FOOTBALL

Coach: Mike Vance (sixth year, 28-19 overall record, one state championship)

2021 record: 8-0 (Beat Waterville, 56-0, to win Eight-man large division state title)

Top returning players: Matt Fogg (Senior), Sawyer Merrill (Senior), Rilan Smith (Senior), Preston Fallon (Junior), Joe Osei (Junior), Liam Backman (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 2 @ Falmouth, Oct. 1 WELLS, Oct. 15 LEAVITT, Oct. 21 @ Cape Elizabeth

Coach’s comment: “The preseason has gone well. It’s not a huge adjustment to go back to 11-man. It’s football. We lost a handful of seniors with experience and leadership, but we’ve got some guys who have played and young guys new to the varsity scene. We have a very green offensive line. Developing leadership will be key for this team. The goal is to get a bunch of underclassmen without varsity experience into the right places and to understand their assignments. We’ve got smart, motivated kids and we’re seeing progress. There are a lot of teams with tradition and good coaching staffs on our schedule. We’ll take it one week at a time.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus has made the rounds in recent seasons, moving from its longtime home in Class A, to Class B South in 2019, to eight-man the following year and now to Class C. The Stags made the most of their one season of eight-man football, absolutely running roughshod over the competition en route to the fourth state title in program history. Cheverus lost some top talent to graduation and some other key members transferred, but there are good players waiting in the wings. They just need seasoning.

Junior Gio St. Onge, a solid multi-sport athlete, replaces Richard Tremble at quarterback. As always, Cheverus will be run-first, as captains Fogg and Smith (both of whom starred last postseason) figure to see the majority of carries. Junior Elija Timlin, a transfer from New York, will be a top receiving threat. Merrill, the third captain, returns as a lineman, but he’s sidelined by injury at the start of the season. That leaves Backman as the lone lineman with varsity experience and he played tight end a year ago. Once the line comes of age, the Stags should be a threat to score a lot of points.

Defensively, Fogg and Merrill are the top linemen. Fallon and Osei will lead the linebacking corps. Smith plays strong safety.

There will be quite a learning curve this fall, as not only are there players to get up to speed, but Cheverus is unfamiliar with the opposition and some of the upcoming foes are quite talented. Fortunately, the Stags have a veteran coaching staff (which once again includes the legendary John Wolfgram as an assistant) and you’ll see a vastly different team by the end of the year than the one which takes the field Sept. 2. The season’s end result is a mystery, but rest assured that Cheverus will be fascinating to watch and the hunch here is that the Stags will wind up being one of the last teams standing.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Coach: Bill LeBlanc (11th year, 73-60-16 overall record)

2021 record: 5-8-2 (Lost, 1-0, in OT, to Portland in Class A South preliminary round)

Top returning players: James Baur (Senior), Carter Hoglund (Senior), Collin Plalum (Senior), Shane McGrath (Junior)

Pivotal games: Sept. 3 @ South Portland, Sept. 7 GORHAM, Sept. 28 @ Deering, Sept. 30 @ Falmouth, Oct. 5 WINDHAM, Oct. 15 @ Portland

Coach’s comment: “We lost two really high-quality players in Brady Hoglund and Emmet Schuele, our goalie, Wyatt Roy, went to a private school in New York and we graduated several other seniors, but this year’s seniors are showing good leadership. I like that we’re a team and we’re playing hard. It’s a good group. If our defense and goalie hold up, we’ll put the pieces together. We’ll be middle-of-the-pack. We want to get in the playoffs and be our best by the end of the year.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus was a tough out in last year’s postseason and the offseason wasn’t kind to the Stags, as multiple standouts departed, but this fall, Cheverus has promise and if things come together, it could be a surprise team by season’s end.

Baur is a top scoring threat up top. The midfield features Carter Hoglund, McGrath and Plalum. Seniors Cam Dempster and Jacob Lucier will anchor the defense in front of new goalkeeper, senior Luke McNabb.

