Boys Basketball

Coach: Michael Burke (second year)

Last year’s record: 5-13

Key players: Derek Breunig (sr.), Sean Jany (sr.), Isaiah Manoogian (sr.), Moses Abwoch (jr.), Curtis Knapton (jr.)

Key games: Portland, Deering, Cheverus, South Portland

Outlook: The Blazes have lost some critical athletes since last season – their top scorer to graduation, and the SMAA’s leading rebounder to a move – but Burke likes the team’s “solid nucleus of returning players who received valuable varsity minutes last season.” Breunig and Jany should provide a powerful and nimble inside presence, while Abwoch should score consistently and defend ably. Knapton will direct the action from the point. The sum total is “a nice mix of players who will look to build upon last season’s experiences, with the goal of getting into the playoffs, where anything can happen.”

Girls Basketball

Coach: Christopher Aube

Last year’s record: 4-14

Key players: Lexi Redmond (sr.), Marissa Martel (sr.), Bri Barlow (sr.), Madi Mullett (jr.), Alisha Aube (so.), Danasai Fennie

Key games: Sanford, Scarborough, South Portland

Outlook: Coach Aube expresses great confidence in his girls: “Our first five can compete with any team in the league,” he says. Alisha Aube, a standout even as a freshman, returns this year to continue draining baskets and to run the offense from the point, while Redmond and Fennie control inside. Mullett can work both ends of the floor equally well, and Barlow is particularly tough on defense. Martel, who’s been out for two years after injuring her ACL, returns for her senior season and will add perimeter scoring, which the Blazes have been shy on recently. “Our early games will be vital for us,” says Coach Aube, “as we need to get off to a successful start.”

Cheering

Coach: Amy Troiano

Last year’s record: No wins

Key meets: At Gorham on Jan. 17, Regionals on Jan. 24

Outlook: The Blazes have “several powerhouse bases” according to Troiano, “some returning and some new.” Topping that foundation is a handful of experienced flyers and new tumblers. The combo “promises to give us a competitive team this season.” Jan. 17’s meet at Gorham gives the Blazes an opportunity to survey the competition before Regionals in Augusta the following week. That meet, in turn, will determine whether Westbrook’s season continues into February.

Boys Hockey

Coach: Mike Carmody

Last year’s record: 3-14-1

Key players: Greg Buotte (jr.), Kyle Paul (jr.), Alex LeBlanc (jr.), Jacob Coro (jr.)

Key games: Windham, South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete, Lake Region/Fryeburg/Oxford Hills

Outlook: As Carmody points out, the 2014-15 season will be the Blazes’ first in five years with a returning coach. That uptick in consistency could prove hugely beneficial to a team that’s struggled in recent memory. Though this year’s squad is still relatively young, expect them to best last year’s record.

Swimming

Coaches: Dana Barrows (head), Andy McBrady (asst)

Key athletes: Greg Violette, Sydney Bartlett, Josh Minor, Molly Sweet, Kari Brown, Madison Damon, Emma Sperry, Kallie Cyr, Camryn Lapierre

Outlook: Senior Captain Greg Violette leads the Blazes’ boys team. “Greg has been a perennial contender for individual state titles every year he’s participated,” says Barrows, adding that Violette looks better than ever this season, and has “the potential to rewrite Westbrook’s record board.” In addition to Violette, a smattering of “very athletic” upperclassmen have joined the Blazes’ ranks, layering depth on the program. And speaking of depth: On the girls side, Barrows is excited about a “great infusion of very capable freshmen,” who he expects to deepen the team. “The Lady Blazes have the potential to sneak up on some teams this year,” he says.

Indoor Track

Coach: Tim Even (third year)

Last year’s record: Girls 18-1-1, fifth at Southwesterns; Boys 9-9, 10th at Southwesterns

Key athletes: Brittany Arsenault (sr.), Halee Phelps (sr.), Maurice Johnson (sr.), James Phelps (sr.)

Key meets: Southwesterns, States

Outlook: Since taking the helm at Westbrook, Tim Even has made great progress with the school’s cross-country and track programs, and this year, the Blazes look to improve by further leaps and bounds. Arsenault and Halee Phelps, two state champions, lead the girls’ side of the action. “If these two ladies can match their state-championship-level success,” Even says, “it will go a long way to helping our girls be one of the top teams in the state by the end of the season.” Gabbi Pabst and Mackenzie Rayner, both juniors, are excellent distance runners, and sophomores Danielle Bruenig, Sammy Thompson and Linnaea Miller are developing talent as well. Brittany and Courtney Arsenault, Kelsey Cavanaugh, Rachael Dyer, and Jenessa Corbett will head up the sprints, while Emma Berry and Reilley Joyce will lead the jumps. Genna Alhilfi could burgeon at any moment into a very productive shot-putter. The team is large – 60 girls or more – so Even has many other names to work with as well. His boys haven’t quite attained the same level of success yet, but are nevertheless ascending the ranks. “This year will be about climbing the ladder after getting out of the basement of the SMAA last year,” he says of the boys. Maurice Johnson, as everyone knows, is a force on the football field, where sprinting is integral to success. MoJo placed in the 55m at last year’s States, and should hit the podium this year as well. He’ll also pair with Phelps to cover the distance running, which is likely to be a real strength for the Blazes – especially with the inclusion of No. 1 cross-country runner Josh Lombardo. Amanuel Sentayehu and Nick Childs round out that contingent. Talented freshmen James Brooking (sprints), Dominic Creenan (hurdles/jumps) and Brandt Herbert (middle distance) could threaten immediately. “There are a lot of unknowns on this young team,” Even says of numerous other athletes he’s watching closely, “but if things pan out, we could finish in the top half of the SMAA.”

Wrestling

Coaches: John Nicholas and Nick Marchant (co-heads)

Last year’s record: 11-9

Key athletes: Max Storm (sr.), Brandon Conley (sr.), Mike Nutter (sr.), David Moore (sr.), Andrew Rogers (sr.), Abraham Eaton (sr.)

Key meets: Westbrook Invitational, Deering/Bonny Eagle, Kennebunk/Massabesic, Sanford/Windham

Outlook: Westbrook is well positioned to show strongly on the circuit in 2014-15. “We have a veteran team this year, led by many seniors and juniors,” says Nicholas. “We look to place high in tournaments and finish with a winning dual-meet record.” The Blazes hope to make an even bigger splash when the post-season arrives; a number of the team have already proven themselves in such high-stakes situations, after all. Storm finished fourth at States last season, Conley took second at Regionals, and Eaton – wrestling with Westbrook, but for Gorham – took fourth at States as well. “They are working hard,” Nicholas says, “and carrying on the Westbrook wrestling tradition.”