Mt. Blue’s seniors will be under the stewardship of the third head coach of their tenures with the Cougars basketball team.
However, the new coach, Fred Conlogue, isn’t completely unfamiliar to most of the Cougars, including those seniors.
He previously served as the freshman and JV coach before taking a few years off to earn his master’s degree. During that time, he coached the middle school team, which featured this year’s sophomores and freshmen. Add in that he also is the Mt. Blue girls’ soccer coach, and he has familiarity of most of the players on the basketball roster.
As the middle school coach, Conlogue ran many of previous Mt. Blue coach Gavin Kane’s sets, and he’ll keep some of those intact with the high school team.
“It’s kind of a mixture of new and old,” Conlogue said.
The Cougars have four returning seniors, but their playing time was limited in 2015-16 because last year’s five seniors spent so much time on the court.
Last year’s squad was led by Caitlin Cane. Nobody has seized the s role this season, and that’s fine with Conlogue. Instead, it will be shared by the likes of Hannah LeClair, Kasadie Barker, Leah St. Laurent, Jocelyn Daggett, Mariel Damon, Nathalie Pierce and Rebecca Harmon.
“The strength is really the depth of the team,” he said. “We really haven’t had one player step up to be the star of the team.”
Conlogue recognizes the difficulties of playing under three coaches in four seasons, but, while the players might still be acclimating to him to some extent, it’s clear that they’re familiar with each other.
“I’m liking the chemistry of the team right now,” Conlogue said. “They’re all working hard.”
Coach: Fred Conlogue (first year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A North
Last year’s results: 9-10 (lost in A North quarterfinals)
Returning athletes: Seniors — Hannah LeClair, Kasadie Barker, Leah St. Laurent, Nathalie Pierce; Junior — Jocelyn Daggett; Sophomore — Mariel Damon.
Key losses: Caitlin Kane, Eryn Doiron, Emilee Eustis, Olivia Ryan, Mackenzie Harris.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Jillian Conant, Kayleigh Fontaine, Taylor Burke; Juniors — Rebecca Harmon, Erika McArthur; Sophomores — Renee Solis, Mackenzie Libby, Jacelyn Daggett; Freshman — Lexi Mittelstadt.
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