Boys Basketball
Coach: Ryan Deschenes
Last year’s record: 9-11
Key players: Zack Haskell (sr., F); Kyle Keenan (sr., F); John-Henry Villanueva (jr., G)
Key games: Poland, Lincoln, OOB, Freeport, Fryeburg, Wells
Outlook: Graduation in June claimed a hefty portion of the Patriots’ scoring power, but they return good height (Haskell is 6-foot-3, Keenan 6-foot-5) and athleticism. Both their veterans and their newcomers – including four freshmen – have talent. Deschenes is taking a fundamentals-oriented approach to the season. “Our focus is to simplify things and be really good at a few aspects of the game,” he says. “Finding a way to score in the half-court will be something we need to improve on. Hopefully our strength will be on the defensive end and we can offset [any struggles] to score.” Overall, Deschenes is happy with the way his team has coalesced: “We have our identity set, and want to build upon last year’s successful season and be a consistent tournament-team yearly.”
Girls Basketball
Coach: Mike Andreasen (fifth year)
Last year’s record: 18-2, fell in B West semis
Key players: Alanna Camerl (sr., C); Ashely Jordan (sr., F); Jackie Gillen (sr., G); Emily Thibeault (sr., F); Skye Conley (jr. C); Alicia Dumont (jr., G); Grace Kariotis (jr., G); Izzy DeTroy (jr., F); Brianna Jordan (fr., G)
Key games: Greely, York, Fryeburg, Lake Region, Lincoln, Spruce Mountain
Outlook: The Lady Patriots return four starters this winter, and many of their other players saw significant court-time last season, but graduation in June did claim their top two scorers (1,000-pointer Maria Valente and All-Conference selection Zoe Adams). Kariotis (8.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG in 2014-15), Conley (9.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG) and Dumont (6.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG) will lead the attack going forward. Dumont and Brianna Jordan will helm the offense from the point guard position, while Kariotis, DeTroy and Gillen will handle the outside shooting. Conley, Camerl, Thibeault and Ashley Jordan provide height inside (Camerl especially, at 6-feet-0). “If the team can find consistent scorers,” Andreasen says, “then it will again be dangerous come tournament time.”
Girls Hockey (with Yarmouth, Freeport)
Coaches: Megan Vaughan (head, first year); Beth Fulton (asst.); Liz Bergstrom (asst.)
Key players: Colleen Sullivan (sr., Asst. Captain, F); Jenny Holmquist (sr., Asst. Captain, D); Keeley Arnold (sr., Captain, F); Maddie Wilkes (sr., D); Katie Clemmer (jr., F); Kelsey Meyer (jr., F/D); Kyaira Grondin (fr., D)
Key games: St. Dominic’s, Falmouth, Greely, Scarborough, NYA
Outlook: “The Clippers have a short bench this season, but is a team full of heart,” says Vaughan. They also have some strong scoring threats in Clemmer, Sullivan, Meyer, Arnold and Holmquist. Netminder Miranda O’Shea is almost completely new between the pipes, but also improving consistently. “I hope that by the end of the season we have a close-knit team with strong chemistry on and off the ice and we finish the season with more wins than losses,” Vaughan says.
Nordic Skiing
Coach: Jeff McEvoy
Key athletes: Kaelyn Woods (sr.), Keaton McEvoy (sr.), Ben Rogers (sr.)
Key meets: States
Outlook: Jeff McEvoy is confident in his skiers’ abilities. “Expect Ben Rogers to have a top-three finish at States, and Kaelyn Woods to comfortably win both her events. Keaton McEvoy is hoping for top-10 finishes.” His confidence is justified: Woods, for instance, was the top girl in both the classic and skate races at both WMCs and States last winter, as well as a Junior National Team qualifier. Patriots fans can look forward to much success on the slopes.
Indoor Track
Coach: Todd Mercer
Key athletes: Ben Garcia, Garrett Moran, Austin Cross, Sam Aube, Jeremiah Gendreau, Jaykob Sanborn, Andrew Peterson, Joe Gurney, Emily Dawkins, Tram Ho, Clara Phillips, Samantha Shampine, Olivia Giles, Scout Ray, Anna Espling, Emma MacCallum, Jaley Martin, Madison Post, Abby Ross
Key meets: “In individual sports there isn’t really a key [meet],” says Mercer.
Outlook: “We have kids that are going to win,” Mercer says, “but we don’t have kids to compete in every event.” This means the 2015-16 Patriots are going to struggle to compete with the bigger teams for overall victories. “We have some great talent in the upperclassmen, but there’s not a lot of them.” Garcia has come into his own, and could be a top runner in the WMC; Moran has “gotten a lot stronger; he should turn some heads,” as Mercer says; and Cross is “looking to carve out his one-place in the hurdles.” Aube, Gendreau, Sanborn and Peterson could establish an intimidating presence for G-NG in the junior division. Gurney – a shot putter – is new to the team; “he has the potential,” Mercer says, “to be a real surprise player.” On the girls’ side, Dawkins, Ho, and Phillips “all have the potential to make the podium at States.” Shampine and Giles look potent in distance events; Giles, for instance, has put a lot of time into strength training, which could slash her 1600 time. Ray is a pole-vaulter who’s itching to crack the top three at States, and Espling is itching to crack 30 seconds in the 200 – “It’s time,” Mercer says. MacCallum has also been hitting the weights hard, intent on making the shot put podium. Martin, now a sophomore, is learning to control her raw talent and will threaten in her races. Post and Ross are both newcomers, but also solid athletes who are likely to earn points for the Patriots. “They should see steady improvement over the course of the season,” Mercer says. “As we run into championship season, don’t be surprised to see G-NG scoring better than we have all season.”
Cheering coach Melissa Burila and boys hockey coach Mike Bishop couldn’t be reached.
Zack Haskell brings good height to the court for Gray-New Gloucester.
Jeremiah Gendreau is one of a cadre of junior-division Patriots who should prove a formidable force in the Western Maine Conference.
Alicia Dumont tallied solid points and assists for the Lady Patriots last season, and will likely perform even better this winter.
Grace Kariotis will be one of Gray-New Gloucester’s top scorers this season.
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