Westbrook teams posted several strong seasons this spring, especially on the boys lacrosse field, the boys tennis courts and the track.
Pete Lyons’s gentlemen laxers were one of several teams in A South who could’ve gone all the way this season. The team, stacked with experience and talent, compiled a 9-3 record through the regular season to enter the tournament ranked second only to Scarborough, the eventual state victors.
The Blazes battered No.7 Biddeford 17-2 in the quarters; in the semis, however, they succumbed to No. 3 Gorham. When these two rivals met in the regular season, Westbrook pulled out a thrilling 9-8 win in double-OT, but their playoff luck vs. the Rams in recent years has run oppositely, and despite having homefield advantage this time around, the Blazes weren’t ready for Gorham’s revamped attack and fell 14-4.
“[This] team was the most successful season in the history of the program,” said Lyons. “The Blazes finished 10-4, a record that includes a first-ever playoff victory. Westbrook was led by a core senior group that included SMAA Player of the Year and All-American Curtis Knapton and dominant faceoff specialist and First-Team All-SMAA Noah Oliver.”
“Other All-Conference performers were defenseman Steve Shackley and goalkeeper Alex LeBlanc,” Lyons said. “Seniors Tommy Kostopoulos, John Tibbetts, and Jacob Coro provided speed and skill in the midfield, while Greg Buotte and Brandon Lajoie were smothering defensive middies.”
Sam Johnson’s boys tennis squad is notable not for the odds it would bring home a title, but for its impressive and heartening progress. In only his first year as a coach, Johnson marshaled his lineup, rejuvenating their attitudes and aspirations and ushering them from a 1-11 record in recent seasons to a 6-6 record this regular season.
That result earned the No. 8 team a playoffs appearance – and not just any playoffs appearance, but a homecourt-advantage matchup with No. 9 Biddeford. The Blazes won the contest 3-2, and advanced to the quarters. Alas, there they faced off with No. 1 Thornton, who would go on to win it all. Shot-by-shot, the Blazes fared better vs. the Trojans in the bracketing than they had during the regular season, but they nevertheless fell 5-0.
“The biggest offseason concern is finding a second doubles team,” said Johnson. “We will be mixing and matching guys all summer to try and find the right pair.”
“We have guys out at the courts everyday. We also have some exciting improvements happening down at the courts over the summer,” Johnson said, before explaining that the recent deaths of two WHS alumni, Trey Arsenault and DJ Breunig, in separate incidents spurred a variety of refurbishments across the city.
“Derek (DJ’s younger brother) started the GoFundMe account in an attempt to memorialize the courts for Trey,” said Johnson. “Not only did Derek [do that], he set off a chain reaction. There have been countless renovations throughout the city (i.e., the outdoor pool, “Trey’s courts” and other recreational locations).”
“Trey was a freak on the football field and DJ was a beast on the basketball court,” Johnson said. “They both played with such passion and intensity. I encourage the tennis guys to play the same way, and they will – just like they did all season.”
On the track, Tim Even’s girls tied with Thornton to split the crown at Southwesterns, where they took a quad of individual titles: Nyagoa Bayak won the high jump and long jump, Kiersten Hilton won the pole vault and Kelly Dyer won the triple jump (Bayak finished a close second). The team didn’t have an especially strong States (Hilton did earn second in the pole vault), but will nevertheless be contenders again next year.
Claton Conrad’s track boys won the 4×800 at Southwesterns, placed three athletes in the 110 hurdles finals (Shammah Gahomera at third, Dom Creenan at fourth and Mazin Ahmed at eighth) and took third place in the 1600 (thanks to Josh Lombardo) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (Gahomera again). At States, the 4×800 outfit grabbed third, Ahmed fifth in the 110 hurdles and Gahomera third in the 300 hurdles.
Kevin Roy’s lady laxers finished 2-10, and Eddie St. John’s softballers likewise struggled, going 3-13. St John’s squad was young – everyone will return next year – but still managed to earn a pair of SMAA accolades: Camryn LaPierre, just a sophomore, was voted First-Team All-Conference at shortstop (she batted .511) and Kayla Horner was voted Honorable Mention.
Greg Souza’s baseballers and Mike Makin’s tennis girls had down springs as well. Souza’s boys went 2-14 to finish in 14th, two slots back from the postseason. Makin’s girls went 0-12; they likewise missed the playoffs. They did, however, win the MPA Sportsmanship banner for the second year in a row – a happy turn on which to hopefully build a successful future.
Westbrook senior Captain Curtis Knapton, right, who earned All-American Honors this season, congratulates freshman teammate Connor Dougherty on a goal vs. Biddeford.
Westbrook first baseman Lizzie Richardson reels in a throw at Windham, mid-season.
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