2021 cross country preview capsules

EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Keith Weatherbie (fourth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Girls — Fifth at Class A North regionals; Boys — 11th at A North regionals.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Cooper Dunn, Weston Hartley; Juniors — Gabe Despradel, Dru Hyndman, Jaden Ouellette; Sophomore — Clay Trafton; Girls: Juniors — Payton Bell, Emily Quinnell; Sophomore — Kaelyn Langlois.
Key losses: Cam Langois, Devin Smith, Johanna Corey, Lily Vincent, Molly Vincent.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Freshmen — Declan Howe, Joe LeBlanc, Quinn St. Peter Scott, Kai Thistle, Owen Winslow
What to expect: The Red Eddies will be a hard-working team with a lot of promise for the future. They will have good leadership and a strong freshman class.

GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER PATRIOTS
Coach: Adam Zukowski (13th year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Boys — Seventh at WMC state qualifier; Girls — Sixth at WMC state qualifier.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Wyatt Fessler, Dylan Washburn, William Fornier, Cameron Landry; Juniors — Joe Burgess, Alex Strattard; Sophomores — Carter Libby, Thomas Ladd, Joshua Fecteau; Girls: Senior — Jessica MacDonald; Junior — Leah Cote; Sophomore — Vanessa Dehart.
Key losses: William Maines, Abby Dulac, Autumn Ouellette.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Senior — Brent Thomes; Sophomore — Preston Gerry; Freshman — Gavin Gerry; Girls: Junior — Lily Terry; Freshman — Elizabeth Burgess.
What to expect: This is the deepest boys team the Patriots have had in years, according to coach Adam Zukowski. They have a great mix of veterans and newcomers. The goal is to qualify for the Class B state meet. The girls team is struggling with numbers but has enough to score as a team. The goal for the girls is to improve each week and be running their best at the Class B South regional meet.

LEAVITT HORNETS
Coaches: Neal Rioux (fourth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Girls — Third at KVAC championship, fourth at Class B South regionals.
Returning athletes: Boys: Senior — Jonathan Schomaker; Junior — Logan Ouellette; Sophomores — Noah Brisson, Gabe Durazo, Dominick Toscano; Girls: Senior — Molly Sirois; Junior — Kenzie Cote; Sophomore — Abby Marston.
Key losses: Margo Kenyon, Ellery Macgregor, Jaidyn Negley, Eryn Ryan, Abby Lavoie.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Juniors — Jake Maheu, Desmon Corey-Young; Girls: Sophomore — Lindsay Bates; Freshman — Charlotte Brooke.
What to expect: Leavitt graduated several seniors last year but has a tremendous corps of young talent waiting to take over results this year. The boys team hopes to challenge for a conference title, and the girls team will benefit from the returning leadership of team captain Molly Sirois and speedy sophomore Abby Marston. The team’s strength will be its swarm of tightly-packed runners who will look to displace their way to success.

LEWISTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Rebecca Dugan (eighth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys — 10th at KVAC championship.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Brandon Lynch, Elgin Physic; Juniors — Feysal Abdirahaman, Adam Bilodeau, Nio Fatone, Julien Turmenne, Cole Ward.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Senior — Joshua Nsenga; Girls: Senior — Amelia Wedderburn; Sophomores — Madi Binette, Zawadi Debola, Katelyn Lynch; Freshman — Anna Weiss.
What to expect: Four returning juniors look to lead the boys team and improve on last year’s KVAC finish. The addition of a few middle-distance track runners should also add speed and a competitive spirit to the team.

LISBON GREYHOUNDS
Coach: Jeremy Williams (eighth year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Boys — Second at MVC championship.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Hunter Burkhardt, Darien Davis, Wyatt Perron; Junior — Chase Mailhot; Girls: Seniors — Acadia Rugullies, Abby Lucas.
Key losses: Max Boulet, Aidan Laviolette, Hunter Davis.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Sophomore — Caden Morales; Freshman — Layne Williams.
What to expect: The boys team is very focused and confident this season. The boys team has a few new runners building on the energy from a successful spring track season for a few of the boys. Keeping healthy and injury-free is always a focus of Lisbon. The boys hope to be in solid contention for a run at the conference title and qualify for states as a team. The girls are looking for individual accomplishments.

