DIRIGO COUGARS
Coach: Noah Preble (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 6-4
Returning athletes: Juniors — Carter Fuller, Jaxon Libby, Henry Waleik; Sophomore — Vincent Chapman.
Key losses: Logan Timberlake, Eli Lindus.
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Colin Waugh, Jack Sweatt; Sophomore — Clark Averill; Freshman — Keaghan Little.
Season outlook: Dirigo has a young core, so new coach Noah Preble is looking to build strong team chemistry and develop the players as golfers and young adults. The Cougars should return everyone next year, so the goal this season is to strive to be their best while developing their skills for the present and the future.

EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Nate Pushard (first year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Finished 5th at Class A championship.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Joey Samson, Conner Dufour; Juniors — Isaac Jalbert, Cole Levesque, Ben Poulin; Sophomores — Carson Veilleux, Brandon Raymond, Alan MacDonald.
Key losses: Tyler Turcotte, Conner Turcotte, Brooks Hefty, Brayden Bashaw, Brady Kilby, Tristan Kramarz.
Promising newcomers: Junior — Braydin Gatto; Freshman — Owen Robertson.
Season outlook: The Red Eddies are looking to build on last year’s success with a group of strong returners leading the way, and for new faces to contribute and fill void left by graduated players. New coach Nate Pushard expects the KVAC to be tough from top to bottom.

GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER PATRIOTS
Coach: Wayne Martin (sixth year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: 10-2, finished third at Class B championship.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Charlie Gilbert, Gus Pfeifle; Sophomores — Henry Stone, Jason Maschino.
Key losses: Zach Stone, Jake Maschino, Zach Pelletier, Noah Schaeffer, Marco Profenno.
Season outlook: Only two players return from the team that competed in the state championship tournament in 2023, so captains Henry Stone, Charlie Gilbert and Gus Pfeifle look to lead a young group in hopes of competing with the top teams in the conference. Jason Maschino is eager to step in and contribute to the team scoring, while many players will be competing for varsity positions.

LEAVITT HORNETS
Coach: Harry Haylock (20th year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: 9-2 record.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Jade Haylock, Luke Mosher; Juniors — Reed Hallowell, Noah Cote, Thomas Pratt; Sophomore — Jack Morin.
Key losses: AJ Davis, Zack Wallingford.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Sophie Simard; Junior —Morgan Folsom; Freshman — James Brisson.
Season outlook: Behind the leadership of Jade Haylock and Thomas Pratt, the Hornets expect to again be competitive in the KVAC. Pratt and Folsom spent a significant amount of time playing and practicing this summer and are ready to contribute useful scores to the lineup, while Jade Haylock, a three-time state champion, is expected to produce low scores at the top of the lineup. Sophie Simard played several US Kids and junior tour events with Jade Haylock when they were younger, and those two will likely play in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots.

LEWISTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Erik Tiner (first year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 4-6
Returning athletes: Seniors — Will Routhier, Charles Foster, Ben Junkins; Juniors — Aizyk Laliberte, Carter Mercier.
Key losses: Dylan Blue, Ethan Blue, Avery Cox, Aiden St. George.
Promising newcomers: Sophomore — Coleman Mercier; Freshman  — Gavin Bisson.
Season outlook: The Blue Devils are relying on a strong top half of the lineup to make them competitive this year. First-year coach Erik Tiner said he expects newcomer Gavin Bisson will be consistently in the top six and will benefit the team. Tiner said this is an exciting group of golfers that is looking to make a run at the playoffs and possibly surprise some people.

MONMOUTH MUSTANGS
Coach: David Beaudoin (second year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 7-1, third at MVC championships, fourth at Class C championship.
Returning athletes: Senior — Isaac Cote; Juniors — Tristan Comeau, Addison Beaudoin, Kyle Bryant;  Sophomore — Reece Angel.
Key losses: Carter O’Connell, Reese Beaudoin, Riley Inch.
Promising newcomers: Aiden Olivera, Gavin Witham, Patrick Murphy, Jackson Guilmet.
Season outlook: Monmouth lost its three top golfers but coach David Beaudoin likes what he’s seen this preseason and expects another solid season. The Mustangs will be strengthened by the additions of Aiden Olivera and Gavin Witham and the improvements of returning players Isaac Cote, Kyle Bryant and Tristan Comeau. The Mountain Valley Conference is stronger than in past years, according to Beaudoin, and he expects Maranacook and Spruce Mountain will be the teams to beat while growing programs like Winthrop and Oak Hill will challenge Monmouth.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY/BUCKFIELD FALCONS
Coach: Todd Papianou (second year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Returning athletes: Senior — Miles Smith; Sophomore — Max Spritzer.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Joseph Bostel; Freshmen — Logan Hill, Connor Haley, Austin Verrill.
Season outlook: The Mountain Valley players are thankful to be hitting the links this fall after the golf program almost folded before being saved at a school board meeting in the winter. The Falcons will be in a co-op with Buckfield this season, which brings Joseph Bostel to the team. Coach Todd Papianou expects Bostel to be the Falcons’ No. 1 player this season, while behind him Miles Smith and Max Spritzer bring varsity experience.

