Division: I
Coach: Dave Page (12th year)
Last year: 15-2, D-I runner-up
Returning starters: Justin Toler, sr.; Aidan Connor, jr.; Adam Bryant, jr.
Top newcomers: Matt Chorlian, jr.; Chris Ciofli, sr.
Outlook: The Crimson returns the 2015 individual state runner-up in Toler and a pair of experienced players in Connor and Bryant. But Concord will need some of its varsity newcomers, like Sebastian Hart-Meyer, Chorlian, Kevin Neary and Eli Frydman, to thrive in the top six if it hopes to repeat last year’s run to the state final.
“We have a lot of potential for growth,” Page said. “Early in the season may be an adjustment period, but by the middle of May everyone should be comfortable in their spots.”
Teams to beat: Bedford, Derryfield, Exeter, Pinkerton, Winnacunnet, Hanover
Division: II
Coach: Rick Skarinka (6th year)
Last year: 11-4, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Danny Bryck, jr.; Thomas MacMullin, sr.; Jackson Bouley, sr.
Top newcomers: Wes McCarthy, jr.; Ken Fusco, fr.; Karl Avrill, so.
Outlook: The Green Giants lost a lot of top-of-the-ladder talent from last year’s team. Bryck will make the jump from No. 3 to No. 1, MacMullin goes from No. 4 to No. 2 and Bouley, who got some varsity time at No. 6 last year, will play No. 3. Senior Sam Olson and sophomore Ethan Jalbert both played junior varsity last year and will be step up to varsity this season, and McCarthy will round out the top six.
“Last year we were strong one through six and we were getting a lot of points from the bottom of the ladder,” Skarinka said. “This year we’ll be relying on the top players to get us points and hopefully the bottom of the ladder can get some experience and be competitive. The goal is to make the tournament.”
Teams to beat: Portsmouth, Lebanon
Division: II
Coach: Sam Struthers (15th year)
Last year: 9-6, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Gareth Owen, jr.; Tyler Holman, sr.; Jared Carlson, sr.; Tom Mellor, sr.; Nate Griffiths, jr.
Top newcomers: Brian Gordon, sr.; Nick Sanderson, so.
Outlook: With five of the top six back from last year’s semifinal team, expectations are high at Coe-Brown.
“There’s a very talented group of seniors on the team this year,” Struthers said. “We hope to use that talent to make some noise in D2 and go deep in the tournament.”
Teams to beat: Lebanon, Portsmouth
Division: II
Coach: Chris Sporcic (1st year)
Last year: 0-14, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Rupesh Gurung, Cole Sporcic, Mihir Khadka, Marco Rinciari, Ian Weech
Top newcomer: Lucas Bartlett
Outlook: “Almost the entire team has returned from last year and we hope to win a few matches,” Coach Sporcic said. “Rupesh should have a winning record at No. 1 singles and Rupesh and Cole should have a winning record at No. 1 doubles.”
Division: III
Coach: Drew Groves (9th year)
Last year: 7-8, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Brayden Binder, so.; Mike Mullen, jr.; Evan Alfano, jr.; Jack Olson, jr.; Aditya Shah, sr.; Hayden Udelson, sr.
Top newcomers: Owen Molind, sr.; Zach Mullen, fr.; Dillan D’Allesandro, fr., Francesco Scali, sr.
Outlook: Measured against the success of recent teams (four straight finals from 2011-2014), 2015 was something of a down year for the Falcons. But with plenty of returning experience and players who have worked on their games, things are looking up for Bow this season.
“There’s lot of senior leadership and cohesiveness,” Groves said. “We’re eager to make a run for the playoffs again.”
Teams to beat: Gilford, Profile, Inter-Lakes, Monadnock, Pelham
Division: III
Coach: Lynn Miller (first year)
Last year: 6-8, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Tyler Valovic, jr.; Jack Van Etten, sr.; Matt Hubley, so.; Sam Williamson, sr.; Sam Bourcier, sr.; Charlie O’Connor, jr.; Jeff Wallace, sr.
