BATH

There is a new track coach at Morse High School, and he has plans to make the sport a popular destination for Shipbuilder athletes.

Brent Luchies joins Shawn Guest this year in leading Morse outdoor track, and with a solid core of returning athletes back, the newcomer feels the time is now for the program to grow.

“I’m really looking forward to working with what seems like a great group of athletes who are motivated to achieve both personal and team goals during the upcoming season,” said Luchies, who is mostly working with the middle and long-distance runners. “The first two weeks of practice have thrown a lot of challenging weather conditions (cool temperatures, rain, wind and snow) at us, but everyone has been willing to work hard and get started on their training and conditioning.”

Luchies looks to have a lot of depth with his team this year.

“There is some solid depth on the girls side, and I think they will be very competitive in the 4×800 and 4x 400,” said the new coach. “We will be relying on their experience to lead a pack of first time track and field athletes, as well as a group of four freshmen who have been running solid times in practice and look primed to make their mark on the track once our meets begin.”

Guest echoed Luchies’ words.

“This season our teams look to be better than last,” said the longtime coach. “We have 15 seniors, and some really need to step up this year, and barring any injuries they should do so.

“For the boys we should have some good throwers, and for the girls a couple of good jumpers. Traditionally, we have had some good distance runners, but we do not have the numbers as in the past. We are not sure yet which events we can cover as our numbers run around 40 total for boys and girls. So far the kids have been working hard and hopefully by season’s end they are peaking.”

At the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Championships last year, the Morse girls were ninth and the boys 13th.

The Morse boys have seniors Christian Brookhouse (jumps), Brady Leavitt (distance) and Jordan Leuteman (middle distance), juniors Austin Baltazar (sprints), Ishan Myers (throws) and Thomas Trundy (hurdles), and sophomore William Carrolton

(throws). Jack Harrington will run distance races for the Shipbuilders.

On the girls side, the seniors are Emma Gould (jumps), Abby Minott (jumps) and Aubrey Martin (throws), while juniors Sydney Hollingsworth (throws), Sydney McCarren (distance),

Jenny Wilbraham (distance), and sophomore Lorelei Pryor (middle distance) hope to lead the Shipbuilders along with senior newcomer Micailah Albertson. Katy Whitman, Whitney Durgin and Kayleigh Dugan also hope to contribute.

“We have a very balanced group across grades and between boys and girls,” added Hinds. “We are also well-rounded in terms of fielding competitors in each event. If we can address the attendance issues and they can stay consistent with training while staying healthy, we are quite likely to see great individual and team improvements over the season.”

Brunswick

The Dave DeLois-led squad posted fifth (girls) and sixth-place (boys) showings at the KVAC Championships last year.

Brunswick opens its season today against Lewiston at Bates College (3:30 p.m. start).

DeLois has a solid group of athletes back. The boys, coming off a narrow KVAC win during the indoor season, feature Cam Ashby (distance), Forrest Blankenship (distance), Corbin Bouchard (jumps/sprints), Zach Boyle ( sprints/ jumps/ javelin), Donald Bromley (sprints/ jumps), Eli Carney (sprints), Isak Carney (sprints), Sam Cenescar (sprints/jumps), Andrew Chingos (distance), Seamus Flanagan (sprints), Elijah Gagnon (shot put/discus), Chappy Hall (jumps), Jack Harvey (sprints), Bailey Jones (pole vault), Mitchell Leinert (sprints), Dan Lyon (distance), Mike McCrum (pole vault/jumps), Ryan Olson (sprints/distance/ jumps/pole vault), Hunter Parker (sprints/ jumps), Tyler Patterson (distance), Alan Poulin (distance), Caleb Rand (pole vault), Owen Richardson (sprints), Will Shaughnessy (distance), Chris Tucker (distance), Lukas Umbriaco (sprints), Rashaum Washington (sprints/jumps) and Ben Wilson (shot put/javelin).

Newcomers are Max Bojarski (sprints), Colby Bucknam (jumps/javelin), Wes Coffin (sprints), Cam Hathaway (sprints), Dawson Hebert (sprints/jumps), Connor Moody (sprints), Dionne Pelletier (shot put/discus), John Schoeder (sprints), Tyler Trebilcock (hurdles/sprints) and Aiden Simmons (distance).

“Coming off a narrow win during the indoor season, the boys look to be very competitive in the league with a lot of points carrying to the state meet,” said DeLois.

The girls also feature a solid cast of returning athletes, with a solid core of newcomers looking to earn more meet points. In the fold for the Dragons are Carey Arnold (javelin), Micaela Ashby (distance), Tasha Barnhart (sprints/jumps), Grace Casey (sprints), Isabella Cunningham (shot put/discus), Kirah Depres- Bowman (middle distance), Rachel Johnson (throws), Caitlin Kelly (distance), Tea Kepler (pole vault), Chloe Kilborn (shot put/discus), Anna Kousky (sprints/jumps), Kathleen Koval (distance), Jade Parker (jumps/pole vault), Isabelle Pols (distance/sprints/jumps), Desiree Tanner (sprints), Kyra Teboe (sprints/jumps), Maddie Wayne (middle distance/ jumps), Emma White (throws) and Rosalie White (shot put/discus).

