Another autumn of excitement is on the horizon for Waynflete. Boys’ soccer has suffered some agonizing playoff losses the past two years, but this season, the Flyers could go all the way and win Class C. The girls might be right there along with them. Field hockey, which made tremendous strides in 2010, should contend again under a new coach. Both cross country teams have their sights set on making a run at the title. There will be no varsity golf team this autumn.

BOYS’ SOCCER

COACH: Brandon Salway (22nd year)

2010 Record: 12-2-2 (Lost 1-0 to NYA in Western Class C Final)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: William Cleaves (Senior), Mitch Newlin (Senior), Addison St. Onge-May (Senior), Daniel Wiener (Senior), Kevin Kanakan (Junior), Peabo Knoth (Junior), Zander Majercik (Junior), Paul Runyambo (Junior), Henry Cleaves (Sophomore)

PIVOTAL GAMES: Sept. 14 (H) NYA, Sept. 20 (H) TRAIP, Sept. 22 (H) SACOPEE, Sept. 28 @ Sacopee, Oct. 1 @ NYA, Oct. 4 @ Gray-New Gloucester, Oct. 7 @ Traip, Oct. 11 (H) CAPE ELIZABETH, Oct. 14 @ Freeport

COACH’S COMMENT: “I hope our scoring comes from a number of people. It will be more of a group effort than it was last year with Tucker (Geoffroy). I think it’s wide open this year. The talent’s there for us, but it might take us awhile to jell. We have the potential to be in the mix at the end.“

THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: Waynflete has posted back-to-back stellar regular seasons, but each year has culminated with a gutwrenching home playoff loss. Two years ago, the Flyers were stunned by Georges Valley in the quarterfinals and last season was even worse when rival NYA scored the lone goal of the regional final. Waynflete will try again to reach the Class C Final and win its first championship at that level and Salway has the pieces in place to make a run. The scoring punch figures to be led by William Cleaves, Knoth and Wiener. Midfielders Henry Cleaves, Kanakan and Runyambo (a first-team WMC all-star in 2010) will also be heard from as they attempt to replace the offense that departed when Geoffroy (Waynflete’s 2010 Fall Male Athlete of the Year) graduated. On defense, Newlin and St. Onge-May (the sweeper) will look to frustrate the opposition. The last line of defense is Majercik in goal. He had a strong campaign in 2010. In addition to its two battles apiece with NYA, Sacopee and Traip, the Flyers will also do battle with Class A power Cape Elizabeth and Class B contenders Freeport and Gray-New Gloucester. Another gaudy regular season record might be hard to come by, but by the postseason, this squad should be clicking on all cylinders and will be ready to finish the job that the previous two editions have started. Waynflete is tired of knocking at the door. This could be the year the Flyers knock it down and go all the way.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

COACH: Todd Dominski (third year)

2010 Record: 7-7-1 (Lost 2-0 to Sacopee in Western C semifinals)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Maddy Agnew (Senior), Lillian Harvey (Senior), Becky Smith (Senior), Katherine Harwood (Junior), Rhiannan Jackson (Junior), Ella Millard (Sophomore)

PIVOTAL GAMES: Sept. 2 (H) YORK, Sept. 14 (H) NYA, Sept. 22 (H ) FREEPORT, Sept. 24 (H) GRAY-NG, Sept. 28 (H) SACOPEE, Oct. 1 @ NYA, Oct. 6 @ Sacopee, Oct. 11 @ Cape Elizabeth

COACH’S COMMENT: “The goal every year is to win a state championship. This year is no different. We will work as hard as we can to put ourselves in a position to be playing in November.”

THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: Waynflete struggled a bit (by its standards) in 2010, but still got to the semifinals. This autumn, the Flyers could be poised to return to championship form. With several strong athletes returning, joined by some promising newcomers, this might be the cream of the Class C crop. Millard and Smith (a conference and regional all-star last autumn) figure to be top scorers. Agnew, Harvey, Harwood and Jackson (who was named to the WMC all-star team in 2010) also have experience in big games. Sophomores Sophia Canning and Leigh Fernandez swung up from JV a year ago and will be a regular presence on this year’s varsity team. Freshman Juliana Harwood hopes to make an immediate mark as she replaces Emma Longcope in goal. Waynflete will be tested by a challenging regular season schedule, which includes Class C rivals NYA and Sacopee, Class A contender Cape Elizabeth and Class B power York, along with Freeport and Gray-New Gloucester. This group is poised to return to form and a winning record is likely. So is a longer playoff run. If the ball bounces the Flyers’ way, they could take their show right into November and add to the school’s trophy case.

FIELD HOCKEY

COACH: Kelly Hoffman (first year)

2010 Record: 8-6-1 (Lost 10-0 to NYA in Western C quarterfinals)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Alida Farrell (Senior), Rosalind Gray-Bauer (Senior), Suzy Moore (Senior), Kailina Mills (Junior), Jo Moore (Junior)

PIVOTAL GAMES: Sept. 2 (H) FREEPORT, Sept. 19 @ Yarmouth, Sept. 21 @ NYA, Oct. 3 @ Freeport, Oct. 11 (H) NYA

COACH’S COMMENT: “I have a small team. I think we look pretty solid. We’re focusing on offense. We want to be competitive and have fun. I’m hopeful that the girls will have a good time and enjoy themselves. I want to build a program.”

THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: Waynflete made a quantum leap in 2011, posting its best record in over 30 years and making it to the quarterfinals, a run that earned Noelle Surette Coach of the Year recognition. She’s left the program, which is now in the hands of Hoffman, who played field hockey (as a goalie) and lacrosse at Johns Hopkins and recently served as Yarmouth’s junior varsity coach. She inherits a team that has lost a couple key components, but still has enough talent to stay in the hunt. The forward line is led by Farrell, Gray-Bauer and Suzy Moore, with Jo Moore in the midfield. All three girls were named all-stars a year ago. On defense, freshman Chloe Williams has turned heads in the early going in front of Mills, who returns in goal. Several other players hope to soon become household names. It might take the Flyers awhile to hit their stride as Hoffman molds the program, but there are several winnable games on the slate. If Waynflete can ride the confidence from last year’s success, another solid campaign is possible. Even a return trip to the postseason isn’t out of the question.

CROSS COUNTRY

COACH: Brian Gillespie (seventh year)

2010 Results:

(BOYS) 3rd @ Class C state meet

(GIRLS) 2nd @ Class C state meet

TOP RETURNING RUNNERS:

(BOYS) Abshir Horor (Senior), Peter Stein (Senior), Abukar Adan (Junior), Jack Cutler (Junior), Josh Espy (Junior), Abdi Mohamud (Junior)

(GIRLS) Chloe Rowse (Senior), Emily Trafton (Senior), Phoebe Suva (Junior), Catherine Veroneau (Junior), Martha Veroneau (Junior)

TOP FOES: Merriconeag, NYA

COACH’S COMMENT: “We are in a unique position this fall. We have the potential to win both the boys’ and girls’ state Class C championships. The key to our boys’ success is depth. The girls’ team is in the same situation. The strength of our 4-5-6 runners is the key. If we stay healthy and have our 4-5-6 runners focused for late October, we can win. We have four new sophomore girls this fall and hopefully that is the depth we need.”

THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: Waynflete’s cross country teams will be heard from plenty in the weeks to come.

The boys have been rising up the ranks and have their eye on the top spot. Top returners from last year’s state meet include Horor (seventh), Adan (12th), Espy (14th) and Cutler (35th). Horor was a first-team WMC all-star in 2010, Adan and Espy made the second team. Stein and Mohamud add depth and are joined by seniors Will Gordon and Eric Nathanson, sophomore Max Rowe and freshman Seth Atwood, who round out the roster. If this group stays healthy, look out. Its championship goal is certainly attainable.

