BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Coach: Jeff Mitchell (third year, 18-14 overall record)

2021-22 record: 12-8 (Lost, 67-51, to York in Class B South quarterfinals)

Top returning players: Antonio Dell’Aquila (Senior), Sam Lombardo (Senior), Owen Tighe (Senior), Andrew Trachimowicz (Senior), Alex Van Huystee (Junior)

Pivotal games: Dec. 9 WELLS, Dec. 13 @ Waynflete, Dec. 16 YORK, Dec. 20 WESTBROOK, Jan. 5 GRAY-NG, Jan. 12 @ York, Jan. 14 @ Greely, Jan. 31 @ Yarmouth

Coach’s comment: “We’re off and running. We’re a senior-heavy team. We’ve got a different type of team this year. Good chemistry. We put in a new offense and we’re adjusting to that. We’re more defensive-minded. The guys are unselfish and like to play defense. It doesn’t feel like there’s a favorite this year. Every game will be a dogfight. The goal is to make the tournament.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth made the tournament last winter for the 24th consecutive time and even after graduating sharpshooters Will Bowe and Jake Frame and seeing big man Jake Reeves transfer to a prep school in Massachusetts, the Capers have what it takes to make it 25 in a row this season.

Lombardo will be the point guard and can score some points. Cape Elizabeth figures to be solid in the backcourt with Dell’Aquila, Trachimowicz, Van Huystee and sophomore Eli Smith also in the mix. Tighe returns as a force in the paint. Tighe is joined by senior James Rickman and senior Ben Altenburg is new to the team and adds depth at the forward position.

The Capers don’t have a big-name star this winter, but they’ll be very strong on balance. Class B South doesn’t appear to have a heavy favorite, so Cape Elizabeth will have time to hit its stride. This team will look very different at the end of the season than at the beginning and it will be heard from at the Expo once again.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Coach: Chris Casterella (16th year, 97-174 overall record)

2021-22 record: 2-14 (Lost, 42-29, to Yarmouth in Class B South preliminary round)

Top returning players: Meghan Conley (Senior), Olivia Manning (Senior), Juliet Moore (Senior), Ashley Ryer (Senior)

Pivotal games: Dec. 9 @ Wells, Dec. 16 @ York, Jan. 5 @ Gray-New Gloucester, Jan. 12 YORK, Jan. 16 FREEPORT, Jan. 26 @ Freeport, Jan. 31 YARMOUTH

Coach’s comment: “We have just nine kids total in the program. I hope we can stay healthy enough and avoid injuries and illnesses to get 18 games in. We have an experienced core. I hope that experience will factor in and help us. We need to win some games to get confidence. We’ll be disciplined. We just have to find a way to put points on the board.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: It’s going to be all hands on deck this winter for the Capers, who have a thin roster, to say the least. With that said, there are some talented athletes at Casterella’s disposal and this group might just surprise some teams over the course of the season.

Conley and Moore are veterans in the backcourt. They’re joined by junior Emma Phillips Vila, who will step in at point guard. Manning and Ryer have experience at the forward position. Junior Grace Callahan will come off the bench and she can play multiple positions. She has great upside and could be a future star.

Cape Elizabeth’s goals are modest this season. Staying healthy will be paramount. If the Capers can achieve that, they will make the opposition work every time out and some victories will be the end result.