MONMOUTH MUSTANGS
Coach: Tom Menendez (21st year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Boys — First at MVC championship, first at Class C South regionals; Girls — First at MVC championship, first at C South regionals.
Returning athletes: Boys: Brosnan Comeau, Ostin Smith, Trevor Bauer, Tristan Bauer, Ethan Nagle, Isaac Fortin, Alex Wing; Girls: Alexa Allen, Allyson Lewis, Holly Hunt, Mackenzie Grant.
Key losses: Joe Crocker, Ben Story, Hayden Luce, Lydia Roy, Chloe Dwinal.
What to expect: Even with a capable core of returning runners, a lack of numbers will dictate the success of the team. Coach Tom Menendez said the first few weeks of school will be key to recruiting new runners and increase the team’s strength.

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Kelley Cullenberg (29th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: No season
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Tomas Cundick, Sam Goodspeed, Alex Hardy, Sam Judkins, Evan Wilcox; Juniors — Kodi Quimby, Carson Zundel; Sophomore — Owen Heseltine; Girls: Seniors — Emma Charles, Abbie Cramer, Brynne Robbins; Juniors — Kamryn Joyce, Bridget Reusch, Moriah Reusch; Sophomores — Lucinda Carroll, Natalie McCarthy.
Key losses: Isaiah Doscinski, Delia Colello.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Junior — Cyrus Evans; Sophomores — Daniel Dalton, Milo Thompson Vought; Freshmen — Elias Bartlett, Noah Civiello, Ben Hilton, Eli Hoeft, Owen Knapp, Henri McCourt; Girls: Freshmen — Addie Colello, Lily Hanley, Cassidy Hardy, Nora McCourt, Brielle Tinker.
What to expect: Completely missing last season has put Mt. Blue in a unique situation. The athletes are really looking forward to traveling to meets, walking the courses, talking about strategy and working together as a team to be the best they can be. They can’t wait to rekindle relationships with runners from other schools, experience the thrill of racing again and challenge themselves daily. Coach Kelley Cullenberg had great participation in summer training which started in early July. The Cougars have a solid mix of knowledgeable veterans and enthusiastic rookies and are hoping that this balance will prove to be beneficial in the results at the meets.

OAK HILL RAIDERS
Coach: Jack Carney (third year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: N/A
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Joshua Gosselin, Julian Kemp; Junior — Jared Grant; Sophomore — Sebastian Doyle; Girls: Junior — Julia Kronstrand.
Key losses: Rilley Greenwood, Saraphin Bechard, Madison Chase, Naomi Obenhaus.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Juniors — Nick Kay, Joshua Thibodeau; Freshman — Samuel Laverdiere; Girls: Juniors — Madison Hart, Abigail Kinsman; Freshman — Celina Curran.
What to expect: With the added energy and enthusiasm of the promising newcomers, this year’s team members are looking forward to setting personal bests and enjoying running, according to coach Jack Carney.

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Luc Roy (16th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys — Ninth at KVAC championship; Girls — 10th at KVAC championship.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Henry Swift, Isaac Roy, Ayden St. Laurent, Dawson Joseph, Hakon Teceno, Joseph Beaudet, Trevor Ward; Junior — Silas Timm; Sophomore — Zackary Braun; Girls: Seniors — Carolyn Sheets, Kamryn Grover, Sydney Youngs, Kailynn Reynolds; Sophomore — Willow Adler.
Key losses: Cooper Hall, Harrison Hartnett, Josh Cabral, Payton Sherbinski, Alden Timm, Liam Childs, Adam Angevine, Christian Hayer, Jade Martel-Bixby, Kaylynn Johnson, Taylor Haggerty, Kara Moxcey.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Logan Bottomley, Camden Colby, Chalmers Russell, Thomas Hartnett, Grey Vanderwood, Thomas Hartnett; Girls: Alexander Snow, Chloe DePalma.
What to expect: With many new faces on the team, Oxford Hills will build on a short but successful 2020 season. The Vikings are looking forward to their home meet on Sept. 24 at Robert Farms.