On the girls’ side, Waynflete had its three-year run as state champion come to a close by a mere six points last season. This time around, the Flyers hope to leapfrog Merriconeag and win another title. Martha Veroneau again will lead the way. She was the Class C individual champion as a freshman and was first for scoring purposes a year ago, when she was selected as a first-team all-star. A standout three-sport athlete, she figures to have the rest of the state chasing her. Trafton (fourth), Rowse (12th) and Suva (22nd) also scored at last year’s state meet. Catherine Veroneau (who missed much of the basketball season and all of lacrosse due to a knee injury) looks to add depth. Seniors Gigi Schnier and Hanae Miyake, juniors Meghan Surges and Kaitlyn Thompson and sophomores Lydia Fox, Erica Hirshborn, Abigail Horisberger and Rowan Price are also on the roster. This group will be very formidable and will be tough to keep out of the top spot this time around.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Junior Martha Veroneau is the two-time Class C individual girls’ cross country champion.

Junior Catherine Veroneau has battled back from injury and will help the Waynflete girls’ cross country team make a run at a title.

Senior Emily Trafton had the fourth-best time at last year’s girls’ Class C state meet.

Abshir Horor will be one of the fastest runners in Class C.

Junior Kailina Mills returns in goal for the Waynflete field hockey team.

Senior Daniel Wiener is a team captain and figures to be a top scoring threat for the Flyers this fall.

Junior Paul Runyambo will be a force to be reckoned with this autumn.

Sidebar Elements

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Waynflete’s field hockey team is coming off its best season in over 30 years. Junior Jo Moore and her teammates look to keep the Flyers in contention.

More photos below.

2011 schedules

BOYS’ SOCCER

Fri., Sept. 2 @ A.R. Gould

Mon., Sept. 12 @ Wells

Wed., Sept. 14 H NYA

Sat., Sept. 17 H RICHMOND

Tues., Sept. 20 H TRAIP

Thurs., Sept. 22 H SACOPEE

Mon., Sept. 26 H WELLS

Wed., Sept. 28 @ Sacopee

Sat., Oct. 1 @ NYA

Tues., Oct. 4 @ GNG

Fri., Oct. 7 @ Traip

Tues., Oct. 11 H CAPE ELIZABETH

Fri., Oct. 14 @ Freeport

Mon., Oct. 17 H FRYEBURG

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Fri., Sept. 2 H YORK

Mon., Sept. 12 H OOB

Wed., Sept. 14 H NYA

Sat., Sept. 17 H RICHMOND

Tues., Sept. 20 @ Traip

Thurs., Sept. 22 H FREEPORT

Sat., Sept. 24 H GNG

Mon., Sept. 26 @ OOB

Wed., Sept. 28 H SACOPEE

Sat., Oct. 1 @ NYA

Thurs., Oct. 6 @ Sacopee

Fri., Oct. 7 H TRAIP

Tues., Oct. 11 @ Cape Elizabeth

Mon., Oct. 17 @ Fryeburg

FIELD HOCKEY

Wed., Aug. 31 @ OOB

Fri., Sept. 2 H FREEPORT

Tues., Sept. 13 @ Traip

Thurs., Sept. 15 H POLAND

Fri., Sept. 16 H SACOPEE

Mon., Sept. 19 @ Yarmouth

Wed., Sept. 21 @ NYA

Fri., Sept. 23 H GNG

Tues., Sept. 27 H OOB

Fri., Sept. 30 @ Sacopee

Mon., Oct. 3 @ Freeport

Wed., Oct. 5 H TRAIP

Fri., Oct. 7 @ Poland

Tues., Oct. 11 H NYA

CROSS COUNTRY

Fri., Sept. 2 @ Poland

Fri., Sept. 16 @ Lake Region

Fri., Sept. 23 @ Cape Elizabeth

Fri., Sept. 30 @ Poland

Fri., Oct. 7 @ Traip

Fri., Oct. 14 @ WMC Championships

Sat., Oct. 22 Western C Regionals

Sat., Oct. 29 Class C States