BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Coach: Travis Seaver (10th year, 136-42 overall record, three state titles)

2019-20 record: 15-5 (Lost, 59-57, to York in Class A South semifinal)
2020-21 record: 3-8 (No postseason, COVID)

Top returning players: Max Cloutier (Senior), Dee Coyne (Senior), Andrew St. Hilaire (Senior), Tim Walker (Senior)

Pivotal games: Dec. 21 GORHAM, Dec. 29 YORK, Jan. 6 @ York, Jan. 8 @ Yarmouth, Jan. 11 FALMOUTH, Jan. 21 @ Cape Elizabeth, Jan. 29 YARMOUTH

Coach’s comment: “It’s rejuvenating to be back, great for the kids to be back on the court. We’re senior-laden, but we don’t have a lot of varsity experience. I like this group. The guys are working hard. We’ll be very perimeter-oriented. It should be a really exciting season. The league could be very even and everyone will have growing pains. I think we have a lot of upside. Our goal is to peak come February.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely is just three years removed from a three-peat and two seasons removed from a trip to the semifinals. While last year was challenging for many reasons, the returning players got some valuable time on the floor and this winter, the Rangers should be very much in contention in Class A South.

Walker showed flashes of greatness a year ago and will be one of the league’s top shooting guards. St. Hilaire will run the point and can also score, as will Cloutier. In the front court, look for Coyne, senior Liam Gardner and junior Seamus Raftice to be factors. If the Rangers can develop some depth beyond that group, they’ll be even tougher to match up against.

Greely always has high standards and hopes of going deep in the tournament. Class A South has a lot of strong teams, but the Rangers should be in that mix when all is said and done. Look for another exciting season from this program.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Coach: Todd Flaherty (sixth year, 91-7 overall record, two state titles)

2019-20 record: 19-2 (Lost, 47-44, to Marshwood in Class A South Final)
2020-21 record: 11-1 (No postseason, COVID)

Top returning players: Kaiyla Delisle (Senior), Chelsea Graiver (Senior), Sophia Ippolito (Junior)

Pivotal games: Dec. 14 BRUNSWICK, Dec. 17 GRAY-NG, Dec. 21 @ Gorham, Dec. 29 @ York, Jan. 6 YORK, Jan. 8 YARMOUTH, Jan. 11 @ Falmouth, Jan. 27 WELLS, Jan. 29 @ Yarmouth, Feb. 4 @ Wells, Feb. 9 @ Gray-NG

Coach’s comment: “We’ve had a good preseason and competed well. Practice has been fun. I’ve had to do more teaching this year. We don’t have a lot of experience, so we’ll have to fill in roles. The girls are practicing hard and hopefully, that will translate to the games. We have to improve between now and the end of the season. If we do, we’ll be competitive in the tournament.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Three years removed from a second straight state title, two years after a trip to the regional final and one year after making the most of a COVID-abbreviated campaign, Greely has a very different look this winter. While there are some holes to fill and a slew of question marks, there is still plenty of upside.

While there are no DeWolfes, Obars or Clements to be found, the Rangers do return Graiver, who averaged 10 points and 5 assists per game a year ago and recently committed to play next year at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. Graiver will be the point guard, a top scorer and a top defender. After playing a supporting role for much of her high school career, she’ll lead the way this time around. Delisle really emerged as a scorer and rebounder late last season and will be a force in the post. Ippolito can knock down shots and will get her chance to shine in the weeks to come. After that, check back in a few weeks, as some new players will step in and help the cause.

The Rangers begin the season chasing the likes of Brunswick and Falmouth, but by year’s end, they’ll be as formidable as anyone. Greely has advanced to the semifinals or beyond the past 14 seasons a tournament was held. If all goes well, look for that streak to continue.

BOYS’ HOCKEY

Coach: Barry Mothes (28th year, 341-196-16 overall record, five state championships)

2019-20 record: 17-3-1 (Beat Orono/Old Town, 5-1, to win Class B state title)
2020-21 record: 7-4 (No postseason, COVID)

Top returning players: Gage Cooney (Senior), Evan Dutil (Senior), Cam Malette (Senior), Ryan Moore (Senior), Mitchell Parent (Senior), Brooks Williams (Senior), Matt Kennedy (Junior)

Pivotal games: Dec. 11 CHEVERUS/YARMOUTH, Dec. 16 @ Cape Elizabeth, Dec. 18 @ Thornton Academy, Dec. 22 @ York, Jan. 1 FALMOUTH, Jan. 5 @ Brunswick, Jan. 8 KENNEBUNK, Jan. 11 YORK, Jan. 17 @ Cheverus/Yarmouth, Jan. 22 SCARBOROUGH, Jan. 26 @ Edward Little, Feb. 3 LEWISTON, Feb. 17 CAPE ELIZABETH, Feb. 19 @ Kennebunk

