2022-2023 Alpine skiing preview capsules

EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Scott Berube (second year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Girls: Two top-20 finishers at KAVCs and states; Boys: Placed four in top-20 at KVACs and two at states.
Returning athletes: Boys: Senior — Max Brann; Juniors — Brayden Bashaw, Evan O’Donnell, Ethan Levesque; Sophomores — Kai Thistle, Joe Leblanc, Declan Howe. Girls: Juniors — Anaya Egge, Kaelyn Langlois.
Promising newcomers: Cooper Potvin, Calvin Vincent, Ben Cuetara, Maddie Ranger.
Season outlook: Berube said the team is looking forward to a season filled with fun. He added that the Red Eddies are a hardworking group inside the classroom and on the slopes.

GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER PATRIOTS
Coaches: Uel Gardner (first year), Shad Hall (four years), Craig Fessler (first year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Girls: Placed sixth in giant slalom and fourth in slalom at WMCs; Boys: Placed fifth in GS and second in slalom in the WMCs.
Returning athletes: Boys: Sophomores — Rylee Brooks, Gus Pfeifle. Girls: Juniors — Alana Harris, Ella Fessler, Sam McDuffie, Olivia Knudsen; Sophomores — Ava Beaudin, Caitlin Butler.
Season outlook: The Patriots are in a developmental phase, with no seniors returning on the girls and boys teams. The teams are focused on fundamentals and learning to compete in 2023.

LEAVITT HORNETS
Coach: Scott Berube (second year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Boys: One top-20 finisher at KVACs; Girls: Two top-20 finishers at KVACs and one at states.
Returning athletes: Boys: Senior — Austin Gates; Sophomore — James Braby. Girls: Senior — Lily Anctil; Freshman — Sophie Simard.
Season outlook: The teams, who are training with Edward Little, are small, but the skiers have a passion for ski racing and look forward to the season. The athletes are exceptional students in the classroom and bring a strong work ethic to the hill.

LEWISTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Scott Berube (first year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Promising newcomer: Girls: Senior — Whitney Perkins.
Season outlook: Season outlook: Berube said that Perkins, who will train with Edward Little, is an exceptional student who is eager to join the conference and return to ski racing after time off.

MARANACOOK BLACK BEARS
Coach: Ron Gifford (19 years)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Boys: KVAC champs, runners-up at state meet; Girls: Fourth at the KVACs and states.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Chase McLaughlin, Aidan Guimond; Juniors — Bailey Shink, Rocco Scott; Sophomores — Thatcher Riley, Adam Ellis, Josh Adams, Ben Jewett, Micah Sealsberry, Tayton Van Winkle. Girls: Juniors — Anna Albert, Maggie Morrill, Mavia Lenane, Sage Whitehead; Sophomores — Kendra Bor, Hannah Marshal.
Key losses: Sam McKee, Dylan McGarr, Alex Clark, Anna Erb, Meghan Mahoney, Ella Trefethan.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Seniors — Ben Adams, Eli Hopkins, Max Stevens; Sophomores — Seth Dunphy, Gavin Tweedie; Freshmen — Sawyer Rooney, Porter Flannery, Johnathin Beane, Sam Hayes, Jack Thaller, Grant Walters. Girls: Senior — Lily Caba; Junior — Katharina Welle; Freshmen — Phoebe Bell, Siena Brinton, Alexandria Stewart, Hali Isaacson, Amy Roberts.
Season outlook: A strong group of boys are returning after having a prosperous season. A large contingent of incoming freshmen coupled with new upperclassmen are making the preseason training fun.

MONMOUTH MUSTANGS
Coach: Ron Gifford (19th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Promising newcomer: Freshman — Annabelle Carlton.
Season outlook: Carlton, who Gifford said has an impressive middle school resume, will proudly represent the Mustangs on the slopes while training with Maranacook and Winthrop.

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Mark Cyr (19 years)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: Second at KVACs and state championships; Girls: KVAC champs, state champs.
Returning athletes: Boys: Senior — Dylan Farmer; Juniors — Trent Beaudoin, Jackson Hardy; Sophomores — Brody Farmer, JJ Alexander, Tyler McGarry, Colin Drake. Girls: Seniors —Molly Kearing, Vivian Cormier; Juniors — Katie Yeaton, Abbey Goodspeed; Sophomores — Maddy Keller, Ashlyn Dailey.
Key losses: Sadie McDonough, Khloe Dean, Josh Smith, Ashton Beaudoin, Sam Goodspeed.
Promising newcomers: Girls: Senior —Taylor Gordon; Junior — Elisa Mezzoli.
Season outlook: The boys have big shoes to fill with the graduation of several top skiers. Depth will be the key to their success. The girls team is expected to be strong, with help from the returning Taylor Gordon, who won the slalom state title as a freshman— and was the 2020 Sun Journal All-Region Alpine Skier of the Year — before spending two years honing her skills at a ski academy.

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coaches: Tim Hutchisen (three years), Alan Sadler (two years)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last years results: Boys: Fifth at KVACs and fourth at states. Girls: Third at KVACs and fifth at states.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Braden Pratt, Silas Timm; Juniors — John Bessette, Ross Campbell; Sophomores — Richard Deiterich. Girls: Seniors — Kelsey Bennett, Hazel Colby, Aurora Miller; Junior — Saige Winslow; Sophomore — Gianna DeVivo.
Key losses: Nick Bancroft, Dawson Joseph, Ashley Campbell, Chiara Castiglia, Elizabeth Dieterich, Bella DeVivo.
Promising newcomers: Alyson Cash, Lauren Hewson, Tredan Marshall, Samantha McPhail, Caitrin Meagher, Veda Ann Person, Abigail Toohey.
Season outlook: The boys team has depth this year. The girls squad is in a rebuilding phase and features many new faces. The Vikings will focus on improving on last year’s results and continue building a strong program for the future.

RANGELEY LAKERS
Coach: Jeff Hawksley (10 years)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Girls: MVC champion; third at state championships.
Returning athletes: Boys: Seniors — Daxxton Williams, Nathaniel Bliss. Girls: Senior — Amelia Stokes; Juniors —Breezy Quimby, Jaxsyn Haley, Averi Flewelling; Sophomore —Natalie Stokes.
Season outlook: Expectations are high for the girls teams to shine again in the conference — they have won five straight MVC championships — and state competitions. The boys should have a good showing in the top 10 percent of the field at conference and states.

WINTHROP RAMBLERS
Coach: Ron Gifford (19 years)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Two top-15 finishes at MVCs; two top-30s at states.
Returning athletes: Boys: Sophomores — Will Grant, Jaxon August.
Season outlook: Winthrop’s two competitors, who are training with Maranacook and Winthrop, are looking for improved times and better finishes on the slopes. Both Grant and August earned top-15 finishes at the Mountain Valley Conference championships, and Grant added a 16th-place showing in the giant slalom at the Class C championships.