Football

Coach: Jeff Guerette

Last year’s record: 1-7

Key games: South Portland, Cheverus, Portland, and Windham

Key players: “Trevor Bates is a three year starter for us. He played fullback (in the preseason), played some nose guard, and some defensive tackle,” Guerette said. “He is a very good athlete and a very good football player, so he’s going to be a key part of the team. Manny Vincent is someone we want to get the ball to in space. He’s very fast, and he’s tough to tackle. He’s got a little slipperiness to him. We have got a few other guys with a lot of experience. Jake Gardener is a three-year starter for us, plays linebacker and deep left guard. Those guys who have played two or three years for us are the ones we rely on when we get on the field.”

Season outlook: While the Blazes are hoping for a bright future, the season got off to a tough start on Sept. 3 as Westbrook dropped the season opener to Bonny Eagle 36-0. Still. Guerette knows that his team is a work in progress and he is looking for improvement each week. “This is our second year running this offensive system, and I think our kids are a little further ahead of where they were last year in terms of terminology and assignments, and being familiar with what our expectations are,” Guerette said, adding that he expects the Blazes to have a battle every week this fall. “In our league, everyone is worthy of a bull’s-eye. It’s a tall task every week, and there are really no off weeks. It’s great to be challenged every week, but I can’t say that there’s any one team that stands out on our schedule.”

Boys soccer

Coach: Tim Gillis

Last year’s record: 6-7-1

Key players: Andrew Sousa, Dylan Gillis

Key games: With a team looking to get into the playoffs this season, Gillis said that every game is important for the Blazes.

Season outlook: After missing out on the postseason last fall, Gillis’ goals for the Blue Blazes are simple in 2010. “(We are) looking to get into playoffs this year,” he said.

Girls soccer

Coach: Ryan Hayes

Last year’s record: 4-8-2

Key players: Seniors: Vanessa Bradbury, Lauren Blais and Emily Grossman: Juniors: Haley Berry, Megan Niehoff, Jessica Harris and sophomore Katie Clark

Key games: at Gorham Sept. 11, at Scarborough Sept. 21 and Thornton Academy Oct. 13

Season outlook: Returning seven starters, the Lady Blazes look to rebound from an injury plagued and extremely disappointing 2009 season. Captains Bradbury and Blais lead a talented senior class, and sophomore newcomer Ashley Richards has been a strong addition at goalkeeper. Overall, Westbrook looks to regain the form that carried them to an exciting playoff run in 2008.

Field hockey

Coach: Beth Murphy

Last year’s record: 7-6-1

Key players: Seniors: Olivia Marsden, Sydney Hebert, Taryn Ferrante, Tate Herbert, Sarah Howard and Melissa Pettis. The Blazes’ top newcomers are: senior Katrina Romano, juniors Kayla Winton and Maryssa Arsenault and sophomore Allison Lemay.

Key games: Murphy said all of Westbrook’s games would be important as they try to get back into the Class A playoffs

Season outlook: After missing the playoffs by just one spot in 2009 despite holding their opponents to just 14 goals on the season, the Blazes will be looking to boost their offense to make a playoff run in 2010. “Our outlook is to get back into the playoffs and this senior group is looking to lead the way,” Murphy said. “We have a speedy returning offensive line and a strong defensive group. Team chemistry will be a big part of our success.”

Boys and girls cross country

Coach: Jessica White

Key athletes: Boys senior captain Glenn Emery crushed his former personal record in the 5K this summer by almost two minutes. He placed 11th at the Breakaway 5K Race in Old Orchard Beach Aug. 21, with a time of 16:56 and a race pace of 5:27 per mile. Emery ‘s previous 5K record was18:28. He was also a standout at the Beach to Beacon on Aug. 7, placing 138th overall with a finish time of 35:53.3 and a race pace of 5:47 per mile.

Junior Jon Murray was Westbrook High School’s first finisher at the Western Maine Class A regional championships last year; he placed 60th with a time of 19:22.40. In May, Jon ran the Snowy Egret 5K in Scarborough and placed second in his age group with a time of 18:54; a new personal record.

Senior Zach Dugas is continuing to improve in cross country. He hopes to break his current 5K record of 19:35, which he achieved in 2009. Last year Dugas placed 91st at the Western Maine Class A regional championships with a time of 20:56.

Senior Mark Charest came in 86th last year at the Western Maine Class A regional championships with a time of 20:31.10; a personal best.

Freshman Tyler Jack was undefeated in cross country as a seventh and eighth grader at Westbrook Middle School. He holds a personal best of 5:04 in the 1600-meter run.

Junior Daria Semenov was one of only two female runners from Westbrook last fall. She placed 76th at the Western Maine Class A regional championships with a time of 25:17.50. Semenov hopes to beat her personal best of 23:58.00 this season.

Key meets this season: Westbrook is excited to host a meet on Sept. 17 on its newly laid out course. That meet will include the teams from Kennebunk, Scarborough and McAuley. The winner of this race will hold the new course record for Westbrook High School. Other key meets include the “Natural Rivals” meet against Gorham, Bonny Eagle, Windham and Scarborough on Oct. 15 and the regional championships on Oct. 23.

Season outlook: “Keep your eyes on the Westbrook boys,” White said. “The team is small, but it is packed with quality runners.”

Golf

Coach: Geoff Godo (first season)

Last year’s record: 5-5

Key players: Zack Bean (sophomore), Jake Limanni (junior), Brock Leighton (junior), Andrew McCarthy (junior) and Maura Quigley (senior)

Season outlook: “We are young and pretty inexperienced at the varsity level, having lost several seniors from last year’s team,” Godo said. “The kids are working hard to improve. Our ability to play consistently will determine how competitive we will be in the SMAA. Several players are capable of posting low scores.”