Coach’s comment: “After several seasons with lots of offensive attacking options and extensive scoring depth from both forwards and defensemen, we’ll be looking to build a strong foundation from the net out. Developing a steady range of scoring from the forwards will be a key to building more success. Another key for the team, with a competitive schedule featuring two games each against the best Class B South teams as well as five crossover games vs. top Class A teams, will be developing a solid and reliable third line. It’s certainly going to be very interesting to see what everybody looks like and how they start early in the year and develop as the weeks go on. Some of us have not played each other since the 2019-20 season and I think it’s fair to say that most of us have experienced some significant changes in rosters and personnel in the past 18 months and are working through all of that. Players who may have been young JV players two years ago are now suddenly moving into top spots at forward and on defense and in net. It should be an exciting season and I feel that Class B South is going to be a very, very competitive league, maybe even more so than usual.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: The return of normalcy means the return of Greely hockey to a position where it is viewed as a favorite to win another championship. The 2021-22 Rangers might not be as overwhelming as many squads of recent vintage, but this team begins the year very formidable and will likely end it as one of the teams standing (if not the last team standing).

Dutil and Moore are the most experienced, decorated returning players. Dutil played key roles in title runs his freshman and sophomore seasons. He can fly down the ice and finish against any goalie. Cooney and Parent project to join Dutil on the top line. Moore, a standout since his freshman season, has been effective as a forward, but could see time on defense this year. Junior Teddy Conway and sophomores Charlie Moore and Landon Werner made up a promising second line. Additional depth will come from the likes of sophomores Sean Allen, Lucas Martin and Finn Murphy. Seniors Patrick Johnson and Jacob Sharp could see time on offense or defense. Kennedy, Malette and Williams are top returning defenders. Sophomore Cullen Rafford will also make his presence felt. Greely returns senior Spencer Osgood and junior Keji Wiessner in goal. They split time during the 2020-21 campaign and both are reliable in holding the opposition at bay.

The Rangers will face their share of challenges from Class A and Class B foes and while the win-loss record might not be as glowing as we’ve become accustomed to, Greely’s status as a top title threat will be the case again come late February and March. Even if the Rangers aren’t the clear favorite this winter, it’s never wise to bet against them.

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

Coach: Megan Vaughan (third year)

2019-20 record: 4-13-1 (no playoffs)
2020-21 record: 0-10 (No postseason, COVID)

Top returning players: Carly Asherman (Senior), Kerry Roberts (Senior), Lily Rawnsley (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Jan. 1 FALMOUTH, Jan. 17 ST. DOM’S, Jan. 26 @ EL/Leavitt/Poland, Feb. 5 YARMOUTH/FREEPORT

Coach’s comment: “We have a large group of seniors, as well as a large incoming group of new players giving us our highest numbers of participants in the past several years. I look forward to seeing our captains, Kerry Roberts and Anna Rosenthal, lead this devoted group along with seniors Audrey Flynn on defense and Carly Asherman at forward. The team is connecting more every day and I look forward to seeing us get on the scoreboard more as the season progresses and getting some wins.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely opened with losses to Winslow, Gorham and Mt. Ararat, but brighter days are ahead.

The Rangers have already gotten three goals this winter from Roberts, a seasoned veteran. Asherman will also help the offensive cause, as will Rawnsley, a defender, who has already scored four times this season. Senior Audrey Flynn is another top defender. Senior captain Anna Rosenthal is a leader for the squad. Junior Maddie Singer is in goal.

Greely will get in the win column soon and that will generate some confidence. This is a squad that should only improve in the weeks to come to the point where the Rangers will be a dangerous foe when the postseason arrives.

INDOOR TRACK

Coach: David Dowling (third year)

2019-20 results: Boys’ 2nd @ Class B state meet; Girls’ tie-4th @ Class B state meet
2020-21 record: No season (COVID)

Top returners:

(Boys) Charlie Anania (Sophomore), Gaelen Lucey (Sophomore)

(Girls) Tori Bacall (Senior), Olivia Marsanskis (Senior), Elle Jacobson (Junior), Jen Medrano (Junior), Elise Provencher (Junior), Abbi Jacobson (Sophomore)

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely is back in action this winter and is looking forward to once again being a top contender in the regular season and in February.

The boys’ squad will be led by Anania in the pole vault and sprints and Lucey in the sprints, with help from junior shot put thrower Luke Jackson and freshman distance runner William Coull.

On the girls’ side, Marsanskis was fifth in the pole vault at the 2020 state meet and looks to move up this season. Abbi Jacobson, Elle Jacobson and Medrano will be top sprinters. Provencher runs the middle distance events and Bacall will compete in the longer distance races.

