DIRIGO COUGARS
Coach: Ann Speth
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Seniors — Ethan Couture, Riley Dumont, Tori Averill; Juniors — Damien Nadeau, Adrianna Belskis; Sophomores — Jacob Gallant, Spencer Jacques..
Season outlook: The Cougars return all of their skiers from last year’s team. Those experienced skiers will be joined by 13 sophomores and freshmen who haven’t skied before. Speth said the boys’ team should be competitive this season. Her hope is that all of the skiers improve throughout the season.
EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Eric Cobb (Third year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: Fifth at KVAC, eighth at state championship.
Returning athletes: Matt Syphers, Christian Hiscock, Cameron Langlois, Aiden Morrison, Harrison Bigos-Lowe, Tristan Brezovsky, Casey Burhoe, Devon Egge.
Promising newcomers: Simon Hall, James Pawlina, Brandon Newton.
Season outlook: Edward Little is gaining more skiers this year from the Auburn Middle School program, and that should add to the solid base that returns from the Eddies’ 2017-18 team. Matt Syphers is the lone senior on the talented, young squad.
GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER PATRIOTS
Coach: Jeff McEvoy
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Returning athletes: Michael Sutherland, William Maines.
Promising newcomers: Camden Bolduc, Jake Butler, Wyatt Fessler, Michael Sweeny.
Season outlook: Maines and Sutherland are both looking for top finishes in the WMC and state title meets. Sutherland is in his senior year and, according to head coach Jeff McEvoy, is gearing up for top-10 finishes at the big races.
LEAVITT HORNETS
Coach: Dustin Williamson (16th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Boys: Third at KVAC, third at state championship; Girls: Third at KVAC, fourth at state championship.
Returning athletes: Tamra Benson, Alex Hawksley, Ava Petrin, Abigayle Lavoie, Jessica Lynch, Ellery Macgregor, Jaidyn Negley, Roy Varney, Matthew Castagna, Eli Lind, Everet Varney, Eli Bell, Zach Madison.
Promising newcomers: Marta Riva, Morgan Dutil, Courtney Cabral, Chelsea Freda, Ava Gagnon, Ella Johnson, Aleks Bachkovsky, Zach Lafontaine.
Season outlook: Leavitt returns Roy Varney, the 2017-18 Sun Journal Nordic skiing MVP, along with a solid group of experienced skiers. Head coach Dustin Williamson believes the number of skiers will work in the Hornets’ favor this season, especially with the girls’ team returning many top-30 state finishers from last season.
MARANACOOK/WINTHROP
Head coach: Steve DeAngelis (35th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s record: Boys: First at KVAC, first at state championship; Girls: First at KVAC, third at state championship.
Returning athletes: Luke Bartol, Gabe Fein, Carter McPhedran, Tate Mendall, Bryce Tregethen, Maura Taylor, Ashley Cray, Cambelle Nutting, Maggie Strokes, Sophie O’Clair, Evelyn St. Germain.
Key losses: Mark McLaughlin, Laura Parent, Maddie Taylor.
Promising newcomers: Max Olmstead, Zach Berg.
Season outlook: Maranacook returns three top state finishers on the boys’ team and return a lot of skiers on the girls’ team. Maranacook will look to pick up right where it left off a season ago with another talented team.
MONMOUTH MUSTANGS
Coach: Dustin Williamson (16th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Returning athlete: Kyle Gunnels.
Season outlook: Kyle Gunnels is the lone Monmouth Nordic skier and will be training with Leavitt. Head coach Dustin Williamson is enthused with Gunnels’ talent and attitude.
MT. ABRAM ROADRUNNERS
Coach: Buzz and Sally Bean (35th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Boys: First at MVC, fifth at state championship; Girls: Eighth at MVC.
Returning athletes: Alice Cockerham, Dillon Wells, Levi Bouchard, Dylan Starbird, David Kidd, Chandler Rollins, Dalton Thurlow.
Promising newcomers: Cameron Walters, Alex Hemingway, Caleb Thibodeau, Emily Kidd, Winter Ziegler, Valentina Rowe.
Season outlook: The boys’ team is returning to build off last year’s successful season, while head coach Buzz Bean believes the girls’ team might have a chance at a conference title as well.
MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Claire Polfus (fourth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: Second at KVAC, first at state championship; Girls: Second at KVAC, third at state championship.
Returning athletes: Chelsea Seabold, Gretchen Huish, Kahryn Cullenberg, Jesse Dalton, Sam Smith, Mick Gurney, Dom Giampietro, Sam Stinson.
Key losses: Meg Charles, Kayla White, Zoe Huish, Alden Thompson-Vought.
Promising newcomers: Emma Charles, Brynne Robbins, Josh Smith, Sam Judkins.
Season outlook: The girls’ team lost last year’s Sun Journal Nordic skier of the year in Meg Charles, but it returns a nice core group with a couple freshmen who show “great promise.” The boys’ team returns five seniors in what is shaping up to be a solid season for a group that has been skiing together since elementary school.
OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Chris Easton (38th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: Fourth at KVAC, sixth at state championship; Girls: Sixth at KVAC, ninth at state championship.
Returning athletes: Olivia Swift, Tom Bancroft.
Key losses: Cam Bancroft, Isaac McNutt.
Promising newcomers: Isaac Roy, Nick Bancroft, Henry Swift, Grey Vanderwood, Paul Rudman, Donovan Sanborn and Hakon Teceno, Sydney Lisowski.
Season outlook: Chris Easton only returns two skiers this season from last year’s squad. Oxford Hills does, however, add many new faces, young and old, to the 2018-19 team, which should provide depth.
ST. DOMINIC SAINTS
Coach: Dustin Williamson (16th year)
Returning athletes: Emily Gerencer.
Promising newcomer: Mark D’Alessandro.
Season outlook: St. Dom’s will be coached by Dustin Williamson and train with the Leavitt Area High School Nordic team. Emily Gerencer is returning to the snow after a successful season training with Maranacook. Mark D’Alessandro is starting his Nordic career fresh off a successful cross country running year.
SPRUCE MOUNTAIN PHOENIX
Coach: Jay Lindsey (third year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Boys: Fifth at MVC, ninth at state championship.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Bryce Chavez, Joel Soper; Junior — Gene Lindsey; Sophomore — Jack Gilbert.
Promising newcomers: Margo Kenyon, Grace Goodwin, Paije Crockett, Cassandra Landry, Julia Pomeroy, Katrina Cook, Seth York.
Season outlook: Spruce Mountain returns four similarly timed skiers on the boys’ team, while the girls’ team adds many new skiers for the 2018-19 season.
TELSTAR REBELS
Head coach: Sarah Southam (seventh year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Boys: Third at MVC, fourth at state championship; Girls: Sixth at MVC.
Returning athlete: Emily Hanscom.
Key loss: Gaelan Boyle-Wight.
Promising newcomer: Sophie Hanscom.
Season outlook: Telstar lost 2018 Class C classical state title winner Gaelan Boyle-Wight and will only have two girl skiers this season.
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