FREEPORT

The Falcon athletic teams of Freeport High School look to build on some success from last year and seek improvement in boys basketball as head coach Matt Cook says, “This group has great competitive spirit, willingness to work hard and desire to improve. We are quite inexperienced, so there will be a lot to learn in a short period of time.”

Boys basketball

Coach — Matt Cook.

2012 highlights — 3-15 in the Western Maine Conference, no postseason.

Personnel lost — Connor Dietrich, Landon Easler.

Personnel returning — Seniors Chandler Birmingham (G), Matt Schultheis (F); junior Brendan Qualls (F); sophomore Jack Davenport (G).

Newcomers — Juniors Noah Butler, Nathaniel Cyr, Jacob Farmer, Tyler Julian, Peter LaMagna; sophomores Eli Fox, Brady LaFrance, Bryan Lee; freshman Connor Dostie.

Coach’s comments — “This group has great competitive spirit, willingness to work hard and desire to improve. We are quite inexperienced, so there will be a lot to learn in a short period of time. The main focus for improvement are limiting turnovers and rebounding.

“Chandler Birmingham led us in scoring last year, avering 14.2 points per game. Jack Davenport led us in rebounding (6.5 a game), and also led in blocked shots, steals and charges taken.

“Falmouth, Greely, Yarmouth will be the teams to beat in the Western Maine Conference.”

Season opener — Dec. 6 (at Poland).

Key dates — Dec. 16 (H, Cape Elizabeth), Jan. 4 (H, Yarmouth), Jan. 31 (at Falmouth), Feb. 7 (at Yarmouth)

Girls basketball

Coach — Jim Seavey.

2012 highlights — 12-6 in WMC. Beat Maranacook 48-37 in West Class B prelim and lost to Lake Region in quarterfinals, 65- 29.

Personnel lost — Hannah Chase, Jocelyn Davee, Naomi Otis, Aubrey Pennell, Leigh Wyman.

Personnel returning — Seniors Nina Davenport (F, First Team WMC last year), Ashley Richardson (G), Vanessa Lee (F), Livvy Dimick (G); juniors MacKenzie Ackley (F), Lauren Cormier (G); sophomores Kayla Belanger (G), Jessica Wall (F).

Newcomers — Senior Jess Perry (G); sophomores Bailey Karnes (G), Morgan Karnes (G); freshmen Regan Lynch (F), Jessie Gray (G).

Coach’s comments — “Our expectation levels have certainly changed after last year, and we want to be competitive year-in and year-out, not just a flash in the pan. Last year at the Expo, it was like a deer in the headlights, and the result left a bad taste in our mouths. We had played so much better, winning seven straight games going in. You don’t know how a team is going to react in those big venues, and having not been there, the nerves showed.

“We realize that Nina Davenport is going to get double-teamed and tripleteamed, so the kids around her are very important.

“The WMC may be deeper than it was last year. Wells returns every single player, no seniors last year. Lake Region will be golden again, Gray-New Gloucester, Poland will be better. Falmouth will be good, but will qualify for Class A tournament. Our conference, we will lose spots to Spruce Mountain, Oak Hill, Lincoln Academy, so at least three non Western Maine Conference teams that will grab spots from a solid conference.”

Season opener — Dec. 6 (at Poland).

Key dates — Dec. 19 (H, York), Jan, 24 (at Yarmouth), Jan. 31 (H, Falmouth), Feb. 7 (H, Yarmouth).

Girls ice hockey

Coach — Jeff Haley,

According to Freeport athletic administer Craig Sickles four Freeport girls are on the Yarmouth/Freeport roster.

Junior center Emily Johnson and junior goaltender Hannah Williams of Freeport High School are on the team, along with freshmen Sarah Cartmell and Kelsey Meyer, who attend the Charter School in Portland.

Yarmouth/ Freeport beat Brunswick 7-2 and defeated Mt. Ararat 7-1 and is scheduled to visit Cape Elizabeth on Wednesday.

Indoor track

Coach — Brian Berkemyer.

2012 highlights — The Freeport girls were seventh in Class B last season, while the boys finished 13th at the state meet.

Personnel lost — Ciera Wentworth.

Personnel returning — Seniors Alexis Dietrich (200, 4 x 200, triple jump), Kelsey Grant (55, 55 hurdles, 200, 4 x 200 relay), Hayley Steckler (800, 400, 4 x 200 relay), Gabby Tilton (mile, two mile), Sydney Ambrose, Meredith Broderick, Olivia Bubar, Bethanie Knighton, Heather Margerison, AJ Daniel (200, 400), Mark Donahue (mile, two mile), Braden Marstaller (55 hurdles, 200, 4 x 200 relay), Luke Spaulding (200, long jump), Harrison Stivers (400, 800), Eric Wentworth (200, 4 x 200 relay), Austin Williams (mile, two mile), Darnel Strother (shot put), Brandon Cigri, Niko DiFazio, Ben MacMillan, Joe Nixon, Austin Rice; juniors Matt Francis (800, mile), Tyler Frey (800, mile), Ramsey Dodge, Nick Wilson; sophomores Courtney Broderick, Lindsey Cartmell, Chloe Hight, Samantha Jordon, Addie Morang, Jemayla Nelsonwood, Ella Russell, Hannah Schnyder, Maddie Squibb, Lucy Zachau; Liam Gallagher, Max Greenwood, Ashton Jordan, Zach Owen, Kyle Rosado, James Saucier, Nate Smail, Chandler Vincent.

Newcomers — Freshmen Keegan Chandler, Zoe Fox, Cassie Parker, Laura Pierce, Maya Pierce, Izzy Qualls, Sarah Sutherland, Evan Donald, Max Heathco, Henry Jaques, TJ Morrill, Chandler Wyman.

Coach’s comments — “Our team is up to 58 members, so we will have depth in all running events. We may also have a few good jumpers and throwers. We should improve in both the boys and the girls this season.

“The feat this year will be managing all of the different skill levels and events. Preseason has been great. We have had some good core days and some good running days. We use to get kids coming out who were there just for the social atmosphere, but now we have kids coming to get fit and stay fit. The tone of the team has been that everybody will do their best.

“Once again, I see Waterville and Greely as the top teams come states. We look forward to competing again. We could have a few state champs and/or to to New England’s with some individuals or relays.”

Season opener — Jan. 3 (WMC meet at USM)

Key dates — Feb. 17 (State Class B Championships at Bates College).