After a year without a postseason due to COVID-19, Forecaster Country athletes more than made up for lost time at the state meets for indoor track, swimming and skiing last week.

Here are the highlights:

Skiing

The Freeport/Brunswick boys’ team won the Class A Alpine ski state title. Falmouth/Waynflete came in third and Greely was 15th.

Freeport/Brunswick was led by Bobby Strong, who was seventh in the slalom (48.69 seconds) and 13th in the giant slalom (a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 51.55 seconds). Ansel Goode placed ninth in the slalom (48.79) and 26th in the GS (1:57.51). Jack Gilbert finished 13th in the slalom (50.03). Andrew Morrissey was 14th in the GS (1:51.70). Elias Burrell finished 17th in the GS (1:53.41) and 18th in the slalom (51.24).

Falmouth’s Andrew Christie won both the GS (1:41.92) and the slalom (43.84).

“It’s pretty good,” Christie said. “I was kind of expecting it. Not expecting, but I was hoping to win. I don’t know, just experience, as a senior, I guess. I skied the top a lot cleaner and I kind of carried momentum onto the pitch. First run, I was a little choppy, like I wasn’t super smooth, but then second run, it was much better.”

Teammate Caleb Labbe placed fifth in the slalom (48.06) and Porter Beaulieu was sixth (1:47.92).

The Rangers top finishers were Lucas Cook (32nd in the GS, 1:58.41) and Ben McCarron (33rd in the GS, 1:58.79).

In the Class A girls’ competition, won by Mt. Blue, Freeport/Brunswick was runner-up. Rosie St. Cyr came in eighth in the GS (1:52.84). Maisy St. Cyr finished 11th in the GS (1:54.01). In the slalom, Sadie Grogan finished 15th (56.53) and Luciana Bourgeois placed 17th (58.77).

Falmouth/Waynflete came in sixth. Celia Geci was second in the slalom (49.61) and third in the GS (1:49.83), as she overcame challenging conditions.

“I got lucky, there weren’t any crazy gusts when I went,” Geci said. “But I was watching one of my friends (come down) and it was blowing like crazy. The gates were on the ground when she was going. I felt bad.”

Greely finished ninth. Ruth Weeks was fourth in the slalom (51.71) and fifth in the GS (1:51.72).

In Class B, Yarmouth’s girls won the crown. Brooke Boone won the GS (1:29.68) and was second in the slalom (44.06). Samantha Beaudoin finished fourth in the GS (1:31.63) and eighth in the slalom (46.25). Hannah Moore was 20th in the GS (1:39.14). Madeleine Jones placed 28th in the GS (1:42.19). Emerson Carr finished 28th in the slalom (58.94). Sara Wentzell placed 34th in the slalom (1:00.51).

Yarmouth’s boys finished third behind Cape Elizabeth and Maranacook. The Clippers were led by Killian Marsh, who was fifth in the GS (1:27.85) and eighth in the slalom (38.05), and Tyler Moore, who placed ninth in the GS in 1:30.51.

Nordic skiing produced some terrific results as well.

In Class B, the Yarmouth boys edged Freeport for the top spot. Owen Redfield took first in the freestyle (12 minutes, 2.6 seconds) after placing 12th in the classic (19:26.4). Aksel Yeo finished third in the classic (18:37.6) and sixth in the freestyle (12:34.2). Cornelius Welsh came in fourth in the classic (18:54.8) and seventh in the freestyle (12:36). Stuart Baybutt finished 15th in the classic (20:00.6). Benjamin Flowerdew placed 18th in the freestyle (13:32.7).

The Falcons featured classic runner-up Sam Robinson (18:10.7), who was also fourth in the freestyle (12:20.0). Teo Steverlynck-Horne was sixth in the classic (19:02.2) and eighth in the freestyle (12:37.0). Alexander Dawson finished eighth in the classic (19:09.7) and ninth in the freestyle (12:42.0).

Maine Coast Waldorf/North Yarmouth Academy was sixth. James Crowley was 11th in the classic (19:25.2) and 11th in the freestyle (12:56.6).

