Winter Previews: Gray-New Gloucester

Boys Basketball
Coach: Ryan Deschenes (eighth year)
Key players lost: John Martin, Hunter Colby, Zach Pomerleau, Ryan Lachance
Key returners: Matt Johnson (sr., F/G); Nick Kariotis (sr., F); Nick Pelletier (sr., G); Wyatt Kenney (jr., G); Josh Michaud (so., G); Terrell Claxton (so., F)
Key newcomers: Jay Hawkes (so., G); Aubray Lincoln (so., F); Anthony Prescott (so., G); Gage Rowe (so., G); Cameron Cormier (so., F); Max Kenney (fr., G); Mike Ryan, jr. (fr., G)
Key matchups: Fryeburg, Mt. Ararat, York, Poland, Freeport, Lake Region, Yarmouth, Greely
Outlook: “This is probably the youngest group we have ever had overall – seven sophomores and two freshman – but we’re very excited about our potential,” Deschenes says. “The guys have embraced our new style of play and our adjustments from previous years. We have to play with pace and space for 32 minutes every night. We will lean heavily on our three seniors who all have a great mixture of talent, leadership, and experience. Pelletier is a two-year returning starter. Johnson and Kariotis return for their third year on varsity and received valuable minutes last season. We look forward having some of our younger guys (17-1 JV team) stepping into larger roles this year, as last year they were on a senior-laden team. Consistency will be another key point.”

Girls Basketball
Coach: Mike Andreasen
Last year’s record: 20-2, Class B State Champions
Key players lost: Bri Jordan (G), Alexa Thayer (G), Mikaela Ryan (G)
Key returners: Jordan Grant (sr., C); Sam Fortin (sr., F); Eliza Hotham (sr., F); Abby Michaud (sr., G); Mady West (sr., G); Sarah Fecteau (jr., F); Gabriella Sernyk (jr., F)
Outlook: “The Patriots will begin the season short-handed as Mady West, Sarah Fecteau and Gabriella Sernyk all sustained injuries during the off-season,” Andreasen says. “The return of Grant and Hotham, the only two returning starters, will help. Fortin played a key role last year as sixth man, while West and Michaud played considerable minutes. If the team can overcome the early impact of the injuries, it could make a tournament run. As the team is now in Class A, its schedule has changed slightly. Traditional rivals Greely, Lake Region, Freeport, York and Yarmouth remain on the schedule.” Expect another strong season from the Lady Patriots: Grant has been a star since her freshman season, and Hotham emerged as a secret, potent weapon last year. Moreover, as a rule, every girl Andreasen puts on the floor can both score and defend – in other words, there are no weak slots on the G-NG roster.

Cheerleading
Coach: Melissa Burila
Last year’s record: Fifth at States
Key athletes lost: Autumn Levier, Shawna Henry, Emily Fitz
Key returners: Kayleigh Burrage, Jasmine Gammache, Mackenzie Baston
Outlook: “We have a very young – but excited – team,” Burila says. “They are all very committed to the program and I am looking forward to a great season. We lost some important pieces but with great leadership from our upper classmen and talented underclassmen we should do well.”

Boys Hockey (a co-op with Poland, Leavitt and Oak Hill)
Coach: Joe Hutchinson (fourth season)
Last year’s record: 11-6-1 (fourth in Class B South)
Key players lost: Nate Marcotte (D), Xavier Michaud (G), Austin Tayler (F)
Key returners: Sam Boles (sr., F); Lucas Mortensen (sr., F); Mason Lessard (sr., D); Spencer Berube (jr., F); Sam Tibbetts (jr., D); Bryce Doucette (jr., F); Dylan Sellinger (jr., F); Reese Collins (so., F); Blake Springer (so., D); Robbie Gladu (so., D)
Key newcomers: Keenan St. Pierre (jr., F); Ryan Thibault (jr., D); Vinny Lupardo (so., G); Kaden Trenoweth (so., F); Ashton Guerin (so., F)
Outlook: “We expect to compete in the Division and in the playoffs,” Hutchinson says. “We are looking to build off last year’s successful second half with a young, maturing core. Look for sophomore goalie Vinny Lupardo to step in and have a solid season between the pipes; look for us to create offense off our solid team-defensive play.”

Girls Hockey (a co-op with St. Dominic and Winthrop)
Coach: Paul Gosselin
Last year’s record: 14-5-2
Key returners: Avery Lutryzkowski, Emma Theriault, Bugsy Hammerton Emma Roy, Bella Webster, Gigi Ouellette, Tayrn Cloutier, West Duffy, Maddie Pelletier, Abbie Ross, Lily Beauchesne, Maddie Weymouth
Key matchups: Lewiston, Edward Little, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth
Outlook: “We should be competitive,” Gosselin says.

