GIRLS

1. Yarmouth: The six-time defending Class B state champion continues to replenish losses to graduation and ski academies thanks to a strong feeder system. The Nordic team returns Sarah Becker, Ellie Teare and Caitlin Teare, and welcomes several promising freshmen. Julia Primeau is the lone veteran on an Alpine squad with holes to fill.

2. Falmouth: Runners-up to eight-time defending champion Mt. Blue in Class A last winter, the Yachtsmen are poised to challenge again. State slalom and Eastern giant slalom champ Leika Scott leads a talented Alpine contingent that welcomes back Katie Carew from injury, and adds Caroline Lucas, Alex Shapiro and Krysia Lesniak. Dana Block and Jessica Abramson lead the Nordic contingent.

3. Freeport: The defending Class C state champion as well as Alpine champion, Freeport sustained losses to graduation and ski academies and is in something of a rebuilding mode. Senior Taylor Enrico and sophomore Wynne Cushing provide a solid Alpine base. Nordic has more depth, with Lizzy Martin, Lily LaMarre, Bethanie Knighton, Emma Egan and Lia Wellen returning.

4. Greely: Class A runners-up in Alpine to Mt. Blue last winter, the Rangers return all of their top skiers: senior Jordan Ouellette, and juniors Jill Booth, Teal Otley and two-time Class A skimeister Elyse Dinan. A promising freshman class adds depth. The Nordic side is still evolving so an overall title would be surprising.

5. Oxford Hills: Third in Class A last winter, the Vikings sport a veteran team that should be in contention again. Three of the top four Nordic skiers return: seniors Alyssa Andrews and Moriah Lee, and junior India Lucas. Seniors Colleen Stauder and Amanda Hanning, and sophomores Annika Kahkonen and Miranda Murphy lead an Alpine squad that includes an influx of freshmen.

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BOYS

1. Falmouth: Falmouth has won overall state titles three years in a row, two in Class B and last winter after moving up to Class A. Alpine Coach Tip Kimball calls his team “one of the strongest and deepest I’ve seen in my 10 years of coaching Falmouth.” Alex Gowen, Luke Andrews, Cooper Lycan, Sam Hamilton and Ben Hilfrank lead a strong senior class. Senior Jay Lesser and sophomore Sam Pratico pave the way in Nordic.

2. Yarmouth: The defending Class B overall state champions return a solid Alpine contingent, led by Drew Grout and Matt Highland, that finished second to Maranacook last winter. Freshman Tucker Grout will help. In Nordic, Braden Becker, Sam Alexander, Carter Hall and Jackson Hall must replace Jack Elder (ski academy), Thomas Sullivan (injury) and Chester Jacobs (illness).

3. Freeport: The Falcons are looking to regain the form that propelled them to consecutive Class C state titles in 2010 and 2011. Sophomores Blake Enrico, Ryder Bennell and Caleb Abbott lead an Alpine squad that placed third last winter. Eli McCurdy, a Merriconeag transfer, will bolster a Nordic core that includes Mason Cyr, Quinn Dowling, Zach Merrill and Bennett Brainard.

4. Fryeburg Academy: Two-time defending Sassi Memorial champion Silas Eastman leads a Nordic team that includes fellow senior Logan Gershman, and juniors Dacota Griffin and Liam LeConey. Alpine looks to improve on a seventh-place finish, with seniors Kevin Reardon and Ian Shea leading the way.

5. Camden Hills: Sixth overall in Class B last winter, the Windjammers should be more competitive this time around. Reigning skimeister Crockett Lalor and Brendan Carey head a returning Alpine group buoyed by Cole Ellison, Eben Kopp and Chapin Lamont. Leading the Nordic contingent are seniors Alex Wilder, Will Conover, Connor Lane and Cole Ellison.

— Glenn Jordan, Staff Writer

 


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