Alpine Skiing
Coach: Evan Mancini
Key athletes returning: Kyle Mercier, Noah Lessard
Outlook: “This year, G-NG Alpine is looking to take its skiing to the next level by training at Lost Valley,” Mancini says. “We all look forward to the season and are anxious to get on snow.” The team welcomes seven new athletes for the 2016-17 winter.

Boys Basketball
Coach: Ryan Deschenes
Last year’s record: 2-16
Key players returning: John Henry Villanueva, (sr., G); Tanner Mann (sr., F); Josiah Rottari (jr., G); Zach Brady (jr., C); John Martin (so., G); Hunter Colby (so., C); Jake Kackmeister (so., F)
Key matchups: Poland, Freeport, Lake Region, Fryeburg
Outlook: “We have a young, yet talented, roster,” Deschenes says. “Only two seniors, with seven sophomores. We like our balance overall, with a mixture of shooting, speed and size.” The Patriots do indeed bring substantial size to the court this winter, with Brady standing 6-foot-6, Colby 6-foot-5, Kackmeister 6-foot-4, Mann 6-foot-3, Martin 6-foot-2 and Villanueva 6-foot-1. Martin is the team’s returning point guard; he’s formidable in that position not least because of his height. Villanueva is a returning starter as well, and “a very strong player on both ends of the floor,” as Deschenes says. Deschenes expects his outfit to parlay their gifts into a respectable run. “Our goal is to find our way through the bumps a young team will face during the season and be playing our best basketball in February … We expect to surprise some people and should be a team with a chance to reach one of the last few playoff spots in Class B South.”

Girls Basketball
Coach: Mike Andreasen (sixth year)
Last year’s record: 17-5, fell in Class B State Final
Key players lost: Alanna Camerl, Ashley Jordan
Key players returning: Skye Conley (sr., C); Alicia Dumont (sr., G); Grace Kariotis (sr., G); Isabelle DeTroy (sr., F); Brianna Jordan (so., F)
Key matchups: Lake Region, Wells, Poland, Yarmouth, Greely, Fryeburg
Outlook: G-NG should figure prominently into this year’s playoff mix, as the team welcomes back 80 percent of last winter’s starters. “The Patriots return a strong nucleus from last year’s State Runners-up team,” Andreasen says. “We hope to play up-tempo and run as much as possible. The scoring should be balanced, as the team returns five of its top scorers from a year ago. If the team is able to play pressure defense, it could again be a contender.” Andreasen notes the addition of several promising newcomers as well, including Alexa Thayer (so.), Mikaela Ryan (so.), and Jordan Granjt (fr.).

Cheering
Coach: Melissa Burila
Last year’s record: Second at WMCs, second at Regionals, eighth at States
Key athletes returning: Kate Ferguson (sr.)
Outlook: The Patriots lost nine seniors to graduation in June, and so will need to get some younger competitors quickly up to speed. Thankfully, Ferguson “continues to be a strong leader,” Burila says. “We are excited about our new season and new faces. Our program continues to strengthen with a great feeder program and amazing community support.”

Indoor Track
Coach: Todd Mercer
Key athletes returning: Jeremiah Gendreau, Samuel Aube, Trent Dexter, Seth Levier, Logan Nickerson, Andrew Peterson, Emily Brewer, Abigael Chandler, Eliza Larrivee, Emma MacCallum, Jaley Martin, Madison Post, Megan Reynolds, Erica Schlicting
Key matchups: WMCs, States
Outlook: “While this team is relatively young, they are a very hardworking and attentive team,” Mercer says, noting as well that his squad has swollen by roughly 20 kids since last year. “We will be very competitive during the regular season. We’ll have all the events covered, hopefully with scoring athletes. The end of the season is what really matters, and I can assure you this team will surprise people at the State Meet because we have grudges to settle,” he says, nodding in particular to the 4×200 Relay. “I have athletes who were not satisfied with their performance during the spring season, and they looking to turn that grudge into future success, and, with the support of their team, I think they can accomplish anything they set their eyes on.” Last year, weather forced the cancellation of the WMC Championships, which disappointed athletes from every corner of the Conference, including G-NG. “Many of their goals centered around this meet. I’ve already heard them talking about being excited for that meet. This year you can expect G-NG them to come into the WMC meet on fire,” Mercer says.

Nordic Skiing
Coach: Jeff McEvoy
Last year’s record: Girls fifth at States
Key athletes lost: Kaylyn Woods, Keaton McEvoy, Melody Larson, Ben Rogers
Key athletes returning: Mike Sutherland (so.), Carson McEvoy (so.)
Outlook: Graduation in June took a grave toll on the Patriots’ ranks. Woods was a three-time State Champion, and the elder McEvoy and Rogers were both consistent, top-15 contenders. Still, Sutherland and the younger McEvoy are, according to Jeff McEvoy, “solid skiers with good prospects as upperclassmen.” Expect a setback for G-NG this season, as far as finishes go, but look for the team to develop as well.

Boys Hockey
Coach Joe Hutchinson couldn’t be reached.

G-NG’s Erica Schlicting returns to the track this winter.

Izzy DeTroy will play a critical role for the Lady Patriots in 2016-17.