting with 37 players, will suffer from the loss to graduation of its top two players. Esha Chebolu will take over the top spot for the Cyclones, whileLiggia Medeiros(Immaculate Heart) andHeather Hartlaub(Indian River) are expected to lead their squads.
Carthage Comets
Coach: Sue Gallagher (2nd year).
2007 record: 8-5.
Roster: Ceara Cimarello (Sr.), Dianna Hammond (Sr.), Abigail Kratzat (Sr.), Amber Neibacher (Sr.), Celeste Bellotte (Jr.), Nicole Dawley (Jr.), Joelle Percy (Jr.), Skylar Salisbury (Jr.), Brandy Salyers (Jr.), Ashley Sensibaugh (Jr.), Kara Fahsel (So.), Kailah Kempney (So.), Tori Martle (Fr.), Kristy Williams (8th).
Immaculate Heart
Cavaliers
Coach: Mary Cohen (1st year).
2007 record: 5-8.
Roster: Samantha Brunner, Kate Ebbing, Shannon Elliott, Kerry Guerin, Sophia Gullo, Ji Hye Hong, Ji Yeong Kim, Nora Marlow, Liggia Medeiros, Lena Netto, Olivia Stevenson, Elana Tontarski.
Indian River Warriors
Coach: Patricia Gorman (1st year).
2007 record: 1-12.
Roster: Tawnee Collins (Sr.), Jessica Gilchrist (Sr.), Heather Hartlaub (Sr.), Sarah McGee (Sr.), Tabitha Andrews (Jr.), Amanda Feneran (Jr.), Brittany Lippincott (Jr.), Meri Walsh (Jr.), Rachel Muntz (So.), Libby Wulfken (So.).
South Jefferson
Spartans
Coach: Sarah Goodenbery (7th year - 1st year back after a year off).
2007 record: 7-6.
Roster: Katie Briggs (Sr.), Katherine Sweitzer (Sr.), Kathryn Voss (Sr.), Ursula Beese (Jr.), Kierstynn Heasley (Jr.), Rachael Bassett (So.), Olivia Hudson (So.), Julianne Rehley (So.), Madeline Wetterhahn (So.), Michelle Mundt (Fr).
Watertown Cyclones
Coach: Brian Morrison (4th year).
2007 record: 8-5.
Roster: Emma Blair, (So.), Maxime Bost-Brown (8th), Katherine Buldra (So.), Yo Lim Chang (Jr.), Esha Chebolu (So.), Jeralese Coney (So.), Laura DeNardo (So.), Jennifer Desormo (So.), Kyra Elliott (8th), Meghan Finnerty (So.), Tansey Garvey (Sr.), Tina Gonya (Jr.), Cierra Grant (Jr.), Ailice Gundayao (Fr.), Robin Holberg (So.), Bridget Hovendon (So.), Nina Jacobson (Fr.), Megan Lamon (So.), Morgan Lewis (Sr.), Lois Ann Luce (Sr.), Lauren Martinez (Jr.), Kristin McGee (8th), Taylor McKinney (7th), Christina Nealis (8th), Alisha Netto (Jr.), Katie Norstrud (Sr.), Mee Won Park (Jr.), Sadie Quackenbush (Sr.), Emily Schwerzmann (So.), Alexandra Smith (8th), Gunjan Udeshi (Sr.), Vidhi Udeshi (So.), Marisa Weldon (Jr.), Blair Wickwire-VanArnamm (7th), Sheila Young (Fr.).
"B" DIVISION
Outlook: Lowville, led byKatie O'BrienandMeg Kelly, will extend its league dominance, having returned all of its starters except for a second doubles player. Beaver River, which defeated the Red Raiders for the league tournament title last year, lost four league all-stars to graduation and will lean on the leadership ofTaylor Dziekanto help it remain competitive.
Alexandria Purple Ghosts
Coach: Terry Satterley (2nd year).
2007 record: 2-11.
Roster: Robin LaClair (Jr.), Kali O'Day (Jr.), Dana Strough (Jr.), Teagan Ward (Jr.), Emily Bartlett (So.), Jena Coon (So.), Tristen Durand (So.), Morgan Garlock (So.), Chelsea Heath (So.), Cassie Butcher (Fr.), Lauren Ferency (Fr.), Annie Griswold (Fr.), Shannon O'Day (Fr.), Caitlin Russell (Fr.), Taylor Thomson (Fr.).
Beaver River Beavers
Coach: Robert Bosco (15th year).
2007 record: 12-2, 11-2.
Roster: Elizabeth Cornell (Sr.), Taylor Dziekan (Sr.), Tia Gregory (Sr.), Shari Martin (Sr.), Crystal Tabolt (Sr.), Kelly Wormwood (Jr.), Olivia Cornell (So.), Karli LaVancha (So.), Rebecca Marturano (So.), Keelia Taylor (So.), Adriana Woolschlager (So.), Alanna Wormwood (So.), Nicole Craska (Fr.), Kelsey Glenn (Fr.), Victoria Gregory (Fr.), Kimberly Widrick (Fr.), Amy Wormwood (Fr.), Kirsten Dziekan (8th), Amanda Hodkinson (8th), Julia Sullivan (8th), Tommi Boshart (7th), Sarah LaParr (7th), Andrea Peters (7th).
Copenhagen
Golden Knights
Coach: Scott Randall (1st year).
2007 record: 9-5, 9-4.
Roster: Cassandra Beebee (Sr.), Shelva Frizzell (Sr.), Jessica Holland (Sr.), Rebecca Edwards (So.), Danielle Eisel (So.), Kelly Furgison (So.), Sarah Mahar (So.), Elise Edmonds (Fr.), Sydney O'Shaughnessy (8th), Ashley Willits (7th).
General Brown Lions
Coach: John Tinsley (2nd year).
2007 record: 1-11.
Roster: Katie Darrah (Sr.), Kelsey Leubner (Sr.), Katelyn Cote (Jr.), Kathy Johnson (Jr.), Chelsea Monroe (Jr.), Ashley Murtha (Jr.), Alicia Young (Jr.), Jesse Monaco (So.), Haleigh Flint (Fr.), Colleen McKinney (Fr.), Cheyenne Seery (7th).
Lowville Red Raiders
Coach: Jim Rhodes (10th year - 1st year back after 10 years, career record 74-43).
2007 record: 18-0, 12-0.
Roster: Meg Kelly (Sr.), McKenzie Lyndaker (Sr.), Alyssa Monnat (Sr.), Mariah Nagy (Sr.), MacKenzie Rhubart (Sr.), Hannah Root (Sr.), Corrie Schell (Sr.), Meredith Schleider (Sr.), Jamie Widrick (Sr.), Traci Wood (Sr.), Marielle Mak (Jr.), Katie O'Brien (Jr.), Laura O'Brien (Jr.), Katie Peters (Jr.), Felicity Sadler (Jr.), Maiken Sorenson (Jr.), Hayley Strife (Jr.), Victoria Quay (So.), Julia Guignard (Fr.), Colleen McIntosh (Fr.), Aryn Rowsam (Fr.), Kayla Dittl (8th), Taylor Prusinowski (8th).