Cross Country
Coach: Jason Tanguay
Last year’s results: Boys 8-8, girls 13-3
Key athletes returning: Zack Brown-Davis (sr.), Zach Green (sr.), Dylan Lamont (sr.), Evan Morrell (sr.), Simon Roussel (sr.), Jacob Sladen (sr.), Andrew Tinkham, Libby Knudsen (sr.), Ellianna Towns (sr.), Kate Tugman, Iris Kitchen
Key meets: Boys – regular season; Girls – Southern Maine Classic, Festival of Champions
Outlook: Graduation 2018 claimed three of Tanguay’s top seven boys – including his No. 1 and No. 2 runners. “It looks as though some of our runners have put in a good base of summer running, but only time will tell if the others can get into shape this season,” Tanguay says. “I am hopeful this team will qualify again for the State Championship again at the end of the season. Although this will be a challenging goal, we have a good group who could step up and get it done.” Similarly, the Lady Rams waved goodbye to three of their top five in June. “I must say, though, that there were numerous girls who put in the commitment this summer to create a good base of summer mileage,” Tanguay says, “so I am excited to see this work pay off for them this season. This hard work and dedication has created a great foundation to build upon for the girls team this season. I believe that qualifying for the State Championship will be a good goal for the girls team this season.”
Field Hockey
Coach: Becky Manson-Rioux (10th season)
Last year’s record: 6-8, fell to Kennebunk 1-0 in playoff prelims
Key players lost: Vanessa Berrill, Grace McGouldrick, Grace DeWitt, Jessica Dusseault, Emily Murray, Molly Barr
Key players returning: Sarah Stevens (sr., D, Captain); Hailey Morrill (sr., M); Lydia McCrillis (sr., G, Captain); Isis Adams (sr., Captain); Faith Dillon (jr., M); Kacie Walton (jr., D); Lydia Gaudreau (so., F)
Key newcomers: Lauren Green (jr.), Kate Downey (so.), Molly Rathbun (so.), Alex Ferrigan (so.)
Key matchups: Marshwood, Cheverus, Thornton, Massabesic
Outlook: “With some key returning players and some fresh new young talent,” Manson-Rioux says, “the Gorham Rams field hockey team looks to be versatile and well-conditioned, and has strong leadership.” Adams’ return after a season-ending injury at the start of last season is of particular note, as she’s been a varsity player since her freshman year.
Football
Coach: Andy Hager (fifth year)
Last year’s record: 3-5, fell to Kennebunk in first round of playoffs
Key players returning: Ethan Stump (sr., LB/OL); Nate Burchill (sr., OL/LB); Kyle Ouillette (jr., OL/LB); Tyler Rollins (jr., RB/DB); Isaac Rollins (jr., QB/DB); Jack Van Zandt (jr., WR/DB); Ryan Reno (jr., TE/DE)
Key matchups: Marshwood, Westbrook, Falmouth
Outlook: Gorham put together a stronger season in 2017 than they had in some time; alas, quite a few of the central players in that success departed the program in June. “The Rams return few starters on each side of the ball this year,” Hager says, “as they begin yet another rebuilding year with a young program comprised of predominantly juniors and freshmen.”
Golf
Coach: Scott Nevers
Last year’s record: 7-3
Key players lost: Lucas Roop, Ryan Kaczmarek
Key players returning: Tyler Haines, Peter Boswell, Jayden Gaudreau, Trevor Loubier
Key newcomers: Aiden Enck, Campbell Fowler
Key matchups: Bonny Eagle, Greely, TA
Outlook: Gorham’s been a standout squad for a while now, and this year they return four starters from last season. “With a few underclassmen mixed in, we will be a solid team and compete every match,” Nevers says. “Any one of the varsity starters could be the No. 1 man, as we will have a very balanced team. We will look to build confidence throughout the season leading to the State Qualifier and State Championship.”
Boys Soccer
Coach: Tim King
Last year’s record: 13-3-1, fell in Regional Final on PKs
Key players lost: Kyle King, Sam Burghardt, Garrett Higgins, Aaron Farr
Key players returning: Michael Knight (sr., M); Cooper Lyons (sr., M); Trevor Gray (sr., G); Andrew Rent (jr., M)
Key matchups: Deering, Scarborough, Portland, South Portland
Outlook: Graduation 2018 did a number on the Rams, claiming standout strikers Kyle King and Sam Burghardt, as well as defenders Garrett Higgins and Aaron Farr. Luckily, the program is nothing if not deep, and in addition to Knight, Lyons, Gray and Rent, seniors Brendan Waterman and Kevin Mollison, as well as juniors Ryan Farr, Javin Stickney, Kyle Hamblen, Brady King, Colby Christakis and Alex Burghardt all return – and bring with them significant varsity experience. “This year’s team has five returning starters and many talented players ready to step in and contribute,” Coach King says. “The group should improve throughout the season and be ready for a deep run in the tournament.”
Girls Soccer
Coach: Jeanne Zarilli
Last year’s record: 10-3-2
Key players returning: Brooke Woodbury (sr.), Avery Germond (sr.), Caroline Gross (sr.), Emma Forgues (sr.), Hallie Shiers (sr.), Caitlin Chasse (sr.), Brittany Desjardins (sr.)
Key matchups: Scarborough, Windham, Cheverus, TA
Outlook: The Lady Rams, like their gentlemen counterparts, are among Gorham’s banner programs, and can be expected to look great again this autumn. “We have a solid mix of speed and technical ability that will enable us to compete against the toughest teams in the league this year,” Zarilli says. “We’re working on our versatility and strength and hope to improve on our playoffs run from last year.”
Volleyball
Coach: Emma Tirrell
Last year’s record: 9-6, fell in playoff quarterfinals to South Portland
Key players returning: Katie O’Donnell (sr., MH); Isabelle Kolb (sr., S); Meg Perry (jr., OH)
Key matchups: TA, Biddeford, Falmouth, Scarborough
Outlook: The 2018 Lady Rams feature a full roster – 18 players, including nine seniors. That’s cause for excitement and optimism on any team, but Gorham’s coming off an excellent 2017, and could be – should be – in the hunt come tournament time, with hungry eyes on the ultimate prize. “We have strengths in all areas on the court and are looking forward to taking games from teams we did not have the strength to last year,” Tirrell says. “We are expecting to be utilizing sets and hitting speeds we haven’t in the past in order to have a complex enough game to beat the tough teams!”
Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CurrentSportsME
Gorhamite Andrew Rent drives forward in a bout vs. Cheverus last autumn.
Alice Riiska carries for Gorham in a contest last fall.
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