Following are the 2023 H.S. boys’ and girls’ golf preview capsules:

BOYS

ECC DIVISION I

East Lyme

Head coach: Rudy Bagos (19th season)

Key returnees: So. Tyler Moore, So. Jack Bucko, Jr. Nate Blankenship, So. Sean Blankenship.

Top newcomers: So. Sebby DeCosta, Jr. Henry Gannoe, Jr. Anthony Bartolotta, Fr. Ethan Legg, Fr. Xavier Stefanski.

Outlook: The Vikings, who qualified for the Division I state tournament last season, return ECC all-star Moore along with Bucko an Nate Blankenship. Bagos, who expects East Lyme to contend for Division I honors, said there is great competition for the final two sports, including freshmen Legg and Stefanski.

Fitch

Head coach: Glen Graham (19th season)

Key returnees: Jr. Charlie Bergendahl, Jr. Gianni Drab, Jr. Jack Barie.

Top newcomers: Jr. Cole Faulkner, So. Alex Hankey, So. Matthew Casanas, Fr. Nathan Johnson, Fr. Reece Johnson, Fr. Camden Gilliland.

Outlook: The Falcons graduated six seniors, including ECC Division I all-stars Jack Kramer and Nate McCormack, so Graham expects some growing pains as Fitch tries to stay competitive in Division I this spring after qualifying for the Division I state tournament in 2022.

NFA

Head coach: Bill Howard (27th season)

Key returnees: Jr. Max Weston, Sr. Costa Kapilotis, Jr. Liam O’Neil, So. Nick Wigfield, Sr. John Howe, Jr. Preston Wilder.

Outlook: The Wildcats graduated ECC all-star Kyle Sikorski, but return varsity regulars Weston, Kapilotis, O’Neil and Wigfield. Howard expects NFA to contend for the Division I title, make a run at the ECC Open title and make a return trip to the Division I state tournament.

Note: Division I includes Woodstock Academy.

ECC DIVISION II

Bacon Academy

Coaches: Dave Mason and Craig Kupper (6th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Connor Tuttle, Jr. John Ceruti.

Top newcomers: Jr. Alex Gallardo, Sr. Rob June.

Outlook: The Bobcats graduated three key seniors and have a smaller team this spring, so there will be some growing pains early on. “We are looking forward to seeing the improvement of the new players coming in and the opportunities they have to compete,” Mason said.

Stonington

Head coach: Scott Smilinich (5th season)

Key returnees: Brandon Tavares, Cam O'Connor, Ethan Torres, Connor Tavares.

Top newcomers: Sam Olmstead, Jacob Gram, Jack Logue.

Outlook: The Bears had a solid year and great postseason, placing fourth at the ECC Open and fourth in the Division II state meet behind Brandon Tavares, The Day’s All-Area Player of the Year who tied for seventh in the state tournament. Stonington returns the bulk of its lineup and has added some player who will challenge for varsity spots.

Waterford

Head coach: Katie Pesko (7th season)

Key returnees: Jacob Beardsley, Vin Antonelli, Hunter Heikkinen, Natalie Schenking, Ally Puccio, Jackie Tran.

Top newcomers: Fr. Ethan Hayne, Fr. Lucas Vincenti, Fr. Brennan Bunnell, Fr. Jenna Dunkerly, So. Jason Bace, Jr. Jamison Rush.

Outlook: The Lancers graduated three of their top five performers, so competition for varsity spots will be fierce. “We have a significantly young team with many beginners in the mix,” Pesko said. “A good portion of our practices will be helping these athletes fine tune their skills and the hope is to have a strong team in the next couple of years.”

Note: Division II includes Killingly.

ECC DIVISION III

Griswold

Head coach: Paul Richards (41st season)

Key returnee: So. Gennaro Lavado.

Top newcomers: Sr. Evan Merchant.

Outlook: The Wolverines will be able to field a full lineup this spring, including three “They endured a tough go of it, but gained valuable experience to prepare them for this season,” said Richards. “The team is eager to work hard and improve throughout the season.

Montville

Head coach: Nick McAneny (1st season)

Top newcomers: Sr. Alex Burrell, Sr. Kyle Hager, Jr. Madden Brown, Jr. Colby Cowan, Jr. Nolan Dougherty, Jr. Colby Fedus, Soo. Evan Bergeron, So. Aaron Gould, So. Elijah Klusek.

