Girls Tennis
The Girls’ Tennis Varsity Team has lesser acclaim than the football or lacrosse teams, despite the many undefeated records and titles the team holds. You can see this in the cracks in our courts, the lack of equipment and funding. The team is held together will the great sense of unity, a high level of respect required for the sport, and being coached by the best coaches (We love you, Mike and Ginny!).
This season the girls were conference champs (holding an undefeated record since the 2020 season), won the sectionals title (defeating the number 1 seed), and continued to go on to win the State Group title (allowing them to enter into the Tournament of Champions).
The girls had a conference consisting of hard-hitting teams such as Kinnelon, Villa Walsh, and Mo-Beard; despite meeting tough opponents, the team came away with wins each time. In the end, the girls won the Sectional’s Title against the number one seed Glen Ridge.
Winning the Sectional’s Title allowed the girls to compete in the State’s team tournament for an opportunity to win the State Group title. In the State’s tournament, the Lakers first met Gateway. Elaine Wu, the third singles player, started off the campaign scoring 6-2 and 6-1 over both sets to win.
Megan Matkiwsky, the team’s first singles player, then solidified their lead with winning her two sets.
The first doubles team Katie Kostak and Katya Furlender clinched the win with a tiebreak. Set one: 1-6, set two: 6-4 and set 3: 10-5. With a final score of 3-2, the Mountain Lakes girls moved on to play Kinnelon – a known adversary within their conference.
The previous match-up in the conference went to Mountain Lakes with a 3-2 victory. Claire Zhang, Kinnelon’s first singles and reigning county champ, beat Megan, but Elaine answered with a victory over Kinnelon in her sets. After Ilana Siegel, Mountain Lakes’ second singles player, lost her match the second doubles team, Dasha Furlender and Sammy Siegel, won tying the score. As a result of perfect communication and powerful shots Katie and Katya executed during the final, nerve-wracking match, the girls won the State Group title and became TOC bound!
In conclusion, please fund the Girls Tennis team so we can have better courts thanks.
Girls Field Hockey
MLFH Comeback Baby!
Mountain Lakes Field Hockey made a huge comeback from last year’s season by doubling their wins and cutting their losses in half. They made it to 1st in their division and 7th out of 29 in the NJAC (New Jersey Athletic Conference). As of now, their stats are 9 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties.
Important games
Boonton
A huge win for Mountain Lakes was against their rivals, Boonton high school. Hannah Lees scored the only goal of the game during the first half resulting in a win over Boonton; this created a 2-1 record for the team at the start of the season.
Parsippany Hills
Mountain lakes began with a strong start; Hannah Lees and Natalie Gower each scored a goal, which led to an amazing advantage of 2-0 by halftime. In the third quarter, Mia Izaguirre scored the final goal that led Mountain Lakes Field Hockey (MLFH) to victory.
Morristown beard
Melina Penniston, Hannah Lees, and Lauren Eget each made 2 assists and 1 goal, which brought Mountain Lakes to 3-1, adding another game to their wins!
Whippany Park
The game was tied 1-1 when Hannah Lees scored 2 goals in the fourth quarter and won against Whippany park 3-1! Raphaela Fragomeni made a total of 10 saves which helped MLFH get their stats up to 5-2-1.
Last Season for the Seniors
Finishing up the season this year, some of the seniors had some memories and thoughts about their last season playing with MLFH:
Ana Zambrano: “Definitely going to miss the group of girls we have this year”
Lauren Forte: “I am very proud of how much we have grown as a team this season. I am going to miss everything from our little traditions to bus rides after big wins. Good luck next year!”
Lauren Eget: “ This has been a really amazing season and I’m really grateful to be able to play with everyone. We’ve really come together as a team this season and played really well, and I’m definitely proud to be able to call everyone on the team my teammates”
Lilia Trogani: “I’m going to miss the memories, the game, and most of all the players.”
Caitlin Spallone: “I am so grateful for all of my teammates and the amount of hard work they have put into this season. With a little confidence and perseverance, we were able to exceed the expectations that were set for us. I will miss the team along with all of our many traditions. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for MLFH. Go Ferd!”
Kelly Preston: “I will definitely miss playing with my best friends. I will miss Maddy with her new ways to make everyone laugh everyday and make Misko fall on the floor laughing. I will definitely miss Misko and Suarez playing with us every chance they could, and for everyone being just as clumsy as I am randomly. I’m gonna miss silent screaming with eget, and always being ready for turtle but it doesn’t happen lol. All my sophomore buddies and carpool rides. All our sideline talks and going crazy on the bus.”
EliDriscoll: “This year was a great last year for MLFH. The team is like a family and that is what I will miss most. You can’t find a group like this in any other sport!”
Raphie: “I have played on many teams in my life and nothing comes close to MLFH. When I go to practice or play in a game not only am I excited to be with my team but my best friends as well. The memories and friendships I have made through this team are unforgettable and I have enjoyed every second of every season I’ve played in. Of course losing is hard but you have a support system of forty girls who pick you up when you are down. Overall, even though I am playing another four years in college I’m really gonna miss putting on my mountain lakes jersey and stepping out on the field as a laker”
Thoughts From the Coaches
Coach Suarez: “It has been an amazing season coaching the best sport with some of the most awesome girls.”
Coach Misko: “This season we really came together as a team which led to our success on the field. I am so proud of everyone’s hard work and dedication. I want to wish our seniors the best of luck next year and can’t wait for next season.”
Coach Preston to MLFH ’21: “IF you persevere long enough, if you do the right thing long enough, the right things will happen.” It is so crazy how time flies when you are coaching/playing a sport you love. This was such a hardworking group all season and a fun group to coach. The end is always sad, but with that sadness comes excitement for what lies ahead. Best of luck to all of our seniors. I can not believe your time is up. “Believe in yourself. Even if you don’t, pretend that you do. At some point you will!” Venus Williams
Players Shout Out!
Natalie Gower (sophomore): 1st goal of season, 2 goals, and 4 assists
Raphaela Fragomeni (senior): Top 100 for Best Goalkeepers of 2022, Nominated for Morris/Sussex Athlete of the week (October 3-9), over 170 saves throughout the whole season, and over 390 saves her whole MLFH career
Hannah Lees (Sophomore): #1 top scorer, 9 goals, 2 assists
Floor DeBeijer (Sophomore): #2 top scorer, 4 goals, 3 assists
Kaylin Oey (Freshman): #2 top scorer, 4 goals, 2 assists
Melina Penniston (Junior): #2 top scorer, 4 goals, 6 assists
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