Alpine Skiing
Coaches: Scott Davis, Justin LaGassey
Key athletes lost: Karly Nichols
Key returners: Logan Davis, Paige Davis
Key newcomers: Jonathan Boos
Outlook: “The Lakers are steadily improving as a team,” Coach Davis says, “and we look forward to building on the successes of last season. Don’t be surprised if we bring home some hardware at the WMC and State meets.” The Gentlemen Lakers consistently had a podium-placer in Logan Davis last winter, and other finishers in the top 20; Logan Davis claimed silver in the Slalom at WMCs and top-10s in both Slalom and Giant Slalom at States. Boos, the newest addition to the boys’ side of things, “loves to ski and will bring that enthusiasm to the race course.” Across the aisle, the girls won their first meet in some time last year, but also consistently placed a skier – that’s Paige Davis – on the podium and had others in the top 10 and top 20. Paige Davis, a senior this time around, won the WMC Slalom title and the Giant Slalom runner-up title, and was a top-five/top-10 finisher in those races, respectively, at States. “The WMC is one of the toughest conferences in Maine high school skiing,” Coach Davis says. “The competition is very deep and the outcome of every race is up for grabs.”

Boys Basketball
Coach: John Mayo
Last year’s record: 7-11, including wins against both Wells and Cape, who met in the B South Final
Key players lost: Tristen Chaine, True Meyers
Key returners: Mark Mayo (sr., C); Dawson Smith (sr., G); Derek Langadas (jr., F); Isaac Holland (jr., F)
Key newcomers: Liam Grass (so.), Evan Willey (so.)
Key matchups: G-NG, Yarmouth
Outlook: “Our goal is to be a playoff team,” Coach Mayo says. “We can be, if our seniors play to their potential and our sophomores and juniors can contribute on a consistent basis.” Mark Mayo is a strong post player, but the Lakers won’t be able to rely on one man alone to undergird the  wins they come by. “If the younger guys and supporting senior can score some, they’ll take some pressure off Mark and open it up for him.” So Smith, Langadas and Holland – all of whom will regularly start – will need to pull down their share of points. Grass and Willey are “big kids who had good summers,” according to Coach Mayo, and should see quality minutes as well.

Girls Basketball
Coach: Paul True (15th season)
Last year’s results: 16-5, B South Champions, State Runners-Up
Key returners: Shauna Hancock, Brooke Harriman, Emily Lake, Bella Russo, Nevaeah Stewart, Eleina Sturk
Key newcomers: Elena Re, Elle Hall
Outlook: “The Lakers will be very young and inexperienced,” True says. “The blend of players will be a formidable opponent as the season moves forward and they have time to play together. In order for the Lakers to be a tournament contender, they must get strong play from Harriman and Hancock. Don’t sleep on the Lakers; they will play hard!”

Cheering
Coaches: Brittany Perreault (head), Tianah Fisher (asst.)
Key athletes lost: Abby Green, Leia Hodgdon, Kiessa Treadwell
Key returners: Emma Fagone, Brooke Chase, Molly Nichols, Mindy Murphy
Outlook: “We’re hoping to have a stronger season with lots of fun,” Perreault says. “Good luck to all teams this winter!”

Boys Hockey
Coach: Dave Lepage (13th season)
Key players lost: None
Key returners: Liam Chisari (sr., D); Justin Mushrow (sr., F); Cam Lepage (jr., D); Jake Domegan (jr., F); Graham Payne (jr., G); Ed Thurston (so., F); Will Galligan (so, F); Colby Turcotte (so., F)
Key newcomers: Teddy Bradley, (so., F); Raider Nutley (fr., D); Matt Aker (fr., F); Wyatt Knightly (fr., F)
Key matchups: “All of our games will be challenging this year, as we make our way back into the varsity ranks for the first time in two years,” Coach Lepage says.
Outlook: Varsity competition differs from sub-varsity competition in a number of ways: “The game is longer and the speed is faster,” Coach Lepage says. “In order for us to have any success, we have to move our feet consistently and give everything we have, every shift. I think we will be able to have some success on most nights if we just focus on getting better and not necessarily the outcome of the game.”

Indoor Track
Coaches: Mark Snow, Dana Caron
Last year’s results: 13-14 regular season
Key athletes lost: Thomas Noble, Theo Snow, Ben Johnson
Key returners: Tim Moore (sr., multiple events); Devyn Hatch (sr., pole vault); Emily Colson (sr., 400/triple jump); Grace Plummer (jr., sprints); Isabella Wears (jr., sprints); Nate Casali (so., distance); Isaac Rawson (so., sprints)
Key newcomers: Ciara Harriman (sr., pole vault); River Hoeflich (jr., sprints); Ethan McMurray (jr., sprints); Mackenzie Siebert (so., sprints); Trey Spearrin (fr., sprints); Leah Plummer (fr., high jump)
Key meets and matchups: USM Relays on Dec. 29; Fryeburg, WMCs
Outlook: On the boys’ side of things, Snow articulates a chuckle-worthy aim: “Doing better than the girls’ team is the goal,” he says. To that end, Casali could score in the 400 and longer runs, and is likely focusing on qualifying for States in the Two Mile. Hatch scored numerous times in the pole vault last winter, while Moore is respectable in several areas and Rawson hopes to retain his status as a top contender in the junior division sprinting. The Gentlemen Lakers’ best chance to place at States comes in a relay – namely, the 4×800, where they have a good deal of returning experience. Over on the girls’ side, meanwhile, Snow says (wait for it…) that “Doing better than the boys’ team is the goal.” Colson, then, hopes to reach States in both the 400 and the triple jump. Ciara Harriman might just set a new school record in the pole vault. “Practice has been a lot of fun with high energy,” Snow says. “That should carry over to the meets well.” Snow likes the USM relays because they set a tone for the season; he picks Fryeburg as another key matchup just because the two schools are friendly rivals; and he likes WMCs because it’s a championship meet in which all can compete.

Girls basketball coach Paul True could not be reached.

Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CurrentSportsME

Dawson Smith will see plenty of minutes for the Lakers this winter.