BOYS’ SOCCER

Senior Seamus Rohde has been in the middle of the action throughout his high school career. He hopes to lead NYA’s boys’ soccer team to a state title before graduating. File photos.

Coach: Branden Noltkamper (first year)

2021 record: 11-5-2 (Lost, 5-0, to Lee Academy in Class D state final)

Top returning players: Jack Byrne (Senior), Rodgers Crowley (Senior), Seamus Rohde (Senior), Wyatt Thomas (Senior), Alex Wignall (Senior)

Pivotal games: Sept. 1 @ Waynflete, Sept. 8 @ Richmond, Sept. 12 @ Yarmouth, Sept. 24 WAYNFLETE, Sept. 28 RICHMOND, Oct. 6 GRAY-NG

Coach’s comment: “We have a tough and competitive regular season schedule which is great for us and something I know we are looking toward. Expectations are quite high, but we are taking everything one day at a time. Ultimately, we are looking to replicate the success of last season, but with the understanding that it is not going to be easy by any means.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: NYA had great success a year ago, but the Panthers had no answers for Lee Academy on the big stage and fell just short of their ultimate goal. This fall, NYA welcomes Noltkamper as coach. He coached Morse’s girls’ program for five seasons and inherits a promising squad, boasting veterans of big games in multiple sports, that should make another run at the Class D crown.

This year’s offense will be led by Byrne and Thomas in the midfield. They’ll get assistance from junior Gray Perham and freshman Jackson Bartick. Up top, Crowley promises to be a threat. Defensively, Rohde and Wignall lead the way in front of new goalkeeper senior Tanner Anctil.

The Panthers always welcome a tough schedule and they’ll have one this fall, one that begins with a trip to rival and three-time reigning Class C champion Waynflete. NYA will play top teams from three different classes and that will get the Panthers ready for a playoff run. After falling just short in 2021, NYA believes it can finish the job this time around.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Angel Huntsman is one of the elite athletes in the state. Before she heads to Bates College to play basketball, Huntsman hopes to lead NYA’s girls’ soccer team to another state championship. File photos.

Coach: Ricky Doyon (sixth year, 55-19-2, three state championships)

2021 record: 17-0-1 (Beat Wisdom, 3-0, to win third consecutive Class D state title)

Top returning players: Anna Belleau (Senior), Charlotte Harper-Cunningham (Senior), Angel Huntsman (Senior), Vy Tran (Senior), Michala Wallace (Senior), Kailyn McIntyre (Junior), Hayden Wienckowski (Junior), Ella Giguere (Sophomore), Emily Robbins (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Sept. 1 @ OOB, Sept. 8 RICHMOND, Sept. 23 WAYNFLETE, Sept. 28 @ Richmond, Oct. 4 OOB, Oct. 15 @ Waynflete

Coach’s comment: “With the departure of some talented players, we will have to work even harder to achieve success. Our goal is to come out fast in the first half and play hard for 80 minutes. We want to be able to hold our own and build upon every game. I hope the girls will feel comfortable playing together once we get a few games under our belt. I expect the girls will get stronger as the season progresses and be able to compete well in the postseason. We all know and have experienced the unexpected, so it’s my job to ensure the girls can adapt and adjust to whatever comes our way. We have had a lot of success over the past few years and we hope to continue that trend. To accomplish this, will need to play hard every day and work on the little things that will help push us to our ultimate goal.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: NYA is in the midst of its most dominant stretch since winning five straight Class C crowns between 2003-07 and the Panthers are heavy favorites to win a fourth straight Class D crown this fall.

Senior Michala Wallace is another top returner for the Panthers this fall.

NYA is led by the dynamic Huntsman, one of the state’s elite players regardless of class. Huntsman, who is also a basketball point guard without peer and is heading to play hoops at Bates College, scored 33 goals and added 10 assists last fall, when she was named All-Conference and all-Class D South. She’ll light up the scoreboard again. Other scoring threats include Wienckowski (11 goals, 3 assists last season), Belleau (9 goals, 5 assists), Robbins (9 goals, 17 assists), McIntyre (7 goals, 5 assists), Wallace (6 goals, 2 assists, despite being hampered by injury), Giguere (2 goals, 2 assists) and Tran (1 goal, 12 assists). Giguere and Tran will see plenty of time on defense as well, in front of Harper-Cunningham, who dominated last season, allowing just five goals (two coming on penalty kicks) while posting 13 shutouts. If that’s not enough to give the opposition nightmares, the Panthers this fall welcome senior forward Leah Dube, junior defender Lily Rawnsley, junior goalkeeper Sarah Moore, sophomore midfielders Lyla Casey and Delia Fontana and sophomore defender Toree St. Hilaire to provide even more depth.

