Winter Previews: Windham

Alpine Skiing
Coach: Emily Atwood
Last year’s record: Both the boys and girls squads reached States
Key skiers lost: Delia Inman, Naomi Debrosse
Key returners: Ben White, Owen Flibbert, Mya Bolk, Sarah Hare, Madelyn McGary
Key newcomers: Nolan Dries, Logan Marden, Sam Plummer, Cody Tayler, Annie Jackson, Grace Paiment, Amanda Foss
Outlook: “I think this will be a great ski season,” Atwood says. “We have a lot of new racers that will bring a competitive edge to the team.”

Boys Basketball
Coach: Chad Pulkkinen
Last year’s record: 7-12
Key players lost: Dierhow Bol, Andrew Wing
Key returners: Cam Brown (sr.), Chris Naylor (sr.), Ivan Kaffel (sr.), Braeden McCrillis (sr.), Eric Weisser (sr.), Kaleb Cidre (jr.), Hayden Bilodeau (jr.), Sean Cunniffe (jr.), Nuar Bol (jr.), Will Mannette (so.)
Key newcomers: Anthony Gugliuzza (sr.), Andrew Curtis (sr.), Dylan Gorham (jr.), Nick Garrison (so.)
Key matchups: Edward Little, Deering, Bangor
Outlook: “The Eagles look to lean heavily on the experience of this year’s team. Brown, McCrillis, Naylor, Kaffel and Weisser have been with the varsity program now for three years and will help lead this group. Kaleb and Hayden return as two of our top defenders. Will and Sean will see time in handling the ball for our backcourt. Nuar Bol returns from injury and will look to make an immediate impact with his athleticism. Newcomers Gorman, Garrison, Curtis and Gugliuzza will all play significant roles in our success this year. The Eagles look to continue the defensive mindset of last year’s team with our length, athleticism and toughness. Should be an exciting year for Windham due to the combination of experience and talent.”

Girls Basketball
Coach: Brody Artes (eighth year)
Last year’s record: 10-9, fell in tournament quarters
Key players lost: Tara Flanders, Meghan Hoffses
Key returners: Hannah Talon (sr., G); Sarah Talon (so., G); Lexi Hirning (jr., G)
Key newcomers: Carley Morey (so., G); Destiny Potter (so., G); Kayla Flanders (so., F)
Key matchups: Cheverus, Bangor, Deering, Edward Little, Lewiston
Outlook: “The 2019-2020 version of the Lady Eagle is incredibly young,” Artes says. “We only have one senior and two juniors on our roster, with six sophomores and two freshmen rounding out the remainder of the team. Captain Hannah Talon is looking to bounce back from an ACL injury last season, and is looking healthier than ever. Her sister, Sarah Talon, will be heavily relied-on to score in a variety of ways, as well as to defend some of the best talent that AA basketball has to offer. Lexi will provide leadership and be the glue that we need to help our young players along this season. Carly, Destiny and Kayla will look to step in as key contributors as well. The Eagles should be in the mix heading into February.”

Cheerleading
Coaches: Olivia Latham (head), Bari Campobasso (asst.)
Outlook: “We are extremely excited for this season. We will be competing in three competitions this season along with supporting our basketball teams and all winter sports. We are looking to bring the community together to support the Windham eagles this season. Here’s to a great season!”

Boys Hockey (a co-op with Windham and, for the first time, Bonny Eagle)
Coach: Greg Leclair
Last year’s record: 3-14-1
Key players lost: Derek Corbett (F), Sean White (G), Tommy Lekousi (F)
Key returners: Holden Anderson (jr., F, Windham); Travis Brown (jr., F, Windham); Austin White (jr., F, Westbrook); Aiden Hartwell (so., D, Windham)
Key newcomers: Christ Westgate (jr., F/D, Bonny Eagle); Tommy DuPont (sr., F/D, a transfer from North Yarmouth Academy); Logan Caron (so., D, Bonny Eagle); Grayson Krause (jr., F, Bonny Eagle); Isaac White (fr., G, Westbrook); Porter Krause (fr., G, Bonny Eagle)
Key matchups: Marshwood/Noble/Traip/Sanford, Gorham, Biddeford/Old Orchard Beach/Massabesic, South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete, Lake Region/Fryeburg/Oxford Hills, Cheverus
Outlook: “Windham/Westbrook has added Bonny Eagle to their co-op team and will compete as the Windham/Westbrook/Bonny Eagle Trail Blazers for the upcoming season,” Leclair says. “The Trail Blazers will rely on a large contingent of juniors along with a handful of seniors, all of whom bring a couple of years of varsity experience to the roster. We’ll need a couple of players to develop into consistent scorers in order to compete with the top teams in Class A. We’ll also need to be disciplined in the defensive zone as the Trail Blazers will be young in net. Freshmen Isaac White and Porter Krause will compete for time between the pipes. Their ability to acclimate themselves to the faster-paced high school game will be key to the team’s success.”

Boys Indoor Track & Field
Coach: Paula Pock
Key returners: Jordan Piewchowski, Aidan Day, Dean Preston, Ethan Wert, Bodean Sebasteanski, Ryan Abbotoni, Jacob Noonan, Dustin Noonan, Tavi Anghel, Will Stewart, Matt Fox, Wyatt Flibbert
Key newcomers: Emir Zhamalov, Caleb Young, DJ Stevens, Ben LaWind, Connor Langstaff
Outlook: “Overall, we’re a young team,” Pock says, “but we have a hardworking group who should see a lot of growth. We’re looking forward to our seniors and juniors really stepping up. Jordan, Aidan and Dean are all versatile athletes who’re always willing to do any event they’re asked to. Ethan is hoping to try some new, longer events after a successful spring running the 400. Other juniors who should score on a regular basis are Boden in the shot put, Ryan in the jumps and middle distance, Jacob and Dustin in the sprints, Tavi in distance and exchange student Emir in the jumps. For underclassmen, we’re really expecting Will, Matt and Wyatt to lead the way. I also expect newcomers Caleb, DJ, Ben and Connor to be regular scorers.”

Girls Indoor Track & Field
Coach: Denise Curry
Last year’s record: 17th at States
Key returners: Sierra Guite (sr.), Hannah Langstaff (sr.), Hailey Applebee (sr.), Molly Skvorak (sr.), Katelyn Smith (jr.)
Key meets: States
Outlook: “We are hoping to come in top-10 at States this year,” Curry says. She goes one: “Our junior division should do well as we have 10 freshmen on the team that competed in middle school.”

Swimming
Coach: Pete Small
Last year’s record: Boys 5-4, girls 4-5
Key swimmers lost: Mike Ryan, Julia Hills
Key returners: Evan Desmond, Sebi Anghel, Lyden Fogg, Griffin Black, Jamie Louko, SImon Gabaree, Nathan Plummer, Katharyn Lucas, Chloe Wincox, Hannah Maurais, Haley Theberge, Rosie Haibon, Chloe Desmond
Key newcomers: Jorge Gonzalez, Nathan Fiztgerald, Owen Williams, Tristan Candelmmo, Hannah Heanssler, Reagan McDougall, Ella Wilcox, Sofia LaBadie
Key matchups: Kennebunk, Falmouth, Cheverus, Greely
Outlook: Small calls both his boys and girls contingents “hardworking, competitive student-athletes.” His girls lineup in particular strikes him as “possible the strongest girls team in years.”

Wrestling (a co-op with Gray-New Gloucester)
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!”