EDWARD LITTLE
Coach: Jodd Bowles (fourth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: Eighth in state; Girls: Tied for third in state.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Maxx Bell, Connor Jackson, Kyle Mooney, Gabriel Withee; Juniors — Lucas Fisher, Leighton Girardin, Oliver Hall, Alec Larson; Sophomores — Jake Arel, Max Gamache. Girls: Senior — Evelyn Bilodeau; Juniors — Annabelle Soucie, Sarah Lachance, Mallorey Ouellette; Sophomores — Jordan Cummings, Miranda Chadbourne.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Marius Sobrie, Christian Beliveau; Freshmen — Drew Bennet, Dylan Bilodeau, Caleb Davis, Peter Hansen, Andrew Herrick Caleb Strout. Girls: Freshmen — McKenzie Brooks, Courtney Larson, Maizy Demers, Becca Bassett.
Season outlook: The boys’ team has plenty of depth and will try to gain more speed and consistency as it aims for another state championship. The Edward Little girls are coming of a solid state finish. With only one senior, the objective will be to build the confidence and speed of the juniors, sophomores and seniors. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams expect to be among the best in Class A.
GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER
Coach: Evan Mancini (third year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Returning athletes: Carson McEvoy, Kyle Mercier, Noah Lessard, Jake and Zach Piela, Andrew Fournier, Alex Farrington, Thomas Spurling, Sydney Garcia.
Promising newcomers: Hannah Biron, Keegan and Alex Brooks, Lawson Dunford, Collin Hayward.
Season outlook: Gray-New Gloucester has doubled the size of its team this year. Mancini said captains Carson McEvoy and Kyle Mercier are bringing a higher intensity to practices, and that the team is headed in a positive direction.
LEAVITT
Coach: Eric Guilmet (2nd year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Returning athletes: Senior — Ben Hodgkin; Sophomores — Maeghan Perkins, Kayla Leclerc.
Key loss: Hunter Marshall
Promising newcomers: Senior — Nicole Sargent; Freshmen — Brody Hathorne , Nick Tirrell.
Season outlook: The Hornets are looking to qualify as many individuals for the state championship as possible. As a unit, the team looks to build on last year’s performances as a group of young skiers that now has experience. The team also looks to build on last year’s numbers.
MOUNTAIN VALLEY
Coach: Todd Papianou (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Boys: MVC champ, second in state.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Curtis Gauvin: Junior — Cam Gallant. Girls: Sophomore — Ellie LeDuc.
Key losses: Nick Newman, John Adley, Andrew Arsenault, Johnny Pepin, Jacob Beuschene.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Sophomore — Josh Hodgson; Freshmen — Brady Davis, Colby Volkernick. Girls: Freshman — Gabbie Gallant.
Season outlook: The Falcons look to continue the legacy of strong skiing this season. Curtis Gauvin will look to replicate the success of Nick Newman, who won last season’s Class B giant slalom championship and finished second in the slalom. The young skiers come to the squad after achieve success at the middle school level.
MT. ABRAM
Coach: Larry Dunphy (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Girls: Seventh in state.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Emma Berube, Denesha Begin; Sophomores — Yvonne Provencher, Hannah Holland.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Tor Hookier; Sophomores — Lydia Dicentes, River Horn; Freshmen — Alice Mackay, Ethan Cockerham, Matthew Nichols.
Season outlook: The Roadrunners are, for the most part in a building year, but new coach Larry Dunphy sees enthusiasm and passion for being on the snow. Despite the building phase of the team, a few skiers could place high in the postseason.
MT BLUE
Coach: Mark Cyr (15th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: Second in KVAC, fifth in state; Girls: Sixth in KVAC, sixth in state.
Returning athletes: Boys: Senior — Hunter Bolduc; Junior — Sam Smith; Sophomores — Eli Yeaton, James Guilluame. Girls: Juniors — Jenna Hanrahan, Eli Pelletier, Ashley Wiles; Sophomore — Mazie Gordan.
Key losses: Boys: Miles Pelletier.
Promising newcomers: Girls: Sophomore — Brooke Bolduc.
Season outlook: The Cougars are seeking to improve their ability to race in adverse conditions, such as ice and loose snow. They also want to improve their racing at different venues and when a title is on the line. Cyr said the boys team is ready to step up and fill the void left by Miles Pelletier. The girls, meanwhile, are growing in confidence each year.
