BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Coach: Todd Wing (12th year, 114-92 overall record)

2023-24 record: 8-12 (Lost, 61-52, to Gorham in Class AA South semifinals)

Top returning players: Justin Jamal (Senior), Tavian Lauture (Senior), Evan Legassey (Senior), David Otti (Senior), Mogga Yanga (Senior), Tayshaun Cleveland (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “This has been a work a couple years in the making. The guys understood the assignment and have learned their lessons well. They’re ready to put them into action and play our brand of basketball. There aren’t many gimmes on our schedule and we have a lot of different things to prepare for. It’ll come down to doing what we do best. We’ll pressure and try to create points off turnovers, but we know in the tournament that it will come down to halfcourt execution on offense. We can’t have long spells where we get off track. It’s a special group. I’ve had them around since they were little. I’m hoping for great things for them this year.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Deering saved its best for last a year ago and will parlay its trip to the Civic Center into what it hopes is a deep tournament run this winter.

Legassey has made a name for himself since his freshman season and will be a top scoring threat this year. Legassey, a second-team Class AA South all-star a year ago after averaging 16.4 points per contest, is a dangerous outside shooter, but he can blow by a defender and finish in close as well. Jamal, the point guard, is another top returner. Jamal was an honorable mention all-star in 2023-24 and can score (11.1 ppg) and distribute (1.9 assists per game). Cleveland, who stands 6-foot-5, made the league’s All-Rookie team last winter and will be a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the floor. Lauture, Deering’s Fall Athlete of the Year after leading the Rams’ football team to its best season in over a decade, is a defensive standout. Otti (6-3) and Yanga (6-4) bring size and the ability to score easy baskets and stymie the opposition on defense. Senior guard Ronan Wing can come off the bench and set up his teammates for open shots. Junior guard Michel Butera will be another key sub, who can come in and lock down any opponent.

The Rams dropped a heartbreaking 66-60 overtime decision at Cheverus in their opener (despite 22 points from Legassey and 14 from Cleveland). Just about every game will be a battle, but this Deering team is well-equipped to go toe-to-toe with all comers. The Rams have confidence and the belief that they’re as good as anyone in a deep and balanced Class AA South. Deering has what it takes to take the next step and it should be one of the last teams standing.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Coach: Michael Atkins (first year)

2023-24 record: 9-10 (Lost, 43-27, to Fryeburg Academy in Class A South quarterfinals)

Top returning players: Julia Krush (Senior), Almarina Abore (Junior), Payton Legassey (Junior), Blake Gayle (Sophomore), Angelina Keo (Sophomore)

Coach’s comment: “We want to bring the energy and effort. We have to take advantage of this opportunity we are blessed with and hold each other accountable to our new standard. We also want to rise to the occasion, no matter who we are facing on the other end.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Deering made great strides a year ago, then an era came to an end when longtime coach Mike Murphy stepped down. Atkins, who played at the University of Maine-Farmington and previously coached at the middle school and AAU levels, inherits a squad that should show steady improvement in the weeks to come.

Keo turned heads as a freshman with her playing style, making the All-Rookie team after averaging 9.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Keo will be the point guard and will be active all over the floor. Legassey will be at the shooting guard spot. Abore, Gayle and Krush will see time at forward and will be in the scoring mix as well. Sophomore Celeste Tillman could be a force to be reckoned with in the post.

The Rams are still relatively young and will take some time to hit their stride (they opened with a 59-16 loss at reigning Class AA champion Cheverus). If Deering can win enough games to make it to the postseason, it could be a very difficult out.

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

Coaches: Joe Robinson (17th year, 156-152-13 overall record) and Jeff Beaney (eighth year, 58-73-4 overall record)

2023-24 record: 10-9-1 (Lost, 6-3, to Bangor in Class A state semifinals)

Deering players: Dom Anthony, Johnny Bechard, Jackson Nalli

Coach Robinson’s comment: “We hope to compete in a competitive league and make the playoffs.”

