Waynflete Flyers Winter Sports Preview

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Coach: Rich Henry (18th year, 221-97 overall record)

2019-20 record: 19-2 (Lost, 39-30, to Winthrop in Class C South Final)
2020-21 record: 7-4 (no postseason, COVID)

Top returning players: Henry Hart (Senior), Matt Adey (Junior), Cole Isherwood (Junior), Nico Kirby (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Dec. 14 @ Cape Elizabeth, Jan. 11 NYA, Jan. 13 YARMOUTH, Jan. 14 @ Poland, Jan. 17 @ Lake Region, Jan. 19 @ NYA, Jan. 29 FREEPORT

Coach’s comment: “We will have a much more guard-oriented team than the past few years in terms of scoring, but hope to take advantage of some depth and quickness at those positions. We have a group of young men that are hard-working and fun to be around, a bit young, so these early games will be informative and instructional. We’ll have great leadership from the returning players coupled with younger players learning what it takes to compete at the level we’ve tried to establish here. We play our usual Class B-heavy schedule, so we’ll be tested early and often.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete is poised to remain one of the most entertaining teams around, one that can hold its own against top Class B competition and make a run in the Class C South tournament. The Flyers will benefit from a solid nucleus of experienced athletes who have enjoyed success not just on the hardwood, but in other sports as well, and they’ll also feature several newcomers who should step right in and make an impact.

Hart, fresh off leading Waynflete’s boys’ soccer team to another state title last month, will play point guard this winter. He can score, but will look first to distribute to his teammates in optimal spots. Kirby is primed to have a big season as a sophomore. He’s also in the backcourt, along with classmates Ishan Reese and Sam Ribeiro. Adey and Isherwood are capable of putting the ball in the basket and will be top forwards. They’re joined by junior forward Connor Ford and freshman center Demetrius Campbell.

The Flyers project to do what they always do, start from a promising place, get better as the season progresses and regardless of their record, be a team that no one will want to face in February. Waynflete is still chasing an elusive state title. This year’s squad has the necessary ingredients to make that run.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Sophomore point guard and captain Lucy Hart will play a key role for a resurgent Waynflete girls’ basketball team this season. File photo

Coach: Andrew Leach (third year)

2019-20 record: 2-16 (no postseason)
2020-21 record: 0-8 (no postseason, COVID)

Top returning players: Jesse Connors (Senior), Cece Marshall (Senior), Lucy Hart (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Dec. 14 CAPE ELIZABETH, Dec. 22 @ NYA, Jan. 13 @ Yarmouth, Jan. 17 LAKE REGION, Jan. 19 NYA, Jan. 29 @ Freeport

Coach’s comment: “We’ve had a great preseason. We have good athletes who are fun to work with. We have a lot of soccer and lacrosse players who are getting a feel for the flow of basketball. We want to be consistently competitive. Our goal is to not just make the playoffs, but to get some wins.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete has struggled on the floor in recent seasons, last posting a winning record in 2016-17, and a year ago, didn’t even get to play its complete COVID-shortened schedule, but things are trending upwards for the Flyers. For starters, the team boasts several athletes who either won a state title last June in lacrosse, or are coming off a very successful soccer season this fall. Waynflete has size and skill and with a little time to jell, will become a squad that no one wants to face.

Hart will be the point guard and could be a top scorer as well. Senior captains Marshall and Connors (Spring Athlete of the Year after a superb lacrosse season) will provide depth and leadership in the backcourt and will look to help with the scoring. Senior Lolie Millspaugh also stands six-feet and will be a force in frontcourt. Senior guard Bella Pickus, junior guard/point guard Yen Wilson and sophomore Maeve Mechtenberg (guard) and Jojo Moriba (forward) will also contribute.

Look for the Flyers to show a lot of improvement between December and February. A few wins will go a long way toward building confidence and once that’s established, look out. It’s only a matter of time before Waynflete is back in the upper echelon in Class C South.

BOYS’ HOCKEY (co-op with Freeport and South Portland)

Coach: Joe Robinson (15th year, 121-127-11 overall record)

2019-20 record: 12-7-1 (Lost, 5-1, to Lewiston in Class A state semifinals)
2020-21 record: 3-5-1 (no postseason, COVID)

Top returning players: Cullen Adams (Senior), Brady Frank (Senior), Connor Corcoran (Junior), Richie Gilboy (Junior), Dylan Hannan (Junior), Roan Hopkins (Junior), Ian Wright (Junior)

Pivotal games: Dec. 11 FALMOUTH, Dec. 15 @ Lewiston, Dec. 23 PORTLAND/DEERING, Jan. 5 @ St. Dom’s, Jan. 13 @ Cape Elizabeth, Jan. 20 SCARBOROUGH, Jan. 22 @ Biddeford, Feb. 5 LEWISTON, Feb. 10 @ Portland/Deering, Feb. 12 @ Edward Little, Feb. 17 THORNTON ACADEMY, Feb. 19 @ Scarborough, Feb. 22 BIDDEFORD

Coach’s comment: “We have a really strong and talented core. We are a tight-knit group and as long as we stay healthy, we should be able to be successful and make a nice showing in the tournament.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: The South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete co-op team is two years removed from the finest season in program history and even after the lost COVID campaign of 2020-21, is poised for another run at the top of Class A this winter.

