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Four days into preseason, and Maine high school teams are settling into a rhythm of routine, getting to know their teammates better and starting to have an idea of what type of team they’ll be this fall. And they’re still running a lot.

Varsity Maine sent reporters to Buckfield girls soccer, Cony boys soccer and Freeport cross country practices on Thursday, and here is what we learned in Freeport:

Expectations enhance effort

The Freeport boys have won four straight Class B titles. They return three of their top five finishers (four of top six) from last year’s state meet, including senior Alex Gilbert who has finished third the past two seasons, and juniors Mungan Tussing, Ian Guzman and Vincent Landberg. Head coach Matt Greear, though, downplayed expectations for a five-peat, saying the goal is to “get the most out of everybody and if we do that we’ll be in position to compete for the title.”

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Gilbert and Guzman were more blunt. Winning another state title is the goal.

“I feel like that’s the expectation going into every season,” Gilbert said. “The entire goal of the team is to win again.”

Guzman said expectation fuels the desire to work.

“Absolutely. Obviously, we can’t control what other teams do but we’re really lucky to have great training, great coaches. I think all of us are very motivated and if we can put ourselves in the best situation to succeed, I think we have a great group of boys and we can do something really special this year,” Guzman said.

Girls are title threats, too

Freeport’s girls team looks ready to stake its claim as the top team. They return their top three runners in seniors Lucy Huggett and Lilah Hall, and junior Ella Oshetski, who placed third, eighth and 11th at last year’s state meet as the Falcons finished runner-up to Mount Desert Island, which also figures to return three of its top five.

“Oh, my gosh, yes. I feel like a lot of us are really looking to get that win,” Hall said. “We’re hoping as a team to stay healthy, get stronger, and peak and get the times that we want to and to keep having fun. I feel like the talent is there. I’ve been training with Lucy and Ella all summer, and we have a new senior from (Virginia), Hope Werner, and she looks to be a promising addition. We’re really excited to have her.”

Finding fun before and during runs

Finding ways to have fun is always a key for any team, particularly in a sport like cross country that takes substantial self-discipline and, by its nature of running long distances, can be exhausting.

The Freeport boys have found the game of Spike Ball to be a great diversion and positive way to build team bonds. A bit like a two-person volleyball game, it’s not as dangerous as name implies. The ball does not have spikes. Does it make anyone faster?

“I’m not sure about that,” Gilbert said. “But it does keep us fresh and keeps us close together. It’s a good way to get the newer kids especially into the group with us.”