BOYS’ HOCKEY

Coach: Jake Rutt (fifth year, 41-26-3 overall record)

2021-22 record: 10-7-1 (Lost, 3-1, to Greely in Class B South semifinals)

Top returning players: Dimitri Coupe (Senior), Phil Coupe (Senior), Charlie Garvin (Senior), Connor Goss (Senior), Nick Laughlin (Senior), Luke Mello (Senior), Sebastian Moon (Senior), Alex Thayer (Senior), Colin Blackburn (Junior), Brady Hanisko (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Dec. 17 CHEVERUS/YARMOUTH, Dec. 30 THORNTON ACADEMY, Jan. 7 @ Brunswick, Jan. 16 @ Gorham, Jan. 19 GREELY, Jan. 25 @ Camden Hills, Jan. 26 BRUNSWICK, Feb. 8 @ Lewiston, Feb. 18 @ Greely, Feb. 22 @ Cheverus/Yarmouth

Coach’s comment: “Our team strength will be our depth. We will be able to roll three lines consistently with a strong core of players. Defensemen Nick Laughlin and Phil Coupe are arguably the two best in the state.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth has consistently been one of the teams knocking on the door in Class B South, but the Capers simply haven’t been able to solve Greely when it mattered most, including last winter in the semifinals. This winter, a senior-laden, promising squad tries again and has the pieces in place to finally break through.

Laughlin, coming off a sensational football season which should see him in the Fitzpatrick Trophy discussion, is stellar on the ice too. He was a first-team all-star a year ago, scoring 14 goals and adding 17 assists, while smothering the opposition as one of the state’s elite defensemen (he was named the best in Class B South a year ago). Phil Coupe (7 goals, 19 assists during a second-team all-star campaign last winter) is right there with Laughlin among the best on the blue line. They’re joined by Mello in front of Garvin or sophomore Nathan Hanisko in goal. Offensively, Cape Elizabeth will be very difficult to neutralize, as it returns a lot of scoring punch. Blackburn (9 goals, 7 assists in a third-team all-star campaign), Dimitri Coupe (9 goals, 8 assists), Moon (7 goals, 13 assists in a third-team all-star season), Goss (3 goals, 6 assists), Brady Hanisko (3 goals, 6 assists) and Thayer (2 goals, 11 assists) will all contribute to a potent attack, as will new freshman Alex Mainville.

It all adds up to a potential powerhouse, but the Capers will have their hands full in a region that not only includes Greely, defending state champion Brunswick and talented Cheverus/Yarmouth, but several other teams capable of knocking anyone off on a given night. Several of these players have won state titles in lacrosse and nearly took home a soccer championship this fall. Cape Elizabeth last played in a hockey state game in 2006. This group is ready to end that drought and bring home the big prize.

GIRLS’ HOCKEY (co-op with South Portland and Waynflete)

Marina Bassett stood out as a freshman for the Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland girls’ hockey team. She’ll get a lot of attention from the opposition again this winter.

Coach: Bob Mills (11th year, 94-83-8 overall record)

2021-22 record: 13-3-2 (Lost, 3-1, to Scarborough in South Region Final)

Top returning players: Abbey Steinhagen (Senior), Delaney Whitten (Senior), Kierith Gentilini (Junior), Becca Good (Junior), Marina Bassett (Sophomore), Libby Hooper (Sophomore), Hartson Mosunic (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: Dec. 22 CHEVERUS, Dec. 30 @ Yarmouth, Jan. 19 @ Cheverus, Jan. 21 FALMOUTH, Feb. 4 @ Falmouth

Coach’s comment: “We have a small core of experienced players that will carry the team this season. If we can stay healthy, we should be competitive with other top teams.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: The Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland co-op team stole headlines a year ago, posting the best regular season mark in program history, then surviving Falmouth in a you-had-to-see-it-to-believe-it four-overtime epic in the regional semifinals. The squad ran out of gas against Scarborough in the regional final, but that didn’t damper what it accomplished. With a lot of talent back this winter, Cape/Waynflete/SP will be in the title hunt again, as evidenced by early victories over St. Dom’s and Winslow.

This year’s offense will be paced by Bassett (who scored 24 goals and added 20 assists as a freshmen during an all-state campaign and has 3 goals and 6 assists in early action this winter) and Hooper, the hero of the Falmouth marathon last February (who scored 15 goals and had 8 assists during an all-conference campaign last season). Good (6 goals, 6 assists last winter) and Gentilini (3 goals, 6 assists) are other top forwards. Defensively, Mosunic (who scored six goals last season and was named all-conference) and the veteran Whitten (7 goals, 6 assists during an all-state season) are the anchors at that end while being offensive-minded as well. Steinhagen (13-3-2 last year) returns in goal. She made the all-state team last winter.

Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland is going to get everyone’s best game every time out. Cheverus stands in the way in the South Region and the schedule features multiple potential pitfalls, but this team will compete with everyone and after last year’s close call is eager for another chance to finish the job.

INDOOR TRACK

Coach: Doug Worthley (26th year)

2021-22 results: Boys’ tie-7th @ Class B state meet, Girls’ tie-15th @ Class B state meet

Top returners:

(Boys) Tommy Gray (Senior), Nathan Ashe (Junior), Oliver Hardin (Junior), Seb Hesser (Junior), Finn Morris (Junior), Simon Shyka-Brown (Junior)

(Girls) Sage Maxwell (Senior), Kaitlyn McIntyre (Senior), Piper Rickman (Junior), Emma Young (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “The boys have a super-small rebuilding team, but a lot of quality in the distance events and a standout in the throws. We’re looking for placing in the shot put and a few of the distance events in February. The girls are a small team this season, but have a good deal of talent as well as a lot of freshmen to move us forward. We should score in the state meet in most of the running events and do hope to be in the top 10.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: While numbers are an issue for the Capers this winter, there is no shortage of quality athletes on the roster, so expect some highlights in the weeks to come.

The boys’ squad returns Gray, who was third in the shot put at last year’s state meet. He’ll be a top thrower again and is joined by Hardin. Ashe, Hesser, Morris and Shyka-Brown are veteran distance runners. The sprint team features a pair of promising freshmen, Aidan Morris and Luke Notestine. Cape Elizabeth has its hands full in a difficult league, but will produce some promising results throughout.

On the girls’ side, Young was third in the two-mile and fourth in the mile a year ago. She’s joined in the distance races by Maxwell, Rickman and freshman Addison Young. McIntyre is a veteran in the sprints. Freshman Laila Nelson is new and will help the cause. Two other newcomers, seniors Grace Gray (the field hockey standout) and Maya Nelson, provide depth. The Capers, like the rest of the league, are chasing York this season. Look for some strong individual showings from this collection of athletes.

SWIMMING

Coach: Ben Raymond (16th year, eight state championships)

2021-22 results: Boys’ Class B state champions; Girls’ Class B state champions

Top returners:

(Boys) Max Hameon (Senior), Ian Plourde (Senior), Rohan Yadav (Senior), Weston Lowe (Junior), Jack McCormick (Junior), Cormac McKenney (Junior), David Steinbrick (Junior), Tiger McCormick (Sophomore), Graham Plourde (Sophomore)

(Girls) Sally Bakke (Senior), Mimi Esch (Senior), Grace Taylor (Senior), Brooke Mahoney (Junior), Hadley Mahoney (Junior), Lucy Shaw (Sophomore), Hope Taylor (Sophomore)

Coach’s comment: “Our girls’ team once again hopes to challenge for a Southwesterns and state championship.  We have a talented group of swimmers who have been working very hard so far this season and I expect that will continue. It is a very motivated group, they understand what needs to be done to be competitive at championship meets. They understand that the work we do now will pay off in February. This is a super group of young women who enjoy training and spending time together on the deck, they know how to make the most of their time together in the pool and support each other in and out of the pool. It is an exciting group to coach and work with each day with lots of potential. We have the frontline swimmers we need to challenge for titles but will need our depth to step up if we are to be successful in championship meets.