Offensively, Adams, a captain, Hannan and Wright, an offensive-minded defenseman, figure to do the lion’s share of the scoring. Frank and Hopkins will also be heard from. Wright is joined on defense by Corcoran and Gilboy. Junior Jasper Curtis will be the goalie with freshman Henry Curtis also seeing some time between the pipes.

South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete has a very challenging schedule and there will be some growing pains this winter, but look for this squad to steadily improve and be at its best when the playoffs begin. No longer a novelty on the big stage, South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete is ready to enjoy another deep postseason run.

GIRLS’ HOCKEY (co-op with Cape Elizabeth and South Portland)

Coach: Bob Mills (10th year, 81-80-6 overall record)

2019-20 record: 14-6-1 (Lost, 1-0, in overtime, to Lewiston in state final)
2020-21 record: 8-1 (no postseason, COVID)

Top returning players: Katharine Blackburn (Senior), Sofia Cook (Senior), Abbey Steinhagen (Junior), Delaney Whitten (Junior), Becca Good (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Dec. 11 EL/LEAVITT/POLAND, Dec. 23 @ Scarborough, Jan. 1 @ Lewiston, Jan. 12 @ EL/Leavitt/Poland, Jan. 22 SCARBOROUGH, Jan. 29 CHEVERUS, Feb. 2 LEWISTON

Coach’s comment: “We like our team. Our youth is very skilled, our returning players have lots of playoff experience and we have strong goaltending. We hope to be one of the top teams in the state again this season.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: The Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland co-op team came within a whisper of winning its first state title two years ago, falling in overtime in the state game, then would have made a serious run at a crown last season, had COVID not wiped away the postseason. This winter, Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland still has plenty of firepower and will again be among the state’s finest teams, as evidenced by earl victories over St. Dom’s (8-2), Portland/Deering (10-2) and Cheverus (4-3).

Steinhagen returns in goal and she’ll have a steady defense in front of her, led by Blackburn, Cook and Whitten. Freshman Catie Lee is another defender to watch and freshman Vivienne Cook will also see some time between the pipes. The offense features Good as a returner and promising freshmen Marina Bassett, Libby Hooper and Hartson Mosunic, who all scored in the opener.

Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland has come close to breaking through and winning it all. If this young squad develops as hoped, it will have a chance to take that final step. That’s a distinct possibility.

SWIMMING

Coach: Steve Withers (seventh year)

2019-20 results: Boys’ 12th @ Class B state meet; Girls’ 16th @ Class B state meet
2020-21 results: No season, (COVID)

Top returners:

(Boys) Elijah Gallagher (Senior), Ian Good (Senior), Oscar Herrera (Senior), Ty Davin (Junior)

(Girls) Libby Dakers (Senior), Larkin Kern (Senior)

Coach’s comment: “Despite being small in numbers, we look better than we have in recent years. We have a strong core returning that brings impactful leadership to the team. The newcomers will add considerable depth and many will make an immediate impact. Look for consistent improvement throughout the season with a strong showing at Southwesterns and states.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Both Waynflete swim teams return some talent and have some promising additions that will help the cause this winter, as the Flyers hope to finish in the top 10 at states.

The boys’ squad features captains Gallagher (distance freestyle and butterfly) and Herrera (sprint freestyle and breaststroke). Davin (backstroke) and Good (freestyyle) are also experienced. Keep an eye also on new sophomore Wyatt Adams (backstroke and breaststroke) and new freestylers Nik Chaney and Nico Herrera.

On the girls’ side, Dakers and Kern swam at the Class B state meet two years ago. Dakers will compete in the breaststroke, while Kern, a captain, will look to score in the distance freestyle and fly. Newcomers Evy Alsup (distance free), Kira Chown (breaststroke) and Kestrel Linehan (distance freestyle, backstroke) add depth.

NORDIC SKIING

Coach: Otis Wortley (first year)

2019-20 record: Boys’ 5th @ Class C state meet; Girls’ 2nd @ Class C state meet
2020-21 record: No season (COVID)

Top returners:

(Boys) Josef Powers (Senior), Henry Wagg (Senior), Keegan Dolan (Junior), Reed Robinson (Junior)

(Girls) Blythe Thompson (Senior), Julia Werner (Senior), Sarah Morgan (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “We have a solid core of newcomers and we’re hoping to get our ski legs back after a not-so-normal season last year.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete has long been a Nordic ski power in Class C and the Flyers should boast some top talent again this winter.

The boys’ squad returns 2020 state meet scorers Wagg (18th in the freestyle and 21st in the classic), Powers (21st in the freestyle and 25th in the classic) and Robinson (26th in the freestyle). Dolan is another veteran.

On the girls’ side, Werner was eighth in both the classic and freestyle two years ago. Morgan (14th in both the classic and freestyle) and Thompson (18th in the freestyle and 20th in the classic) each competed at states in 2020 and will be among the conference’s best again this season.