POLAND KNIGHTS
Coach: Sean Galipeau-Eldridge (20th year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Domenic Antonelli, Tory Davis, Riley Day, Lucas Frechette, Jake Twigg, Christian Vachon; Junior — Alex Webb; Sophomore — J.R. Tibbetts; Girls: Seniors — Evelyn Miller, LiSha Powell, Trinity Sands, Emma Turkington.
Key losses: Timmy Brienza, Tyler Burke, Nolan Greenwald, Jeffrey Hutchinson, Lucas Moulton, Connor Rawson, Mason Sullivan; Emily Boenig, Gabi Turner.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Juniors — Nolan Garey, Giovanni Warren; Freshman – Johnny Bsullak; Girls: Sophomore — Danielle Warren; Freshmen — Brianna Corriveau, Autumn Demelia, Kayleigh Hood.
What to expect: Led by standouts Jake Twigg and Domenic Antonelli, and coupled with some newfound depth, the boys team looks to surprise some teams in the Western Maine Conference. The girls team, led by LiSha Powell, will use pack running from veteran seniors and promising rookies as its primary strategy.

ST. DOMINIC SAINTS
Coaches: Dan Campbell (third year), Tracy Guerrette (first year)
Conference: WMC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Boys — Fifth at WMC state qualifier; Girls — Eighth at WMC state qualifier.
Returning athletes: Boys: Sophomore — Matt Harmon; Girls: Sophomore — Lauren Hamlin.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Freshman — Phoenix Jalbert; Girls: Sophomore — Abby Piotrowski; Freshman — Rohan Brown.
What to expect: The Saints will be rebuilding this season and will look to get better each and every day.

SPRUCE MOUNTAIN PHOENIX
Coach: Jessica Ellingwood (eighth year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Last year’s results: N/A
Returning athletes: Boys: Junior — Abrahm Geissinger, Sam Perkins, Owen Schwab; Girls: Juniors — Ava Coates, Emily Dubord.
Promising newcomers: Girls: Junior — Emma Diaz; Sophomore — Ava Jackson; Freshmen — Skylar Condon, Avery Ryder, Bluebell Chen, Hannah Perkins.
What to expect: The Phoenix are very excited to have a complete scoring girls team, the first time in the school’s history. The team has been working on building a strong cardio foundation and has had a very positive attitude.

TELSTAR REBELS
Coach: Scott Underhill (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: N/A
Promising newcomers: Boys: Seniors — Francesco Campra, Colby Tyler; Junior — Cory Gilley.
What to expect: Telstar will have an outstanding group of young men representing the community, according to coach Scott Underhill. The athletes will be focusing on increasing their pace, race times, monitoring progress and developing into consistent cross country runners. Underhill hopes more kids will join the team once school starts.

WINTHROP RAMBLERS
Coach: Ed Van Tassel (10th year)
Last year’s results: N/A
Returning athletes: Boys: Senior — Patrick Bellemare; Junior — James Cognata; Sophomores — Carter Slocum, Chris Pottle, Eben Michaud.
Key newcomers: Boys: Sophomores — Teddy Wagner, Kaydenn Downing, Sam Brito; Girls: Sophomore — Haley Williams; Freshmen —Annabelle Blais, Ashley Arsenault.
What to expect: A young but dedicated core will help the boys team build toward success this season as well as in the future. The Winthrop boys team has its eyes set on long-term, consistent development and the athletes are excited to be involved in the daily process of improving. The girls team is looking forward to working hard, learning and improving each race with no returning runners on the team.