BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Max Chiukta is a veteran returner for a Deering boys’ basketball squad poised to go on a deep run this winter. File photo.
Coach: Todd Wing (ninth year, 97-52 overall record)
2019-20 record: 15-6 (Lost, 64-51, to Edward Little in Class AA North Final)
2020-21 record: 7-3 (no postseason, COVID)
Top returning players: Titayo Augusto (Senior), Max Chikuta (Senior), Nick Langella (Senior), Remijo Wani (Junior)
Pivotal games: Dec. 20 @ Oxford Hills, Dec. 23 PORTLAND, Dec. 30 @ Lewiston, Jan. 4 @ Edward Little, Jan. 17 LEWISTON, Jan. 21 SOUTH PORTLAND, Jan. 25 EDWARD LITTLE, Jan. 28 OXFORD HILLS, Feb. 8 @ Portland
Coach’s comment: “Overall, we’ve had a good preseason. We’re making strides every day. We lost a couple seniors and had one player move out of state, but we bring back five guys who saw time last year. We should improve through the season. Class AA North is very strong top to bottom. There will be no nights off. With our senior leadership, we hope to be in contention and win some games in the postseason.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: Deering has been very strong the past couple of seasons, getting to the regional final two years ago, then going 7-3, including a stirring victory over previously unbeaten Falmouth, in limited action last winter. The Rams didn’t get to make a playoff run due to the postseason being canceled by COVID and this year, they hope to make up for lost time.
Good things happen when Deering senior Nick Langella has the ball in his hands. File photo.
Deering has some size in 6-foot-8 senior Alex Willings, who transferred back to Deering from St. Dom’s. With an abundance of talented bigs in Class AA, Willings will be needed to hold his own in the paint and should be up for the challenge. Langella will run the point and he can knock down shots. Augusto, Chikuta and Wani (whom Wing calls a rising star) can make shots from the wing and will put pressure on defenders. Freshman guard Evan Legassey could step right in and make an impact as a scorer. Freshman guard Justin Jamal and sophomore forward Quinton Lindsay will see time on varsity and will help out on the defensive end. It all adds up to a well-balanced, dangerous squad.
The Rams are in a region with some of the state’s best teams and there won’t be many easy games, but Deering will treat those games as opportunities to improve and it will be battle-tested by February. Look for the Rams to create matchup problems for the opposition and if the pieces fall into place, they’ll be one of the last teams standing again as they make a run at their first championship in a decade.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Senior Yipsi Sibo will be a force in the paint for Deering’s girls’ basketball team. File photo.
Coach: Mike Murphy (14th year, 153-98 overall record, one state championship)
2019-20 record: 0-19 (Lost, 55-30, to Oxford Hills in Class AA North quarterfinals)
2020-21 record: 1-8 (no postseason, COVID)
Top returning players: Ella McGowan (Senior), Yipsi Sibo (Senior), Nyabhana Lia (Junior), Maya Gayle (Sophomore), Shay Rosenthal (Sophomore), Natalie Santiago (Sophomore)
Pivotal games: Dec. 14 CHEVERUS, Dec. 17 BANGOR, Dec. 21 OXFORD HILLS, Dec. 23 @ Portland, Jan. 6 @ Cheverus, Jan. 8 WINDHAM, Jan. 21 @ South Portland, Jan. 29 @ Oxford Hills, Feb. 1 @ Windham, Feb. 7 PORTLAND
Coach’s comment: “It’s nice to be playing again, but we’re young and we have our hands full. Playing last year helped the freshmen. We hope to use our ball-handling skills to our advantage. We hope to get up and down the court. They’re good kids, but they have to be tougher and need to believe in what we’re doing. We’re in a tough division. If we’re not tough, other teams will take advantage.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: It’s been a tough couple years for Deering, which didn’t win a game in 2019-20 and prevailed just once in an abbreviated campaign last winter. That trial by fire should begin to pay dividends this season, as a young but promising group is primed to surprise.
Shay Rosenthal will look to have a big sophomore season for Deering’s girls’ basketball team. File photo.
The Rams don’t have much size, so they’ll try to get out and run and hit shots from the perimeter. McGowan is the most seasoned player on the roster. She’ll see time at guard and forward. Sibo will also play a role and will be a leader. Lia can knock down shots and Gayle, Rosenthal and Santiago have seen varsity time as well.
Deering will be a work in progress and its schedule will do it no favors, as the Rams face several tough games before we even get to Christmas. The team’s win-loss record will be a secondary concern, as everyone makes the playoffs, and if all goes well, once February gets here, Deering might just have an upset up its sleeve.
