Boys Basketball
Coach: Phil Conley
Last year’s record: 6-12
Key players: Jack Fiorini, Jaren Muller, Matt Pelletier, Kam Harper, Ruay Bol, Jordin Jackson, Silas Zechman, Jacob Brown, Matt Beecher
Key games: For Conley, all games are critical.
Outlook: The Riots advanced all the way to States two years ago under Conley’s leadership; graduation, however, did a number on that lineup, and the team struggled to find a rhythm last year. With another season’s experience under their belts, though, South Portland should show substantial improvement, easily besting that 6-12 record. They have a number of versatile athletes, and those boys will continue to hone their skillsets particular to the court as the season progresses.
Girls Basketball
Coach: Lynne Hasson
Last year’s record: 15-4
Key players: Holly Black (sr., C); Maddie Hasson (jr., G); Meaghan Doyle (jr., F); Lydia Henderson (so., G)
Key games: Thornton, Deering, McAuley, Gorham
Outlook: Three of Lynne Hasson’s five starters from the 2013-2014 season return this year, and she has six varsity returners overall, an excellent base on which to build. Maddie Hasson, a second-team SMAA pick last year; Holly Black, among the league’s rebounding leaders; and Lydia Henderson, an SMAA all-rookie pick will lead the team on an up-tempo offense. A “strong freshman class, with four who should step in and help right away,” will infuse the Riots with new, talented blood, according to Lynne Hasson. Hasson says the team has a “balanced attack, with a lot of different girls that could score on a given night,” and adds that “our goal is to make it to the Civic Center in February.”
Cheering
Coach: Shawn Leighton
Outlook: The Riots were the 2013 Shriners Classic Small Class A Champs, so they’re established victors, but of course, each new year brings new challenges.
Boys Hockey
Coach: Joe Robinson
Last year’s Record: 12-8-0
Key players: Andrew Whipple (sr.), Kyle Halvorsen (sr.), Chris Mitchell (sr.), Will McMullin (sr.)
Key games: Portland/Deering, Noble
Outlook: Robinson is optimistic about the season, as his squad returns its top three scorers and has a “pretty favorable schedule.” However, his goaltending is young, and though he expects it to nevertheless make an impact, youth remains youth. The team will also need to “come to play every night,” especially if their favorable schedule in the regular season takes a rougher turn in the playoffs.
Boys Indoor Track
Coach: Dave Kahill
Last year’s record: 16-3, third at Southwesterns, tied for second at States
Key athletes: Michael Cuesta (sr.), Henry Curran (sr.), Bryan Curie (sr.), Darien McMahan (sr.), Matthew Stearns (sr.), Noah Blake (jr.), Danny Guiliani (jr.), Jake Maloney (jr.), Isaiah Anderson (so.), Xander Keiter (so.), Steven Smith (so.), Zach Dyer (fr.)
Key meets: Southwesterns, States
Outlook: “The Riots have great energy and competitiveness for the new indoor season,” says Kahill. “The veterans already have set a hard-working, positive and enthusiastic attitude for the team.” Not only does South Portland bring the right perspective to the track, they also bring talent: Cuesta (third place at last year’s States, long jump) is talented and versatile, and Guiliani (second place at outdoor New England Championship, shot put) also shows elite potential. Others of the team have the ready potential to place in their events at any given meet: Stearns is the team’s top returner in the 55m dash, an event Curran is also strong in. Those athletes, alongside Blake, Anderson and McMahan lead the throwers and sprinters. Distance gets an influx of new talent in the younger competitors. “The Riots have the potential to be a top five team in the conference,” says Kahill.
Girls Indoor Track
Coaches: Karen Reardon (head), Mike Owens (asst.)
Last year’s record: Undefeated regular season (one tie); fourth at Southwesterns, tied for sixth at States
Key athletes: Lauren Magnuson (sr.), Janey Blackwell-Orr (sr.), Michelle Medici (sr.), Brittney Upton (sr.), Jamie Stanford-Cribby (sr.), Meagan Johnson (jr.), Edita Isakovic (jr.), Casey Loring (jr.), Callie O’Brien (so.), Serene McKenzie (so.), Sophia Cummings (so.), Toia Francis, Phoebe Letourneau (so.), Thaovy Duong (so.), Lingdong Bol (fr.), Jenny DiPhillipo (fr.), Juliana Selser (fr.)
Key meets: Cheverus/McAuley/Thornton, Thornton/Westbrook/Windham, SMAAs, States
Outlook: “We have a good turnout,” Reardon says, “40 girls, so I expect that we will do well in the regular season, and should be able to cover a wide range of events at both the junior and senior division levels. The key for us will be continuing to develop throughout the season.” The goal for Reardon and Co., of course, is sending as many girls as possible to States, and her key athletes seem poised to lead the way. Medici is a top shot-putter, Janey is very versatile over middle distances and in relays, and Magnuson is a school-record holder in the 55m and a threat in any sprint. Johnson and Isakovic have both qualified for the State high jump competition in the past, but can also hold their own in a sprint. Loring is a relay staple, and among the Riots’ best distance runners, as evidenced by her top-notch cross-country work this past fall. O’Brien is looking to improve on an impressive freshman season, in which she captured a league championship in the dash, amongst other honors. McKenzie took ninth in the two-mile at last season’s States, and has only improved since then. Cummings is the squad’s top horizontal jumper in the junior division, and picked up hurdles last spring.
Swimming & Diving
Coaches: Ryan Green (head), Lesley Hurley (asst.), Chad MacWhinnie (asst.)
Last year’s record: Boys 3-4, Girls 1-6
Key athletes: Nick Alvarez, Thomas Richards, JT Fix, Caleb Cram, Liam Hayes, Sarah Micucci, Dima Karakitakova, Emma Kane
Key meets: Cheverus, Greely, Cape Elizabeth
Outlook: The South Portland boys and girls squads both look to improve their dual-meet records as their top swimmers reach still-higher peaks and their less-experienced swimmers continue to develop. Alvarez was a finalist in two events at last season’s States, and Richards was a consolation finalist. Fix, Cram and Hayes were all States qualifiers. Micucci and Karakitakova were States consolation finalists themselves, while Kane qualified. A batch of versatile new blood could invigorate the team. “Look for the Riots to move up the rankings at the State meet for the second year in a row,” says Green.
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