Football
Coach: Dave Kilborn
Record: 6-3
Seniors: Steve Arnold, Andy Hager, Colin Hurd, Tim James, Charlie Justice, AJ Johnston, Adam Kidder, Andy Oldenburg, TJ Poulin, Jordan Rowles, Dan Sanford, Matt Trask and Colby Walker
In the Rams first season in Class A, Kilborn said that he wanted to “gain respect for our program” in the new division.
Mission accomplished.
With a running game that featured three explosive options, Gorham’s offense averaged more than 36 points a game.
Senior Andy Oldenburg rushed for 1,057 yards for a career total of 4,500, topping the old school record by 700 yards. Sophomore Justin Villacci ran for 1,550 yards, averaging more than 10 yards a carry.
But it was Colin Hurd who received the school’s Best Offense award, as the big fullback shed tacklers on handoffs up the middle all season, keeping defenders from keying on one of the two smaller backs slipping to the outside.
The best Defense Award went to Charlie Justice, while Colby Walker was presented with the Bill Bennett Award and Andy Hager with the Black Lion Award.
The Rams losses were against three top teams (Portland, Deering and Bonny Eagle) and each was a close game. Gorham did edge the Scots in the regular-season finale, 32-22, which set up the following week’s playoff rematch. Beating a team as good as Bonny Eagle twice in a row, the second time at their place, would have been a Herculean task.
“The ability to finally play our neighbors and be competitive against them is something that we have been striving to achieve since we began football seven years ago,” said Kilborn. “We can only hope that our weight program will continue to help us produce the type of athlete we need for our football program to be competitive in the years to come.”
Field Hockey
Coach: Amber Hatch
Record: 14-2
Seniors: Melissa Sanborn, Danielle Moody, Laura Willette, Samantha Jones and Kristen Walls
The Rams proved to be one of the top teams in the state, running off 10 wins in a row to start the season and losing only twice, both times by the score of 1-0 to eventual west champion Bonny Eagle.
The second of those losses came in the regional semi-final and was decided in the post-overtime penalty corner round.
Goalkeeper Rachel Lolly didn’t let up more than one goal in any game all season and collected five shutouts.
Moody and Sanborn controlled the action from their midfield positions and were named co-MVPs. They were also named SMAA first-team all-stars, as was Emma Deans. Leigh Maniscalco was named to the second team and Chanelle Hallsworth received an honorable mention. Kristen Walls was selected for the Unsung Hero Award, and Corey Perkins received the Ram Award.
“The girls were all focused positively on the team and enjoyed their time together,” said Hatch. “I am grateful to our seniors for setting the standard so highly for performance, effort, sportsmanship and fun.”
As for the future of the team, the coach said that they are “already figuring how we are going to knock (state champ) Skowhegan out next year.”
Boys Soccer
Coach: Tim King
Record: 11-2-1
Seniors: Josh Tanguay, Will Pike, Phil Reed, Mark Schmidt, Trevor Ross, Patrick King, James Maston, Doug Somers and Serkan Rahman
The boys looked a little confused after their season-opening 3-0 loss at Deering, but it turned out to be just a little speed bump – one that Gorham quickly put behind them. The setback was followed by eight straight wins, including a 2-1 victory over eventual state champ Scarborough – the Red Storm’s only loss of the season.
Rams forwards Reed (13 goals) and Schmidt (10 goals) spearheaded the high-powered offense, while the squad’s defense – anchored by Pike, the athletic goalkeeper – shut out seven opponents.
In the regional semi-finals Gorham drew a rematch with Scarborough, and this time came up short, 2-0, but it was an impressive campaign for the team’s first season in Class A.
Pike, King and Reed were selected as SMAA first-team all-stars, while Schmidt was named to the second team and Zach Stover received an honorable mention.
“Next year will be a bit of a transition year,” said Coach King, “but with many talented starters returning and other players stepping up from an 11-1 JV team, I’m hoping the transition will be smooth and the team will remain competitive in the SMAA.”
Girls Soccer
Coach: Jeanne Zarrilli
Record: 16-1
Seniors: Alison Feibel, Kathryn Cyr, Anna Willis, Emily Jenkins and Courtney Macleod
As an encore to last season’s Class B state championship, the girls went out and took this year’s Class A title – and did it in even more impressive fashion.