Coach Beaney’s comment: “We graduated eight seniors who all contributed a lot. We’ll be strong in net. We’ll be challenged early. We’re pushing the team concept. As we get experience, we’ll get stronger.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: While the graduation of Travis Roy Award finalist Tobey Lappin and fellow All-State player Hewitt Sykes will be felt, the Beacons are back for another co-op season and they expect to make another deep playoff run.

The Beacons have their hands full with a challenging slate, but they’ll get better because of it and once again will be at their best when it matters most. In the postseason.

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

Coach: Bob Mills (13th year, 116-100-8 overall record)

2023-24 record: 11-9 (Lost, 5-2, to Gorham in South Region semifinals)

Deering players: Addy Blackburn (Junior), Eleanor Bryant (Junior), Annabelle Price (Freshman)

Coach’s comment: “We have three of the best players in the state with Marina (Bassett), Libby (Hooper) and Jane (Flynn). They will keep us competitive in every game. We also have several returning players with lots of varsity experience that will help balance out the roster. Our new starting goalie, Mya Clark, has been a great addition to the team and will help keep us in every game. Our goal is to take this team deep in the playoffs and make a run for a state championship.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: The Beacons are back for their second season as a co-op team and they should be in contention in the South Region again this winter. The squad has wins over Falmouth/Scarborough, Greely and St. Dom’s (by a composite 22-8 margin) and also lost to two-time state champion Cheverus (9-1) in early action.

The Beacons look to continue to compete in the difficult South Region and if all goes well, they’ll make a deep playoff run. This squad will score a lot of goals and will be fun to watch this season.

INDOOR TRACK

Boys’ coach: Ryan Graney third year)
Girls’ coach: Maria Curit (third year)

2023-24 results:
(Boys) no score @ Class A state meet
(Girls) 13th @ Class A state meet

Top returners:

(Boys) DeShawn Lamour (Senior), Luke Newell (Senior), Rocco Ciccomancini (Junior), Jalen Curtis (Junior), Joey Foley (Junior), Peter Rank (Junior), Jordis Mugisha (Sophomore), Abdulkadir Munye (Sophomore)
(Girls) Anika Gin (Senior), Mya Landry (Senior), Elise Breiting-Brown (Sophomore), Moriya Nguema (Sophomore), Maria Rocha (Sophomore)

Coach Graney’s comment: “We’re in our best position to make an impact this season and rise above .500 after finishing 6-10 last year and only gaining points in Southwesterns from the junior division. This is a well-balanced team that has an equal number of senior and junior division runners that should fare well in the Southwestern championship meet and add potential scorers at the state meet. We receive a huge boost from cross country runners coming off a productive season. Our focus on developing jumpers has paid off and we have gained athletes from successful fall sports seasons in football, soccer and cross country that will contribute immediately. We still look forward to developing some hurdlers this preseason and working some athletes up to compete in the middle distance races as the (sprints look) to be extremely competitive in SMAA as most top performers are returning. We seem to have enough runners this year to compete in all relays, which has plagued this team in the past and is always a concern as the season progresses. With a focus on running form, block starts and conditioning. this will be a good test to see what these athletes are capable of as this year sets the tone for a staging year to rebound.”

Coach Curit’s comment: “We have some strong returners in both the junior and senior divisions and others back from injury this year. We are also adding multiple girls that will compete in the shot put and triple jump, which have been events that we left completely open in the past. I am looking forward to putting together some dynamite relays and improving upon our 10-6 record from last year. We do not have the most athletes on our team, but we have great quality and determination.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Deering’s program continues to ascend and while the girls are hoping for a top-10 finish this winter, the boys should tally some points in the big meets.

The girls return Breiting-Brown, a middle-distance runner. Gin will be a top sprinter and jumper, as will Rocha. Nguema is another sprinter to watch. Landry is a distance threat, who also jumps. Freshmen Ani Ademi (sprints), Eve Glessner (distance) and Vesta McCarroll-Christmas (middle distance, shot put) are newcomers of note.

