Greely Rangers Fall Sports Preview

FOOTBALL

Senior Luke Jackson will be a key player for Greely’s resurgent football program this fall. File photos.

Coach: Caleb King (first year)

Players to watch: Luke Jackson (Senior), Jonah Guibord (Junior), Jerik Phillips (Junior), Ryder Simpson (Junior), Brayden VanPembrook (Junior), Brody Gifford (Sophomore), Andrew Padgett (Sophomore), Wes Piper (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 1 @ Gray-NG, Sept. 9 WATERVILLE, Sept. 30 @ Mt. Ararat, Oct. 7 YARMOUTH, Oct. 14 SPRUCE MOUNTAIN

Coach’s comment: “We’re excited. It’s my first go-round as a head coach, but I had great coaches in high school and college and it’s easy to emulate them. Our offense moved the ball and our defense looked strong in our scrimmage. We’re a running back and skill position-by-committee team. It’ll look like hockey line changes at times. We have good athletes and hope to keep other teams on their toes. One of my goals is to build on the excitement surrounding the return of the program. On the field, we want to win games. We’ll be prepared.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely, which was undermanned but always gave its all in its previous varsity incarnation between 2003-18, returns as a stand-alone program this fall, in the Eight-man large division. The Rangers are coached by King, who played for David Higgins at Greely, then went on to play four years at Husson University in Bangor. He inherits a team that is long on optimism and has a more robust roster (32 players) than the Rangers previously did in years where they were consistently making the Class B playoffs.

Padgett and Phillips will each see time at quarterback. Guibord, Jackson, Simpson and VanPembrook are top running backs. Piper will catch a lot of passes and Guibord will see time at receiver as well. The line features Gifford and senior Kennett Adande Kinti. Phillips will do the punting and Jackson is the placekicker.

On defense, Greely looks to Adande Kinti, Gifford and Phillips to hold down the fort on the line. Linebackers include Jackson and von Pembroke. The Rangers should be solid in the secondary with Guibord, Padgett, Piper and Simpson all contributing.

The program is a relative unknown as the season commences as many players have never taken a varsity snap. Greely’s athleticism is undeniable, however, and its hunger to succeed promises to pay dividends. Look for a solid debut campaign from this squad, perhaps one which features a trip to the postseason.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Senior Ethan Njitoh was Greely’s top offensive player a year ago and will be a matchup nightmare for the opposition yet again this fall.

Coach: Mike Andreasen (25th year, 236-119-36 overall record, four state championships)

2021 results: 10-4-2 (Lost, 2-1, to Freeport in Class B South quarterfinals)

Top returning players: Tommy Bennert (Senior), Alex Gamache (Senior), Tate Nadeau (Senior), Ethan Njitoh (Senior), Owen Piesik (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 6 @ Cape Elizabeth, Sept. 10 FREEPORT, Sept. 14 YARMOUTH, Sept. 27 @ Waynflete, Oct. 8 CAPE ELIZABETH, Oct. 11 @ Freeport, Oct. 15 @ Yarmouth

Coach’s comment: “We have have a lot of new pieces, but they’re unproven. We lost eight starters and have to fill in. I hope offense will be a strength for us. Ethan will get marked up, so other kids will need to step up. We’re still working on our defense and our goalie is untested. Mental toughness will be key for us. We just want to compete every game.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely might be the team best equipped to end Yarmouth’s title reign this year, but it will take time to get this promising squad to the point where it can vie for a championship.

Bennert and Njitoh were both All-Conference and Class B South all-region selections a year ago and will be captains this season. Njitoh was Greely’s Fall Athlete of the Year, as well as last year’s team leading scorer (10 goals, nine assists) and will be the focal point of the opposition every time out. Bennert is a standout in the midfield, where he is joined by Nadeau and Piesik, along with junior Keegan Hale, who returns to the program from Cheverus. Senior Nick Theodores is the other captain. He missed last season with injury, but is back to help anchor the defense. He’ll be joined by Gamache, promising senior newcomer Sean-Marley Rawbira, who comes over from Portland. Freshman Landon Dominski takes over in goal.

The Rangers will take some time to round into top contender form, but they’ve ridden that recipe to greatness before. A daunting schedule will help Greely’s understanding of what it takes to win close games against top foes. This squad promises to show a lot of growth. It might be enough to turn heads in the postseason.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Junior Shaylee O’Grady will be part of a potent offense for Greely’s girls’ soccer team this season.

