Boys Cross Country­­

Coach: Derek Veilleux

Last year’s record: Third at Regionals, third at States

Key athletes: Jared DuPerre, Mac Huffard, Arsen Schein­­del, Tony Inhorn, Stephen Bennett

Key meets: Belfast Invitational, Regionals, States

Outlook: The Capers are young this year, bringing just three upperclassmen to the trails. However, Veilleux says the team had a strong summer of running, and a number of his boys have “made a jump.” The squad also has 12 underclassmen, who should make for a bright future. “We’ll need someone to emerge as a fifth runner if we’re going to compete with the top teams,” Veilleux says. “I feel this team will improve over the course of the year and be ready to compete at a top level in the championship meets.”

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Girls Cross Country

Coach: Andrew Lupien

Last year’s record: Third at States

Key athletes: Sam Feenstra, Liv Palma, Emma Shedd

Key meets: Belfast Invitational

Outlook: The Lady Capers return three of their top four runners for 2015. However, they also lost a good deal of depth to graduation in June, and will look, as the season progresses, for girls to fill vacated varsity positions. “Of the 30 girls on our roster, 19 have never run high-school cross country,” Lupien says. “I expect to see tremendous growth this season and hope that we can return to the level we reached last season, when we advanced to the New England Championships.”

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Field Hockey

Coach: Maura Bisogni

Key players: Megan Nicholson, Taylor Young, Jillian Peterson, Hannah Bosworth

Key games: Falmouth, Kennebunk

Outlook: Graduation in June claimed a hefty portion of starting Lady Capers, but this year’s senior class, Bisogni says, is “eager and capable of taking the reins.” A number of young players have already stepped up for the squad, and should continue to develop. The team has its sights set on the postseason.

Football

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Coach: Aaron Filieo

Last year’s record: 6-3

Key players: Alex Narvaez, Henry Shroder, Justin Guerrette, Ryan Harvey

Key games: Fryeburg

Outlook: Filieo is happy with both his team’s mentality and its construction for 2015. “I like our balance this year,” he says. “We have some solid leaders who have experience. Overall, we have high-effort players and can-do attitudes, and I feel like that will put us in a good position to compete.” The Capers will, however, need to fill some positions with newer and inexperienced players; those boys will need to learn quick if they’re to shoulder varsity responsibilities.

Golf

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Coach: Chris Whitney

Last year’s record: WMC Champions, Runners-up at Team States

Key players: Bryce Hewitt (sr.), Cole Spencer (jr.), Lauren Schonewolf (jr.), Patrick MacDonald (jr.), Ryan Collins (so.), Peter Haber (so.), Austin Legge (fr.), Jack Kelley (fr.), Chris Laprade (fr.), Michael Mackenzie (fr.)

Outlook: The Capers lost star senior Reece McFarland to graduation in June, and will rely on their depth and chemistry to carry them through the coming season. The team’s depth is bolstered by a large freshman class that Whitney calls “full of potential and talent,” and their chemistry is evident at each practice. “I have an incredible group of kids who love the game,” Whitney says, “and come to practice early and won’t leave because they want to learn and work on their games. They listen and are each other’s biggest fans.” The Capers’ support for one another means that, even though the team skews young, Whitney isn’t much worried about leadership. He also reports having a number of younger players who are nevertheless tournament-savvy. That being said, green is green, and some of the squad will need to face pressure situations in the regular season to prepare for the high-stakes, end-of-season action. “We know that there are a lot of other talented teams and individuals in the Western Maine Conference so we can’t take getting back to States for granted.”

Boys Soccer

Coach: Ben Raymond

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Last year’s record: Lost to Greely in the playoff semifinals

Key players: RJ Sarka (sr., F); J Bottomly (sr., M); Matt Riggle (sr., M/D); Isaac Messerschmidt (sr., M); Noah Messerschmidt (sr., M); Owen Thoreck (jr., M/D); Connor Thoreck (jr., M/D/F); Elliot McGinn (jr., D); Wes Parker (jr. M); Nicolai Sabbatini (jr., M/F); Matt Galvin (jr., D); Marshall Petersen (jr., G); Olliver Moon (so., M); Matt Concannon (so., M); David Hare (so., D); Finn Raymond (so., D); Ethan Avantaggio (so., M); Sean Agrondia (so., G); John O’Connor (fr., M); Alec Riggle (fr., M); Harry Baker (fr., G)

Key games: Yarmouth, Greely, Falmouth, York

Outlook: “We’ll be a very competitive team,” says Raymond. “We know we have to work hard to compete with the top teams in the Western Maine Conference, but we embrace the challenge.” One aspect of the Capers’ challenge this year is having graduated a talented group of seniors in June. They return, however, a particularly athletic squad. “We do have some very skilled players to go with our athletes,” Raymond says, “which will help with our team’s ability to possess the ball.” Raymond and Co. are hard at work cleaning up their play, but he’s confident the squad will improve throughout the season and be at its best when the postseason descends.

Girls Soccer

Coach: Craig Fannan

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Last year’s record: State Runners-up

Key players: Montana Braxton, Mariah Deschino, Kate Breed, Sierra Aceto

Key games: Greely, Yarmouth, Falmouth, York

Outlook: Fannan feels very upbeat about the Lady Capers’ prospects in 2015. “We should have eight or nine seniors in the starting 11, so we will be strong and experienced, with most of that nine being four-year varsity players. We will be looking to play positive attacking soccer and hopefully be competing at the top.” Cape lost a breathtaking, heartbreaking final against rivals Waterville last year in the Class B State Final, so look for the squad to charge onto every field with teeth set and nostrils flared.

Volleyball

Coach: Sarah Boeckel (third year)

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Last year’s record: 15-2, Class A State Champions

Key players: Tess Haller (sr., MH); Monika Scheindel (sr., OH/OPP); Maddie Bowe (sr., MH); Lydia Brenneman (sr., L); Maggie Dadmun (so., S)

Key matches: Scarborough

Outlook: “I feel lucky,” Boeckel says, “to have an amazing team on and off the court. They love to play volleyball and love coming to practice and pushing each other to be better. It’s a coach’s dream.” Boeckel says the team’s greatest asset is its mental toughness – a trait they put on full display through last year’s playoffs, during which they had to come back three consecutive times, and against the three toughest teams in Class A, to emerge victorious. “My hopes are they maintain that, and even raise the level,” Boeckel says. “We want to be the smartest players on the court.” The Capers know that’s a tall order, but also relish the challenge. “The level of volleyball in our league has improved tremendously,” Boeckel says. “It’s been great to watch programs grow, ourselves included, and competition get tighter.”

Cape’s RJ Sarka, seen here in action against Freeport last year, returns to the field for his senior season in 2015.Mariah Deschino, seen here outpacing a Waterville opponent in last year’s State Final, will play a key role on the field for Cape in 2015.


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