It all adds up to another juggernaut team. The Panthers didn’t lose a game a year ago (tying just one) and it’s possible this squad could run the table again if it stays healthy and hungry. Look for NYA to score a lot of goals, surrender few and be the team to beat when the playoffs begin. Another Gold Ball would surprise no one.

VOLLEYBALL

Coach: Nora Krainis (17th year)

2021 record: 3-11 (no postseason)

Top returning players: Laurel Buehner (Senior), Madilyn Onorato (Senior), Charlotte McClatchy (Junior)

Pivotal matches: Oct. 8 JONESPORT-BEALS, Oct. 8 BUCKSPORT

Coach’s comment: “The team is young and still rebuilding. They are working hard, moving well and should see some competitive matches this season.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: NYA is looking to build its way back into contention this fall.

Onorato was a second-team all-star in 2021 after finishing second in blocking and third in hitting and kills in Class C. She’ll be in the middle and will make life miserable for the opposition, whether its on offense or defense. McClatchy was sixth in digs last year in Class C and will be on the outside. Buehner plays opposite. The Panthers are hoping for some other girls to step up during the course of the season.

NYA should show steady improvement in the weeks to come and hopes to set the stage for even more success down the road.

CROSS COUNTRY

Coaches:
(Boys) Peter Sillin (16th year, two state championships)
(Girls) Chris Mazzurco (22nd year, one state championship)

2021 results:
(Boys) DNQ for Class C state meet
(Girls) DNQ for Class C state meet

Top returners:
(Boys) Caleb King (Junior), Leif MacCarthy (Sophomore), Chris Noreika (Sophomore)
(Girls) Asher Urbanek (Junior), Olivia Hamilton (Sophomore)

Coach Sillin’s comment: “There are a couple of other kids on the team, but nagging injuries make this season a tough one to predict. We lost a couple of runners from last year to other interests so it will be up to some of the new guys to take up the slack. I’m hopeful that if we stay healthy and can put a full team on the line at regionals, we could make a run at qualifying for states.”

Coach Mazzurco’s comment: “Numbers are up and we are hoping to field a young healthy team come championship time. If preseason is any indication, we are excited to see the week-to-week improvement of this team.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: North Yarmouth Academy has a small but talented program this fall.

The boys’ team lost a couple runners who qualified for states as individuals, but three veterans will be called upon to lead the way. MacCarthy (57th) and Noreika (58th) scored last year at the regional meet. King (73rd) also took part and looks to move up. Senior Will Shockey and junior Ethan Smith are key new additions. The squad looks to show steady improvement and be in the hunt to qualify in October.

On the girls’ side, two runners return who took part in last year’s regional meet. Urbanek had the 41st-best time, while Hamilton finished 54th. They’ll lead the way this season as well. Freshman Hadley Smith is a newcomer to watch. The Panthers will gradually improve as the season goes on and hope to be at their best in late October.

GOLF

Coach: Charlie Hudson (11th year)

2021 results: DNQ for Class C state match

Top returners: Ethan Rapkin-Stiles (Senior), Ethan Schutz (Senior), Nate Oney (Junior), Nick Pelletier (Junior), Maddy Prokopius (Junior), Connor Wolverton (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “Our team strength is our experience and team depth. We look to return to states after last year’s absence, which was the first in many years. We’ll be competing with St. Dom’s and Waynflete for two state spots.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: NYA wasn’t able to qualify for the state meet in 2021, but that was likely an aberration as the Panthers have ample talent to rely on this fall.

Pelletier competed in the Class C state match as an individual last season and shot an 86, good for 22nd place. He’s a top returner, as is Prokopius, who was fifth at the girls’ state match with a score of 102. Oney and Wolverton will also be in line for top spots. Rapkin-Stiles and Schutz have varsity experience. Newcomers to watch include senior Colin Roderick and junior Davis Gall.

NYA should hold its own throughout the regular season, but the Panthers will judge themselves on how they do at the qualifier. Don’t be surprised if NYA returns to the state match and makes up for lost time with a strong showing there.

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