“The boys’ team returns lots of talented young men who enjoy competing each and every day. They really enjoy racing and the competitiveness in practice each and every day is outstanding. We return lots of scorers from last years state meet and the entire 200 medley relay team that won the event last year. It is a talented group that continues to improve each and every day. In order to be one of the top teams in championship meets, we will need our frontline swimmers to win their events and our other qualifiers will have to score. We have a smaller team this season, so we will need all qualifiers to score points in order to finish at the top at the end of the season. With the way these guys compete and train each day, I like our chances to be right in the mix at the end of the year.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth swept the state championships last season for the first time in three decades and the Capers are loaded for bear again this winter.

The girls’ squad lost standout Ali Bragg and champion Cookie Mahoney, but returns Shaw, who was part of a champion 400 freestyle relay team and placed second in the individual medley and third in the 100 butterfly as a freshman. She’ll be heard from in the IM, fly, free and backstroke. Hope Taylor was also part of the champion 400 free relay team. She’ll be a factor in the freestyle, IM and backstroke this season. Hadley Mahoney (fourth in the 100 free and sixth in the 200 free) will be in the hunt for freestyle titles, as will Esch (seventh in the 50 free) in the free, fly and IM. Bakke (distance freestyle, backstroke, IM), Brooke Mahoney (IM, freestyle, fly, backstroke, breaststroke) and Grace Taylor (distance freestyle) are other key returners. Newcomers to keep an eye on include sophomore Jersi McGonial (freestyle, backstroke) and freshmen Audrey Alberts (IM, freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke) and Hannah Frothingham (IM, breaststroke, fly, freestyle).The Capers will be pushed by Greely and others, but when all is said and done, don’t be surprised if they’re enjoying a celebration in the pool in February again.

On the boys’ side, the reigning 200 medley relay team of Jack McCormick, McKenney, Graham Plourde and Steinbrick all return. They all can excel in multiple events. Steinbrick (runner-up in the backstroke and third in 200 free last year) looks to make a run at the top spot this winter. Yadav (sixth in the 200 free and seventh in the 500 free), Hameon (freestyle, fly), Lowe (freestyle, backstroke), Tiger McCormick (freestyle, backstroke) and Ian Plourde (freestyle, fly, IM) also have experience. Freshmen Ian Connolly (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke) and Nick Eremita (freestyle) could make an immediate impact. Cape Elizabeth has set the bar high and is looking to steal headlines in February again.

ALPINE SKIING

Coach: Sarah Plummer (first year)

2021-22 results: Boys’ Class B state champions; Girls’ 2nd @ Class B state meet

Top returners:

(Boys) Keegan Lathrop (Junior), Logan Schwartz (Junior), Leo Matzkin (Sophomore)

(Girls) Ainsley Fremont (Senior), Zoe Matzkin (Senior), Anya Monson (Senior), Phoebe Altenburg (Junior), Laura Clark (Junior), Mimi McEvoy (Junior)

Coach’s comment: “After losing three key seniors from both teams last year, we look toward our very strong competitors, Logan Schwartz and Keegan Lathrop, both juniors, and Leo Matzin, sophomore, to lead the boys’ team. The girls have a strong base with seniors Anya Monson, Ainsley Fremont, and Zoe Matzkin and solid representation by juniors as well. The team will benefit from the experience of new assistant coach Devon Lathrop, a former racer and Cape Elizabeth graduate of 2019. We hope to have a fun and fast year.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Cape Elizabeth will excel on the slopes again this winter as it makes a run at more hardware.

The boys hope to repeat as state champions and while Tiernan Lathrop, last year’s slalom champion, has graduated, Schwartz (second in the giant slalom and seventh in the slalom) and Keegan Lathrop (fourth in the slalom, seventh in the GS) return. Freshman Porter Monson is a top newcomer and he’ll immediately help the cause.

On the girls’ side, after finishing runner-up to Yarmouth, the Capers hope to move up to the top spot this winter. Monson (fifth in both the slalom and GS) is back to lead the way. Altenburg, Clark, Fremont, Matzkin and McEvoy also return and hope to move up the standings to keep the team in title contention.

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

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