BOYS’ HOCKEY (co-op with Portland)
Coach: Jeff Beaney (sixth year, 42-53-3 overall record)
2019-20 record: 8-12 (Lost, 6-1, to Scarborough in Class A state quarterfinals)
2020-21 record: 6-3 (no postseason, COVID)
Top returning players: Ryan Becker (Senior), Carlos Braceras (Senior), Andrew Legere (Senior), Colby Winship (Senior), Liam Fay-LeBlanc (Junior)
Pivotal games: Dec. 15 @ Edward Little, Dec. 18 ST. DOM’S, Dec. 23 @ South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete, Jan. 1 CHEVERUS, Jan. 13 @ Biddeford, Jan. 15 SCARBOROUGH, Jan. 20 @ Falmouth, Jan. 22 @ Cape Elizabeth, Feb. 10 SP/FREEPORT/Waynflete, Feb. 17 BIDDEFORD
Coach’s comment: “It’s fun to be back. We’re young and we have a small team, just 15 skaters, five of them from Deering. Ryan is a top goalie in the area. He makes the coach look smarter. We don’t have a lot of size, but we have a good hockey IQ. We’ll keep plugging away. I think we’ll keep improving as the year goes on.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: The Portland/Deering co-op team went through an adjustment period a year ago, as Beaney took the season off and Matt King served as coach. The squad was successful on the ice, but the campaign was short and there was no postseason due to COVID. This winter, Portland/Deering returns to normalcy, Beaney returns behind the bench and Portland/Deering hopes to contend in Class A, as it has for several seasons.
Portland/Deering has the benefit of returning arguably the state’s finest goalie in Becker. Defensively, Braceras is seasoned. He’s joined by Fay-LeBlanc and junior Bennett Galin to make up a formidable unit. Offensively, Legere and Winship should be top scorers. Freshman Lucas Milliken could step right in and become a handful for opposing defenses to deal with. Sophomore Hunter Temple will be heard from as well.
Portland/Deering isn’t getting as much preseason buzz as the likes of Edward Little, Falmouth, Lewiston and Scarborough, but this is a team that no one will want to face in the playoffs. Look for steady improvement in the weeks to come.
GIRLS’ HOCKEY (co-op with Portland)
Coach: Tom Clifford (fifth year, 36-31 overall record)
2019-20 record: 11-8 (Lost, 3-2, to York in South Region quarterfinals)
2020-21 record: 6-3 (no postseason, COVID)
Top returning players: Julia Duggan (Senior), Caitlin Huynh (Senior), Jordan King (Senior), Kate Sawyer (Senior)
Pivotal games: Jan. 1 CHEVERUS, Jan. 28 @ Scarborough
Coach’s comment: “With the graduation of eight seniors who had an amazing four years playing for Portland/Deering and one player leaving for prep school, we are starting to build the program back. This year, we have 30 girls out for the team, which will allow us to have a JV team to keep more girls involved and playing games. We’re looking for progress each and every day and so far, we’ve been seeing it. The girls come to the rink each day ready to work and have fun and the improvement has been impressive.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: The Portland/Deering co-op team has good numbers but has to replace some departed standouts this winter. Portland/Deering opened with a 6-0 loss to Biddeford, then was beaten by Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland, 10-2, and by York, 12-3, but better days lie ahead.
This year’s offense will be sparked by Duggan, King and promising freshman Jane Flynn, who has already found the net this season. Keep an eye also on sophomores CeCe Blackwell-Moore, Gabby Harrigan and Phoebe Knoll. Defensively, Sawyer is a veteran. Duggan will see time there as well and freshman Zoe Sinnette will also play a key role. Huynh returns in goal.
Portland/Deering has been very competitive in recent seasons. It will take some time for this year’s squad to mesh, but look for steady improvement in the weeks to come. By the time the postseason rolls around, Portland/Deering could be quite dangerous.
INDOOR TRACK
Coach: Gerry Myatt (ninth year)
2019-20 results: Boys’ tie-21st @ Class A state meet; Girls’ 18th @ Class A state meet
2020-21 results: No season (COVID)
Top returners:
(Boys) Eli Bigelman (Senior), Vaughn Howard (Senior), Dany McLaughlin (Junior), James Tedder (Junior)
(Girls) Emma Hallee (Senior), Courtney Jackson (Senior), Kayla Jackson (Senior), Fatima Rocha (Senior), Claire Dunn (Junior)
Coach comment: “Our numbers are very low. We’re under 35 kids combined. We really can’t cover all of the events, but we’re very happy to have a season. We hope to cover some events, be competitive and have a good year”
The Forecaster’s forecast: Deering’s indoor track numbers are small, but the story of this program is quality, not quantity, and the Rams will be heard from throughout the regular season and into the postseason.
The boys’ squad returns McLaughlin, who o took part in the 4×200 relay at the 2020 Class A state meet. He’ll be a top sprinter and is joined in the shorter races by senior David Kita. Bigelman is a hurdler to watch. The distance contingent features Howard, Tedder and junior Haytham Ramadan. Howard, senior Denis Simost Sima Matha and sophomore Avery Lawrence will look to score in the jumps. Sophomore Sante Ciccomancini will be the team’s top thrower.
