2023-24 cheering preview capsules

DIRIGO COUGARS
Coach: Kaitlyn Woods (first season)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Mountain Valley Conference runner-up.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Ariana Gonzalez, Shanoy Brown; Junior — Skylar O’Connor.
Key losses: Emma Herbert, Jenna Gallant, Caly Gordon, Delani Merrill.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Joey Scott; Sophomore — Autum Knox; Freshmen — Marlee Gray, Layla Boutin, Aaliyah Bowie, Kendall Daigle, Natalie Desjardins.
Season outlook: Woods said that as a new coach with a predominantly new team, there will be a lot of growth to be made together by the Cougars this season. She also said she sees a lot of potential in this group, along with a determination to succeed and an overwhelming amount of passion for cheerleading. With hard work in practice, Woods thinks the Cougars will thrive together as a team, and she looks forward to a rewarding first season.

EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Dawna LaBonte (second year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Seventh at KVACs, sixth at regionals.
Returning athletes: Juniors — Rilee Fournier, Elina McCarthy; Sophomores — Domenica Peaslee, Isabel Hernandez, Ava Cirello.
Key loss: Alliyah Pelletier.
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Elena Rodriguez, Bianca Langston; Sophomore — Emma Bissell.
Season outlook: The Red Eddies strength this season is their eagerness to learn, while area for improvement is having confidence that they can compete with other schools, LaBonte said. She also said last year was a great building block for this program and that the Red Eddies are excited to show their improvement.

GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER PATRIOTS
Coach: Melissa Burila (tenth year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: WMC champion, second at regionals, third at state championships, fourth at New Englands.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Kiara Martinez, Kylie Jo Lewis; Juniors — Marissa Rowe, Brooklyn Gould, Erika Parlin; Sophomores — Hannah Gordon, Charolette Testa, Hailey Phillips, Piper Aube.
Season outlook: Head coach Melissa Burila said she and coaches Morgan Ray and Christine Parlin are excited about this season because Gray-NG is a close team with an excited outlook. Burila also said that the continued support from the community and administration will help the Patriots improve this season from last year.

LEAVITT HORNETS
Coach: Andrea Keneborus (fifth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Second in KVAC, third at regionals, fourth at state championships.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Madelyne Keneborus, Ryleigh Green; Juniors — Jayna Jarvis, Madison Worcester, Abby Veinott; Sophomore — Kallie Brown.
Key losses: Emma Caouette, Skyla Lapointe, Alia Bell, Kira Welch, Fya Link, Jada Coburn.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Isaiah Towns, Raika Pierre, Sierra Colby, Aubrey Castonguay, Alyssa Calder; Junior — Cadence Carson; Freshman — Reese Amos, Kiera Cloutier, Samantha Krebs, Noel Wysocki.
Season outlook: The Hornets are a promising group of hard-working athletes who are eager to learn new skills. Keneborus said she expects to see strong stunting with many new additions to the team. She also said the team plans on “a dynamic, powerful and clean routine with the usual Hornet flare.”

LEWISTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Matt Hanley and Torey Weldon (fifth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Second in KVAC, second at regionals, second at state championships, eighth at New Englands.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Jersey Cunningham (co-captain), Reese Maynard (co-captain), Madeleine Albert, Kelsea Anderson, Ava Blanchette, Siara Laliberte, Allison Lavalle, Gabriella Thomas; Juniors — Aubrey Wood (co-captain), Phoenix Beaulieu, Fiona Hutchinson; Sophomore — Emma Mills.
Key losses: Emilie Levasseur, Audrey Bilodeau.
Promising newcomers: Ella Mercier, Isabella Caldeira, Myla Physic.
Season outlook: The team is driven this year, focusing on strength and technique. Weldon said the athletes are holding themselves accountable to a higher standard in order to be able to perform a clean and exciting routine.

LISBON/ ST. DOM’S GREYHOUNDS
Coach: Nicole Adams (11th season)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: MVC champion, regional champion, state champion, ninth at New Englands.
Returning athletes: Juniors — Riley Hoyle, Mackenzie Theriault, Nevaeh Fortin; Sophomores — Ella Morales, Alivia Saunders, Ava Kottman, Payton Hoyle, Reese Kulow, Kyla Berube, Sela Russell.
Promising newcomers: Junior — Delina Daigle; Sophomore — Brady Knight; Freshmen — Emma Bourgoin, Kenya Jennings, Ava Cabral.
Season outlook: After a championship season last year, Adams said these athletes are ready to put in the work to have more success. The Greyhounds have a solid core of returning members who are ready to finish what they started.

