Boys Basketball
Coach: John Mayo (first year)
Last year’s record: 13-5, fell to Cape Elizabeth in B West final
Key players: Jack Lesure, Marcus Devoe, Nate Smith, Nick Wandishin, Brandon Palmer, Alex Langadas, Tyler Walker, Damon Knight, Lexus Rodrigues, Doug Banks, Ryan Hodgdon
Key games: Yarmouth, Wells, Fryeburg, Poland, G-NG, Lincoln, Maranacook, Falmouth, Cape, Waynflete
Outlook: Lake Region fans should feel plenty of optimism about their boys team this winter. The team lost a few bodies to graduation in June – Nick Hall and Quinn Piland are gone – but return a battalion of talented 2016-ers this winter. Lesure is a top-tier point guard and the team as a whole moves the ball exceptionally well, making them fun to watch. The MPA’s restless machinations mean many teams, including the Lakers, are facing big turnover in their schedules this season. While some enjoyable, long-standing rivalries remain (in Lake Region’s case, those with Fryeburg, Poland and G-NG), numerous new pairings are also popping up. These games should feel fresh and exciting for all involved. “With a large returning group, this team first wants to make the tournament, then see how far they can go,” says Mayo.
Girls Basketball
Coach: Paul True
Last year’s record: 11-9
Key players: Spencer True (sr.), Kristen Huntress (jr.), Melody Millett (jr.), Chandler True (so.), Lauren Jakobs (so.)
Key games: “All of them,” True says.
Outlook: “The Lakers are entering the 2015-16 season with a young roster,” says True. “A few of the girls did receive meaningful varsity minutes a year ago, so the key to the season will be how the youth blends in with the returning veterans.” Lake Region is small this year, but they’re also tough competitors. True calls them “extremely coachable” and says as well that they possess the right attitude. “I’m very excited about coaching this group and look forward to their development every day.”
Alpine Skiing
Coach: Charles O’Brien
Key athletes: Taylor Davis, Paige Davis
Key meets: WMCs, States
Outlook: “I’m excited about our season,” says O’Brien, “and watching the development and seeing the improvement week to week of the young racers who will be the future of our team for years to come.” O’Brien has one senior and four freshmen this winter; that’s a small squad, but it means he’ll be able to work closely with each of them, spurring rapid development.
Indoor Track
Coaches: Mark Snow (co-head), Dana Caron (co-head)
Last year’s record: Boys 4-27, 14th at WMCs; girls 23-8, fifth at WMCs, fifth at Class B States
Key athletes: Dakota Stover (sprints/jumps), Theo Snow (hurdles/jumps), Nick Scarlett (800/jumps), Tim Holbrook (jumps), Audrey Blais (800), Catherine Christiansen (sprints), Danica Chadwick (hurdles/Long Jump), Hannah Chadwick (High Jump/Triple Jump), Sam DeSouza (Shot Put), Maraia Nason (Shot Put/High Jump)
Key meets: 12/18, 1/29, WMCs
Outlook: Things are looking up for the Laker boys: “An increased roster and the addition of Stover will help the team try for 10 regular season wins and possibly double digits at the WMC meet,” says Snow. On the girls’ side, expect continued consistency. “Led by a strong junior division,” Snow says, “the team has a shot at another 20-win regular season and possibly a top-five at the WMCs. Top-10 at the State Meet is another possibility.” The Dec. 18th and Jan. 29th meets match LRHS up against opponents of similar size, and promise to be good metrics against which the Lakers can gauge their progress.
Boys hockey coach Dave Lepage and cheering coach Kaitlyn Hall couldn’t be reached.
Danica Chadwick hurdles for the Lady Lakers at a meet last winter.
Jack Lesure gets air over a pair of Yarmouth defenders in a huge win for the Lakers last winter.
Marcus DeVoe dogfights beneath, around, up and over a Yarmouth defender at the Cross Insurance Arena during the tournament last season.
Theo Snow leaps for the Lakers at last season’s WMCs.
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