2010 Preview: Thunder

March 25, 2010 -

Greece Ath_Ody
8-9 16 21

 March, 2010 - Greece Athena/Odyssey comes into 2010 having improved their record each year over the last four. The Thunder looks to be the strongest program they have ever had. They finished last season third in Monroe County Division III with a 7-5 record (8-8 overall). A loss to Penfield in the first round had them finishing as seeded in the tournament. 2009 was the first season that any Greece team reached .500 and the Thunder are looking to improve upon that this year.

The loss of Nate Wallenhorst to graduation will be the hardest felt. Wallenhorst was fifth in assists and eighth in points in all of Section Five last season. He finished the season with 36g-45a for the Thunder. Also graduating was attackman Phil Bond (29g-14a). With two strong attackman graduating, the Thunder will need to look to incoming players to fill starting rolls.

Offensively, outside of the attack, the Thunder look strong. The midfield group of Tyler Gorgione, Scotty Tam-Grimshaw and Gino Prestigiacomo will help solidify the offense. Gorgione and Tam-Grimshaw both started last year as sophomores. Prestigiacomo will help with face-offs. Nick Caracci, who led scoring for the JV program last year, will be an impact player this season on Varsity. Senior, Danny Vyverberg (HM) is the lone returning attackman and finished last year with 22g-12a. Mason Rosso, a converted midfielder, and Nick Kraft (from JV) will both fight for starting attack positions.

Defense is in good shape for the Thunder. Seniors Dan Conway, Brandon Cheesman and Tyler LePore will anchor a strong defense. LePore, who was a long-stick middie last year, will move to close defense this season and will help out on the wing with face-offs. Up-coming junior varsity defenseman Nick Materise will move to LSM to fill in for LePore. In the cage, the Thunder has Steve Cole and Zack Rudgers both back between the pipes. Having split time last season both will be looking for the starting role this season.

Division III allows each team to schedule four out of league contests and the Thunder will play Brockport, Newark and Bishop Kearney twice.

Top Returning Players:

Top New Players:

Updated:03/26/2010