Top 5 area girls teams to watch in the 2010 spring playoffs

As we get closer to the 2010 spring playoffs, I figured I'd take a risk and outline my top teams in our area and we can all see how close I am to being right over the next few weeks.

• Randolph softball. The Galloping Ghosts have had an incredible spring and, I believe, are 13-1. They've given coach Al Stewart his 400th win and are just rolling thanks to ace Arielle Connolly. The Division III tournament could get interesting, especially for local fans, if the Ghosts end up meeting Peoples Academy, which is right behind them in the standings as of today. 
• Chelsea girls lacrosse. This has come to go without saying, but the Chelsea girls are pretty much unstoppable. They are currently 12-0 and are the only undefeated lacrosse team in the entire state. Much has been wondered about this team - namely, why are the Red Devils so good year after year - and I think it has a lot to do with the fact these athletes are from such a small school, allowing them to be together all the time, both in athletics and in school. They instinctively know where their teammates are, and rather than be limited by their small school, they use it as a huge advantage. There are eighth graders on this team by necessity, giving those players an extra year of varsity experience. Coach John Parker has done a great job - his team doesn't have one go-to player, they all can score and can score at will. 
• Montpelier girls tennis. The Solon program has exploded in popularity, and it's no wonder: they have a good coach in Wendy Watson and that has given the program a good base of success. The entire Montpelier program is eagerly awaiting the new tennis courts that are being remodeled on the school grounds and will be a great reward for the coaches and the returning players next spring. Carly Watson, Tatum FitzGerald, Lilah Watt, Sarah Richardson and others have had a great spring. The Solon doubles teams went indefeated for much if not all of the spring, which is no easy task.
• U-32 girls lacrosse. No offense to Montpelier and Oxbow girls lacrosse, which have also had spectacular spring seasons and are also in the top five in the D-II rankings right now, the Raiders have had arguably a more spectacular run at being where they are today. U-32 started the season in a bit of a hole, with a loss to Chelsea and two to South Burlington, have have since gone on an 8-3 run with wins over the likes of Oxbow, Randolph and D-I Spaulding. For a program lacking a JV team this year (which means technically some of its players should be JV players, not playing at the varsity level right away), that's awesome. The Raider girls are packed with great athletes that have seen success elsewhere at the school this academic year - Brynn Cayia, Alicia Danyew, Erica Gonyaw, Jyneva Pickel, Alice Curchin and others - so it's no wonder this team is enjoying one last season of success before the summer vacation.
• Harwood track and field. This is also an obvious choice, especially after another dominating outdoor season alongside the Harwood boys, who will definitely make my list of Top 5 area boys teams later this week. The Harwood girls have so much depth at all events - and such a great attitude, just read quotes from Sophie Lisaius from my story on the Monster Meet - and great coaching that they are sure to be the favorites for the D-II title, again. The U-32 team is knocking right on the Highlanders' door, however, so the state championships will be an all-out battle.

The spring tournaments are also a good opportunity for individuals to excel, and the aforementioned Montpelier girls tennis team, along with U-32 players, should do well in the individual tournament, which starts this week. Also, members of the U-32, Harwood, Spaulding, Peoples Academy track and field teams should also do very well as individuals at the state meet. Spaulding's sprint duo of Kelsie Bailey and Catie White, particularly, should give us a good show.

-Anna Grearson 

Comments

[Kelly Driscoll-Smith]

Do you have something like this for the fall sports (2010)

thanks

[Anna Grearson]

Not yet, but I'll put something up soon! Thanks for reminding me about it. Teams are playing (more or less) game No. 3 right about now, so I'll wait until I can get a clearer picture in a week or so. Again, thanks!