ELLIS WOOD, Junior – Track

Ben McCanna / Portland Press Herald

Courtesy Deering Athletics.

Nordic skiing’s loss was indoor track’s gain this winter, as Wood tried a new sport and to the surprise of no one, excelled at it, as he helped the Rams to a most successful campaign.

Wood, who has made his mark in cross country running (placing fourth in Class A this past fall) and outdoor track (second in the two-mile last spring), competed in Nordic skiing as a freshman and sophomore, but made the move to indoor track this winter and made an immediate impact.

Deering went 6-10 a year ago, but thanks in large part to Wood’s addition, posted a record of 14-2 this regular season. In the first meet of the year, Wood captured the mile.

“Ellis was coming off a rigorous cross-country season that saw him extend his fall sport to New Englands and Foot Locker Nationals and that required him to limit his mileage and concentrate on proper rest and downtime,” said Deering’s boys indoor track coach Ryan Graney. “It was a focus of his to start the season light and the focus was on the mile, not the two-mile.”

While excelling in the mile throughout, Wood would gradually extend his dominance to the 600 and the two-mile.

At the Southwestern championship meet, Wood came in second in both the mile and the two-mile.

Wood then won the two-mile at states with a time of 9 minutes, 33.78 seconds.

“Ellis was able to bring home an individual state title and now he holds the school record in the two-mile indoors as well as outdoors,” Graney said.

Wood now turns his attention to excelling in outdoor track before embarking on what promises to be a memorable and triumphant senior year.

That’s because Ellis Wood, Deering’s Winter Athlete of the Year, excels regardless of the season. Whether he’s a seasoned veteran or new to a team.

Coach Ryan Graney’s comment: “In his first season of high school indoor track, Ellis was a boost to our team. Ellis has been very methodical in his training and has always prepared to hit peak at the perfect time. Ellis is not only a student of his craft on the track where he is friendly and aware of all his competitors from cross country and track, but his academic acuity makes him a great student in the classroom as well, where his cumulative GPA is over 103 in AP and Honors classes making him a true dual threat, athletically and academically. Ellis brings with him leadership and followership qualities that are a true testament to him being the consummate teammate where he is supportive and appreciative of all the athletes on the team. It was a real pleasure this season to the coaches in having the versatility of an athlete like Ellis who ended the season as the team leader in the 600, mile, and two-mile, plus being a valued asset on the team’s 4×800 relay. Ellis was a big piece of Deering’s resurgence and we look forward to seeing him in outdoor track and what else Ellis is capable of in pursuit of his own school records.”

Previous winners:

• 2023-24 Pedro Lombi (wrestling)
* 2022-23 Pedro Lombi (wrestling)
* 2021-22 Remijo Wani (basketball)
* 2020-21 Mpore Semuhoza (basketball)
• 2019-20 Darryl Germain (basketball)
• 2018-19 Ben Onek (basketball)
• 2017-18 Owen McLaughlin (swimming)
• 2016-17 Ezra Chapola (track)
• 2015-16 Paolo DeMarco (track)
• 2014-15 Hany Ramadan (track)
• 2013-14 Eric Delmonte (swimming)
• 2012-13 Jared Bell (track)
• 2011-12 Jon Amabile (basketball)
• 2010-11 Jon Amabile (basketball)
• 2009-10 Eddie Tirabassi (basketball)
• 2008-09 E.J. Googins (swimming)
• 2007-08 Chris Smith (wrestling)
• 2006-07 Brandon Carbone (basketball)
• 2005-06 Allen Stein (wrestling)
• 2004-05 Kyle Johnson (swimming)
• 2003-04 Brian Vail (track)

ANYA HEIDEN, Senior – Swimming 

Gregory Rec / Portland Press Herald

* SMAA All-Academic

Courtesy Deering Athletics.

The Deering/Portland RamDogs did it again.

Winning the Class A girls swimming state title for the second straight year.

And the contributions of Heiden, both in and out of the pool, were a big reason why.

Heiden has been swimmer all four years of high school and during Deering/Portland’s surprise run to the co-op program’s first championship a year ago, she placed seventh in the 200 freestyle and eighth in the 100 free.

This winter, as a senior, Heiden was competitive in multiple events throughout the season and came up big in the postseason.

At the North Division Southwesterns meet, where Deering/Portland placed second behind perennial powerhouse Cape Elizabeth, Heiden was fourth in the 200 free and swam the anchor leg on a runner-up medley relay squad and the lead leg on a third-place 400 free relay team.

At states, where Deering/Portland went back-to-back, Heiden finished fifth in the 100 free (58.38 seconds), eighth in the 200 free (2 minutes, 8.6 seconds) and was part of a third-place medley relay squad and a fifth-place 400 free relay team.

“I got on the bus, and there was so much laughter and so much supportive energy,” said Heiden, of the state meet. “That’s when I knew we’ve got it. We sang the entire path of the bus ride. We just wanted to show everyone what our team culture was like, because that’s our most important asset.”

Heiden, who is also a Student Representative on the Portland School Board, is known for her leadership in the pool and on campus.

Anya Heiden, Deering’s Winter Athlete of the Year, helped her team achieve greatness once again by saving her best for last.

Coach Sarah Rasmussen’s comment: “Anya has been a four-year member of this team and this year was the culmination of her growth as a leader and an athlete. As an athlete, this year Anya became a central component to all of our relays and our strategy in creating team lineups. She had a competitive fire and edge that resulted in her ability to anchor relays and pull out individual wins that allowed our team to be successful. Anya also became a powerful leader who advocated for the needs and best interests of every athlete on our team. She was a key part in bringing in new freshmen and creating a cohesive group which resulted in a state title.”

Previous winners:

• 2023-24 Natalie Santiago (basketball)
* 2022-23 Maya Gayle (basketball)
* 2021-22 Megan Cunningham (skiing)
* 2020-21 Sierra Aponte-Clarke (skiing)
• 2019-20 Megan Cunningham (skiing)
• 2018-19 Grace Tumavicus (skiing)
• 2017-18 Annah Rossvall (track)
• 2016-17 Tasia Titherington (basketball)
• 2015-16 Abi Ramirez (basketball)
• 2014-15 Amanda Brett (basketball)
• 2013-14 Emma Pontius (swimming)
• 2012-13 Genevieve Worthley (swimming)
• 2011-12 Genevieve Worthley (swimming)
• 2010-11 Kayla Burchill (basketball)
• 2009-10 Claire Ramonas (basketball)
• 2008-09 Diana Manduca (basketball)
• 2007-08 Diana Manduca (basketball)
• 2006-07 Nicole Garland (basketball)
• 2005-06 Emily Sweatt (swimming)
• 2004-05 Rebecca Schack (track)
• 2003-04 Megan Urban (basketball)

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