Which team will win the next state championship?

By Michael Fox and Jonathan Greenzaid

What is the one accomplishment that is worked for each and every day of the season? The goal for which blood, sweat and tears are shed? The answer: a state championship.

CHS had great success in the winter and fall seasons when it came to winning state championships. Golf, hockey and girls swim and dive teams all won states and we now eagerly attempt to predict which CHS team will have the best chance at winning states this spring.

The Observer has gathered stats about all of the sports teams and has ranked the teams who hold the best chances of joining the other state champions this year.

#4 Boys Varsity Tennis:

Tennis is often an individual sport, but the team has high hopes to gain a state title in either doubles, mixed doubles or singles events.

The Bulldogs are off to a strong 6-1 record after finishing with a 10-1 record last year and finishing third in the county.

“The season is going exactly how I expect it to have gone, and I think from the way it looks there is no reason why we can’t win counties,” senior Elliot Thaker said.

CHS beat Whitman 4-3 April 15 and beat Wootton 5-2 April 16.

“We’re all becoming better as the season goes on and everybody is fighting for the same goal. If we all keep our heads, we’ll win, simple as that,” Thaker said.

#3 Boys Varsity Lacrosse:

After losing to Wootton in a hard fought divisional playoff game last year, the boys lacrosse team looks to take home the state championship title and be the first team in Montgomery County to ever do so.

The Bulldogs concluded the 2014 season with a 13-4 record, but now seems to be much stronger as it begins its season on a 7-0 run.

“One major strength of our team is the senior leadership,” freshman Jimmy Rubino said. “Winning states this year is our ultimate goal, and if we stay focused and play hard, I think we have a legitimate chance.”

The team is led by senior captains Louis Dubick, Marshall Rhodes, Derek Altobello and Nick Muscarella, who hope to finish their lacrosse careers at CHS on a high note.

“The season gets progressively harder as it goes on,” Rhodes said. “We definitely have more depth than last year in that the younger guys, especially the freshmen, are really stepping up and doing a great job both in games and in making us better in practices.”

Boys lacrosse is a force to be reckoned with as they stand as a powerhouse in the 3A/4A State division.

#2 Coed Volleyball:

Following a loss in the county quarterfinals last year and a 10-3 record, the coed volleyball team is currently undefeated and ranked first in the county.

With only four returning players this year, the team is led by seniors Alan Ha, Christopher Hallock and Jasmine Soriano, but is filled with new players.

“As a returning captain, I must perform at the highest level on every set, but most importantly I must bring the team together,” defensive specialist Ha said. “We grew very fast as a team and learned to defeat our weaknesses.”

The highest title the team can win is County Champions since there are no state championships in the sport. The team has a strong chance at winning counties, but has tough competition from Clarksburg, the only other team in the county that is currently undefeated.

“Coed volleyball will most likely win counties because we want it bad,” Ha said.  All we talk about is counties. We practice in the main gym and we always fantasize having our own banner on the wall.”

#1 Ultimate Frisbee:

If there is one team that can go the distance and win a state championship, it’s the frisbee team.

Although frisbee is not a well-known sport,  the team has shown great success so far. After last year’s 8-2 regular season record, the team looks to rebound after only placing third in the state championship, falling short of B-CC, who took home the trophy.

“We want it more than anyone else,” junior Brandon Schumacher said. “We are the most determined and we have definitely been practicing the hardest.”

The team consists of 22 players this year, mainly comprised of newer players to the sport. The team’s youth and energy will hopefully lead them to the top, similar to their state championship win in 2013.

“We lost in the semis of states [2013-2014 season] on a bad call by the officiating crew,” sophomore Jacob Glassman said. “We’re gonna come out harder this year and were gonna fight.”

The team won their first game 15-2 against Sidwell Friends School April 18, where CHS started its season on a good note.

Anything can happen throughout the season, and we can’t wait to see what happens next in the sports world of CHS.