THE MORSE HIGH SCHOOL girls basketball team, here posing for photo prior to playing Sanford in the Morse Tip- Off Classic at the Augusta Civic Center on Friday, open the 2011/12 schedule at Oak Hill and former coach Tom Morong on Dec. 13.
Dropping down to Class B could have its advantages.
“I really like the group of coaches that we play in Class B,” said Hart. “We have a few interesting games that will certainly draw some interest. Coaching against my coach Tom Maines (now at Scarborough) on Monday (scrimmage) should be very interesting. There is no one in basketball that I respect more than coach Maines … he has been there for me during the great season and not-so-great season, so I am looking forward to coaching against him.
“Another of our opponents this year is Oak Hill which is coached by Tom Morong, who coached at Morse for as long as I can remember. I am looking forward to those games just from a history stand point.
The schedule has an Eastern flavor, but Morse will end up in the West for the postseason.
“The KVAC has put us in Class B West for Heal Points, but our schedule does not reflect B West opponents,” offered Hart. “The majority of our schedule is played against East opponents and for the most part we only see teams once. I am not fond of playing a regular season schedule against opponents we might not see in the tournament.
There is no looking back to last season, but Hart welcomes any support for this winter.
“Last season we had some great crowds and the kids really enjoyed playing in those games. I would like to challenge the community to fill our gym. To me, basketball is a great way to pass the winter along. I am sure we will provide our fans with lots to cheer for and having a packed gym makes it very difficult for visiting teams, so please come out and support your Shipbuilders.”
Wrestling
Morse took fifth in state action while wrestling in Western Maine Class B.
Earning second places were Wyatt Brackett (135), Sean Marrero (189) and Aaron Mitchell (heavyweight).
The Shipbuilders host the annual Westlake Tournament Saturday at the Bath Middle School.
Returning seniors are Dylan Harrington (120, state qualifier 2011), Gary Stevens (132, three-time state qualifier, second place), Jake Barrett (138) and Wyatt Brackett (145, threetime state qualifier, state runner-up twice).
Returning juniors are Zech Thomas (145), Michael Alvarez (152) and Elijah McNeil l( 160), while returning sophomores are Kyle Bonti (106), Aidan McGowan (140), Michael Armstrong (152).
Freshman and newcomers include junior Anthony Alvarez ( 126), sophomore Brody Lozier and freshmen Matt Fontanez (132), Andrew Payson (132), Chad Bonti (138), Kaleb Goddison (145), Corey Lent (195) and Austin Talgo (285).
“We finished fifth in Class B last season,” said head coach Shawn Guest. “We would like to get back in the top- five again this year. Lost Sean Marrero and Aaron Mitchell, as both were second in states last season. Only returning state placewinners are Gary and Wyatt.
“The preseason has been a mess with starting during Thanksgiving break. We missed a lot of kids on Wednesday and Friday. We are really strong in the middle weights, but have nothing at 170, 182, 220 and 285.
“These new weight classes hurt us at the top, but also Kyle at 103 as now 119-pounders will be coming down to 108 by season’s end. He only weighs 90 pounds. We have a lot of ‘big tough kids’ walking the halls but can’t get them to wrestle.
“Our schedule is about the same with KVAC schools, but we are not going to the Noble Tournament this year, instead going to Hermon Tournament. The schools that wrestle there are the ones we will see from the East at the state meet so it will give us a chance to scout and find out what we need to work on in regards to certain kids.
“I am really unhappy with the new realignment of weight classes. I hope that with our seniors and juniors we can score enough points at the state meet to keep us in the top-five.”
Swimming
Girls took second behind Bangor in State Class A championships and were led by Emily Buczkowski (now at UMaine) with wins in the 50 free (24.65) and 100 free (54.38). She also swam a leg on the victorious 200 medley relay (1:53.72), along with Catie Luedee, Caitlin Foster and Guerin Morissette.
The boys were 10th in state action. Jake Olsen was fourth in the 100 butterfly (55.38), Albin Werwaiss fifth in the 100 back (1:00.13) and Ryan Bangor fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:11).
The Morse boys, led by Male Swimmer of the Meet Olsen, got past its Brunswick rival, 250.5-235.5, to take the KVAC title from the twotime champion Dragons. On the girls’ side, Morse battled throughout the long day with Messalonskee before taking the crown.
The Morse swimmers open Dec. 13 at home against Messalonskee.
Senior boys include co-captain Jake Olsen (sprint freestyle, butterfly), co-captain Ryan Banger (distance freestyle, breaststroke) and Albin Werwaiss (backstroke, individual medley).
Juniors are Kyle Wood (freestyle), Alex Paulus (freestyle), Jeff Cooney ( freestyle) and Jay Saunders (freestyle), while sophomores are Kyle Bauer (distance freestyle, butterfly), Josh Valentine ( distance freestyle, breaststroke), Otto Werwaiss (butterfly), Trevor Patterson ( freestyle), Noah LaPointe (freestyle), Oliver Kruze (freestyle), Peter Kosakowski (freestyle) and Dylan Crowell (freestyle).
Incoming freshmen include Wesley McKenna ( butterfly), Drew Ciglinski (freestyle), Kevin Tolan ( backstroke), Clayton Hennin (freestyle), Paden Stanton (freestyle) and Sam Coffey (freestyle).
“This year looks like it will be our biggest team in the last 15 years with a lot of quality swimmers,” said coach Todd Marco. “The boys should have a very good dual meet season and will be the team to beat in the KVACs. We are also looking at being in the top-five for the state meet.”
For the girls look for senior cocaptain Casey Bonnett ( distance freestyle), co-captain Guerin Morissette (sprint freestyle, backstroke), Courtney Feeney (freestyle), Haley Grill (freestyle), Mikaela Martin ( freestyle), Felicia Hagerthy ( freestyle), Hannah Leeman ( freestyle) and Elizabeth Young (freestyle).
Juniors include Catie Luedee (IM, breaststroke), Clare Tolan (distance freestyle), Baleigh Scheibner (backstroke), Abby Moore (freestyle) and Danica Moore (freestyle), while the lone sophomore is Amy Franklin (backstroke).
Freshmen are Hannah Austin (freestyle), Alison Plummer (sprint freestyle), Bronwyn Morissette ( backstroke), Madison Burch ( freestyle) and Emily Belanger (freestyle).
New swimmers are seniors Ali Miller, Alice Stenquist and Annie Suitor.
“This year is a bit of a building year. We lost five key state meet scorers last year,” said Morse coach Todd Marco. “But, we still look very strong and will have tough competition with Messalonskee in the KVACs and state meet, but should still be first or second in KVACs and in the top three- four at the state meet.”
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