On the girls’ side, Rocha returns in the jumps. She was seventh in the high jump at the 2020 state meet. She’s joined by Dunn. Courtney Jackson is a top thrower and will also compete in the pole vault. Sophomore Saya Brieting-Brown is another pole vaulter to watch. Top sprinters include Hallee, Kayla Jackson and Rocha. Breiting-Brown will run the hurdles. Freshman Mya Landry projects to quickly become a top distance runner. Freshmen Katherine Gideon and Kristina Kirilova can compete in an array of junior division events and will also help the cause.
SWIMMING
Coach: Sarah Rasmussen (fourth year)
2019-20 results: Boys’ tie-18th @ Class A state meet; Girls’ tie-20th @ Class A state meet
2020-21 results: No state meet (COVID)
Top returners:
(Boys) Fox Fernald (Senior), Beo Endicott (Junior), Chase Gagnon (Junior)
(Girls) Katie Gallagher (Senior), Althea Hoag (Senior), Hadley Hoag (Senior)
Coach’s comment: “The “RamDog” swim team combined last winter and we’re delighted with the response from our athletes to the combination, both this year and last. Even during last winter’s COVID season, the RamDogs fielded 30 athletes, a number that we are presently exceeding for the 2021-22 season. We are excited about the momentum we can build as a new team with a strong senior class and an ambitious and strong freshman class as well. The strength of both our boys’ and girls’ teams this year will come from our depth and ability to come together.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: The Deering/Portland co-op swim team has one season under its belt and should produce some memorable results this winter, as the sport returns to normalcy, with a full postseason.
The boys’ squad returns Fernald, who scored at states in the sprint freestyle as a sophomore, and Gagnon, who will be heard from in the individual medley and backstroke. He’ll be competitive again this season. Endicott (sprint free) is also seasoned, while senior Kiron Das looks to score in the distance freestyle and IM.
On the girls’ side, Gallagher scored in the backstroke two years ago. She’ll look to do so again, while also swimming the freestyle this winter. Althea Hoag is a veteran in the breaststroke and IM and Hadley Hoag also has experience in the sprint freestyle. Newcomers to watch include sophomore Maria DelMonte (backstroke) and freshman Anica Spencer (breaststroke) and Kaia West (freestyle).
NORDIC SKIING
Senior Zuzia Varney is a top returner for Deering’s girls’ Nordic ski team. File photo.
Coach: George Aponte-Clarke (fourth year, one state championship)
2019-20 results: Boys’ 9th @ Class A state meet; Girls’ 2nd @ Class A state meet
2020-21 results: No season (COVID)
Top returners:
(Boys) Deven Abrams (Senior)
(Girls) Ally Butts (Senior), Megan Cunningham (Senior), Fran Freeman (Senior), Zuzia Varney (Senior)
Coach’s comment: “The boys have significantly improved depth. With three strong freshmen, plus some news athletes from soccer and cross country, we’ll be strong contenders. The girls have some very strong freshmen to bring depth to scoring. The girls are defending their place on the podium and hope to use their depth to reach the top spot in Class A. These hard-working and committed skiers have built a wonderful community together, which shows every time they hit the trail. The coaches are very excited for the season ahead, especially with such an amazing and fun group of student-athletes.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: Deering has long been a key component of the Portland Nordic ski team and the 2021-22 campaign will be no different.
The girls’ squad was second at the Class A state meet two years and will be in the title hunt again this winter. Cunningham is primed to star again. She was fourth in the freestyle and sixth in the classical two years ago. Freeman (15th in the classical and 21st in the freestyle in 2020) Varney (18th in both the classical and freestyle two years ago) and Butts (22nd in both the classical and freestyle in 2020) also have big meet experience.
The boys’ team will feature cross country running standout Alexey Seredin and a pair of soccer players, Nick Simon Mboumba and Celda Mouckala. Some freshmen additions might quickly become household names as well for a squad which should show steady improvement in the weeks to come.
WRESTLING
Coach: Chris Smith (first year)
2019-20 record: 20th @ Class A state meet
2020-21 record: No season (COVID)
Top returners: Liban Ali (Senior), Lincoln Fournier (Senior), Max Hibbard (Senior), Grady Walsh (Senior)
Coach’s comment: “Our goals for this year are to grow as a team on and off the mat. With two-thirds of our team being newcomers, we are looking to build and grow our experience and hope to be in a position at the end of the year to make some noise for the postseason. Also, we hope to make it through the year healthy and safe.”
The Forecaster’s forecast: Deering brings back a program legend as its new coach this winter. Smith, Class of 2008, was a four-time state champion who went on to wrestle at Northern Illinois University. He takes over a team eager to return to the mat after a year away and he has some talent to work with.
Four seniors will be the team’s anchor. That group includes Ali (182 or 195 pounds), Fournier (145), Hibbard (132 or 138) and Walsh (113 or 120). Junior Billy MacVane (170 or 182 pounds) and sophomore Pedro Lombi (182) are key newcomers for a team which should demonstrate steady improvement. Look for several of those top wrestlers to be threats to steal headlines in the postseason.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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