On the boys’ side, on the heels of a fabulous football season, Foley (sprints and jumps) and Lamour (shot put) hope to make their mark indoors. Foley is joined in the sprints by Ciccomancini, Mugisha, Munye, Newell, sophomore Samuel Almeida and freshman Nathan Foley. Rank, senior Asa Tussing, junior Noah Rasheed and junior Ellis Wood, the cross country standout, will be distance runners to watch. Munye also takes part in the hurdles. On the field side, Joey Foley is joined in the jumps by Almeida, Nathan Foley, Mugisha, Munye and junior Elijah Stewart. Junior Jalen Curtis is a pole vault specialist.

SWIMMING (co-op w/Portland)

Coach: Sarah Rasmussen (sixth year)

2023-24 results:
(Boys) 8th @ Class A state meet
(Girls) Class A state champions

Top returners:

(Boys) Andy Marvin (Junior)
(Girls) Sophia Harrod-Kim (Senior), Anya Heiden (Senior), Anica Spencer (Senior), Kaia West (Senior),

Coach’s comment: “We are excited about both the senior leadership and the strength of our freshman class. We believe that building culture is crucial to our success both as individuals and as a team. Our goal of the season is to use our strong senior class to set the tone and build the expectation around what Ram-Dog swimming is all about for the new swimmers. Then, with that, build on the success we found last year. We want to show that our success last year was not by accident, but by an intentional building of a cohesive team.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: The Deering/Portland girls stole headlines a year ago and the boys had a solid season as well. Look for more excitement from the co-op squad this winter.

The girls graduated transcendent standout Maria DelMonte, but have plenty of talent in reserve. Returning are West (fourth in the 500 freestyle and sixth in the 200 free a year ago), Harrod-Kim (fifth in the 100 butterfly), Heiden (seventh in the 200 free and eighth in the 100 free) and Spencer (eighth in the 100 breaststroke). Freshmen Charlotte Donaldson-Michaelis (breaststroke), Amelia MacDonald (freestyle), Luca Montague (breaststroke and freestyle) and Breen Whalen (freestyle) add depth and promise for the future.

Marvin paces the boys’ squad. He was runner-up in the 100 free and fourth in the 50 free last season and hopes to do even better this time around. Freshman Finn Hutchins is a newcomer to watch. He’ll also compete in the freestyle.

NORDIC SKIING

Coach: George Aponte-Clarke (seventh year)

2023-24 results:
(Boys) 4th @ Class A state meet
(Girls) 9th @ Class A state meet

Top returners:

Coach’s comment: “The boys have matured into a hard-working group of outstanding skiers ready to take on the top teams across the state while having fun along the way. Look for them to be eying the podium throughout the season. The girls are still in a building stage after years of vying for top ranks, but Maribel and Charlotte are committed to having fun and giving their best throughout the season.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Deering has some solid Nordic skiers to watch this season.

The boys return Zelonish, who was fifth in the classic, and Borland, who placed sixth in the freestyle, last winter. Tussing is another veteran.

On the girls’ side, Pelletier is back after coming in 20th in the freestyle and 23rd in the classic. Creek has experience as well.

WRESTLING

Coach: Chris Smith (fourth year)

2023-24 results: tie-17th @ Class A state meet

Top returners: Christian Kanana (Senior), Bilal Mohamed (Senior), Mandela Zabot-Hall (Senior) Sergio Capitao (Junior), Jack Conley (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “We’re excited for another season. We have a young team this year, but a lot of hard-working student-athletes that seem to really want to grow and get better. I’m excited to see how we do this year as a team and how some of our wrestlers develop as the season progresses.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Deering is primed for a competitive season on the mat. While reigning 215-pound champion Pedro Lombi will be missed, there’s plenty of talent in reserve.

Veterans include Capitao (144), Conley (190), Kanana (heavyweight) and Mohamed (175). They’re joined by junior Michael Ray Abeyta (120), sophomore Wenfrey Diaz (138) and freshmen Mustafa Muhee (138), William Stratton (150) and Ryan Stults (157).

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.

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