Indoor Track & Field
Coach: Todd Mercer
Key athletes lost: Abby Chandler, Erica Schlichting, Madison Post
Key returners: Danny Stash (sr.), Jacob MacCallum (sr.), Scott Lynch (sr.), Joe Koenig (sr.), Kaley Frey (sr.), Nick Cohen (sr.), Hunter Brown (sr.), Josh Adell (sr.), Ray Woodworth (sr.), Noah Patriquin (jr.), Tyler Amos (jr.), Michael Bourne (jr.), Sebastian Leighton (so.), Max MacCallum (so.), Cam Hargreaves (so.), Will Fournier (so.), Elijah Libby (so.), Jack Deitch (so.), Nico Curico (so.), Kody Benson (so.), Lindsay Pierce (sr.), Allison MacDonald (sr.), Cece Keddy (sr.), Jasmine French (sr.), Olivia Bourne (sr.), Liza Surgis (jr.), Nichole Cobb (jr.), Madison Soule (jr.), Caitlyn Smith (jr.), Chelsea Russell (jr.), Kassidy Plummer (jr.), Lydia Pinard (jr.), Ruby Pfeifle (jr.), Autumn Ouellette (jr.), Cordelia Lambert (jr.), Maya Hutchings (jr.), Abby Dulac (jr.), Zoe Barnes (jr.)
Key newcomers: Jarod Deschenes (sr.), Seth Whidden (fr.), Lorenza Piper (fr.), Jenna Lynch (fr.)
Outlook: “We have a powerful throwers group this season, both on the boys’ side and the girls’ side,” Mercer says. “Madison Soule, Caitlyn Smith, Kassidy Plummer, Zoe Barns, Tyler Amos, Sebastian Leighton and Kaleb Frey are already a formidable throwing core. Add Lorenza Piper to the group and they should be downright devastating. We have a solid core of speed with returning hurdler Jacob MacCallum, along with Hunter Brown, Scott Lynch, Danny Stash and Nick Cohen. Nicole Cobb and Lindsay Pierce are both returning from long-term injuries. Hopefully with these two back in the mix we’ll have some serious threats in our female sprint group. Around the sand, Jasmine French is our girl to watch. Jasmine has great speed and strength. She has all the tools for a successful season. Madison Soule and Tyler Amos lead our pole vault. They both put in substantial time vaulting over the summer and saw some nice improvement. We’ve got some runway work to do with them, but the sky is the limit. The distance team has shown nice growth over the past few years. Abby Dulac, Ruby Pfeifle, Alison MacDonald, Madison Garcia and Liza Sturgis are all running well and poised for a successful season. Our 4×800 could present challenges for our conference rivals. Dark horse Raymond Woodworth has put in a lot of offseason work, and has the potential to surprise people this season. Our outlook is good: We have a lot of the right tools in the right places. We have strong athletes, pockets of confidence and some really good athletes and very hard workers. I’m excited to watch this team build over the course of the season.”

Nordic Skiing
Coach: Jeff McEvoy
Key skiers lost: Mike Sutherland
Key returners: Will Maines, Mike Sweeney, Wyatt Fessler
Key newcomers: Nick Shevchenko
Outlook: “Have fun, ski hard,” McEvoy says simply.

Wrestling (a co-op with Windham)
Coach: John Nicholas
Last year’s record: 8-10
Key wrestlers lost: DJ Pelletier, Kyle Walker, Katelyn Walker
Key returners: Andrew Martin, Owen McDuffie, Garrett Allen, George Butts, Peter Peterson
Key newcomers: Scott Ingalls, Jason Hart, Gabe Rosado, Will Colby
Key matchups: Greater Portland Cup, Scarborough, Cheverus Invitational
Outlook: “This year’s team is a good mix of veterans and newcomers with wrestling experience,” Nicholas says. “We have four state qualifiers returning to the lineup – Martin, McDuffie, Allen and Butts – and some freshmen who have wrestled for many years. There are also some promising newcomers that I’m excited to see on the mats. Last season we made a lot of progress and it showed at Regionals. I have high hopes that this year’s team can peak during the postseason and get some kids on the podium. Once again, we have a strong schedule and will be battle-tested. The potential of the team is high and if we work hard and continue to improve, we can take the next step. I am excited to see this team in action!”