As usual, the Stags’ schedule is daunting and you can argue that Class A South is as deep as it’s ever been. That will make it difficult to earn the necessary Heal Points to make the playoffs, but Cheverus will give every foe its best effort and that should result in a fifth consecutive trip to the postseason, where anything is possible.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Coach: Craig Roberts (10th year, 86-43-8 overall record)

2021 record: 10-6 (Lost, 3-0, to Gorham in Class A South quarterfinals)

Top returning players: Caoilinn Durkin (Senior), Maddie Hom (Senior), Reese Belanger (Junior), Finley Brown (Sophomore), Jillian Foley (Sophomore), Annie Vigue (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 6 @ Gorham, Sept. 27 DEERING, Sept. 29 FALMOUTH, Oct. 4 @ Windham, Oct. 13 PORTLAND

Coach’s comment: “We knew losing a lot of seniors the past few years would catch up with us. We’re young and we’ll have some growing pains, but I think we’ll look a lot different at the end of the season than we do at the start. We have a lot of promise. The culture of the team is good. The girls want to learn and get better. We have good players. We just need to mesh. The goal is to get into the playoffs and be playing our best at the end. I think that’s very doable.

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus has been an upper echelon team for several years and while the Stags have been hard-hit by graduation of late, the cupboard is not bare and this Cheverus edition is primed to surprise anyone primed to write it off.

The loss of top scorer and all-region selection Julia Kratzer is an obstacle on the offensive side, but the Stags return Durkin, a captain, who made the SMAA all-star team as an honorable mention as a junior. She, Foley and Vigue will set the tone, along with new sophomore Sophia Monfa, who shows great promise. Defensively, Cheverus should be solid behind captains Belanger and Hom, Brown (who also plays in the midfield) and junior Sofia Pothier. Sophomore Evelyn Rush, a transfer from Gorham, and freshman Haley Lamontagne were battling for the goalkeeper position at press time, looking to replace Emily Bontatibus.

In a year where reigning champion Windham and perennial powers Falmouth, Gorham and Scarborough will get most of the preseason billing, the Stags are happy to be overlooked. They’ll come together in the weeks to come and rest assured that no one will want to face Cheverus with its season hanging in the balance.

FIELD HOCKEY

Coach: Theresa Arsenault (fourth year, 32-6-3 overall record, one state title)

2021 record: 18-0 (Beat Skowhegan, 4-1, to win first Class A state title)

Top returning players: Elle Cooney (Senior), Madeline Fowler (Senior), Logan LeFevre (Senior), Taylor Tory (Senior), Lily Johnson (Junior), Lucy Johnson (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 13 @ Falmouth, Sept. 23 @ Scarborough, Sept. 28 @ Biddeford, Oct. 5 GORHAM, Oct. 8 @ Massabesic

Coach’s comment: “We know this is a brand new year and we’re going to focus on one game at a time. This group of girls has field hockey talent and skills as individuals, but it will be key to piece them together and play as a team. Beyond their skill, it will be their values and qualities that will make this group special. Unselfish play, hard work, team camaraderie and school spirit will be key for success.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus lived out a dream season a year ago, capturing the program’s first state championship in emphatic, memorable fashion. The Stags staked their claim as one of the finest teams in recent history and while an abundance of talent returns, including three All-State players, and some key new talent joins in the fun, capturing a repeat title won’t be easy.

Up front, Tory had a huge season as a junior, scoring a lot goals (36 total), being named Forecaster Fall Athlete of the Year, as well as earning All-State and first-team All-Conference honors, and she’s poised to be one of the elite players around again this fall. Cheverus’ midfield will be unmatched with Lily Johnson and Lucy Johnson (both first-team All-Conference, as well as All-State in 2021) setting the pace. Lily Johnson had 13 goals and 13 assists last season, while Lucy Johnson burst on to the scene with 28 goals and nine assists. They’re joined by freshman Joey Pompeo, the younger sister of former program standouts Sophia Pompeo and Lucia Pompeo. The youngest Pompeo figures to step right in and make the type of impact that Lucy Johnson made last season. If you think the Stags are just an offensive show, think again, as the defense is formidable. Last season, Cheverus surrendered just nine goals in 18 games. LeFevre returns in goal and she’ll be aided by veterans Cooney and Fowler, as well as new junior Kelsey Cassidy.

It all adds up to another potential juggernaut, but this season, the Stags will have the burden of wearing the bulls-eye. They’ll get every team’s best game and there are some squads out there that could knock Cheverus off of its perch. However, if the Stags remain healthy and hungry, they could become the first Class A South team to win a repeat championship this century. Their ceiling is that high.

VOLLEYBALL

Coach: Andy Wimmer (fourth year, 21-25 overall record)

2021 record: 4-11 (Lost, 3-1, to Marshwood in Class A state preliminary round)

Top returning players: Madi Bunnell-Parker (Senior), Ella Kennedy (Senior), Rachel Martin (Senior), Elise Stromayer (Senior), Emma Lizotte (Junior)

Pivotal matches: Sept. 1 @ South Portland, Sept. 7 @ Falmouth, Sept. 9 @ Scarborough, Sept. 20 YARMOUTH, Sept. 22 BIDDEFORD, Sept. 26 @ Gorham, Oct. 6 DEERING

Coach’s comment: “Our expectations are to be playing our best at the end. We are as physical and talented as any team in the league and if we can put it all together at the right time, there isn’t a team that we don’t think we can beat.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus is poised to make a leap up the standings this fall, as it boasts some strong returning players combined with promising youngsters.