Newcomers include Chloe Brzozowski (sprints), Adeline Dolley (distance/pole vault), Lauren Holmes (sprints/jumps), Julia Pols (middle distance) and Rayna Schinhofen (sprints/pole vault).

“The girls should be competitive in the KVAC. And, a team made up predominately of underclassmen bodes well for the future,” DeLois said.

Mt. Ararat

Longtime Eagles coach Diane Fournier co-coaches the Eagles with Stewart Palmer, and the squad is set to begin the season at the Mt. Blue Invitational today at 3:30 p.m.

The KVAC Championships are set to be held in Topsham on May 26. Last year, the Eagle girls were fourth at KVACs, while the boys claimed seventh.

Fournier coaches the girls and has a solid core returning.

“We have good numbers out on both sides, girls with 39 and a good balance by grade — freshmen 13, sophomore 10, and eight each juniors and seniors,” Fournier said.

Katherine Leckbee returns and will again log lots of miles, running the 800, one-mile and two-mile races. Wyley Fitzpatrick (jumps), Hope Langworthy (pole vault), Sara York (800, high jump), Rebecca French (distances) and Kelly Lynch (300 hurdles, 400, relays) will be looked upon to provide points for the Eagles.

Among the newcomers, Fournier has Camila Ciembroniewicz (300 hurdles, 400, 800), Karli Leighton (one-mile, two-mile) and Anna Harbo (400, throws) in the fold.

“Hopefully there is no ‘S’ or sick factor this spring,” said Fournier.

On the boys side, Palmer has a solid core. led by cross country and indoor track champion Lisandro Berry- Gaviria. Sophomore classmate Lucas Bergeron is joined by senior Devin Hoskin, along with freshmen newcomers Jace Hollenbach, Nate Cohen and Andrew Chamberland running distance events.

“We are strong in the distances,” said Palmer.

The Eagles also return talented sprinters in seniors Jason Halliday (indoor champ in the 55-meter hurdles) and Tommy Leslie, along with juniors Tyler Bernier (second in indoor 400 and a New England qualifier), Ethan Rac, Jax Hollenbach, and newcomers — freshmen Josh Huntsman and Owen Yabsira.

Senior Dalton Streeter leads the jumps after placing last year in the long jump and triple jump at the state meet, while junior Maximo Varela and freshman Bane Slocum will look to pick up points. Senior Caden Pond leads the Mt. Ararat throwers, with junior Max Spelke returning to throw the javelin.

“Overall the attitude and work ethic have been solid,” Palmer said. “We completed a very successful indoor season, losing by a mere half-point to Brunswick in the KVAC meet. We hope to contend again this spring. Lewiston has been strong the past several years and the Oxford Hills boys have improved a lot. Edward

Little and Brunswick are always tough as well, but

Messalonskee has been the class of the KVAC recently.

It’ll be a good competitive season among many teams.”

Freeport

Matthew Greear returns to lead the Falcons, who face a challenging Western Maine Conference slate which opens April 27 at Lake Region in Naples.

Last year, the Freeport boys were sixth in the WMC (Division 1), while the girls claimed ninth.

The new high school track has helped to attract athletes.

“With the new track, we have seen increased interest in track. We had our largest number ever sign up and come out for the spring season,” Greear said. “With so many new faces, it’s hard to tell where everyone fits.”

Greear feels the Falcons that succeeded last year will again step up.

“Alex Les in the middle distances, Emma Abbott (sprints), Edie Hayden-Hunt (throws), Patricia Dupere (hurdles), Johanna Bogue- Marlowe (400), Maya Bradbury (800), Griffin Agnese (hurdles), Tom Doyle (distances) and Matt Hinds (shot put) should be our standouts, along with senior Joe Ashby (800, second at state indoor), Jacob Tomm (jumps), juniors Lily Horne (800, 1,600), Nick Mitch (400, 200), and sophomore Tara Migliaccio (200, second during indoor season),” said Greear.

The coach has a few newcomers, including Martin Horne, Alex Helie, Shaina Curry, Adam Ulrickson, Catorina Gould, Hannah Spaulding and Paul Biberstien.

Wiscasset

Head coach Josiah Winchenbach has a small team once again, but hopes to build on last year, where the Wolverines earned fourth (girls) and sixth (boys) in the MVC Championships.

Wiscasset hosts three meets this year, including its opener on April 23 (4 p.m.).

Last year’s success, with six girls on many occasions winning meets and several of Winchenbach’s boys finding success has helped bring more athletes to the track, with 25 out this year.

