There were surprises last season, with the Freeport High School golf team making the postseason, and the girls and boys soccer squads knocking off Spruce Mountain in prelim contests.
Football
Coach — Rob Grover
2012 highlights — 4-4 regular season, no playoffs.
Personnel lost — Dan Burke (FB/LB), James Purdy (QB/LB), Jared Polley (TB/LB), Andy Burke (OT).
Personnel returning — Seniors: Adam Brobst (DT/OT), Cam Buthley (TE/OLB), Ben MacMillan (FB/LB), Joe Nixon (RB/CB), Darnel Strother (G/DE); junior Jake Perry (S/TE); sophomores David Schaedler (CB/RB), Eli Fox (QB), Brady LaFrance (S), Jake Todd (LB/G).
Newcomers — Senior Eric Wentworth (WR/CB).
Coach’s comments — “I think we are a better team than last year, especially on defense. We have some skills. The key will be can we stay healthy. We played Boothbay and competed very well.
“We are conditioned and everybody has two-way starters. We just have to avoid injuries. We’re going to run a multi-formation offense: IWing, spread. Defensively, we’re not deep, but we are skilled.
“One thing is that we don’t have to play Leavitt. But, I think Wells will be strong, and with Mountain Valley … you can never count them out. I think we can be competitive with everybody in this league.”
Season opener — Sept. 7, home with Spruce Mountain (1:30 p.m.)
Key dates — Oct. 5 (H, Cape Elizabeth), Oct. 25 (at Yarmouth).
Boys soccer
Coach — Joe Heathco.
2012 highlights — 3-9-2 regular season, beat Spruce Mountain 7-0 in West Class B prelim; lost to Maranacook 4- 1 in quarterfinals.
Personnel lost — Connor Dietrich (A), Landon Easler (M), Cole Harrison (D), Gage Golding (D), Sam Farrar (D), Tucker Troast (M).
Personnel returning — Seniors Harry Stivers (FB), Nick Nelsonwood (M), Ethan Roney (M), Michael Harrison (M), Braden Marstaller (M), Chandler Birmingham (FB/M); juniors: Brendan Qualls (GK), Blake Enrico (FB), Parker Mathison (FB), Callum Gould (M), Caleb Abbott (M), Ryder Bennell (M), Shawn Anthony (M); sophomores: Nate Smail (FB), Jack Davenport (M), Addison Vosmus (A).
Newcomers — Junior Nick Wilson is returning after missing all last season with an injury.
Coach’s comments — “We have very good depth and soccer IQ. The boys are very motivated and are focused in practice to do well this season.
“I am optimistic that we will be very competitive this season. It is such a tough conference that results will be hard to predict. If we can make the playoffs we will be a dangerous team to play.
“Certainly making the playoffs is goal one. To build and get better all season so that we can make a run for a trophy is the bigger goal.
“Cape, Greely and Yarmouth are all going to be so good. Hope to be in the mix with those guys in October. Cape and Greely are in B for playoffs and Falmouth has left for A. Playoffs just got tougher to make!”
Season opener — Sept. 10 at Sacopee Valley.
Key dates — Sept. 16 (H, Yarmouth), Sept. 30 (at North Yarmouth Academy), Oct. 18 (H, Falmouth).
Girls soccer
Coach — Elayna Girardin.
2012 highlights — 6-7-1 in Western B; beat Spruce Mountain 1-0 in prelim; lost to Morse 4-2 in quarterfinals.
Personnel lost — Helen Humphrey (D), Aubrey Pennell (A), Jocelyn Davee (M), Hannah Chase (D), Macy Stowell (A), Naomi Otis (M), Rachell Pallin (D).
Personnel returning — Seniors Brooke Heathco (M), Livvy Dimick (M), Lexi Dietrich (D), Ashley Richardson (M), Emily Morang (A), Julie Fosburg (FB), Molly Lane (M), Kelsey Grant (A); juniors: Alyssa Richardson (M), Emily Johnson (D), Lauren Cormier (D), Julia Smith (M), Lizzy Martin (M); sophomores: Courtney Broderick (D), Maddie Squibb (M).
Newcomers — Jemayla Nelsonwood (M).
Coach’s comments — “Our biggest strength is experience. Though we graduated 11 players, we are returning a great deal of starters. Over the past few years they have experienced getting closer to moving on in playoffs. This year they want to go farther and know what is necessary to get there.
“We are expecting to have one of the stronger seasons the Freeport girls have had in years. A goal is to make playoffs again and this time to move past the second round.
“The league has been getting tougher and tougher each year. The teams are closer in ability and so on any given day any team can win. Knowing this, every team is major competition. We need to take every game the same, we have to play hard and be ready to fight for each and every win.”
Season opener — Sept. 7 (H, Cape Elizabeth).
