2023 golf preview capsules

DIRIGO COUGARS
Coach: Nick Chapman (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Seniors — John Lane, Eli Lindus.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Logan Timberlake; Sophomores — Jaxon Libby, Henry Waleik; Freshman — Vincent Chapman.
Season outlook: The Cougars are a young team, but coach Nick Chapman expects the players to progress during the season.

EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Mat Mallett (second year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Finished second in the KVAC and 10th at the Class A state championship
Returning athletes: Seniors — Connor Turcotte, Tyler Turcotte, Brooks Hefty, Brayden Bashaw; Juniors — Joey Samson, Tristan Kramarz.
Key losses: Gage Ducharme, Gavin Levesque, Brody Keefe.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Brady Kilby; Freshman — Carson Veilleux.
Season outlook: Mat Mallett expects the team to compete with the best of the best in Class A this year. Edward Little lost key players from last year, but the newcomers should replace those players. Mallett said the KVAC is a tough conference, but the Red Eddies are excited about the challenge.

GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER PATRIOTS
Coach: Wayne Martin (fifth year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: 8-2
Returning athletes: Zach Stone, Jake Maschino, Marco Profenno, Charlie Gilbert, Henry Stone, Zach Pelletier, Noah Schaeffer.
Key losses: Ian Libby, Cody Roy, Jack Hardiman
Promising newcomer: Freshman — Henry Stone.
Season outlook: The Gray-New Gloucester program has consistently shown growth over the years, and Wayne Martin said the program continues to be competitive within a strong conference schedule. To be successful this season, according to Martin, the team needs to show resiliency and compete every night to gain a shot at qualifying for the state tournament. The goal is to qualify for the team state championship. In 2022, Gray-New Gloucester had Ian Libby qualify for the state tournament. Zach Stone and Jake Maschino missed the cut by one stroke.

LEAVITT HORNETS
Coach: Harry Haylock (19th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: 12-0; KVAC Class B and state champions
Returning athletes: Jade Haylock, AJ Davis, Jace Velozo.
Key losses: Billy Visconti, Aidan Lind, Alexis McCormick, Ashlyn Holbrook.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Zack Wallingford; Sophomore — Thomas Pratt.
Season outlook: Coach Harry Haylock said this year’s team is built for fun. With Jade Haylock being the only player with significant tournament experience, Harry Haylock said it is improbable for them to match last year’s record. Goals for this year include teaching the young players to manage the course and become proficient with the rules. Wallingford and Pratt bring positive energy and enthusiasm to the team and are very coachable.

LEWISTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Tom LeBlond (11th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Returning athletes: Seniors — Avery Cox, Dylan Blue, Ethan Blue; Juniors — Will Routhier, Charlie Foster.
Season outlook: With all the golfers from last year returning, Tom LeBlond said the Blue Devils look to be playoff contenders this year. Will Routhier, Charlie Foster and Avery Cox will anchor the top of the lineup.

MONMOUTH MUSTANGS
Coach: David Beaudoin (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 7-1, MVC runner-up, 10th at the Class C state championship
Returning athletes: Seniors — Carter O’Connell, Reese Beaudoin, Riley Inch, Ryan Glidden; Junior — Dante Burlingame; Sophomores — Addison Beaudoin, Maeve Burgess, Kyle Bryant.
Key losses: Isaac Fortin, Grace Levesque.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Austin Lizotte; Junior — Isaac Cote; Sophomore — Tristan Comeau; Freshmen — Ryder Shardlow, Reece Angel.
Season outlook: This year’s seniors, Carter O’Connell, Reese Beaudoin, Riley Inch and Ryan Glidden, along with sophomore Kyle Bryant will return and anchor the team in search of a championship, David Beaudoin said. First-year players Isaac Cote and Tristan Comeau, along with sophomore Addison Beaudoin, are up-and-coming players who will have a good chance of cracking the starting lineup. Freshmen Ryder Shardlow and Reece Angel, junior Dante Burlingame and sophomore Maeve Burgess are also expected to contribute this season.

MT. ABRAM ROADRUNNERS
Coach: Rick Lewis (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Alyssa Saidecki, Dawson Archer, Eli Saidecki, Ethan Saidecki, Laurel Sleeper, Randi White.
Promising newcomers: Carter Naas, Kaydance Bachelder.
Season outlook: Last year, the team made great strides with limited experience in the golfing world, according to first-year coach Rick Lewis. Laurel Sleeper qualified for the state tournament. The Roadrunners are hoping to build on their success this season. Their motto this season is: “tee it high and let it fly.”

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Mark Cyr (15th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 3-5
Returning Athletes: Seniors — Jack Cramer, Casey Burgess.
Key losses: Zak Koban, Connor Hufnagel, Eli Guerette, Andrew Sutton.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Trent Beaudoin, Chase Ranger; Sophomores — Ben Wrigley, Preston Labbe, Nevin O’Donnell; Freshman — Cameron Ranger.
Season outlook: This is a rebuilding year, having lost four starting players to graduation, Mark Cyr said. The Cougars have a few new players to golf that have little experience. Cyr is focusing on the fundamentals of their swing and introducing some of them to the rules and etiquette of the game.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY FALCONS
Coach: Todd Papianou (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Seniors — Emmit Logdson, David Packard, Aiden Arsenault; Junior — Miles Smith
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Logan Ricci, Max Spritzer.
Season outlook: First-year coach Todd Papianou said he already loves this team. They support each other, enjoy the game, embrace the learning curve, celebrate the good hits and are a pleasure to work with. Papianou said Mountain Valley is in it for the life skill and enjoyment of golf and hopes to build some lifetime golfers.