Coach: Rachel Williams (second year)

2021 record: 7-7-2 (Lost, 5-0, to eventual state champion Cape Elizabeth in Class B South quarterfinal)

Top returning players: Elise Eckowicki (Senior), Syd Madore (Senior), Allie Read (Senior), Kylie Crocker (Junior), Shaylee O’Grady (Junior), Eva Williams (Junior)

Pivotal games: Sept. 6 CAPE ELIZABETH, Sept. 8 @ Freeport, Sept. 13 @ Yarmouth, Oct. 7 @ Cape Elizabeth, Oct. 11 FREEPORT, Oct. 15 YARMOUTH

Coach’s comment: “We lost nine starters, but are excited to capitalize on some of our incoming seniors for leadership. We’re in a building year, but I do anticipate being very competitive.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely has some holes to fill, but should remain a top contender in Class B South, a familiar spot for the program.

Read will pace the defense in front of Eckowicki, who returns in goal (junior Charlotte Libby will also see time). Madore is a top midfielder. Crocker, O’Grady and Williams are veteran leaders who can play various roles. Sophomore Abby Lennox was injured a year ago, but is primed to become a star. Freshman Lili Pierce is a new player to watch.

The Rangers have their hands full with a difficult schedule, which includes reigning state champion Cape Elizabeth, as well as top contenders Freeport, Yarmouth and York, but Greely expects to be competitive throughout and could be a very difficult foe to contend with when the playoffs commence.

FIELD HOCKEY

Senior Lia Traficonte and her teammates look to move up the ladder this fall.

Coach: Burgess LePage (third year, 6-17 overall record)

2021 record: 4-11 (Lost, 2-1, in one round of penalty corners, to Lake Region in Class B South preliminary round)

Top returning players: Sofia Bisson (Senior), Daphne Campo (Senior), Marisa Crowley (Senior), Caitie Frost (Senior), Lia Traficonte (Senior), Leyla Rabbat (Junior), Maddy Hall (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 2 @ Lake Region, Sept. 14 @ Cape Elizabeth, Sept. 16 FREEPORT, Sept. 24 CAPE ELIZABETH, Sept. 28 @ York, Oct. 6 @ Freeport, Oct. 14 YORK, Oct. 18 YARMOUTH

Coach’s comment: “The team’s looking great. Our cohesion and communication are fantastic. We’re coming off a strong vibe of inclusivity set by my seniors when I came in. We want to have fun. Everyone’s focusing on getting better. We have a solid defense, but Savanna (Harvey) leaves huge shoes to fill. We’re ready to come out strong. My goal is to miss our first playoff game because I’m getting married that day.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: If Greely takes part in a preliminary round playoff game, it would be Oct. 22, a date which LePage has a more pressing engagement. The Rangers have what it takes to get there, as well as to earn a second postseason contest which their coach could attend. Greely has a solid core of seniors, as well as some promising newcomers.

Harvey, an all-state goalie a year ago, is now playing at Springfield College, and she was a standout (stopping nearly 90 percent of the shots she faced). Senior Kate Parkinson will replace Harvey this year, with help from sophomore Maya Vickerson and freshman Eliza Brown. The defense is paced by Campo (a second-team all-star last season) and Hall. Bisson will help control the midfield, along with junior Rachel Miles. Traficonte can do a little of anything. Crowley, Frost and Rabbat should be top scorers with freshman Anna Hendry getting in on the fun.

Nine of Greely’s 11 losses last season were by either one or two goals, which suggests the Rangers are close to making a big jump. If Greely can produce more offense in the weeks to come, a winning record could be the end result and if the Rangers make the postseason, late-October will be reason for more than one joyous occasion.