SWIMMING

Coach: Rob Hale (29th year w/boys’ team, 31st year w/girls, 13 state championships)

2019-20 results: Boys’ 3rd @ Class B state meet; Girls’ 2nd @ Class B state meet
2020-21 record: No season (COVID)

Top returners:

(Boys) Matt Desmond (Senior), Lev Giffune (Senior), Aidan Martel (Senior), Charter Sasseville (Senior)

(Girls) Mia Raley (Senior), Kate Hankinson (Junior), Abby Hollis (Junior), Holly Moss (Junior), Emma Richard (Junior), Audrey Cohen (Sophomore)

Coach’s comment: “The girls are still a strong team, but not as deep as usual. Last year’s team was the best in Greely history. Our 2020 and 2021 graduation losses included quality, versatility and depth. This year’s team is the smallest in history, but we’ll have fun and compete. Hopefully we can give Cape a challenge in the conference. We will try to stay in the top three at states. Like the girls, last year’s boys’ team was the one of the top teams I ever had. They also graduated quality and depth. This year’s team is the biggest boys’ team I’ve ever had. We can’t compete in team scores with Scarborough and Cape and Falmouth, but hopefully we can battle for the top spot with the rest. At states, a top 10 finish is the goal.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely just missed out on the top spot at the 2020 Class B state meet and could easily have swept titles a year ago, if COVID hadn’t wiped out the postseason. This winter, the Rangers aren’t quite as potent, but will remain in the mix throughout and could be a force to be reckoned with in February.

The girls’ squad returns Hollis (fourth in both the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley at the 2020 Class B state meet), Moss (fifth in the backstroke and seventh in the 100 butterfly as a freshman), Hankinson (eighth at states in both the breaststroke and 200 individual medley two years ago), Richard (ninth in the 200 free in 2020), Cohean (who swims the sprint freestyle, fly and breaststroke) and Raley (fly, backstroke and breaststroke).

On the boys’ side, Sasseville was runner-up in the backstroke and fifth in the IM in 2020 and will be formidable again in those events, as well as in the freestyle. Desmond (third in the 500 free and fifth in the 200 free two years ago), Giffune (ninth in the 200 free in 2020) and Martel (freestyle and breaststroke) lead the way.

ALPINE SKIING

Coach: Mark Ouellette (25th year)

2019-20 results: Boys’ 6th @ Class A state meet; Girls’ 12th @ Class A state meet
2020-21 record: No season (COVID)

Top returners:

(Boys) Gianluca Duina (Senior), Fritz Kendall (Senior), Evan Miller (Senior), Ben Hanson (Junior)

(Girls) Mia Wetland (Senior), Ruth Weeks (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “We’re an athletic group with five ladies and nine gents. We have three of the ladies returning and on the boys’ side, we have four returners and the remaining boys are skiers and athletic.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely is accustomed to being a top contender on the slopes and the 2021-22 squad should be no exception.

The boys return Hanson, who came in 43rd in the giant slalom at states in 2020, and Kendall, who was 64th in the slalom at states two years ago. Duina and Miller also have experience.

On the girls’ side, Weeks (15th in the slalom and 22nd in the GS at the 2020 state meet) and Wetland have experience and will lead the Rangers this winter.

NORDIC SKIING

Coach: Kyle Dancause (third year)

2019-20 results: Boys’ 7th @ Class A state meet; Girls’ 11th @ Class A state meet
2020-21 record: No season (COVID)

Top returners:

(Boys) Varick Olas (Senior)

(Girls) Alex Collins (Senior)

Coach’s comment: “We have a growing team of over 22 skiers, our largest in over a decade. Many new faces this season include six freshman skiers with years of middle school racing experience who, if committed to training and adjusting their effort to match high school expectations, will positively impact team scoring. A large influx of inexperienced but fit, enthusiastic and determined student-athletes has greatly impacted our sense of team pride and spirit. We expect these new skiers to make rapid growth and see huge improvement over the course of the season, with some likely challenging for team scoring spots. If the top girls commit to each other and fully buy into their training, they could challenge for a top spot in the Western Maine Conference. Most importantly, this is a really fun group and we hope to laugh and ski our way through the winter while embracing the Maine Nordic community and building our family.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Greely should be one of the top competitors in the region this winter.

The boys return Olas, who took part in the 2020 state meet and will be a top scorer this year. Sophomore Ben Wall could be in for a big season, while several newcomers will also be heard from as the Rangers look to enjoy a steady climb up the standings.

On the girls’ side, Collins is the veteran. She’s joined by sophomores Sylvia Harvey, Alina Schueman and Chloe Schueman, along with several freshmen, to make up a competitive squad.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Copy the Story Link