Top newcomers: Tucker Valovic, fr.
Outlook: The Cougars have a nice mix of returning players and some experience. They should also get a boost from their new coach, who spent the last 35 years as a head coach at Wheaton College – coaching the women’s team from 1980 and starting and coaching the men’s team since 1989.
“This is a team without any “ringers” but with a lot of potential,” Miller said. “They are hard working and are improving every week. They may catch some teams with whom they had close matches last year off guard.”
Division: I
Coach: Greg Coache (8th year)
Last year: 14-3, D-I runner-up
Returning starters: Alex Killinger, jr.; Becky Cistulli, jr.; Colleen Casey, sr.
Top newcomers: Irene Escobar, Lydia Yen
Outlook: It will be a something of a rebuilding year for the Tide with the loss of half the ladder. But Concord will have a strong top two in Killinger and Cistulli, who were No. 2 and No. 3 last year, respectively, and play year round. Casey was No. 6 last season but will likely make a big leap up the ladder this spring
Teams to beat: Bedford, Manchester Central
Division: II
Coach: Lee and Joan Herrington (3rd year)
Last year: 11-5, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Sydney Herrington, so.; Ravalika Damerla, jr.; Iantha Beane, sr.; Yolanda Wang, so.
Top newcomers: Taylor Hood, so.; Ellen Owsowitz, sr.; Manu Komma, fr.
Outlook: “Brady lost several key starters to graduation, so the focus this year is on developing the new, younger players,” Coach Lee Herrington said.
Teams to beat: Hanover, Portsmouth, St. Thomas
Division: II
Coach: Mark Struthers (9th year)
Last year: 7-7, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Jessica Miles, sr.; Holly Roman, sr.; Tayla George, sr.; Bailey Docko, sr.
Top newcomers: “It’s too soon to tell,” Struther said.
Outlook: The Bears are loaded with experienced players ready to finish their high school season on a high note. The future also looks bright thanks to younger talent in the program.
“We’re top heavy with seasoned seniors who are hungry to get us back to the tournament,” Struthers said, “but two matches against Hanover will make it challenging to reach the tournament.”
Teams to beat: Hanover, Bishop Brady, St. Thomas
Division: II
Coach: David Goulet (2nd year)
Last year: 1-13, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Nicole Carr, sr.; Emmi Ferrera, sr.; Jaden Russell, so.
Top newcomer: Morgan Parkinson, fr.
Outlook: With three veterans holding down the Nos. 1, 2 and 4 spots in the ladder and a talented freshman moving into the 3 spot, the Spartans are looking to improve on last year’s record.
Team to beat: Bishop Brady
Division: III
Coach: Jonsey Rainville (4th year)
Last year: 11-5, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Laura Zbehlik, sr.; Claire Mulvaney, jr.; Nandita Kasireddy, jr.; Casey Day, sr.; Sarah Zecha, sr.
Top newcomers: Julia Currier, sr.
Outlook: The Falcons return five of the six starters from last year’s fifth-seeded team that upset No. 4 Sanborn, 5-4, in the quarterfinals before losing to No. 1 Conant in the semifinals, 6-3. The return of Zbhelik and Mulvaney means that Bow has its top two players back from last season, and a strong and experienced top of the ladder can be very helpful come tournament time.
Division: III
Coach: Laura Joslin-King (4th year)
Last year: 0-13, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Sarah Long, so.; Elise Paquette, jr.; Andrea Cutts, sr.
Top newcomers: Morganne Flinkstrom, jr.; Miranda Bonin, jr.; Ellie Mellott, jr.
Outlook: With Long at No. 1, Paquette at No. 2 and Cutts at No. 3, the Cougars have some experience at the top of the ladder. Flinkstrom, Bonin and Mellott will fill out the lower three spots to start the season, and Joslin-King will make sure everyone is moving in the right direction.
“Every player on our team has individual goals they wish to meet during the upcoming season and are planning on working hard and competing hard to reach them,” Joslin-King said. “As a team our goal is to exceed last year’s results and play competitively while also focusing on the love of the sport and sportsmanship.”