Bunnell-Parker, Kennedy, Martin and Stromayer are seniors who will lead the way. Lizotte, the basketball standout, led the Stags in kills and blocks last season and will be a force in the middle. Junior Ruth Boles, who transfers in from South Portland, will make an immediate mark as a setter. Sophomores Sofie Asbjornsen (setter and libero) and Bella Cortez (libero/outside hitter) will be heard from as well.

The Stags will be tested by some of the best teams in the state and hope to be competitive in those matches. If Cheverus is able to take care of business against the other squads, a winning season and trip to the playoffs is a distinct possibility.

CROSS COUNTRY

Coach: Nick Denari (third year)

2021 results:
(Boys) DNQ for state meet (17th @ regionals)
(Girls) 10th @ Class A state meet

Top returning runners:
(Boys) Owen Cook (Junior), Danny McCartney (Junior), Ambrose McCullough (Junior), Griffin Vivian (Junior), Cash Kellen (Sophomore), Logan Whitmarsh (Sophomore)
(Girls) Annabelle Brooks (Senior), Aysel Hamlin (Senior), Bo Miller (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “The boys ended last season on a bit of a low note, finishing at the bottom of the regional meet after our top runner was unable to run due to injury. However, we bring back six of our seven runners from that meet and all of them were either freshmen or sophomores. They are now more experienced and are ready to prove themselves. Our goal this year is simple. We haven’t qualified for the state meet since 2014 and our boys have been talking about breaking that streak since last winter. This is a young group and although all of our contributors this year will be underclassmen and they will be back next year, none of them is content to wait until next year to accomplish this goal. Many of them have individual goals they are looking to achieve this year, but they are united in the fact that our team goal of advancing out of the region this year comes before everything else.

“The girls will have a small team again, but should be competitive yet again. Team-wise, we will look to continue our streak of state meet berths. With only three returners, we don’t have the experience that we are used to, but our team has a lot of enthusiasm and after a couple of meets we will have more of idea of the heights that this group might be able to ascend to. Individually, Annabelle will look to place very highly at the state meet and has her eyes on top finishes in some of the postseason meets, such as New Englands.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus has reason for optimism this season as both squads are poised to make a mark.

The girls’ team features Brooks, one of the state’s elite runners. Brooks placed fourth in Class A as junior with a time of 19 minutes, 34.67 seconds, and will look to ascend even higher this fall. Miller (76th at states in 2021) also has big meet experience, while Hamlin will be a veteran leader as well. While the loss of Grace Turner and Leska Whitmarsh will hurt, depth will come from new juniors Roxie van Oosterum and Delaney Whitmarsh, who both come over from soccer, as well as freshman Grace Beeler. The Stags hope to qualify for states for the sixth consecutive season and with Brooks leading the way, should be able to do so.

The boys’ squad is determined to get to states as well, something which last happened eight long years ago. Cheverus has several veteran runners who look to improve on last year’s results. Leading the way will be McCartney, who was 59th at the regional meet last season. Other returners include Vivian (68th), Kellen (97th), McCullough (101st), Cook (110th) and Whitmarsh (111th). They’re joined by potential immediate impact makers, freshmen Arman Gurcan and Jackson Kayne. Look for this pack to gradually improve over the course of the season and be in position to realize its goal when late-October arrives.

GOLF

Coach: Billy Goodman (fourth year)

2021 results: (9th @ Class A state match)

Top returners: Colin Hines (Senior), Liam Cloutier (Sophomore)

Coach’s comment: “We know what we need to do in a very tough division. We’re looking to build on last year and get back to states.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cheverus enjoyed a trip to state match a year ago and despite graduating a pair of scorers, believes it can make it back to the big stage.

Hines (87 a year ago at states) and Cloutier (88) are the veterans. Junior Brian Connolly and promising freshman Mick Madden round out a solid top four.

The Stags are in a very difficult division, having to battle the likes of Falmouth, Scarborough and South Portland, but regardless of regular season results, Cheverus is determined to be at its best for the state qualifier. If the Stags can return to Natanis, look out.

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

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