Outlook: McAneny takes over a program that graduated virtually its entire varsity roster. “With only one returning member, there is plenty of inexperience,” he said. “However, the roster is full of multi-sport athletes who are looking to try something new and compete in the ECC.”

New London

Head coach: Tim Kwochka (1st season)

Top newcomers: Sr. Cade O’Brien, Jr. Gabriel Frommer, Sr. Divine Adekoya, Sr. Fortune Adekoya.

Outlook: The Whalers have revived their golf program and Kowchka’s goal is for his players to have a great experience, improve as the season progress, and build a foundation for a strong future.

Note: Division III includes Windham.

DIVISION IV

Wheeler

Head coach: Carl Weber (15th season)

Key returnees: Jr. Keiran Boscoe, Jr. Cameron Conway, Jr. Gavin Arruda, Sr. Brady Sadowski, Jr. Tyler Signor.

Top newcomers: Jr. Will Raggon, So. Jeffrey Bentley, So. David Levanto, Fr. Ryan Colsen, Fr. Ivy Osborn.

Outlook: Weber expects big things from the Lions ... and who can blame him. The Lions, who won the ECC Division IV title and placed eighth in the Division III state meet, return their entire starting lineup. “The expectation is for the team to build from the success of last season,” Weber said.

Note: Division IV includes Plainfield, Putnam and Tourtellotte.

OTHERS

Grasso Tech

Head coach: Thomas Allen (24th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Norman Maranda, Jr. Nathan Sylvestre, Jr. Luca Iglesias, Jr. Nolan Blewitt.

Top newcomers: Sr. Charles Morrison, Chad Planeta, Sr. Cynthia Holland.

Outlook: The Eagles have a wonderful mix of experience players and newcomers, and Allen credits his upperclassmen for bringing new players into the program. “We’re looking forward to a fun and competitive season,” he said.

Old Lyme

Head coach: Kirk Kaczor (16th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Alex Chrysoulakis, So. Manu Geronimo, So. Justin Bonatti.

Top newcomers: Fr. Carter McGlinchey, Sr. Alex Olsen, Michael Defiore.

Outlook: The Wildcats graduated its top two golfers, Pat Flanagan and Andrew Hedberg, and have a relatively small team, but Kaczor believes there is some good talent to develop. “We hope to improve all season and potentially qualify for the state tournament.” he said “If all goes well, we have a chance.”

GIRLS

ECC

Bacon Academy

Head coach: Jeff Savitsky (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. Mia Belcamino, Jr. Olivia Tellar, So. Olivia Sobota.

Top newcomers: Fr. Olivia Meyer, Fr. Abigail Stillwell.

Outlook: Belcamino is a three-year varsity performer who will lead a young team. Savitsky has a nice mix of veteran an inexperienced players and expects the Bobcats to improve as the season progresses.

East Lyme

Head coach: Ted Hespeler (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Mary Haburay, Jr. Georgia Anglin, Jr. Morgan Dube, Jr. Lola Hoffer, Jr. Kayli Johns.

Top newcomers: Sr. Natalie Brush, Jr. Mia Williamson.

Outlook: The Vikings must replace Sarah Healy, the ECC champion and The Day’s All-Area Player of the Year, but the core of the team returns with some newcomers pushing some of East Lyme’s experience players. Hespeler expects the Vikings to contend for a conference title.

NFA

Head coach: Bill Howard (27th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Kaydance Arpin, Jr. Madeline Smith, Jr. Alexa St. Germain, So. Erin O'Farrell.

Top newcomer: Fr. Caroline Goderre.

Outlook: Howard expects the Wildcats to remain competitive in the ECC despite graduating three varsity player. Arpin, Smith, St. Germain and O’Farrell all have experience and he expects big things from Goderre.

Waterford

Head coach: Katie Pesko (7th season)

Key returnees: Natalie Schenking, Ally Puccio, Jackie Tran.

Top newcomes: Fr. Jenna Dunkerly.

Outlook: Waterford will play a limited ECC schedule with its players also practicing and playing with the boys team. Shenking, Puccio and Tran all gained experience last year.

Note: The ECC also includes Woodstock Academy.