Football

Coach: Matt Perkins (eighth season)

Last year’s record: 6-2 in the regular season, defeated Massabesic in Class A West quarterfinal before falling to Thornton Academy in the semifinals

Key players: seniors Jackson Taylor (QB), Jack Mallis (RB/DB), Matt Gledhill (WR/LB), Matt Wilson (RG/DE), Dylan Sebasteanski (OL/LB), TJ Robbins (WR/DB), Jake Darling (WR/DB), Kevin Springer (OL/LB), Matt Libby (OL/DL), Dave LeClaire (OL/LB) and Tucker Miller (WR/DB).

Season outlook: Windham’s season ended in the semifinals last season in a game at Thornton Academy that the team felt it let slip away. Taylor, Mallis and Gledhill led the high-powered scoring attack last season and are back looking to take things further this time around. The players – who endured a 1-7 season back in 2007 – have gotten a taste of winning and know what its like to play in the postseason. The Eagles should be a top contender this season.

The Cumberland Country division of the SMAA looks to be very competitive once again, with defending Class A state champ Bonny Eagle always tough and Deering looking strong. Last season, Windham had to start the year with those two teams. This season, those games come toward the middle. Many see Windham as the favorite to win it all this year. The Eagles will need to unseat the Scots and hold off Deering and York County powerhouse Thornton Academy if they are to play for the Gold Ball later this fall.

Boys soccer

Coach: Paul Baber (first season)

Last year’s record: 7-6-1 in the regular season, lost to Westbrook in Class A West prelim

Key players: seniors Will Hanson (midfield), Matt Coffee (forward), Pat Ciez (forward), Dylan King (center-mid) and Nick Taylor (goalie).

Season outlook: The Eagles will look to their senior core this season as they attempt to get back to the playoffs. Baber, who takes over the program from Jim O’Connor, said his primary concern is a lack of depth if the team suffers any injuries. If Windham can stay healthy, it could again be a postseason team, though it will be more difficult this year with a reduced playoff field.

Many of the top teams in the league were hit hard by graduation. Scarborough, the defending Class A state champ, looks to be back strong. Cape Elizabeth and Greely, which play Class B schedules but play up come tournament time, also figure to be strong. After those teams, there are many teams that could be battling for playoff spots. Windham should be in the mix.

Girls soccer

Coach: Wally Le Blanc (fifth season)

Last year’s record: 8-5-1 in the regular season, defeated Bonny Eagle in a Class A West prelim game before falling to Gorham in the quarterfinals

Key players: senior Jaci Lorenzen (goalie); junior Riley McCarthy (back); sophomore Meghan Gribbin (forward).

Season outlook: The Eagles gave Gorham all it could handle in last year’s quarterfinals before falling 1-0, but with 14 seniors graduated – nine of them starters – the Eagles have some spots to fill. There are only two seniors on this year’s team, Lorenzen and Amber Allen. Le Blanc said he’ll be leaning on them for leadership

“As always, we want our athletes to play to the best of their ability,” Le Blanc said. “It is important that the team bond together early in the season and that they continue to grow as the season rolls along. Due to the fact that we are an extremely young team, we understand that we will make mistakes and we will need to learn from those mistakes. It is our goal to overcome our youth and inexperience, grow as a team during the season and qualify for postseason play.”

Field hockey

Coach: Christena Dillon (first season)

Last year’s record: 7-7 in the regular season, lost to Cheverus in the Class A West prelims

Key players: seniors Kassie Reutlinger (midfield), Carly Grondin (forward/midfield), Natalie Harkins (forward), Abbi Brockelbank (forward) and Hannah Keating-Ehlers (utility).

Season outlook: Dillon has coached at the JV and middle school levels that past several seasons, so she’s no stranger to Windham field hockey. She’s optimistic that the Eagles can have a very successful season. “Our goal is to put the first field hockey trophy in Windham High School,” she said.

With a number of returning varsity players, Dillon said she is shifting some players to new positions to put the strongest lineup on the field. She’s been encouraged by preseason play. While Scarborough and Gorham may be the favorites in the SMAA, Dillon said she thinks the rest of the league is wide open and is hopeful Windham can come out near the top.

Golf

Coach: Keith McBride (first season)

Last year: did not make state tournament

Key players: senior Richard Getchell; junior John Gagliano.

Season outlook: McBride takes over a program with a few returnees and a number of young players. He said that he expects the team to win, despite its youth and inexperience, and doesn’t want to call this season a rebuilding year. “Our short term goal is to continue improving as players throughout the year,” McBride said. “We will take it one practice and one match at a time, and each time we expect to do better than the last. Our long term goal is to make it to the state tournament as a team.”

Cross country

Coach: Jeff Riddle (10th season)

Last year: boys finished fifth at West A regional meet and 13th at Class A state meet; girls finished ninth at regional meet and did not qualify for state meet

Key runners: Boys – Garrett Clemmer, Julian Gazzelloni, Keegan Brennan, Bryndon Page and Shawn Pennels. Girls – Talia McKay, Erin Flatley, Hannah Damron, Lucy Algeo and Danielle Bellavance.

Season outlook: The Eagles have some experienced runners back. Flatley qualified for the state meet as an individual last year and finished 10th. Clemmer was the top finisher for the Windham boys, placing 14th. At the recent preseason Lake Region Invitational, both teams finished second. The boys were edged by Fryeburg Academy in the six-team race, while the girls were behind only Poland in a seven-team meet.