In the pursuit standings, Robinson was second with 199 points, Yeo came in third (198), Redfield sixth (195), Welsh seventh (194), Steverlynck-Horne eighth (193) and Dawson 10th (191).

In the girls’ competition, Yarmouth came in third, MCW placed fifth and Freeport finished seventh.

MCW/NYA’s Emma Haims was runner-up in the classic (22:29.7) and the freestyle (15:06.6). Freeport’s Jillian Wight finished fourth in the freestyle (16:23.6) and fifth in the classic (23:24.2). Yarmouth’s Paige Brewer was 10th in the classic (24:13.6) and 10th in the freestyle (17:15.3).

Mt. Blue’s boys won the Class A title. Falmouth placed third and Greely was sixth.

Falmouth’s Joey Rouhana was the champion in the classic with a time of 16:37.3 and the freestyle in 11:34.8.

“My time was one of the fastest 5Ks I’ve ever skied just because it was such fast snow,” Rouhana said. “I had no one to push me, so people behind me had a little bit of an advantage. But I really enjoy skate racing and I had a lot of people cheering me on.”

Teammate Ryan Gray was runner-up in the freestyle (11:46.4) and placed fourth (18:05.7) in the classic. Greely’s Ben Wall came in 12th in the classic (19:37.5) and 17th in the freestyle (13:36.3).

Rouhana was first in the pursuit standings, Gray third and Wall 14th.

In the Class A girls’ competition, won by Mt. Blue, Falmouth placed fourth and Greely was fifth.

In the classic, Falmouth’s Ava Dries was ninth (21:11.2) and the Rangers were paced by Alex Collins (15th, 21:47.3).

In the freestyle, Collins came in seventh (14:48.8) and Dries was 10th (14:53.2).

Dries was ninth in the pursuit standings (192 points) and Collins was 12th (189).

Indoor track

Greely’s girls’ indoor track team won the Class B state title last week at the University of Southern Maine for the 17th time, as its 70 points held off runner-up York (67).

Elle Jowett won the 55 (7.63 seconds), the 200 (27.18) and the 400 (1 minute, 2.70 seconds). Abigail Jacobson was runner-up in the 55 (7.72) and the 200 (27.45). Lia Traficonte was second in the triple jump (32 feet, 6.75 seconds) and placed fourth in the long jump (15-2.5). Olivia Marsanskis was third in the pole vault (10 feet). Tori Bacall finished fourth in the two-mile (12:42.06). Elise Provencher placed seventh in the 400 (1:05.85). Jennifer Medrano was seventh in the triple jump (31-3.5).

The Rangers only brought seven competitors and won despite being disqualified from the 800 relay after posting the fastest time. Greely’s final handoff was outside the exchange zone.

“I feel like this year has been hard for all of us and to be able to come here and to be able to show all the work I’ve put in, it just feels amazing,” Jowett said.

“That’s how we live and die in track and field, “said Rangers coach David Dowling. “Can you do it on the day it counts?”

Freeport (30) points finished seventh. Molly Cobbs was runner-up in the pole vault (10-0) and fifth in the 55 hurdles (9.48). Kate Cobbs finished fourth in the pole vault (9-0). Lucy Riggs was fourth in the 55 (7.82) and sixth in the 200 (28.25). Lucy Bradford tied for fifth in the pole vault (8-6). The Falcons’ 4×200 relay team (Riggs, Kyla Havey, Emmie Riendeau and Mia Hornchild-Bear) placed third (1:58.57). The 4×800 relay squad (Josie Spaulding, Ellie Battarbee, Elizabeth Whittier and Kathryn Whittier) came in seventh (11:29.81).

Yarmouth (3) tied Waterville for 23rd. Hillary Connor was sixth in the mile (5:46.38). The Clippers’ 4×200 relay team (Evie King, Tessa Dougherty, Tristen Rogers and Lexi Inger) came in seventh (1:59.73).

