HIGH POINT-WALLKILL VALLEY-KITTATINNY
Head coach: Mike Beltran, 19th year (145-214-26 career record)
Division: Charette
Last season: High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny, in its first year with Kittatinny as part of the program, finished 6-11-3 with a 3-2-3 record in the Charette Division. It reached the program’s first-ever cup final as it defeated Newton-Lenape Valley in the Charette Cup semifinals, before falling, 4-2 to Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex in the final. It saw its season end with a 6-2 loss to Marlboro-Holmdel in the Public C play-in round.
Key losses: Luca Carnemolla, F (16 g., 15 a.); Shane Custode, F.
Top returners: Gordon Shindelman, F, Jr. (8 g., 7 a.); Michael Sadowski, F, Jr. (12 g., 11 a.); Tyler Boffa, G, Sr. (.880 sv %); Jake Henningsen, D, Jr. (2 g., 8 a.); Sebastian Hamarcak, D, Jr.; James Sonvico, F, Jr.; Anthony Tokar, F, So. (4 g., 3 a.); Alex Sonvico, F, So.; Jacob Grubb, D, Jr.; Joshua Custode, F, Jr.
Potential incoming impact players: Alex Mizak, F, Fr.; Noah Custode, F, Fr.; Noah Krahling, D, Fr.; Hunter Baker, D, Fr.; Sierra Latronica, D, Fr.; Landon Healy, G, Fr.
Burning question: Can High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny take another step this season?
It already took a big step last season when it reached a Cup final for the first time in program history. It graduated just a handful of players, highlighted by its best player in Carnemolla, but returns a very talented core of players. Things are set up pretty well for this team to be one of the better teams in this division and contend for the Cup title.
Outlook: High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny has depth at both forward and defense.
Up front, Shindelman, Sadowski, and Tokar are just a handful of players who contributed on the scoresheet last season that will be counted on once again. Defensively, Jake Henningsen is back to lead the way, while Sebastian Hamarcak- who joined the team late in the season last year and showed promise- will also play a big role. In goal, Tyler Boffa returns, however they will be without his services for the first few weeks of the season due to an injury, which will thrust freshman Landon Healy into a starting role early.
If it can get strong play between the pipes from both Boffa and Healy, and if the players in front of them can continue to develop, High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny has the potential to put together a big season in the Charette Division.
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
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