After dropping the season opener to Scarborough, the Lady Rams won 16 in a row, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Bangor for the state crown. In state tournament play, Gorham outscored their opponents 9-0.
With Luci Pike stepping up to the challenge of being a full-time goalkeeper and Caitlyn Butterfield a rock on defense, Kelsey Wilson gave opponents fits at the other end. The junior scored 33 goals, including four at Kennebunk and four more against Portland.
Rachele Burns was relentless at forward and scored her share of goals as well. Butterfield, Wilson and Burns were each selected as SMAA first-team all-stars. Ashley Michaud and Molly Folan were named to the second-team, and Zarrilli was one of two coach-of-the-year selections in the league.
“I knew I had athletes and I knew I had kids who had been well-coached and had played Premiere, and we’re athletic and competitive,” said the coach, “but you just never know with a young team exactly how they’re going to handle the competition.”
Most of the key players on this year’s team being underclassmen, the Rams have to be the early favorites for next year already.
Boys Cross Country
Coach: John Wilkinson & Kevin Jenkins
Record: 10-5
Seniors: Ryan Dyer, Ben Douglas, Jeff Manchester, Matt Caldwell, Max Bass, Mutumbu Mutumbo, Rob Connolly and Phil Hodgkins
With Jenkins, the school’s long-time basketball coach, co-coaching with Wilkinson, a number of basketball players brought their athleticism to the squad, most notably Manchester.
Among the team’s victories were impressive showings at Marshwood in mid-September and at South Portland in early October. The team also qualified for the states in their first year in Class A.
Duncan Allen, who received an SMAA honorable mention, finished 17th out of 104 runners in the league meet, while Manchester was 32nd of 110 at the states. Dyer, Douglas and Caldwell received coach’s awards, and Douglas and Bass were named to the SMAA all-academic team.
“Six of our top ten runners return next year,” said Wilkinson. “We’re projected to be one of the top three programs going into next fall.”
Girls Cross Country
Coach: John Wilkinson & Kevin Jenkins
Record:
Seniors: Sara Popovics, Kristi Hall, Johannah O’Malley, Victoria Miner and Sarah Shaw
Sara Popovics led this squad all year, winning in an early October meet that featured South Portland and Biddeford and finishing 16th of 106 runners at the west regionals.
The senior qualified for the states in each of her four seasons running cross country and was named as an SMAA honorable mention. Popovics, O’Malley and Hall each received coach’s awards.
The coaches have high hopes for next year’s squad.
“Five of the top ten girls return next year,” said Wilkinson, “and a couple of good freshmen will be added to the program.”
Golf
Coach: Rocky Myers
Record: 7-3
Seniors: Craig Woodbrey and Jon Kalloch
The Rams began the golf season with four wins, including topping a good Thornton Academy team, 8-5, at home, in a match that Myers cited as the highlight of the season.
Gorham also beat Biddeford, Windham and Bonny Eagle twice each. The losses came in the rematch at Thornton and in both meetings with Kennebunk, a squad that finished third at the state tournament.
Freshman David Gushee quickly established himself as one of the top players in the state, besting all of his opponents but one in his first season. He was selected as the team’s MVP.
Scott Guimond and Dan Chadwick were named Most Improved.
“We had 20-plus players in the golf program,” said Myers. “If we can fill the shoes of the two seniors, we should be very competitive next year.”
Volleyball
Coach: Shari Chapman
Record: 11-5
Seniors: Deandra Guidi, Renate Guyer, Anastasia Miliano, Morgan Carlson, Brittani Fleury and Meg Poulin
The Rams were disappointed in their western Maine final loss to Greely, especially because Gorham had played better each time they faced the Rangers. The trend culminated in a match in early October, when the Rams took a game from their rivals, but Greely, the three-time state champs, was ready for their opponents in the playoffs.
Chapman’s squad lost four of six starters coming into the season, and the coach knew she’d need some underclassmen to step up if the team was going to be competitive.
“I was very pleased with how they developed,” Chapman said. “The young girls came up and we accomplished a lot by the end of the season.
Setter Guidi was able to get the ball to Carlson consistently, and the six-foot middle hitter pounded the ball at people. Guyer, a transfer student from Switzerland, dove to the floor to save opposing smashes so often her teammates called her “the mop.”
Those seniors, especially Carlson, will be tough to replace, but Chapman remains positive.
“The JV program is having success,” said the coach.
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