Chantilly Chargers Basketball
Boys
Coach: Jim Smith
2004-05 Record: 11-14
After a season of accomplishments and disappointments on the court, the Chargers are looking to bounce back in the upcoming season as a young team looking to prove themselves after finishing 3rd in the Concorde District last season. Although, a huge drawback is Chantilly’s lack of a team leader to step up and develop momentum for the team this season.
After last season, Chantilly lost their star, all-region center, Greg Sye, to graduation and Lycoming University. Sye, a four-year varsity player, was the unmistakable team leader last year and led the team with an average of 24 points a game. This year, Coach Jim Smith is looking for a player to rise above the rest and become the team’s leader for this season.
“Obviously there in no replacing Greg,” says Coach Smith. “But we are ready to hand the ball of to another, and have him pick up where we left off last year.”
So who does this opportunity get to go to? Well the Chargers have players ready for the literal “shot” to rise up and take the spot.
In the frontcourt for Chantilly, Senior Sean Sands is looking for the opportunity at center, along with Junior Wade Wolfe. Coach Smith feels that both players have the ability to stand out under the boards; but they might be splitting playing time in order to pick out a primary starter. Smith also regrets losing potential starter Nick Oppelt
who tore an ACL in the football season, which will keep him off the court for 2006. Sands, in 2005, was backup to Sye and did not play a lot. Wolfe will be playing on the squad for the first time, after Wolfe played on the junior varsity last season.
There is one player that Smith is anxiously waiting to see play on this year’s team towards the backcourt, senior transfer from New York, Jason Villanueva. Coach Smith believes that Jason has the previous experience in the game needed, hopes he has the potential to emerge as the team’s new leader. Also in the guard position, Junior Ben Wheeler will be looking for another breakout year, after last season’s impressive performance. Other players looking at backcourt time are Seniors Jon Morgan, Anthony Turner, and Junior Nate Worek who has been with varsity for two seasons.
However, the 2005 off-season caused key players Josh Whittmer and Donte Davis to transfer to Westfield, which put a dent in Chantilly’s backcourt.
“We did lose some key players after last season, but I think we can pull things together,” Smith says about his team’s current status.
As competitive as the Concorde District is in Fairfax County, the Chargers have talent and teamwork needed to perform well in this upcoming season. There is a lot of room for young players to step up and mold together a team that can hold a top spot in the district.
“I have confidence that we have the makings of a good team this year, but we do have an age deficiency, and our team’s physical size is lacking,” Coach Smith says.
Senior Sean Sands has confidence starting this year off and says, “We’ll do very well, we have been working hard towards the season. The team has bonded well on and off the court, and teamwork will be the biggest advantage for us.”
The question is, after last season, can one player on the Chargers take the reigns of the squad and lead the team toward that last boost of confidence needed to achieve at the top level of the district?
Coach Smith and all of Chantilly High School hope so.
Girls
Coach: John Kelly
2004-05 Record: 12-13
The Lady Chargers have high expectations of themselves after previous seasons of strong teams, yet disappointing outcomes. Going into the 2006 season, they believe that this is their year to come out on top with success.
Last season, Chantilly made a striving effort if the regular season and even into the District tournament, only to receive a heartbreaking loss to Edison by one point in the first round of the Regional tournament.
In the last few years, Coach Kelly has relied on the depth of younger players to build a team which develops over time to the best possible ability. That young team, which Kelly has arranged with 11 returning players, has now reached maturity and believed to function as well as it ever will. After last year, only two seniors graduated, which leaves Chantilly with a squad that is experienced with each other, and confident of their abilities.
“Last year was a major teaching year for us; we only graduated 2 seniors and had many new faces, so we spent a majority of our practices teaching to prep us for this season . . .” Kelly says
Down in the frontcourt for the Lady Chargers, Coach Kelly is counting on Junior Alex Harper to lead the team in rebounds under the board. The team does not have much of an advantage in height, however, Kelly feels confident that they can be dominant on rebounds and blocks in the center of the court.
Up in the back of the court, Senior Shea McDonald looks to carry the team again, in her fourth season with the squad. Other anticipated players to start in the backcourt, are Seniors Michelle DeSieno and Remi Adebule.
Shea McDonald feels that this season is the opportunity for Chantilly to play at its best and says, “Other schools in our district have had many losses to their teams, which gives us the advantage we have waited for.”
“Our team is not based on single player performance… rather we are a VERY deep team that relies on different players to step forward and play roles, something we think we can excel at this year.” says Coach Kelly
Kelly believes that this is the season to watch the Lady Chargers, and feels confident in the young team that has developed over the past years. Chantilly has high expectations for itself, however, the team still has to work together and play in a district of very competitive teams. Coach Kelly and his team of tightly bonded players hope to make this upcoming season one that will pay off for the long preparation taken to build a team that has worked together for multiple seasons.