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: J.T. Nutting (first year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Returning athletes: Juniors — Ben Wrigley, Cameron Ranger; Sophomore — Oliver Cormier.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Carter Norton; Sophomores — Riley Hall, Cooper Abell; Freshmen — Evan Drake, Cameron Norton, Chaise Pratt.
Season outlook: The Cougars have only two players with varsity experience returning, but new coach J.T. Nutting is excited to work with this inexperienced group and help the players improve day in and day out. Nutting said the players are hard working and always looking for ways to improve their game.

OAK HILL RAIDERS
Coach: Ed Zuis (third year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 3-5
Returning athletes: Seniors — Cody Shockley; Juniors — Sophia Dolloff, Peyton Hafner, Jude Lafata; Sophomore — Carter Austin.
Key losses: Jack Caron, Wyatt Robitaille.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Spencer Baldwin; Freshmen — Sadie Barnett, Willow Cournoyer, Leland Dehahn, Charlotte Edwards, Grayson Fortin, Will Hinkley, Hunter Landry, Gage Wing.
Season outlook: Oak Hill is returning a few of its top golfers from last year, and their experience will be important because of the team’s overall youth this season. If some newcomers step up, the Raiders should be able to improve on its record from 2023. The team’s goals are to get better every practice, host a playoff match, play in the MVC shootout and possibly earn a spot in the state championship tournament.

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Peter Toohey (second year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Returning athletes: Seniors — Alexis McCormick, Dustin Farrington, Neil Heath; Juniors — Garrett Wooster, Conner Ricard; Sophomores — Wyatt Nickerson, Gunner Truman.
Key losses: Myles Wooster, Conner Doyle, Shaun Kyllonen.
Promising newcomers: Carter Berry, Sam Binette, Cody Britton, Colby Komulanien, Andy Marr, Landric Rudman, Tyce Sawyer, Bentley Worden.
Season outlook: Peter Toohey is excited to watch Alexis McCormick on her quest to defend her individual Class A girls title. The Vikings have a lot of newcomers and are excited to see what this squad can do in 2024. They hope to work their way up the KVAC rankings throughout the season.

POLAND KNIGHTS
Coach: Matt Steinbeck (second year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Returning athletes: Seniors — Gavin Lenahan, Sam Howe, Gavin Boenig; Juniors — Alex Mains, Cade Johnson, Will Stanford.
Key losses: Aiden Webb, Hunter Bussiere, Ryan Stanford.
Season outlook: Coach Matt Steinbeck is excited the Knights have a lot of good golfers returning, and he’s looking forward to seeing the gains and improvements from everybody on the team throughout the season.

RANGELEY LAKERS
Coach: Kevin Banfield (third year)
Conference: East-West; Class: C
Returning athlete: Senior — Jacob Bottcher.
Key loss: Tucker McFawn.
Season outlook: The Lakers only have one returner in the lineup, Jacob Bottcher. With 10 newcomers with little golf experience, coach Kevin Banfield expects this to be a rebuilding season.

SPRUCE MOUNTAIN PHOENIX
Coach: Dianne Fenlason (12th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last results: 5-2-2, finished second at the MVC championship and 11th at the Class C championship.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Alex Grimaldi, Daxtyn Poisson, Ben Burgess, Alex Ladd; Sophomore — Bradley Demillo.
Key losses: Griffin Achorn, Jazmine Pingree.
Promising newcomers: Junior — Evan Hamilton; Sophomores — Landon Hatch, Fresh-Zachary Gordon, Jackson Archer, Michaela Grant, Marley Jervis.
Season outlook: Veterans will carry the load for Spruce Mountain this season in a competitive conference. They are strong players with experience and know what it takes to win. Around them are many newcomers who coach Dianne Fenlason said will be working to improve their skills.

ST. DOMINIC/LISBON SAINTS
Coach: Chris Whitney (seventh season)
Conference: WMC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 12-2, WMC Class C champions, Class C state champions.
Returning athletes: Senior — Mason Laflamme; Juniors — Joe Adams, Riley Daigle; Sophomore — Nolan Cavers.
Key losses: Garret Kendall, Ethan Pelletier.
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Finley Cavers, Chris Johnson.
Season outlook: The Saints have to replace Kendall and Pelletier, the top two golfers on last year’s team, but the four returners were in the varsity starting lineup. Mason Laflamme is expected to be one of the Saints’ top golfers this season. Whitney likes the potential of Finley Cavers and Chris Johnson, and he said both should be able to contribute to the team score right away. The Saints want to be playing their best golf for the league and state championship tournaments at the end of September and early October.

WINTHROP RAMBLERS
Coach: Lonney Steeves, (16th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 4-4-1, third at MVC Shootout.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Colton Baird, Riley Fyfe, Chris Reed, Logan Harrison; Junior — Ricky Phillips; Sophomore — Sam Drown
Promising newcomers: Senior — Ian Fuller; Freshman — Kaydence Allarie.
Season outlook: Lonney Steeves is excited for the season. He said the four seniors know the ropes and have handled the competition well every year. He also likes that the Ramblers depth in a 5-6 position, which should allow them to be competitive at the highest level. The eight-player roster should spur all of the players to improve throughout the season and put Winthrop in a position to again challenge Maranacook and Spruce Mountain for the top spot in the MVC. After not making the state championships in 2023, the goal is to get there this season.