Girls golf team defeats Newton

Sayler Salvigsen shot a round-low 63 and was followed by Claire Sehnert (66), Erin Duthaler (67) and Jocelyn Beach (68) to pace the Sparta High School girls golf team to a season-opening 264-271 victory over Newton on Tuesday, March 26 at the Newton Country Club.

Sparta also saw Eva Hughes and Catelyn Sehnert card a 69.

The Sparta boys golf team fell just short in its season-opening match, dropping a 166-171 decision to Newton on March 26 at the same location.

Gian Parker (40), Calvin Kirchner (43), Ryan Grycuk (43), Ian Bellush (45), Jason Bischoff (49) and Sawyer Salvigsen (53) led the way for the Spartans.

Here is look at other spring sports teams:

Baseball

Sparta will play its home opener at 4 p.m. Friday, April 5, when it opposes West Morris, before playing at Caldwell at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 6.

The Spartans, who were 12-12 a year ago, are led by senior Josh Brancy (.443 batting average, 35 hits, 27 runs, 18 walks, 32 stolen bases) and junior Braden Schappert (22 hits, 16 runs, 15 RBI).

Softball

The Spartans are coming off a 16-7 mark last season, which included a trip to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 semifinal round, under head coach Gretchen Bowie.

Seniors Alexa Barry (19 RBI, 13 runs, three home runs), Gabrielle Heim (26 hits, 16 RBI, nine runs, 2.23 ERA) and Grace Conrad (1.27 ERA, 147 strikeouts) and juniors Abigail Connors (nine runs), Maya Laliker (18 hits, eight doubles, eight runs), Carly List (14 hits) and Kathryn Sutton (15 hits) all return this spring.

Boys lacrosse

The Spartans will look to improve on last season’s 10-8 finish under head coach Sean Peterson.

Seniors Greg Peters (156 ground balls) and Hunter Takacs (13 goals, five assists) and junior Matt Ciarelli (19 goals, 11 assists) return.

The team will play host to Moorestown at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 4, then play at Vernon at 10 a.m. April 6.

Girls lacrosse

Uma Kowalski, who totaled 113 goals and 39 assists a year ago, brings 200 career goals into this, her junior season.

Sparta, which was 13-8 a year ago, is scheduled to play at Kittatinny at 10 a.m. April 6.

Other returners for head coach Alexandra Takacs are seniors Catherine Siipola (14 goals, three assists), Brooke Weyant (11 goals, 33 assists) and goalie Sama Elhamouly (142 saves).

Boys volleyball

Sparta, which will look to improve on last season’s 6-11 campaign, is scheduled to play host to Mount Olive at 4 p.m. April 5.

Juniors Evan Miller (45 digs) and Diego Torres (146 digs, 45 service points) and sophomores Joshua Tolentino (81 digs, 38 service points) and George Tsamadias (284 assists, 125 service points, 50 aces, 49 digs) return for 2024.

Boys tennis

A year ago, the Spartans went 12-10 and reached the semifinal round of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 2 tournament.

The team, which will play host to Delbarton at 4 p.m. April 4, returns seniors Andrew Young and Charles Canzoniero and sophomores Graham Mahoney and Ian Yip this spring.