Mt. View picked to repeat in Div. III

BY SHANE HENIGAN
Times-Shamrock Writer

For any team that has dealt with success, there’s going to be a time when new components must step in and mature quickly in order for that team to remain successful.

That will be the case for the defending Lackawanna League Div. III champions if they want to defend their crown this season.

Mountain View, which won the 2012 PIAA Class A state championship and was runner-up last season, got the nod in what is expected to be a very competitive Division III.

Mountain View has pretty much done it all the past four seasons. It’s won four consecutive Class A district titles on its way to winning a state title.

But the Eagles now face a different task. They must replace Colby Thomas, a three-time All-Region selection and two-time Times-Tribune Player of the Year who scored 123 goals and added 32 assists in his final three seasons.

They must also replace Zeb Cross, Nick Jarrow and goalkeeper Bobby Pfahl, all of whom were All-Region selections.

But Mountain View does return five starters, including second-team all-star defender Aaron Freeman.

“It’s a rebuilding year but we expect good success because of the program we’ve developed,” coach Roger Thomas said. “We’re working to position ourselves to be in the district championship mix.”

Thomas said he expects the division to have a lot more parity than in recent years past. Lakeland returns eight starters, Montrose brings back six and Elk Lake and Holy Cross both have five back.

DIVISION III
MOUNTAIN VIEW EAGLES
Home field: Mountain View High School
Last season: 17-1
Head coach: Roger Thomas
Returning starters: Aaron Freeman, Sr., Def.; Ed Bognatz, Sr., Mid.; Chris White, Sr., Mid.; James Goodenough, Sr., Fwd.; Justin Rowe, Jr., Def.
Other returning: Tristan Phillips, Sr., Def.; Zack Pellew, Jr., Def.; Matt Lavin, So., Mid.; Zeke Cross, So., Mid.; Keegan Mack, So., Def.; Jeff Virbitsky, So., Mid.; Jesse Gerfin, So., G; Jon Master, So., Def.
Newcomers: Jake Krupovich, Jr., Mid.; Cody Hollister, Jr., Fwd.; Nathan Ransom, Fr., Def.; Alex MacDonald, Fr., Mid.; Alex Showalter, Fr., Mid.; Nathan Salansky, Fr., Def.; Nick Pellew, Fr., Mid.; Anthony Neri, Fr., Mid.; Steve Mordent, Fr., Fwd.; Luke Schmidt, Fr., Mid.

BLUE RIDGE RAIDERS
Home field: Blue Ridge High School
Last season: 3-8
Head coach: Eric Stallings
Returning starters: Dan Braun, Jr., Mid.; Tyrell Cheeseboro, So., Def.; Corbin French, So., Mid.; Lyndsey Rupakus, Jr., Mid.; Alan Weed, Sr., Def./Str.; Nick Swaha, Jr., Def.
Other returning: Aaron Cook, Jr., Mid.; Jordan Mann, So., Mid.; Seth Acosta, So., Str.; Jordan Rafferty, So., Mid.; Shawn Woodruff, Sr., G.
Newcomers: Hunter Conklin, Fr., Def./Mid.; Garrett Mansfield, Fr., Def./Mid.; John Blueht, Fr., Mid.; Cole Oklin, Fr., Mid.; Austin Cordoza, Sr., Str.; Emma Glezen, Fr., Mid.; Nick Folk, So., G/Def.

ELK LAKE WARRIORS
Home field: Elk Lake High School
Last season: 8-4-1
Head coach: Craig Sprout
Returning starters: Chris Cook, Sr., Def.; Hunter Watkins, Jr., Mid.; Ben Woolcock, So., Mid.; Blake Chew, So., Fwd.; Jason Vazquez, So., Def.
Other returning: Kyle Roman, Jr., Def.; Bailey Newhart, Jr., So.; Zack Groover, So., G; Brandon Traver, So., Def.; Fransico Lopez, So., Mid.
Newcomers: Logan Adams, Sr., Mid.; Evin Manzeck, So., Mid.; Louis Laboda, So., Fwd.; T.J. Tyler, So.; Reardon Reyan, Fr.; Jaun Laboda, Fr.; Caleb Ely, Fr.; Issac Dibble, Fr.; Noah Cusatis, Fr.; Griffin Arnold, Fr.; Joe Swart, Fr.; Wil Arnold, Fr.

FOREST CITY FORESTERS
Home field: Forest City High School
Last season: 6-5
Head coach: Carmine Gigliotti
Returning starters: Tyler Trichilo, Sr., Fwd.; Adam Morris, Sr., Def.; Cody Barrese, Sr., Mid.; Dom Evans, Jr., Def.; Jordan Hicks, Jr., G/Def.; Jace Twilley, Jr., Def.; Dave Pollak, Jr., Mid.; Alex O’Neill, Jr., Mid.; Matt Keller, So., Mid.
Other returning: Michael Kelly, So., Def.; Kolby Rotella, So., Def.; Jared Paulin, So., Fwd.
Newcomers: Chris Karwan, Fr., Mid.; Joey Callan, Fr., Mid.; Dakota Khern-Cook, Fr., G; Ian Bailey, Fr., Mid./Fwd.; Danny Lockett, Fr., Mid.; Steve Evans, Fr., Def.; Griffin Atkinson, Fr., Def.

MONTROSE METEORS
Home field: Montrose High School
Last season: 9-2
Head coach: Dan Cherney
Returning starters: Nick Henry, Sr., Mid.; Kyle Watkins, Sr., Mid.; Wyatt Canfield, Sr., Def.; Tanner Frystack, Sr., Def.; Jeff Zuber, Sr., Def.; Todd Lattimore, Jr., Mid.
Other returning: Joe Rodino, Sr., Def.; Troy Ely, Sr., Mid.; Jared Geisler, Jr., Mid.; Chris Spence, So., Mid.; Nick Blaisure, So., Fwd.; Giovanni Amato., So., Fwd.
Newcomers: Mike Vanness, Sr., Def.; Ethan Johnson, Jr., Def.; Brendan Buck, So., G; Riley Birchard, Fr., Fwd.; Zachary Dieck, Fr., Fwd.; Jackson Griffiths, Fr., Mid.; Mike Henry, Fr., Def.; Tom Vaccaro, Fr., Mid.; Chris Lee, Jr., Mid.