Boys Basketball

Coach: Kevin Millington (first year)

Last year’s record: 16-4, fell in A West Semis

Key players: Jack Fiorini (sr.), Matt Pelletier (sr.), Sam DePaolo (sr.), Mike Kilmartin (sr.), Jordin Jackson (sr.), Ruay Bol (jr.), Ansel Stilley (jr.), Moses Oreste (jr.), Deandre White (jr.)

Key games: Cheverus, Portland, Deering

Outlook: The 2015 Riots feature a balance of returning talent – e.g., Fiorini, Jackson and Bol, all of whom also bring good height to the action – and up-and-comers like Stilley and Oreste. The team is adjusting to a new coach, however, and faces a rugged collection of opponents. “We have arguably the toughest schedule in Class AA,” says Millington, “as we play Cheverus, Portland and Deering all twice.” The Riots open their schedule against Portland, in fact, and don’t get much of a lull as the season unfolds. “We also have games against TA, Gorham, Westbrook and Falmouth,” Millington says. Those teams, of course, are either traditionally strong or rapidly becoming forces on the court. “We’ll have to come together quickly,” says Millington, who looks forward especially to the Cheverus, Portland and Deering bouts because they’re traditional rivals.

Girls Basketball

Coach: Lynne Hasson

Last year’s record: 15-6, eliminated in A West Semis

Key players: Maddie Hasson (sr.), Paige Lemelin (jr.), Lydia Henderson (jr.), Erica Magnuson (jr.), Meghan Graff (so.), Sarah Boles (so.)

Key games: McAuley, Gorham, Deering, TA

Outlook: “We made it to the semifinals last year, and we’re looking to build on that success,” says Lynne Hasson. To that end, the Lady Riots aim to play up-tempo basketball and really wring their athleticism for all it’s worth. The team has experience and talent in Maddie Hasson, a four-year starter and All-State regular, as well as Henderson (a “defensive mainstay”) and Graff (who, with a year under her belt, “will be one of the better young players in the league”). South Portland also features four freshmen, however, and their success “may come down to how quickly they become comfortable,” says Coach Hasson. “We should have a balanced attack, as we have many players who can score.” A key loss is Meaghan Doyle, a senior expected to miss most of the season with a leg injury; Doyle’s inside presence and rebounding have been important to South Portland’s success in recent years, and the team will be combing its ranks for players who can fill Doyle’s shoes in her absence.

Cheering

Coach: Shawn Leighton (head), Karly Cannel (asst.)

Outlook: “We have the biggest and most talented team this school has seen in many years,” Leighton says simply. “We have high hopes and know this is going to be a great year.”

Boys Hockey (with Freeport, Waynflete)

Coach: Joe Robinson

Last year’s record: 10-10

Key players: Joe Grant, Aidan Schifano, Max Winson, Mitchell Adams, Tyler Goldberg, Owen Patrick, Atticus Patrick

Key games: Windham/Westbrook, Portland/Deering, Noble/Wells

Outlook: The Riots are extremely green this year. Just two seniors and three juniors dot their 30-man roster, which means they’ll be looking, first and foremost, to create chemistry and learn about themselves. Robinson aims to balance his attack as that process unfolds: “We need to play a more well-rounded game instead of focusing on one player scoring the majority of our goals. We need to have our scoring spread out throughout all three lines to be successful.”

Girls Hockey (with Cape Elizabeth, Waynflete)

Coach: Bob Mills

Last year’s record: 7-10-1

Key players: Kate Ginder (jr., D, Captain, Cape Elizabeth); Eliza Connolly (jr., D, Captain, Cape Elizabeth); Hannah Bosworth (jr., F, Captain, Cape Elizabeth); Abby Joy (so., G, South Portland)

Key games: Falmouth, Scarborough

Outlook: “We have a young team this season,” says Mills, “with no seniors and several incoming players new to varsity hockey.” On the other hand, Mills also notes: “We have a core group of experienced players with two seasons of playoff hockey under their belts.” Expect Mills’s greener athletes to circle around their elders, who “could carry the team into a third straight playoff appearance.” Joy is strong between the pipes and fellow South Portlander Sophia Venditti, just a freshman, is an offensive asset who should send plenty of pucks into plenty of nets.