“My athletes do most of the recruiting, and they have done a good job,” said Winchenbach.

The girls are led by seniors Ayanna Stover (relays, 100 hurdles, long jump, triple jump), Grace Webber (200, relays, long jump) and Vanessa Dunn (relays, 300 hurdles), while sophomore Lilly Souza (throws) returns to the fold.

Newcomers are sophomore Heaven Larrabee (throws, relays) and freshman Gwen Webber (relays, high jump, 100), who Winchenbach feels has the capabilities of breaking records during her track career.

On the boys side, seniors Max Sampson (relays, long jump, triple jump, 100), Sam Strozier (relays, triple jump) and Trinin Jeffrey (throws) return, along with juniors Matt Chapman (relays, hurdles), Caleb Gabriele (relays, 800, 100), Josh Gabriele (jumps, relays), Chris Loyola (relays, long jump, shot put, 100), Haiden Dunning (throws), and sophomores Josh Jones (100, 200, relays, 400), Cedric Loyola (jumps, 100), Dustin Manson (throws) and Gage Varian (relays, distance).

Freshmen Nathan Gilliam (relays, distance) and Aidan Foley (100, 200, jumps) are newcomers.

Winchenbach likes his team’s makeup, especially in the relay events.

“Relays are a huge part of the team dynamic here, and coaching those relays has brought team unity,” the coach said.

Lisbon

The Greyhound boys will look for MVC title No. 13 in a row this year after claiming the even dozen last year on their home track.

Lisbon heads to York Tuesday (10 a.m.) for its opener.

Though the cold conditions and snow-covered high school track, according to longtime coach Dean Hall, has made it difficult to train his athletes, the Greyhounds feature a strong returning cast and several promising newcomers.

On the boys side, Hall, who is coaching the Greyhounds for the 40th season, graduated several solid athletes, but returns seniors Ben Blake (sprints/jumps) Bradley Harriman (hurdles/ pole vault), Glenn Hill (relays/hurdles) Morgan Perron (sprints/relays), juniors Caleb Berube (sprints), Alan Lavoie (racewalk/ throws) David Schlotterbeck (distance), Geoffrey Shambarger (race-walk/distance), Seth Tapley (jumps), Isaiah Thompson (sprints /jumps), and sophomores Daniel Bolton (pole vault/ hurdles), Cameron Bourget (hurdles/jumps), Alex Cole (hurdles/relays) Jacob George (sprints) Corbin Hall (race-walk/distance) Seth Leeman (hurdles/jumps) Izaya May (distance), Dave Poulin (distance), Michael Ray (distance), Kadrian Rugullies (distance) and Derek Wilson (middle distance).

Among the newcomers are junior Gregory Morris, sophomores Cody Decatur, Colin Houle and Riley Quatrano, along with freshmen Adrian Blake, Max Boulet, Tristan Lavoie, Eli Morris, Garrett Perron and Kayleb Shepherd.

On the girls side, Hall has a squad that might just reclaim its spot atop the MVC.

“The team will be a force in both the conference and state meets,” said the coach.

Hall’s returning athletes include seniors Emily Brewer (throws), Sydney Douglass (Race-walk/jumps), Savannah Fisher (jumps/ sprints), Emma Houle (sprints/jumps), Anna Wiley (throws/relays), juniors Emma DiGregorio (distance), Jordan Ott (sprints), and sophomores Oceana Assignon (throws) and Siara Martin (sprints/jumps).

Hall also has several newcomers including freshmen Makenzey Bedford, Jyllian Bornales, Destiny Deschaines, Kylie Peoples and Emma Willey, sophomore Maranda Swett and senior Christina Cary.

Lisbon will certainly utilize its track, hosting meets on April 23, April 26, May 4, May 8, May 14 and the MVC Championships on May 24.

Richmond

Jeff Orth leads his smallish team this year, with the Bobcats competing in the MVC and opening April 23 at Lisbon (3:30 p.m.).

The Richmond girls claimed ninth in the MVC last year, while the boys were 13th.

The Bobcats are small in numbers, but feature several talented athletes that will likely produce big points throughout the season.

“Destiny Anair (senior, distance) and Tehyla Wilson (junior, throws) should have great seasons for the girls, and Nick Adams (senior, several events), Nate Curtis (junior, throws) and Jordan Perry (senior, 100/shot put) will be standouts for the boys,” said Richmond coach Jeff Orth.

Sophomore Spencer Soule (hurdles), along with freshmen Marybeth Sloat (sprints) and Theodore Merrill (distances) give the Bobcats some depth.

“The team came into the season excited and focused on getting ready,” said Orth. “We lost some seniors, but have a good group of freshmen who will help to replace those numbers. Overall the girls team will perform about the same as last year, and the boys team seems set up to improve upon their results from last year.”