The Class B boys’ title was won by York with 64.5 points. Yarmouth (32 points) was sixth. Frazier Dougherty won the 400 (51.8) and was second in the 200 (23.1). Wes Merrill placed fifth in the 200 (24.09) and was seventh in the 55 (6.92). The Clippers were also first in the 4×200 relay (Merrill, Owen Gillan, Kevin Kamm and Dougherty, 1:36.48).

Freeport (20) came in 10th. Enoch Boudreau won the pole vault (12-1). Henry Horne finished fourth in the mile (2:08.71). Reece Perry was fifth in the pole vault (10-6). The Falcons’ 4×800 relay squad (Alex Graver, Ben Grimm, Ian Moore and Horne) was fifth (9:03.28).

NYA (10) tied Lawrence and Sumner for 16th. Justin Corporon was third in the 55 (6.75) and fourth in the 200 (23.91).

Greely (1) finished 28th. William Coull placed seventh in the mile (4:54.61).

At the Class A meet, also in Gorham, won by perennial champion Scarborough (75), Falmouth (13) tied Biddeford for 12th place. Elias Grover placed fourth in the shot put (44-7.25). Miles Gay was sixth in the 400 (53.04). Will Addison finished seventh in the 200 (23.52). The Navigators’ 4×200 relay team (Max Shapiro, Finn Caxton-Smith, Mason Quiet and Addison) placed third (1:35.35).

In the Class A girls’ meet, won by Bangor with 82 points, Falmouth did not score.

The New England championships wrap up the indoor track season this weekend in Boston.

Swimming

In the pool, at the Class A boys’ swim meet, won by Scarborough with 348 points, Falmouth was second with 263.

The Navigators won the 200 medley relay, as Will Porter, Jack Carlson, Cole Gorsuch and Patrick Gill produced a time of 1 minute, 38.91 seconds. Falmouth was also first in the 400 freestyle relay, as Gorsuch, Carlson, Porter and Gill finished with a time of 3:17.75. Gill won the 50 freestyle in 21.24 seconds and was second in the 100 free in 47.12.

“You’ve just got to have a mentality that you’ve got to come in and you’ve got to be focused,” Gill said of his 50 free victory. “It’s unfortunate to not have spectators here, but to have states this year and have the team all together, our team is excited to be here.”

Gorsuch was the champion of the 100 butterfly in 52.36 seconds and won the 100 backstroke in 52.52 seconds. Porter won the 500 free in 4:56.91 and was third in the backstroke (54.41). Carlson finished seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.91). Falmouth’s 200 free relay team (Kevin Lu, Ash Lane, Johann Zimerle and Jacob Luc) placed sixth (1:40.07).

In the girls’ meet, won by Camden Hills with 287 points, Falmouth had 109 points and came in 10th. Jillian James won the one-meter diving title with 410.85 points. Katrina Waite was second in the 50 free (25.8) and third in the 100 free (55.89). Amelie Bowden placed fourth in the 200 free (2:06.17) and was sixth in the 500 free (5:47.63).

In the Class B boys’ meet, won by Cape Elizabeth with 409 points, Greely finished third with 290. Matt Desmond and Charter Sasseville were first and second respectively in the 200 free, as Desmond won with a time of 1:46.79 and Sasseville finished in 1:47.87.

“I’ve been racing against (Charter) since sixth grade,” Desmond said. “That was the first time I’ve beaten him.”

Sasseville also won the 100 backstroke (55.04). Desmond was also runner-up in the 500 free (4:54.43). Tommy Leggat-Barr placed fourth in the 100 backstroke (58.66) and was eighth in the 200 individual medley (2:15.01). Asa Giffune finished fourth in the 500 free (5:06.6) and sixth in the 200 free (1:55.79). Lev Giffune was fifth in the 200 free (1:55.17) and sixth in the 100 free (52.65). Aiden Martel placed sixth in the 50 free (23.9) and seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.27).

The Rangers 400 free relay team (Sasseville, Asa Giffune, Lev Giffune and Desmond) was second to Cape Elizabeth in 3:26.44. The 200 free relay team (Jesse Franklin, Martel, Asa Giffune and Lev Giffune) was third (1:39.81). The 200 medley relay squad (Leggat-Barr, Martel, Sasseville and Desmond) was fourth (1:45.57).