OXFORD HILLS
Coach: Mike Grace (19th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: Fourth in state; Girls: Eighth in state.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Caroline Burns, Samantha Cassidy; Juniors — Derry Bessette, Cat Crowell, Hayley Mcleod, Jordan Davidson, Nick Martinez, Will Manchester-Wells; Sophomores — Tommy Bancroft, Jake Mills, Colby VanDecker.
Key losses: Roland VanDecker, McKinley Murphy
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Liam Childs, Mario DeVivo, Bram Dustin, Harrison Hartnett, Payton Heaward, Payton Sherbinski, Alden Timm; Seniors: Ginevra Arpaia, Lucia Gonzalez, Chas Laredo.
Season outlook: The Oxford Hills girls are anticipating another strong season from Caroline Burns and further improvement from the other members of the team. Those things will lead to a higher state placing. The boys’ team has several solid juniors and sophomores returning, and should be competitive in the conference, especially once Colby VanDecker returns from an injury.
SPRUCE MOUNTAIN
Coach: Bill Acritelli (third year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Boys: Eighth in state; Girls: Class B state champions.
Returning athletes: Boys: Juniors — Noah Gilbert, Joel Soper, Hunter Quirron; Sophomores — Gage Sampson, Jacob Paradis. Girls: Seniors — Allison Acritelli, Madeline Timberlake, Kiarra Richards; Junior — Julia Pomeroy; Sophomores — Grace Harmatus, Adria Plourde, Bailey Coates.
Key losses: Boys: Lucas Alley. Girls: none.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Jack Gilbert, Carter Mitchell. Girls: none.
Season outlook: The Spruce Mountain girls return the entire squad that won last year’s Class B state championship. They’ll be racing for a repeat. The boys’ team returns a strong core, and the skiers are willing and ready to work to accomplish their goals.
TELSTAR
Coach: Kevin Hawthorne (fourth year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Returning athletes: Juniors — Joseph Dillon, Kaity Killam; Sophomores — Abbey Landry, Jaxen Call
Promising newcomers: Sophomores — Maxwell Ochtera, Evan LeConey.
Season outlook: The Rebels have a small team, but it includes some experienced racers. Hawthorne said that staying healthy might be the key to Telstar’s success.
WINTHROP/MARANACOOK
Coach: Ronn Gifford (14th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Boys: First in KVAC, third in state; Girls: Second in KVAC, third in state.
Returning athletes: Boys: Senior — Stephan Gawron; Juniors — Jacob Coulombe, Brian McNamara; Sophomores — Corbin Howe, John McLaughlin, Robbie McKee. Girls: Seniors — Janika Pakulski, Lana Watts; Junior — Lily Welch; Sophomores — Katie Ide, Nina Gyorgy, Caroline Welch, Vita Scott, Mackenzie Friese, Hannah Liscord, Molly McGrail, Avery Alvarado.
Key losses: Boys: Nathan Delmar, Liam McNamara, Dennis Chiappetta, Steven White, Andrew Coulombe, Andrew Davis, Logan Stanley, Adam Dunbar, Shun Nishijima, Markus Roezler; Girls: Rachel Tooth, Elizabeth Rice, Molly Searway, Aija-Runa Loukkola, Helen Murray-James, Ally Phair, Charlotte Brun, Alicia Hernandez, Laura Ireland, Ruth Murray-James.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Juniors — Gaetan Hiblot, Luigi Pintore, Florian Beuhler; Sophomores — Brady Stockwell, Collin McGarr; Freshmen — Bradley Russell, Eli Jacobs, MIchael Tamborini, Andrew Dupuy, Mietek Gawron. Girls: Senior — Naomi Moulton; Sophomore — Dana Reynolds; Freshmen — Lexi Delisle, Katie Sechrist.
Season outlook: New captains Brian McNamara and Robbie McKee lead a boys’ team that is energetic and seeking to prove itself after the graduation of eight skiers from last year’s team. The girls’ team also lost eight skiers who will be difficult to replace. Captains Janika Pakulski and Lily Welch, along with a talented group of sophomores should have the squad in the thick of the postseason races by the end of the season.
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