MONMOUTH MUSTANGS
Coach: Nykki Stevens (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: No team last year. Class D state champions two years ago.
Promising newcomers: Sophomores — Clara Turcotte, Leila Mercado; Freshmen — Kya Robitaille, Alexis Pineda.
Season outlook: This year’s squad is a young with a mixture of sophomores and freshmen. After not having a team last year, Monmouth is back on the competition floor and on the sidelines for varsity basketball games. Stevens said the team is eager and willing to take on any challenge they face and are ready to add to the Monmouth legacy.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY FALCONS
Coach: Jessica Sirois (second year), assisted by Ciara Giroux (fifth year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Third in MVC, fourth at regionals, ninth at states.
Returning athletes: Senior — Penelope Biship, Kirstynn Blouin, Neveah D’Angelo, Celeste Dickey, Kara Jasud, Abigail Jones, Olivia Pitcher; Junior — Paisley Clukey; Sophomores — Mariya Gammon, Nataley Yates.
Key loss: Delaney Bouchard.
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Michael Chase, Vera Dolitski Rodriguez; Freshmen — Melina Byam, Mackenzie Gammon, Ella Melcher.
Season outlook: The Falcons are eager for the upcoming season with a focus on executing a clean routine and being competitive in the conference and region. A strong group of seniors returns with leadership and skillsets that will set the tone for building success as Mountain Valley welcomes a trio of talented freshmen and a pair of new faces to the squad, Sirois said. The combination of athletic skill, discipline and perseverance is setting the Falcons up for a promising season.

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Danielle Tannenbaum (fifth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Fourth in KVAC, fifth at regionals, eighth at states.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Jenna Pond; Juniors — Anglee Brewer, Alexis Visuano; Sophomores — Avery Oliver, Naomi Lane, Alexis Wood.
Key losses: Abbigail Swett, Katie Conant, Janessa Whitney, Lexus Whitney.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Kalley Starbird, Jayla Cuesta; Freshman — Abigail Walker.
Season outlook: The Cougars are a team full of passionate athletes who are eager to learn and grow, Tannenbaum said. Mt. Blue’s goal this year is to work closely and effectively as a team to put out a fun, clean and confident routine.

OAK HILL RAIDERS
Coach: Louise Gauthier (14th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Returning athletes: Senior — Eve Sallee; Sophomores — Kennedy Minich, Aileah Cote, Scarlett Fisher.
Promising newcomers: Sophomore — Paige Stevens; Freshmen — Jayda Smith, Ava Lemont, Aubrey Melanson, Sophia Borkowski, Kayleeann Stevens, Shawntel Higgins, Jocelyn David, Jayden Gustafson.
Season outlook: The Raiders’ numbers have improved, and Gauthier said this year’s team works hard and is talented with great attitudes. She added that the Raiders are excited for the upcoming season.

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Jessie Becher-Brooks (first year); assistant: Tiffany Macro
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: KVAC champion, regional champion, state champion, fifth at New Englands.
Returning athletes: Senior — Adriana Mills; Juniors — Brealynn Record, Natalie Gray, Lauren Millett, Eleanot Nareff; Sophomore — Jaidyn Daigle.
Key losses: Maddie Striegel, Abigail Fickett, Elizabeth Hallee, Samantha Mills, Lauren Frye, Kelsi LaPlante.
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Veda Person, Kassidy Andrews, Graycee Richardson; Sophomore — Evey Hall; Freshmen — Hollie Denning, Amelia Brassard, Taylor Lawler, Brayleigh Denlinger.
Season outlook: This looks to be a promising year with a lot of new talent, said Becher-Brooks, who takes over for longtime coach Deb Loveless. The Vikings are looking forward to coming back strong and proving that they can work together to have another successful season.

POLAND KNIGHTS
Coach: Kristin Harris (first year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Eighth at regionals, 18th at states.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Ava Adams, Courtney Ames, Emma Martin, Lily Vallee; Juniors — Marabella Coltart, Emma MacMahon; Sophomore — Imani Downing.
Key loss: Ragyn Harvey.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Bailey Coburn; Freshmen — Haley Ellis, Macey Harris, Gabby Lenahan, Irelyn Smith, Kianna Dulworth, Braylin York, Sage Gardner, Gabby Cooper.
Season outlook: With a new coach, Kristin Harris, who will be assisted by Kelsey White, the Knights are starting a rebuilding era. Harris said the team determined and focused, and the athletes’ team chemistry was evident from day one. Although half of the team are freshmen, they are full of talent and passion. Harris said she is excited to watch the Knights reach their full potential.

SPRUCE MOUNTAIN PHOENIX
Coach: Joy Jancewicz (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: Third at regionals, sixth at state championships.
Returning athletes: Juniors — Amaya McHugh, Leylah Manning, Devyn Gagnon, Tyoaka Hodgkin; Sophomores — Kordeja Manning, Santika Hodgkin, Kayleigh Cole.
Key losses: Lillian Minoty, Mady Nichols.
Promising newcomers: Junior — Ally Palmer-Moody; Freshman — Aubrianna Gendreau.
Season outlook: The Phoenix’s goal this season is to continually grow and improve, in everything from ability to team spirit, Jancewicz said. This is a younger team, but one that is excited to bring some great skills to the mat.