Key dates — Sept. 13 (H, Wells), Sept. 24 (H, Greely), Oct. 18 (at Falmouth).
Field hockey
Coach — Marcia Wood, first year.
2012 highlights — 5-8-1 regular season; seeded No. 5 in Western B, lost to Traip 1-0 in overtime.
Personnel lost — Bethany Bellefleur (M), Dayze Gaulin (F), Rebecca Harrison (GK), Kayley Johnson (M), Korissa Lavers (F), Lorin Martens (B), Tallie Martin (GK), Reiley Parker (B).
Personnel returning — Seniors Megan Peacock (D), Olivia Bubar (F), Emily Sturtevant (F/M); juniors Dani Foster (F), Taylor Schenker (F) Abby Smith (M), Chloe Whittaker (M/B), Hannah Williams (F); sophomore Lexi Peacock (M/D).
Newcomers — Lee Brown (M), Kristi St. Pierre (D), Bailey Coffin (F), Hayley Sanborn (D).
Coach’s comments — “We have lot of speed and experience on the forward line. Our goal is to be well-conditioned because we are a small team, so we need to be able to play an entire game full field. I’m still working on getting to know the ladies and their strengths and weakness, and finding a lineup that works best for us.
“I don’t know the league very well, but I know that York is usually a strong team. There are a lot of changes to the league, so I think all the coaches are going to be in the same situation where they don’t know much about the competition. Our goal is to obviously get as far as possible and to improve every game and to obviously become better conditioned.”
Season opener — Sept. 5 (H, York).
Key dates — Sept. 11 (at Fryeburg Academy); Sept. 19 (at Cape Elizabeth); Oct. 15 (at Yarmouth).
Cross country
Coach — Brian Berkemeyer
2012 highlights — In State Class B championships action, the boys were sixth, led by Ian McGhie, Nick Sweet, Abrin Berkemeyer, Taylor Saucier and Mason Cyr, while the girls were 13th, led by Ciera Wentworth, Ellie Soule, Nina Davenport, Elly Bengtsson and Emily Jennings.
Personnel lost — Ciera Wentworth, Lia Wellen; Vinnie Zolla, Mason Cyr, Chris West, Bennett Brainard, Abrin Berkemeyer, Victor Skoropa, Jordan Roy, Brady Davis, Shane Brady.
Personnel returning — Girls: Seniors Elly Bengtsson, Nina Davenport, Emma Egan, Emily Jennings, Bethanie Knighton, Lily LaMarre, Hayley Steckler, Gabby Tilton; sophomores Hannah Schnyder, Lucy Zachau.
Boys: Seniors Mark Donahue, Austin Williams; junior Tyler Frey; sophomores Eric Brobst, Matt Francis, Liam Gallagher, Max Greenwood, James Saucier, Chandler Vincent.
Newcomers — Sophomore Colin Richard; freshmen Evan Donald, Henry Jacques; senior Sydney Ambrose; sophomore Chloe Hight; freshman Keegan Chandler.
Coach’s comments — “This is the year for the girls. With nine seniors and adding Sydney Ambrose, they look poised to make some noise in the State Class B meet. They have the talent. We could be one of the top-five at states. They are very strong.
“For the boys, we lost four of our top seven from last year. We have some depth and look to improve throughout the season. The team is in a rebuilding year, but we hope to make it back to states.
“We are young, but have some strength with some younger runners. It will be interesting to see how we develop as a team. Henry Jacques may contribute.
“With Falmouth still in the WMC, it will be tough to beat them. So, I think our key meet this year will be regionals for both teams. It would be great for both teams to make it to states. The girls have the opportunity to be one of the leaders of Class B, but it will all depend upon the desire and passion to train.”
Season opener — Sept. 4 at Cape Elizabeth.
Key dates — Oct. 18 (WMC Championships); Oct. 26 (regional championships at Twin brook); Nov. 2 (state championships at Twin brook).
Golf
Coach — Jason Lemont
2012 highlights — 3-9.
Personnel lost — Nick Cartmell, Nick Tardif, Jonathan Mervine, Clayton Morrison.
Personnel returning — Juniors Quinn Dowling, Wynne Cushing; sophomore Jeremiah Frick.
Newcomers — Juniors Jay Therrien, Brian Sayward, Cameron Balder.
Coach’s comments — “My hopes are to have fun and play some golf. It’s a rebuilding year after surprising some teams last year and getting to states. But, we graduated four seniors who played well for us.
“I hope for improvement from everyone from day one, and to see how well the younger kids contribute this year.”
Season opener — Sept. 3 at Cape Elizabeth.
Key dates — Sept. 13 (H, OOB); Sept. 16 (H, Cape Elizabeth); Sept. 23 (H, Yarmouth).
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