DIRIGO COUGARS
Coach: David Buck (second year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Boys finished fourth at MVCs.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Hunter Berry, Logan Morris; Girls: Junior — Savannah Williams.
Key losses: Spencer Jacques, Blaine Wilkins, Jacob Gallant, Francelia DePalma.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Bode Gray; Juniors— Abbey Theriault, Bryan Beaucage; Sophomores — Megan Spaulding, John Lane.
Season outlook: The Cougars are looking forward to potentially having a full scoring team on the girls’ side. Two girls have joined from the cross country team, so they are familiar with the type of challenges posed by Nordic skiing. The boys return just two from last year’s team, but Dirigo is hoping the new skiers pick it up quickly and help challenge for a top-3 finish in the conference. The attitudes and dedication during preseason have been encouraging, according to Buck, and the group is eager to learn and not afraid of working hard.
EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Eric Cobb (seventh year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: 6-0 record, KVAC champions; Girls: finished seventh at KVACs.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Simon Hall, Cooper Dunn; Juniors —Ben Condit, Owen Vincent; Sophomores — Clay Trafton, Ellis Slover; Girls: Seniors — Natalie Garcia, Caelan McGuigan; Sophomore — Katherine Garcia.
Key losses: Harrison Bigos Lowe, Devon Egge, Aiden Morrison.
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Nora Condit, Owen Wilson.
Season outlook: With the return of Ellis Slover and Ben Condit, who finished 1-2 in the KVAC Championship, and the strength of two seniors, captain Simon Hall and Cooper Dunn, the Red Eddies feel confident to make a strong showing again this year on the boys’ side. The girls’ team finally has enough skiers to score in the larger meets. With the leadership of two returning seniors, captain Natalie Garcia and Caelan McGuigan, and two strong underclassmen in Katherine Garcia and Nora Condit, the girls’ team is ready to compete with some of the more powerful teams in the KVAC.
LEAVITT HORNETS
Coach: Dustin Williamson (19th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Girls: finished fourth at KVACs; Boys: finished third at KVACs.
Returning athletes: Boys: Juniors — Nathaniel Bell, Matthew Gortner, Aidan Lind, Kurtis Mousseau, Logan Ouellette, Elliott Shields; Sophomores — Gabe Durazo, Keagan Hawksley, Dominick Toscano; Girls: Seniors — Courtney Cabral, Ruby Haylock; Juniors — Ali Denning, Hannah Miliken, Iris Petrin; Sophomore — Abby Marston.
Key losses: Morghan Dutil, Margo Kenyon, Abigayle Lavoie, Zach Madison, Ellery Macgregor, Jaidyn Negley, Eryn Ryan.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Emma Callejero, Marit Liekelema; Freshmen — Charlotte Brooke, Jacob Dening, Keaton Gregoire, Jade Haylock, Hunter Milliken, Heather Mousseau, Ashley Roy, Tyler Welch.
Season outlook: Even though the Hornets lost a large class that graduated last year, the influx of new talent is exciting, according to Williamson. He adds that this team is super dedicated, enthusiastic and motivated to work hard and improve together throughout the season. A great mix of experience and new skiers will prove beneficial during the season.
MARANACOOOK/WINTHROP BLACK BEARS
Coach: Steve DeAngelis (37th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Boys: finished fifth at KVACs; Girls: finished second at KVACs.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Max Olmstead, Zach Berg, Seth Badeau; Juniors — Eric Nelson, Ben Adams; Sophomores — Silas Bartol, Wyatt Stevenson; Girls: Seniors — Jenna Badeau, Clarie Holman, Emily Lucas, Kusha Kane; Juniors — Lina Martinez Nocito, Sophie Marr, Kasey Mushlit; Sophomores — Olympia Farrell, Elsa Bergdahl.
Key losses: Tom Poling, Ashael Plum, Sophie O’Clair, Evelyn St. Germain, Sally Stokes.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Freshmen — Cooper Tarbuck, Eli Smith, James Marr, Noah Easter; Girls: Emma Roesner, Ella Martinez Nocito.
Season outlook: Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have a mix of experience and younger skiers. The team is hard-working and excited about the season, according to DeAngelis. He adds that the Black Bears’ success as a team will depend on how well they work together and make progress technically.
MOUNTAIN VALLEY FALCONS
Coach: Dylan Cayer (second year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Boys: Sophomores — River Durant, David Packard.
Promising newcomers: Sophomores— Emmet Logsdon, Aiden Arsenault; Freshman — Joseph Packard.
Season outlook: After doubling their numbers from last year, the Falcons are excited to be able to field a team that can compete, according to Cayer. The Falcons have an incredibly young team and they are hoping to reinvigorate their Nordic skiing program.
MT. ABRAM ROADRUNNERS
Coaches: Buzz and Sally Bean (38 years)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Boys: MVC champions.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Alex Hemingway, Cameron Walters; Junior — Jeff Warnock; Sophomore — Carter Butterfield; Girls: Senior — Emily Kidd.
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Robert Butterfield, Autumn Paulk, Olivia Tozier.
Season outlook: The boys should be competitive at states, according to the coaches. The girls’ team is excited about its growth and the girls are looking forward to being competitive at MVCs.
MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coaches: Emmy Held (third year), Shelley Joyce (third year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Girls: KVAC champs; Boys: finished seconds at KVACs.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Josh Smith, Sam Judkins, Tomas Cundick, Alex Hardy; Junior — Carson Zundel; Girls: Seniors — Emma Charles, Brynne Robbins, Abbie Cramer; Juniors — Kamryn Joyce, Bridget Reusch, Moriah Reusch, Delia Colello.
Key losses: Jack Kearing, Jackson Joyce.
Promising newcomers: Entire freshmen class, notably Henri and Nora McCourt.
Season outlook: The Cougars feature a big team with a bunch of returning athletes, a large and enthusiastic freshman class and some newcomers to the sport. The team functions on fun and is grateful to have depth and numbers with outstanding upperclassmen veteran leaders.
OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Christopher Easton (41st year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: finished seventh at KVACs.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors —Henry Swift, Grey Vanderwood, Hakon Teceno, Paul Rudman, Donavan Sanborn; Sophomore — Cameron Sherbinski.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Senior — Nick Bancroft; Sophomores— Cody Roy, Noah Damon-Travers; Freshmen — Dean Rudman, Gabriel DosReis; Girls: Senior — Eleanor Cowan; Juniors — Aurora Miller, Hazel Colby; Freshman — Emily Sanborn.
Season outlook: The Vikings have shown improvement and will be stronger competitors this season, according to Easton.
SPRUCE MOUNTAIN PHOENIX
Coaches: Kerry Brenner (third year), Ben Geissinger (second year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Boys: Juniors — Matt Pepe, Owen Schwab, Sam Perkins, Abrahm Geissinger.
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Daniel Wilson, Jenna Feith (skimeister), Ruby Spencer (skimeister); Freshmen — Katie Johnson, Hannah Perkins, Skylar Condin.
Season outlook: Abrahm Geissinger returns as the top skier on the team, hoping to challenge for the MVC title individually, as well as in the team competition along with Sam Perkins, Owen Schwab, Matt Pepe and Daniel Wilson. The girls are an inexperienced group hoping to build for the future.
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