Swimming

Coach: Ryan Green

Last year’s record: Boys 4-4, girls 5-4

Key athletes: Caleb Cram, Liam Hayes, Jackson Haynes, Chris Hau, Momchil Dagorov, Mitchell Amadei, Sam Goodine-Doane, Tory Brewster, Ally Hobbs, Emma Kane, Grace Goodwin, Sofia McNally, Sula Flock, Sydney Kane, Stephanie Aceto, Anya Steele

Key meets: Falmouth, Cheverus

Outlook: “The Red Riots will try to win dual meets with depth this year,” says Green, “filling every lane in every event. Competition in practices will help develop new state qualifiers by the time Regional and State Championships arrive.” On the boys’ side, Cram, Hayes, Haynes and Hau – all qualifiers for States last winter – return this season, and Dagorov, Amadei and Goodine-Doane lead a sizeable contingent of strong freshmen. The Lady Riots lost nine seniors to graduation in June, but retain Brewster, Hobbs and Emma Kane, all qualifiers for States last season. Goodwin, McNally, Flock, Sydney Kane, Aceto and Steele will need to step into more substantial roles if the team is to continue progressing.

Boys Indoor Track

Coach: Dave Kahill

Last year’s record: 8-2, seventh (of 14) at SMAAs, 10th (of 25) at Class A States

Key athletes: Danny Guiliani (sr., Captain, Shot Put); Noah Blake (sr., Captain, Long Jump); Jake Maloney (sr., Captain, 800/One-mile); Isaiah Anderson (jr., sprints/Long Jump); Xander Keiter (jr., 800/One-mile/Two-mile); Brad Mileson (jr., hurdles/800/One-mile); Steven Smith (jr., One-mile/Two-Mile); Sadiki Stewart (jr., sprints); Finn Zechman (jr., sprints/jumps); Max Holmes (so., sprints/Long Jump/Triple Jump); Nathan Begonia (so., Long Jump/Triple Jump); Khem Johnston (so., sprints/jumps); Ben Sivik (fr., sprints/Long Jump/Triple Jump); Artimus Stilley (fr., Shot Put/400/800); Dana Watts (fr., sprints/jumps)

Key meets: SMAAs

Outlook: The Riots are young this winter, with just three seniors – though, as Kahill says, those seniors “are great leaders and role models with talent and experience in big meets.” Kahill’s distance runners, led by Maloney, Keiter, Mileson, Smith and Dan Woodhouse, have improved rapidly and are the team’s most experienced unit. Blake heads up the sprinter and jumper contingents, and Anderson, Stewart, Zechman and Holmes will create depth across events. Guiliani, who holds the state record (66-5.00) in shot put, “is working hard to improve his performances.” One has to wonder at what point Guiliani might plateau for a stretch, though his throws are so far beyond his competitors’ that he’s almost a shoe-in for another State title anyway. Regardless, his knowhow can help his fellow throwers, including Mills. Sivik, Stilley and Watts bring talent, even as freshmen, and should propel the junior division, besides boding well for the future of the program. “The Riots will improve and be competitive throughout the season,” says Kahill, “and have the potential to be a top-five team in the SMAA Championship.”

Girls Indoor Track

Coach: Karen Reardon

Last year’s record: Fourth at Southwesterns, top five at States

Key athletes: Miranda Gleason (sr., jumps); Edita Isakovic (sr., High Jump/Sprints); Meagan Johnson (sr., jumps/sprints/hurdles); Jackie Tanguay (sr., Long Jump/Triple Jump/sprints); Molly Skeffington (jr., sprints); Phoebe Letourneau (jr., jumps); Kaitlin Bouchard (jr., Shot Put); Serena McKenzie (jr., distance); Callie O’Brien (jr., jumps/sprints/hurdles); Ella Jocher (jr., distance); Sophia Cummings (jr., Long Jump/Triple Jump/hurdles); Toia Francis (jr., 400/800/relays); Lingdong Bol (so., jumps); Juliana Selser (so., 400/800); Skye McCann (so., jumps/sprints); Rachel Haynes (so., sprints); Julia Banks (fr., hurdles/Shot Put); Itza Anzurez (fr., sprints/Shot Put)

Key meets: TA/Westbrook/Windham, States

Outlook: “We hope to be one of the top teams in the league,” Reardon says. “We have some holes to fill due to graduation, but return a strong group.” The SMAA is a tough league, which threatens the Lady Riots with week-to-week defeat – but also gives them big challenges that could spur big improvements. “It will be a matter of seeing where our team stacks up against the competition and performing well when it counts,” Reardon says. “We’ve gained a lot of experience over the last couple years so it should be an exciting season for us.”

Aidan Schifano will see significant ice time for the Riots this winter.Noah Blake is a senior and a captain for the Riots this year, and should contribute points in the jumps.Maddie Hasson is one of the AA South’s top players.If his opponents are smart, Ruay Bol will attract heavy defense this winter, as he is a danger across the court.