OAK HILL RAIDERS
Coach: Ed Zuis (second year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 5-4, finished fourth at the MVC qualifier
Returning athletes: Juniors — Cody Shockley, Mia Poussard; Sophomores — Jack Kramarz, Jude Lefata, Hunter Wing.
Key losses: Jamison Bergeron, Xavier Hood, Austin Voye.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Jack Caron, Wyatt Robitaille; Sophomores — Peyton Hafner, Sophia Dolloff; Freshman — Carter Austin.
Season outlook: Oak Hill lost its three top golfers but is looking to rebound. The Raiders are building for the future and could be competitive this year. The five returnees each can go low. The newcomers are getting better with every practice. The question Zuis has is, “Can we come together as a team at playoff time and qualifying?”

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Pete Toohey (first year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Returning athletes: Senior — Myles Woster; Juniors — Dustin Farrington, Shaun Kyllonen; Sophomores — Maddix Holden, Garrett Worster.
Key loss: Belle Steeves.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Kaden Neureuther, Tyler Britton; Junior — Alexis McCormick.
Season outlook: Pete Toohey said there are a lot of first-time players who really enjoy the game and are working hard to improve every day, and a few players who could hopefully compete at states in October. Alexis McCormick could be a contender for the Class A girls individual championship.

POLAND KNIGHTS
Coach: Matt Steinbeck (first year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: 2-9
Returning athletes: Senior — Aidan Webb; Juniors — Jason Garneau, Sam Howe, Gavin Boenig; Sophomores — Cade Johnson, Alex Maines.
Key losses: Hayden Christner, Hunter Brackett, Nick Garey.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Hunter Bussiere; Junior — Gavin Lenahan.
Season outlook: The Knights have a lot of young golfers on the team but also have a lot of promising returners. Alex Maines and Aidan Webb are back, and Matt Steinbeck looks forward to watching them this season. Hunter Bussiere has shown great skill early on. The Knights will need him and the other young golfers to all play to their potential to compete in the WMC.

RANGELEY LAKERS
Coach: Kevin Banfield (second year)
Conference: East-West; Class: C
Returning athletes: Senior — Tucker McFawn; Junior — Jake Bottcher.
Season Outlook: Three-year veteran Jake Bottcher is expecting to have a breakout year to have a chance to qualify for the state tournament.

SPRUCE MOUNTAIN PHOENIX
Coach: Dianne Fenlason (11th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Undefeated regular season, MVC champion, sixth at Class C state championship
Returning athletes: Seniors — Griffin Achorn, Brenden Veilleux; Juniors — Alex Grimaldi, Daxtyn Poisson, Ben Burgess, Alex Ladd.
Key loss: Tyler Spugnardi.
Promising newcomers: Jazmine Pingree, Brayden Courtney, Bradley Demillo.
Season outlook: Spruce Mountain will have strong leadership and experience from its many returning players. Dianne Fenlason said Alex Grimaldi will prove to be a consistent scorer and captain for the team. Daxtyn Poisson will play an important role at the top with his long drives and steady short game. Fenlason added Jazmine Pingree will be a member of the Spruce top six, and the Phoenix’s depth will be a challenge for opponents this season.

ST. DOMINIC SAINTS
Coach: Chris Whitney (sixth year)
Conferences: WMC, MAISAD; Class: C
Last year’s results: 10-2, WMC Class C champion and runner-up at the Class C state championship
Returning athletes: Seniors — Garrett Kendall, Ethan Pelletier; Junior — Mason Laflamme; Sophomore — Joe Adams.
Key losses: Cam Samson, Erik Jones, Miles Frenette.
Promising newcomers: Riley Daigle, Jayden Lynn, Peter Hayes, John Broke.
Season outlook: Returning three of the four scorers from the state championship and four of the six players, the team’s outlook is business as usual, coach Chris Whitney said. The top three will be strong, anchored by Kendall, who won the WMC Class C title last year. Newcomer Riley Daigle has turned in some great scores so far. Whitney said the depth should develop in the next month. Adding Chris Carrier, the PGA Director of Instruction at Martindale Country Club, to the coaching staff will be a boost to kids improving daily through the season.

WINTHROP RAMBLERS
Coach: Lonney Steeves (15th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Third in the MVC and 11th at the Class C state championship
Returning athletes: Juniors — Colton Baird, Riley Fyfe, Chris Reed, Logan Harrison; Sophomore — Ricky Phillips.
Key loss: Jayce Corgan.
Promising newcomers: Freshman — Sam Drown.
Season outlook: Coach Lonney Steeves is very excited about the top four, who played scoring matches last year and will compete with everyone in the conference this season. Winthrop has low numbers and won’t post low scores in the fifth and sixth slots at the beginning of the season. A couple of Winthrop’s new players are beginning to play golf, and they will work with Steeves every day to get better and more confident to play matches.