Cross Country
Coach: Jason Tanguay
Last year’s record: Boys 11-3, girls 7-8
Key athletes: Jesse Southard (sr.), Sean Pratt (sr.), Spencer Linscott (sr.), Collin Jones (sr.), Cam Tracy (sr.), Connor Goodall (sr.), Ben Bradshaw (sr.), Tommy Bernier (sr.), Tyler Bernier (sr.), Branden Kuusela (sr.), Anthony Chase (so.), Carlos Monsen (so.), Diana Albanese (sr.), Sarah Flanders (sr.), Maddie DeWitt (sr.), Anna Slager (so.), Bridget Rossignol (so.), Meadow Fortier (so.)
Key meets: Westbrook, Noble, Deering; Bonny Eagle, Windham, Scarborough; Invitational meet in Thetford, Vt.; Regionals; States
Outlook: The Gentlemen Rams have substantial talent and experience on their roster this season, and should figure prominently into the end of the season. “[We’re] a veteran group with over half the team being seniors,” says Tanguay. “Most of these runners have been on the team since their freshman year, so we have a goal of being very competitive in the big meets. Many of the runners put in a good deal of effort this summer, so I am excited to see this hard work pay off as the season goes on.” For their part, the Lady Rams have quite a few new faces to show off this fall. “This is exciting,” says Tanguay, “as these new runners have joined us with not only good attitudes, but a good work ethic so far.” As a whole, the girls are relatively green, but Slager and Fortier are great frontrunners. “If we can keep runners healthy, and see some of our new faces step up and strive to reach their potential, then we could have a successful season as a team.”
Coach: Becky Manson-Rioux
Last year’s record: 13-2
Key players: Sarah Jordan (sr.), Emmy Viernes (sr.), Nicole Walls (sr.), Karen Stemm (jr.), Mary Adams (jr.), Erin Esty (jr.), Hallie Thomas (jr.), Isis Adams (fr.)
Key games: TA, Sanford, Cheverus, Massabesic, Westbrook
Outlook: The Lady Rams look to rebuild this year; while they return 13 players from last year’s squad, only two are starters. Still, their expectations are high; they’ve used the preseason to develop roles and search after the right combination, the one that will take them back to the postseason.
Football
Coach: Andy Hager (second year)
Last year’s record: 1-7
Key players: Rob Pellerin, Stephen Burns, Calvin Riiska, Jack Niles
Key games: Morse, Kennebunk, Mt. Ararat
Outlook: The Rams will be young this year, with 17 sophomores needing to make critical contributions. But the team also returns a cadre of four-year veterans who’ll marshal the boys beneath them. Gorham could be on the upswing.
Golf
Coaches: Rick Altham, Wayne Drown
Last year’s record: 7-3
Key players: Brandon Desjardins, Lucas Roop, Mark Yankowsky, Ryan Kaczmarek
Key matches: TA, Greely
Outlook: “This year’s team is young and will have to work hard if they want to be competitive in their matches,” says Altham. “All of the teams in our division are strong, and I wouldn’t be surprised if most matches are decided by one or two strokes.” As with any inexperienced team, the Rams will need leaders to emerge if they are to achieve their goals. “The team is looking forward to its first match of the season,” says Altham.
Coach: Tim King (16th year)
Last year’s record: 11-1-3; playoff three-seed, fell in quarterfinals
Key players: Trenton Bassingthwaite (sr.), Cody Elliot (sr.), Jackson Fotter (jr.)
Outlook: The Rams are poised to have an outstanding season. They return 21 of 24 players from last year’s powerful squad, including netminder Bassingthwaite, who was voted SMAA First-Team and Western Maine All-State team; Elliot, who earned the same honors; and Fotter, who led Gorham’s offense with 15 goals in 2014. Moreover, the Rams will no doubt be hungry after suffering a disappointing end to last season’s playoff run. Expect the team to be a top contender in A West – and across the state.
Coach: Jeanne Zarilli
Last year’s record: 11-1-4
Key players: Cady Houghton (sr.), Jenny Darasz (sr.), Lizzie Sullivan (sr.), Emily Bragg (sr.), Narissa Libby (jr.), Jenny Cowan (jr.), Noelle DiBiase (jr.), Emma Smith (jr.)
Key games: Scarborough, Marshwood, TA, Portland, Deering, Windham
Outlook: The Rams look to reach the postseason once more – as they have done for several years running – but also to advance beyond the quarterfinals, which is where they’ve bounced from contention for three consecutive seasons now. Competition in A West will be tough, but Gorham has a proud soccer heritage; expect another strong showing from the team.
Volleyball
Coach: Nicole Rizzo
Last year’s record: 9-7
Key players: Cassidy Landry (sr.), Diana Kolb (jr.), Kristen Curley (jr.)
Key matches: “All matches are important to us and our success,” says Rizzo, “but we always look forward to the fun rivalries against Scarborough and Falmouth.”
Outlook: Rizzo is extremely upbeat about the coming season. “We’ve been pushing ourselves in the preseason and trying a lot of new things that we are hoping will help set us apart from other schools and become successful.”
Gorham’s Cady Houghton returns for her senior season in 2015.
Cody Elliot, long one of the Rams’ most potent attackers, will play a critical role in what should be a very successful season for Gorham.
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