Last season: 8th in MVC, 32nd in Class C
Top returners: Jolene Libby (Sr., shot put), Alyssa Turcotte (Sr., pole vault), Megan Jones (Soph., hurdles, sprints), Mickella Laney (Soph., jumps), Taneeka Wallingford (Soph. jumps).
Key newcomers: Alora Lightebody (Fr. hurdles, sprints), Sam McLaughlin (Fr., hurdles, jumps), Jessica Theberge (Fr., distance), Brooke Freeman (Fr., pole vault, hurdles), Meagan Field (Fr., javelin), Crystal Dacosta (Fr., sprints).
Outlook: Libby returns as one of the team's top scorers. She qualified for the state meet in the javelin and discus. Madison features 17 girls who came out this spring, which gives Hagopian a few options.
Coach's comment: "We're young, but I think with Jolene and Turcotte we will be pretty good. I ended up with 17 girls so it's not too bad. At least I can move them around. Those extra seven or eight bodies make a big difference. I think we'll do pretty good."
Baseball
Coach: Shawn Bean (6th season)
Last season: 1-14 in Western C
Top returners: Ezra Gourley (Sr., P-SS), Justen Grant (Sr., OF), Jake Linkletter (Sr., OF), Tucker Freeman (Sr., 3B), Garth Clark (Sr., 2B), Kyle Costigan (Jr., P-OF), Ben Freeman (Jr., P-OF-2B), Lucas Libby (Jr., C), Lucas LeBlanc (So., 1B), Kaeson Richardson (So., OF)
Key newcomers: Cody Small (Jr., P-SS-3B), Drew Moody (So., P-OF), Shawn Brown (So. P-OF), Spencer Whittemore (So., OF), Cody Coururier (Fr., P-3B-OF), Stephen Aday (Fr., P-OF), Travis Emerson (Fr., P-OF-SS), Patrick Magurth (Fr., OF), Nicholas Rotondi (Fr., C-OF), Levi Tucker (Fr., P-2B-OF)
Outlook: Madison lost just one player, an exchange student, and Gourley is back after an injury-marred 2008 season. Healthy, Gourley is at the top of the rotation, followed by Small and Moody. Grant, Clark and Libby are the top returning hitters.
Coach's comment: "We're looking to go .500, hopefully a little better. We'd like to get back in the playoff hunt."
Boys tennis
Coach: Ron Chillington (7th season)
Last season: 3-9, Western Class B preliminaries
Top returners: Max Klinker (Sr.), Luke Klinker (So.), Jacob Curtis (Jr.), Ivan Cobb (Jr.), Ryan Turcotte (So.), Kevin Steuber (So.)
Key newcomers: Jeff Mercier (Jr.), Nick Moody (Jr.), Mike Serbice (So.), Ryan Kemp (Jr.)
Outlook: With only one senior returning, the Bulldogs are building for the future. Moody and Mercier have shown signs early of being talented players.
Coach's comment: "This team is wide open. I really think it is going to be about internal competition. We don't have a number one singles player."
Girls tennis
Coach: Kara Williams (6th season)
Last season: 5-7
Top returners: Cecile Thibodeau (Sr.), Terri Hayden (Sr.), Nicole Benner (Sr.), Kaitlynn McLaughlin (Jr.), Ali Russell (Jr.), Kristin Theberge (Jr.), Amanda Black (Jr.), Summer Tucker (So.), Lindsey Kandico (So.)
Key newcomer: Courtney Randall (Sr.)
Outlook: Thibodeau, one of the top players in the conference, will lead the Bulldogs as they take a run at the MVC title. McLaughlin and Theberge will also be solid contributors for Madison, which rebuilt its program last season.
Coach's comment: "Cecile is just a really strong player. She's been so helpful in getting drills and practices together. She is a huge asset."
Softball
Coach: Al Veneziano (15th season)
Last season: 9-8, made Western C quarterfinals
Top returners: 3B/P Erin Abbott (Sr.), P/1B Erin Lightbody (Sr.), 1B/OF Chantel Osgood (Sr.), P/3B Emilee Berry (Jr.), IF Jennifer Brown (Jr.)
Key newcomers: 1B Lauren Bean (Jr.), 1B/OF Kayla Corson (So.), IF Whitney Cowette (So.), IF Melinda Farrell (So.), OF Carolyne Gunther (So.), C/OF Kristi Libby (So.), OF Jenna Osgood (So.), OF/1B Katie Aube (Fr.), C/SS Kayla Belanger (Fr.), C Annie Boss (Fr.), 1B/OF Taylor Cipriano (Fr.), IF Morgan Freeman (Fr.), P/2B Alexi Galley (Fr.), OF Dallas LeBlanc (Fr.), SS Natalie Michaud (Fr.), IF Lyndsay Weese (Fr.)
Outlook: The consistently solid Bulldogs will need to rely on some new players this season, but there is considerable talent among the newcomers. Cowette does the job at second base and Veneziano is high on freshmen Michaud and Belanger. Berry, who throws hard and is adept at changing spots, will handle most of the pitching.
Coach's comment: "With the number of underclassmen, it's certainly going to be a year for these kids to learn how to play."
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