2011 high school boys’ tennis

 

Players to watch (listed alphabetically)

Evan Arbour Winthrop

Brian Bradstreet Oak Hill

Bryan Bosse St. Dom’s

Garret Carver Dirigo

Jack Champagne Oak Hill

Alex Chicoine Lewiston

Zack DeBlois St. Dom’s

Scott Gagne Lewiston

Austin Gervais St. Dom’s

Eric Hall Lewiston

Jon Hudson St. Dom’s

Evan Keating Lisbon

Mason King Dirigo

Dan Miles Winthrop

Eric Morin Lewiston

Robby Neal Monmouth

Nick Niles Mt. Blue

Mike Smith Dirigo

Adam St. Pierre Winthrop

Nick Trenholm Monmouth

Josh Turbide Dirigo

Joe Turcotte Oak Hill

Jake Veayo Mt. Blue

Seth Wegner Mt. Blue

Taylor Wrede Lisbon

Overview

There’s nothing like a loss to motivate an already-motivated and title-hungry group. Lewiston suffered its first loss on the courts in more than seven years last spring in the Class A state title match against Windham. This year’s team returns nearly intact from last year’s run, and the eight seniors on the roster are hungry to go out back on top, where they feel they belong. Gagne, Morin and Hall are a formidable singles lineup, and the doubles teams should be among the best in the state, regardless of class. The Blue Devils have high expectations this season. Fellow Class A school Mt. Blue is rounding into quite a program in itself, and should be a strong team in the northern division of the KVAC. The Cougars have good numbers and now have playoff experience, which will make them dangerous. Edward Little, meanwhile, continues to try and build success equal to its cross-river rival.

Mountain Valley had a strong season in Class B last year, and the Falcons should again be in contention in the Mountain Valley Conference. Lisbon will do well to hover around the .500 mark, and could make a push for one of the final playoff positions in Western B. Oak Hill continues to search for more members for its team, which has the minimum seven athletes. The Raiders’ top three are solid. Success will depend on the newcomers.

Monmouth is no longer the monster it has been in the past couple of seasons. But winning begets winning, the Mustangs should succeed on that along, though likely not to the tune of an unbeaten season again. The class of Western C this season appears to be Winthrop. The Ramblers return all seven top players from last year’s squad, and are intent on not only a run at an MVC crown, but perhaps a state title. Dirigo was set for a good run last season, and appears to be ready for the same this year. The Cougars will be in the mix for the playoffs. St. Dom’s has a very young squad this season, which bodes well for the future.

2011 high school girls’ tennis

 

Players to watch (listed alphabetically)

Abby Blaisdell Lewiston

Jessica Bowen Lewiston

Mariah Buote Jay

Meredith Brown Dirigo

Hillary Cayer Mtn. Valley

Olivia Cluff St. Dom’s

Marlee Dubord Jay

Shauni Flagg Jay

Abby Flanagan Mt. Blue

Addy Fuller Dirigo

Nikkole Gardner Lisbon

Sarah Giraldo Lisbon

Alyssa Greene Mtn. Valley

Carolyn Joseph St. Dom’s

Lena Kendall Mt. Blue

Sara Lacroix Oak Hill

Frankie Lally Edward Little

Hannah Langlois Oak Hill

Becca Lessard Lewiston

Molly Lindsey Winthrop

Katie McManus Lisbon

Marlie Mochamer Mt. Blue

Betsy Noyes Dirigo

Nikki Scott Winthrop

Caroline Sheats St. Dom’s

Katherine Spahr Winthrop

Overview

Lewiston High School may not run away and hide in the girls’ Class A picture this season, but the team’s depth as an organization will be put on display this season. A relatively new lineup will take to the courts this season, but all of the girls have been playing for quite a while, and the team’s commitment to winning has never been stronger. Bowen, Blaisdell and Lessard will form a formidable top three. Mt. Blue is an experienced squad this season, and has a very large turnout, which will make intrasquad competition fierce. Expect the Cougars to crash the Class A playoffs this season. Edward Little continues its upward climb, and Lally will be a force at No. 1 singles and also in the state singles tourney.

Oak Hill has been in the Western final in each of the past two seasons, and with veterans at the top of the lineup, this could make tree in a row for the Raiders. Langlois and Lacroix are solid at 1-2, an the team has added a handful of newcomers with an eye to the future. Lisbon will be a solid, middle-to-upper-pack team, and Giraldo is a force at the top of that lineup. Mountain Valley is looking to improve after a winless campaign a year ago. Falmouth continues to be a state-wide force in Class B.

After a spectacular run in the regular season a year ago, St. Dom’s is faced with a bit of a rebuild. The Saints return only two of their seven starters, but have some promising younger talent in the lineup again this season. Dirigo is a year removed from a season before which the Cougars lost six of seven varsity players. This year, they return six of seven, and expect vast improvement. Jay will rely on doubles play to win in close matches, and could be in the mix come tourney time. Winthrop is always in the conversation in the MVC, and rightfully so. The Ramblers lost two solid players at the top to graduation, but should be deep enough to remain competitive. Monmouth just missed the playoffs a year ago, and wants to get over that hump this time around.