As the spring season draws to a close, Wayne Valley recognizes the valuable contributions of our senior spring sports captains. We asked the senior captains to reflect upon their time on their teams, and to share any parting advice with their underclassmen.

Girls Lacrosse

Girls Lacrosse captain Rachel Weinstein has been playing the sport for ten years, and she reflects, “My favorite memory [on the lacrosse team] would probably be just being with all my friends and playing a sport I love. Lacrosse has helped me a lot with my time management and discipline.” Weinstein will attend Indiana University in the fall, where she plans to major in Marketing and potentially play for the club lacrosse team. Beyond her time as captain of the Girls Lacrosse team, Weinstein was widely recognized for leading the defense of Wayne Valley Field Hockey. 

“My advice to underclassmen is to be confident, because time goes by quickly. Soon you’ll be a leader the younger girls will look up to,” says Weinstein’s co-captain, Ashley Zarb. Zarb has been playing lacrosse since middle school, and in addition to her time leading the Girls Lacrosse team, she was the captain of the Field Hockey team in the fall. In the fall, Zarb will attend Virginia Tech (with a major in Marketing), and she hopes to play for the club field hockey team there. Like Weinstein, Zarb’s favorite memory from her time on the Girls Lacrosse team was bonding with her teammates and developing her leadership skills. 

The Girls Lacrosse team is also led by senior captain Tammy McNutt. Other seniors on the team include Jenna Colicchio, Madison Ellis, Alexa Finnegan, Caroline Ohngemach, Caitlyn Rogan, and Emily Taylor. 

Boys Lacrosse

“Lacrosse has had such a big impact on who I am. It’s helped me build character and taught me how to be a leader,” reflects Boys Lacrosse captain (and Wayne Valley Football player) Jake Lombardo. “Coach Glander has been a big help along the way. I’m very proud to play for him.” Lombardo plans to attend Colorado University this fall, where he will major in History and potentially play intramural or club lacrosse. He remembers the team’s double-overtime win against Morris Knolls as his favorite memory on the team, and anticipates the rest of his senior season, adding to the underclassmen, “You guys have so much raw talent… there will be great success in your future.” 

Senior captain Justin Dembicki agrees with Lombardo: “Playing lacrosse in high school helped me to form bonds with many kids that I didn’t know, and helped me to build relationships that I will always remember. Playing lacrosse and being a part of a team shaped me into the person I am today.” Dembicki, who has been playing lacrosse since middle school, considers continuing to play on Arizona State University’s club team; at Valley, Dembicki is a member of Video Club and NHS. His favorite memory of the Boys Lacrosse team was beating Hills three times during his freshman year. 

The Boys Lacrosse team is also led by senior captain Braedon Phillips, junior captain Collin Rovere, and seniors Jayden Betron, Jason Dembicki, Nick Kowalski, Tyler Merklin, Alex Okun, Michael Panebianco, Jeff Robinson, Jake Rudd, Michael Singer, Ryan Wolfelsperger, and Jack Woodhour. 

Boys Tennis

When Boys Tennis captain Owen Reynolds moved to Wayne during his freshman year, the team gave him the opportunity to meet new people and try new experiences. Now, Reynolds anticipates trying out for the varsity tennis team at Drew University this fall, and encourages the underclassmen on his team to enjoy all of their time playing a high school sport. “My favorite high school tennis memory is probably our after-practice and after-games dinners,” he recalls. “[My sophomore year, we actually] would have White Castle slider challenges—then play full games after.”

Like Reynolds, captain Mihir Mistry is grateful for the sense of community fostered by the Wayne Valley Boys Tennis team, and urges underclassmen to “play every point like it’s your last.” Mistry adds, “Playing on the tennis team motivated me both in the classroom and on the court as it drove me to be the best me anywhere and everywhere I would be.” In the fall, Mistry will major in Civil Engineering at Drexel University, where he will also play intramural tennis and basketball. Beyond his time on the Boys Tennis team, Mistry is Vice President of Wayne Valley’s Science-Technology and Robotics clubs, as well as a member of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).

The Boys Tennis team is also led by senior Ramiz Cakir.

Boys Volleyball

In addition to Boys Volleyball captain Elliot Franklyn’s time leading the team, he also was a member of Wayne Valley’s marching band, jazz band, and percussion ensemble. In the fall, Franklyn will attend Drew University, where he plans to major in History/Secondary Education and play intramural volleyball. His favorite volleyball memory was when the team got home really late after a quad match during his freshman season. Franklyn advises underclassmen to be determined and to persevere: “It is never too late to get better and to get that spot back.”

Franklyn’s co-captain, Jakob McDonald, will also play volleyball on an intramural team when he attends Liberty University in the fall (with a major in Pastoral Leadership). He credits Mr. Carcich for convincing him to play, and his favorite memory on the team was winning the 2019 Passaic County Championship. “Volleyball always gave me something to look forward to,” McDonald says, “and enhanced my high school experience through the people I met.”

For captain Tim Salinas, volleyball was also a place to let go of stress; like Franklyn, he fondly remembers the quad tournament during his freshman year. When he attends Rutgers University in the fall with a major in Finance, he hopes to play intramural or club volleyball as well. “My advice to the underclassmen,” Salinas says, “would be to keep going at it, keep practicing, keep pushing forward, and don’t you dare give up!”

The Boys Volleyball team is also led by seniors Ameer Coubati and Ryan Tomback. 

Softball

Wayne Valley Softball captain Gianna LaMorges is committed to play varsity softball at Rowan University this fall, where she will be studying History Education. In addition to playing softball since she was six years old, LaMorges was a thrower on Valley’s winter track team. She encourages underclassmen to enjoy every moment that they spend on the team: “Playing softball in high school honestly taught me what true friendship is and how to be the best version of myself always… This sport is such a gift and it goes by so fast… So just have fun and enjoy every moment on the field!” LaMorges’s favorite memory on the team was Senior Night 2019, because of how the night brought the team together. 

Captain Lexie Hayeck, too, will play varsity softball when she attends DeSales University (with a major in Elementary Education). Like LaMorges, she has been playing softball since she was six years old. “My favorite softball memory,” she says, “is sweeping West Milford for the first time in twelve years.” She is so proud of her team and grateful for the friendships she has formed. 

LaMorges and Hayeck’s co-captain, Sam Namendorf, also will continue her athletic career beyond high school; she hopes to play varsity softball, as well as club volleyball, at Ramapo College. Namendorf, who has been playing softball since she was four years old, recalls her first home run on varsity as a standout softball memory: “Softball allowed me to gain another family during school.”

The Softball team is also led by senior captain Amy Chicketano and senior Ariel White. 

Baseball

Wayne Valley’s Baseball team is led by seniors Peter Botbyl, Jack Byle,  Nicholas Cannici, Dominick Castiglia, Kyle Corso, Cole Fauerbach, Jack Freed, Ryan Gorab, John Testa, and Brett Tomback. 

Boys/Girls Golf

The Boys Golf team is led by senior captain Jedd Alcalde. The Girls Golf team is led by junior captains Madeline Martin and Amanda Vogt. 

Girls/Boys Spring Track

The Girls Spring Track team is led by seniors Joanna Liput, Kaitlyn McNutt, and Lauren Passaglia. The Boys Spring Track team is led by seniors Adrian Anaemeje, Jordan Aschenbach, Anthony Chicketano, Shawn Corcoran, Brandon Fox, Cordan Hall, Neil Kiame, Gavin McGarrity, Vincent Sigona, and Troy Zuber.