[Editor’s Note: Mr. Laase’s interview was conducted before yesterday’s season-opening 13-9 loss to Peninsula.]
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Coach Chabola. Photo, George Laase.
Q: How many players do you have returning to the varsity team this year?
Coach Chabola: We have six returning varsity players after graduating 18 seniors last year.
Q: Losing so many players due to graduation, is this going to be a rebuilding year?
Coach Chabola: In some aspects, yes. We are going to have to rebuild our numbers. But we have the talent to play. Just our depth is going to be an issue. It is not a rebuilding year as far as talent goes, only the numbers.
Q: How successful has the Middle School program been in providing players when they come to the high school?
Coach Chabola: It has helped us immensely. When the Middle School students enter high school, a lot of freshmen already can play at the varsity level. We also have the youth program where, this year, we had four teams of K-5 students participating in our winter program. They will continue to grow in the Middle School. It will definitely help us at the high school varsity level.
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Centaurs’ Martin Beer cuts across the defense yesterday and scores, beating the Peninsula goalie in the lower right hand corner. Photo, George N. Laase.
Q: Who do you see as being the leaders of the team this year?
Coach Chabola: Senior Martin Beer is going to be a leader. It’s Martin’s fourth year on varsity. Matt Suyetsugu and senior Aaron Bravo also will be team leaders. Although he is only a sophomore, Elliot Stanger will help lead the team. These are the guys who have experience playing at the varsity level the last three years.
Q: Will they lead by example?
Coach Chabola: Yes, at first. They are not the most vocal guys out there. But they are learning what it takes to lead. Especially, since we had 18 seniors on the team last year. They are learning to lead by example and are in the process of learning to be leaders vocally as well.
Q: How many goalies are on the roster?
Coach Chabola: We have one goalie with varsity experience, Raymier Simon, and one JV goalie. We are looking for goalies to come up from the Middle School.
Q: Who do you think will be your scorers?
Coach Chabola: Elliot Stanger, Matt Suyetsugu, Martin Beer, Logan Young, these are all returning varsity guys who will step up. Coming up from the junior varsity team are Jonathan Reyes and Thomas Melchor. It is going to have to be scoring by committee. Again, we have the talent but we are going to need patience. We may not score as much as we have in the past, but that’s by design, based on our numbers.
Q: Who will be your faceoff player?
Coach Chabola: Logan Young mostly, although Elliot Stanger and Martin Beer will be taking some faceoffs. It will be interchangeable parts, so to speak.
Q: What about your defense, the long sticks?
Coach Chabola: The defense will be led by Rex Finch and Aaron Bravo. Aaron is a senior and Rex is stepping up as a junior. We also have young guys, Stacey Feinberg and Paris Patterson stepping up. They will have to fill big shoes of players who graduated last year.
Q: How do you think the team will do this year?
Coach Chabola: It will be an interesting season. We have the talent to play with anyone. It’s just our lack of depth that's a concern. We will have to play smart, control the ball and the tempo of play. If we can do that, we can play with anyone in our league.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
