Coaches: Chris Strout, Andrea Johnson
Key athletes: Jake Cook, Jordan Fournier, Christine Toy, Kialeigh Marston, Kayla Raymond
Key meets: Belfast Invitational; Scarborough, Windham, Gorham
Outlook: The Gentlemen Scots are “in a building season,” though Johnson reports they have solid runners and are looking to reach States. Their Lady counterparts return Marston, a veteran standout, and welcome a strong freshman class, and are thus looking for a top five finish at States.
Coach: Caterina Riitano
Last year’s record: 1-13
Key players: Megan McIntosh, Marissa Jeffords
Key games: Massabesic, Gorham, TA
Outlook: The Lady Scots will be aiming high this season, intending to keep pace with the stronger teams in the league. They’ll have their best luck with that ambition if they can transform their handful of one-goal losses from last year into one-goal (or better) wins this year.
Coach: Kevin Cooper (18th year)
Last year’s record: 6-4
Key players: Zack Brannon (sr., QB/OLB); Keegan Meyer (sr., OG/OLB); Dalton Sanborn (sr., TE/LB); Ben Autry (sr., WR/SS); Eben Kittredge-Cram (sr., WR/CB); Wily Hollen (sr., OL/DL); Parker Gammon (jr., OC/LB); Lukkas Pierce (jr., NT); Cam Theberge (jr., WR/CB); Nick Clark (jr., RB/S); Cam Day (jr., WR/S)
Key games: “South Portland, Scarborough, Bangor, Massabesic, Deering, Windham, Sanford, TA,” says Cooper, emphasizing the importance of each and every matchup.
Outlook: As always, Cooper and Co. expect to compete for a state title. “We think we have a pretty good squad,” he says, “and are excited to begin the season schedule.” Cooper describes the Scots’ roster as “a good mix of returning starters and new players who are chomping at the bit to see action.”
Golf
Coach: Brandon Poulin
Last year’s record: 0-10
Key players: Cameron Robinson (sr.), Ian Jarvis (fr.)
Key matches: Westbrook, Windham
Outlook: Poulin is optimistic about the upcoming season. “The team has a great mix of experience and youth,” he says. “They look to be much improved from last year and be very competitive within a very strong league.”
Coach: Lawrence Robertson
Last year’s record: 5-6-3
Key players: Ben Steeves, Ryan Moody, Brady Grass
Key games: South Portland, Westbrook, Windham
Outlook: “To be honest, I have no idea,” says Robertson, who is nevertheless setting respectable goals: “For the past two years,” he says, “we’ve made it to the preliminary round of the playoffs, and the aim [this year] is to reach playoffs and move beyond the prelims.” His squad will be inexperienced, though. “We’re only returning two seniors, so we’ll be a very young team. After four years, we’ll be starting a new goalie and there is a possibility of starting five freshmen.”
Girls Soccer
Coaches: Ed Taylor (head), Vanessa Stacey (asst.), Tom Sayre (asst.)
Last year’s record: 2-10-2
Key players: Madi Freeman (sr.), Desi Wright (sr.), Abby Cates (sr.)
Key games: “There aren’t any particular games that stand out as key,” says Taylor. “At this point, I would say all of them are key games.”
Outlook: The Bonny Eagle soccer contingent has been hard at work in the past five years, diligently coordinating with the local youth programs to strengthen the Scots’ school programs, and Taylor says the results are starting to show. “It’s gone great. Those young ladies are now entering high school; our incoming group is solid and our returning players are very good. If we can stay healthy, I feel – with our senior leadership and our skillset – we can make a bid to go to postseason. Bonny Eagle girls soccer has a very bright future.”
Volleyball
Coach: Kelley Champagne
Last year’s record: 2015 is Bonny Eagle’s first year as a varsity program; as a club last year, the Scots went 15-3.
Key players: Bailey Gryskwicz (S), Katie Champagne (MH), Breanna Lifland (OH)
Key matches: Windham, TA, South Portland.
Outlook: “Our Lady Scots have made great progress this past year,” says Champagne, “and we are optimistic that our team will be competitive in every match as we continue to learn and enhance our skills.” Champagne and Co. expect to emerge from the regular season on the plus side of .500.
Bonny Eagle’s Kialeigh Marston crosses the finish line at last year’s Regionals. Marston will lead the Lady Scots in 2015.
Bonny Eagle’s Ben Steeves returns for his junior season this fall.
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