NATHAN HANISKO, Senior – Hockey

Derek Davis/  Portland Press Herald

Courtesy Cape Elizabeth Athletics.

Day-in, day-out, Hanisko faced the best that the opposition could give him and he always rose to the occasion, keeping the undermanned Capers competitive all winter.

Hanisko, who also golfed in high school, played a supporting role in Cape Elizabeth’s run to the Class B state title in 2023, saving nearly 90 percent of the shots he faced and posting a goals-against-average of 1.94 in eight outings backing up Charlie Garvin. As a junior, Hanisko had the starting job and while the Capers weren’t as dominant, he still managed to win team Most Valuable Player honors.

While Cape Elizabeth didn’t post a lot of victories this season, the Capers were in every game, as Hanisko saved 93 percent of the shots he faced, allowed just over three goals per game and made a whopping 805 saves, many of the dazzling variety.

Highlights included 43 saves in a loss to Mt. Ararat, 50 saves in a loss to Marshwood, 32 saves in a loss to Portland/South Portland/Deering/Waynflete and 27 saves in a one-goal setback to Greely.

Cape Elizabeth was beaten by defending and eventual repeat state champion Cheverus/Yarmouth in the quarterfinals, but Hanisko had one last strong performance, stopping 29 shots.

Nathan Hanisko, Cape Elizabeth’s Winter Athlete of the Year, was tough to beat and everyone on the ice knew it. He kept the Capers in every game and will leave behind impossible shoes to fill.

Coach Matt Riggle’s comment: “Nate’s the man. He’s a fantastic goaltender and an even better person, so this recognition is very well-deserved. He’s been our rock, a brick wall all season. He didn’t have a single off-night all year. His numbers speak for themselves. He’s not just a great goalie, but he’s a great person. He’s been one of the centerpieces of our culture this year and he was last year as well.”

Previous winners:

• 2023-24 David Steinbrick (swimming)
* 2022-23 Logan Schwartz (Alpine skiing)
* 2021-22 Keegan McKenney (swimming)
* 2020-21 Nate Mullen (basketball)
• 2019-20 Matt Laughlin (hockey)
• 2018-19 Andrew Hartel (basketball)
• 2017-18 Finn Bowe (basketball)
• 2016-17 Quinn Hewitt (basketball)
• 2015-16 Devon Lathrop (Alpine skiing)
• 2014-15 Ethan Murphy (basketball)
• 2013-14 Eddie Galvin (basketball)
• 2012-13 Evan Long (swimming)
• 2011-12 Nick Breed (hockey)
• 2010-11 Theo Bowe (basketball)
• 2009-10 Conor Maloney (basketball)
• 2008-09 Alex Bowe (basketball)
• 2007-08 Tommy Ray (basketball)
• 2006-07 Graham Egan (Nordic skiing)
• 2005-06 Kevin Harrison (track)
• 2004-05 Dan Rautenberg (hockey)
• 2003-04 Ben Weimont (track)
• 2002-03 Luke Holden (hockey)
• 2001-02 Tom Alberi (swimming)

HOPE TAYLOR, Senior – Swimming

Gregory Rec / Portland Press Herald

* Class B state champion, 200 freestyle
* Class B state champion, 500 freestyle
* All-State, 200 freestyle
* All-State, 500 freestyle
* All-State, 400 freestyle relay
* All-Conference, 200 freestyle
* All-Conference, 500 freestyle
* All-Conference, 400 freestyle relay
* All-Academic

Courtesy Cape Elizabeth Athletics.

Taylor outswam and outlasted the competition, helped bring out the best in her teammates and in the process, became the latest in a long line of Capers’ multiple-time champions as she bowed out with a flourish.

Taylor made an immediate mark as a freshman, helping the Capers’ 400 free relay team finish first en route to a team state title. As a sophomore, Taylor won the 500 free as Cape Elizabeth won Class B again, then as a junior, she repeated as the champion in the 500 free and placed third in the 200 individual medley, helping the Capers to the top spot once more.

This winter, while Cape Elizabeth wasn’t able to take home the team title, Taylor had no peer in the 500 free once again (with a time of 5 minutes, 10.65 seconds) and this time, she parlayed that with a title in the 200 free (1:58.09).

“During her career as a swimmer, Hope has been a key member of three state championship and four Southwestern championship teams,” said longtime Capers coach Ben Raymond.

Raymond will compete next year at Amherst College in Massachusetts.

She leaves behind a legacy of hard work, encouragement and triumph. Hope Taylor, Cape Elizabeth’s Winter Athlete of the Year, was a standout swimmer and teammate and won’t soon be forgotten.

Coach Ben Raymond’s comment: “Hope has been a huge part of our success over the past four years and will be a huge part of it after she graduates as well. She’s a leader among her peers and has gained the respect of them as well as her teachers and other influential adults in the swimming community. Hope is a top distance swimmer which is a huge commitment. Her sets are very different from those of our sprinters and she leads this group day-in and day-out in some very taxing workouts. All the while she does this with a smile and the encouragement her lane-mates need to continue to improve and enjoy what is often not very enjoyable work. Hope strives for perfection in everything that she does and this does not come easily. Hope has committed herself in many areas and is unwilling to shortchange anyone. Everyone gets the best Hope has to offer. Hope takes her responsibilities extremely seriously and refuses to let anyone down. The other constant in all of Hope’s commitments is her unbelievably upbeat attitude. Hope is almost always smiling and the quality of her character and positive attitude is visible to all and rubs off on most. She has demonstrated outstanding commitment, invested all of her energies and has given of her time to Cape Elizabeth High School, the Cape Elizabeth swim program and the Cape Elizabeth community as a whole for the past four years and I am sure she will continue to do the same next year at Amherst College.”

Previous winners:

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