Boys Cross Country
Coach: Chris Strout
Last year’s results: Fifth at Class A Regionals, ninth at States
Key runners lost: Trevor Neal, Jacob Sirois, Jordan Fournier
Key runners returning: Aiden Willey, Anthony Breton, Shane Paterson
Key newcomers: Anthony Mason, Christian Tomison, Ryan Tomison
Key matchups: Windham, Biddeford, Scarborough
Outlook: The Gentlemen Scots traveled to States for the first time in some time last year, and will look to reach the big stage again this go-round. “Graduation hit us hard, but we have a talented young team that will take its lumps early in the season and look to be competitive by October,” says Strout.

Girls Cross Country
Coach: Andrea Johnson
Last year’s results: Class A Regional Runners-up, State Champions
Key runners returning: Christine Toy, Ami Beaumier, Kayla Raymond, Emma Abbott
Key newcomers: Ella Dunne
Key matchups/meets: Falmouth, Gorham, Festival of Champions, Regionals, States
Outlook: Thankfully, the Lady Scots didn’t say goodbye, when graduation rolled around this past June, to any of their real standouts; accordingly, they’re feeling confident already, and have their eyes set on Championship season. “We have a talented group of juniors who are key pillars to the team,” says Johnson. Expect Bonny Eagle to contend at every meet.

Field Hockey
Coach: Noelle Surette
Last year’s record: 4-10
Key players lost: Cat Biegel, Natalie Bushey, Maddie Corbett
Key players returning: Mya Daniels, Kaylee Collins, Sam Averill, Sadie Denico
Key newcomers: Sage Drinkwater, Riley Heacock, Arianna Mejias
Key matchups: South Portland, Sanford, Windham, Gorham
Outlook: The Lady Scots are green up front this year; luckily, they’re tried and true at midfield and on defense. “A young forward line, composed of three freshmen, will be supported by a returning core that gained their varsity experience last season,” says Surette. “While we understand there will be…a learning curve, we expect to build off the successes from 2016 and look to make a push for a playoffs spot!”

Football
Coach: Kevin Cooper
Last year’s record: 11-0, Class A State Champions
Key players lost: Cam Day, Parker Gammon, Cam Theberge, Kirby Morrell, Keith Hoffses
Key players returning: Arlo Pike (TE/DE), Alex Sprague (RB/LB), Nick Thorne (RB/LB), Zach Klein (OL/DL), Alex Smith (OL/DL), Kordell Menard (WR/DB), Christian Napolitano (WR/LB), Connor Sirois (QB/DB), Aaran Hodgman (OL/LB), Greg Emerson (WR/DB)
Key newcomers (first-time starters): Casey Maturo (WR/DB), Jake Sperrey (OL/DL), Will Whyte (RB/DB), Chael Anastacio (WR/DB), Austin Mitsin (TE/LB), Will Horton (OL/DL)
Key matchups: Scarborough, TA, Windham, Portland
Outlook: “The goal is to compete for another Maine Class A State Championship,” says Cooper. To that end, the Scots welcome back eight starters on defense. Pike, Klein and Smith – “All three are big, strong, tough,” says Cooper – will rule that roost from the line, with Thorne, Napolitano and Hodgman – seniors now, and starters since their sophomore year – backing them up. Emerson, Menard and Sirois form a three-man rotation at safety, while Whyte, Anastacio, Casey Maturo and his young brother, Zach, shore up the corners. As Cooper says, “We will lean heavily on our defense.” Still, the Scots aren’t without firepower, and their offense looks to excite once again as well. Sirois takes the helm at QB, with Sprague and Thorne offering agility and power on the run. Menard, Napolitano, Emerson and the elder Maturo are veteran outside receivers, and Pike and Austin are the big tight-ends on a stalwart line featuring Klein and Smith, both experienced and skilled, and Sperrey and Horton, both eager to make their debut.

Golf
Coach: Brett Levin
Last year’s record: 4-6
Key players lost: Connor Pinkham, Dom Bruni, Ryan Plummer, Trey Manning
Key players returning: Ian Jarvis, Robert Faucher, Marley Riddell, Corey LaBrecque
Key newcomers: Zach Glidden, Ethan Scott, Tyler Snell
Key matches: Gorham, Greely, TA
Outlook: “Our outlook is good, as we have a good number of returning players that play well,” says Levin, “as well as some talented newcomers.”

Boys Soccer
Coach: Larry Robertson
Last year’s record: 5-7-2, fell to Portland in the playoffs first round
Key returning players: Max Harris (sr., Captain); David Byrne (jr., Captain); Zack Alloca (jr., F)
Key matchups: Sanford, TA, Marshwood, Cheverus, Westbrook
Outlook: As with most teams, Bonny Eagle’s leadership flows from its seniors – and especially Harris (who’s actually injured at the moment); much of their skill, however, derives from their juniors, including Byrne, “who can play anywhere on the pitch,” as Robertson puts it, and Alloca, “who’s put in countless hours working on his craft.” An additional boost: A trio of talented freshmen may end up as regular Scots starters. Bonny Eagle are well-rounded this autumn, and posted an auspicious preseason. “As with every year,” Robertson says, “we are looking to reach the playoffs and go as far as we can.” Last fall, the team succumbed narrowly to Portland in the prelims – “We played in torrential rains and the boys gave it everything they had until the final whistle,” Robertson says – so they’ll be eager to avoid suffering that particular heartbreak again. Fans can expect a refocused outfit.

Girls Soccer
Coach: Ed Taylor
Last year’s record: 7-6-1
Key players lost: Nell Spencer (M), Avery Cochran (B)
Key players returning: Sydney Gillingham (G), Cassidy Coons, Keelin Sweeney, Sarah Champagne, Hailey Bell, Kaley Rumery
Key newcomers: Hailey Coons
Outlook: Taylor expects the Lady Scots to be “quite competitive this year,” as they lost but two players to graduation last June. “We’re a year older, giving us better experience and size,” Taylor says. “The returning players are looking good and are ready to compete and we’ve added some new players, both incoming (freshmen) and players from last year’s JV roster.” Taylor and Co. look forward to rematching in particular with “teams we either surprised last year by winning the match, or teams we lost to that I feel should have been better able to compete with.” Bonny Eagle could take a step forward this autumn; fans would be well-served to go out and support them.

Volleyball
Coach: Kelley Champagne
Key players lsot: Lauryn Fagan, Sam Morash
Key players returning: Mia Ferrante, Jenna Litif, Whitney Regan, Hannah Corbett
Key newcomers: Morgan Drinkwater, Lucy Weyand
Key matchups: Deering, Biddeford, Scarborough
Outlook: “We’re looking forward to a competitive season,” Champagne says. “The restructuring of volleyball calsses this year changes our schedule a bit…a more intensive schedule should be a good test to how much we can come together as a team and maintain consistent strong play and act more seasoned than we actually are.” (The Lady Scots are in just their third year as a varsity program.) Champagne looks foward especially to her girls’ bouts with Biddeford and Scarborough, as the Tigers and the Storm were the only two teams to finish higher in the A South standings last fall, and should provide Bonny Eagle with good challenges by which to gauge their development as a program.

Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CurrentSportsME.

Kordell Menard turned in this spectacular catch during last year’s State Final vs. Portland; expect him to play a critical role for the Scots this season as well.

Nick Thorne is a powerhouse on the ground for the Scots.