VOLLEYBALL

Coach: Autumn Vargo (first year)

2021 record: 10-6 (Lost, 3-0, to Cape Elizabeth in Class B state quarterfinals)

Top returning player: Sophia Ippolito (Senior), Olivia Talley (Senior)

Pivotal matches: Sept. 10 @ Yarmouth, Sept. 13 FALMOUTH, Oct. 6 @ Cape Elizabeth

Coach’s comment: “This being my first season at Greely, I hope to rebuild the culture of this program that Kelvin Hasch started many years ago. The camaraderie and joy of playing for something bigger than a Gold Ball. The desire to want to be the best players we can be and battling through each point like it is the championship match. I told my girls at the start of preseason, ‘I don’t care if you win or lose, as long as I see the determination, grit and hard work being shown together as a team.'”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely’s program has long been the gold standard and the coach most synonymous with the sport in Maine, Kelvin Hasch, recently stepped down after leading the Rangers to 253 victories and 10 state titles. Greely stayed within the family for the second coach in program history, as Vargo played for Hasch back at the program’s onset, then went on to play at U. Maine-Farmington. Vargo has coached at South Portland High School, St. Joseph’s College and for the Maine Juniors program. She inherits a squad looking to end the Yarmouth/Cape Elizabeth stranglehold on Class B.

Talley is a top returner She’s an outside hitter. Ippolito is another critical component, who can set or hit. The Rangers will put the pieces together from there and look to improve as the season progresses.

It won’t come easily against a tough schedule, but if all goes well, Greely will be in the title hunt by season’s end.

CROSS COUNTRY

Coach: David Dowling (26th year, 15 state championships)

2021 results:
(Boys) 4th @ Class B state meet
(Girls) 3rd @ Class B state meet

Top returners:
(Boys) Teddy Conway (Senior), Hayden McArthur (Senior), Seamus Raftice (Senior), Thomas Leggat-Barr (Junior), Zach Vanni (Junior)
(Girls) Fiona Barry (Senior), Kate Hankinson (Senior), Charlotte Taylor (Senior), Sylvia Harvey (Junior), Annie Reynolds (Junior), Sabine Sites (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “The boys hope to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish at states. The girls hope to finish among the top five teams at states.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely is coming off a typically strong season and both the boys’ and girls’ squads are top-five caliber again.

The boys lost last year’s top scorer, Mitchell Parent, to graduation, but return a strong pack in Raftice (25th at states last season), McArthur (29th), Leggat-Barr (38th), Conway (48th) and Vanni (63rd). Sophomore Liam Coull and freshman Tait Harvey are new to the team and will add depth. The Rangers will be consistent throughout and will be heard from in the postseason. If all goes well, they could place even higher than they did a year ago.

On the girls’ side, Reynolds is the top returner. She was third at states as a sophomore and will be in the hunt for a top spot again. She’s joined by Sites (33rd), Taylor (37th), Harvey (49th) and Barry (58th). Hankinson is another veteran and sophomore Fiona MacArthur and freshman Rowan Barry are poised to step right in and make an impact. The Rangers have finished in the top five at states every season but one since 2010 and that trend figures to continue.

GOLF

Coach: Brian Bickford (11th year, one state championship)

2021 results: DNQ for Class A state match

Top returners: Connor Albert (Senior), Ruth Weeks (Senior), Eric Hansen (Junior), Will Klein (Junior), Brogan Raftice (Junior), Ethan Robeck (Junior), Landon Werner (Junior). Karinna Beacham (Sophomore), Annie Flick (Sophomore)

Coach’s comment: ”Our goal is to win our conference, which is very difficult to win, and go to states. We feel like we can be competitive, yet (our division) is always difficult. It prepares our team for the postseason.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely wasn’t able to repeat as state champion a year ago, failing to qualify for the state match. This year’s team, however, boasts plenty of talent and will be a serious contender throughout.

Albert and Klein were SMAA all-stars last season. Albert, who tied for 12th at last year’s Class A individual meet with a round of 82, is a member of the New England Junior team as well as the Maine Amateur top 40, so big things are expected from him. Klein finished 10th as an individual last year with an 18-hole round of 79. Weeks is one of the state’s premier girls’ players. She tied for third at last year’s state meet with a round of 96 and like Albert, is a member of the New England Junior team as well as the Maine Amateur top 40. Weeks, an all-star a year ago, is one of three terrific girls’ players, joining Beacham (an all-star last season, who shot 98 at states, good for sixth place) and Flick (105, 10th). That strong nucleus is bolstered by Hansen, Raftice, Robeck and Werner, as well as promising freshmen Camden Burke and Joe Hansen.

The Rangers should be very strong as a team and have several individuals who will look to steal glory as well. It should be a fun season at Val Halla and beyond.