Freeport (111) placed seventh in the team standings. Brian Brogan won the 50 free in 22.2 seconds and the 100 free in 48.11 seconds. The Falcons’ 200 free relay team (Colin Lamb, Everett Sawyer, Devin Lamb and Brogan) was fourth (1:41.10). The 200 medley relay team (Colin Lamb, Brogan, Devin Lamb and Sawyer) placed sixth in 1:58.10.

Yarmouth (39) came in 12th as a team.

The Class B girls’ meet was also won by Cape Elizabeth with 338 points. Greely (282) finished fourth.

Audrey Cohen set a new state record in taking the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.27. Cohen also won the 50 free in 24.33.

“The last 15 meters, I could hear everyone cheering, so I knew I was close,” Cohen said. “It was a great atmosphere here.”

Abby Hollis won the 100 backstroke in 1:00.17 and placed fifth in the 200 IM (2:18.62). Emma Cyr was third in the 500 free (5:38.69) and eighth in the 200 free (2:08.39). Katie Hankinson was fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:03.14) and fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.44). Emma Richard came in fifth in the 100 free (58.21) and was seventh in the 100 backstroke (1:05.98). Holly Moss was fifth in the 100 backstroke (1:03.91).

The Rangers’ 400 free relay team (Cohen, Richard, Cyr and Hollis) was second in 3:44.44. The 200 medley relay team (Moss, Hankinson, Cohen and Hollis) was also runner-up in 1:52.65. The 200 free relay squad (Richard, Cyr, Hunter Maxham and Hankinson) placed fourth in 1:47.55.

“Both of the (Greely) teams swam well,” said longtime Rangers coach Rob Hale. “I could not have asked for more after the fantastic swimming we did the week before in the Southwesterns. I am pleased with our finishes, considering both teams had only nine qualifiers, which is 50% of our usual state meet contingent.”

Yarmouth (157) was sixth. Amelia Kostin was runner-up in the 50 free (25.37) and third in 100 free (56.74). The Clippers’ 200 medley relay team (Piper Priddy, Alexandra Ericson, Daisy Brewer and Kostin) finished third (1:56.65). The 200 free relay squad (Sierra Hunt, Sarah Dressel, Ali Miller and Priddy) came in sixth in 1:50.39. The 400 free relay team (Hunt, Brewer, Miller and Kostin) was also sixth (4:02.30).

Freeport (11) placed 18th.

Boys’ hockey

The boys’ hockey playoffs get underway this week.

In Class B South, Greely, the two-time reigning state champion, is again the top seed after finishing the year 14-4 following a 4-0 home win over Leavitt and a 3-1 loss at Thornton Academy. The Rangers welcome No. 8 Kennebunk (0-16) in the quarterfinals Wednesday. Greely beat the Rams twice this year, 7-5 at home Jan. 8 and 6-0 on the road Feb. 19.

The Cheverus/Yarmouth co-op squad earned the No. 3 spot after finishing 12-5 with wins last week at Kennebunk (4-0) and at home over York (4-1). Cheverus/Yarmouth hosts No. 6 York (6-10-1) in the quarterfinals Wednesday afternoon (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story).

In Class A, the South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport co-op team wound up third after closing with a 3-0 home win over Biddeford to finish 11-6-1. The squad hosts No. 14 St. Dom’s (1-17) in the state preliminary round Wednesday. Back on Jan. 5, SP/Waynflete/Freeport won, 7-2, at the Saints.

Falmouth surged to a 9-7-1 finish, closing on a four-game win streak, capped by last Tuesday’s 6-2 win at Scarborough. The fourth-ranked Navigators host No. 13 Biddeford (4-13) in the quarterfinals Wednesday. Falmouth won both meetings this year, 5-2 at home Dec. 14 and 8-3 on the road Dec. 30.

Press Herald staff writers Steve Craig, Glenn Jordan and Travis Lazarczyk, and Sun Journal staff writer Lee Horton contributed to this story.

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