Coach: Mark Cyr (seventh year)

Last year’s record: Boys – Class A state champions; Girls – Class A state champions

Returning players: Boys: Senior — Tim Andrews; Juniors — North Kay, Alex Chandler. Girls: Senior — Eliza Richard; Juniors — Abby Ellis, Heather Farrington; Sophomores — Katie Lewis, Hannah Gibson.

Key losses: Jared Foster, Alex Witt, Harris Roberts, Sam Prentiss, Emily Deane, Abby Davis, Amanda Hall.

Promising newcomers: Boys: Freshmen — Josh Horne, Eli Cohen. Girls: Senior — Margot Heraud; Freshmen — Mallory Parker, Katerina Bessey.

Outlook: For the first time in a very long time, the Cougars are about as vulnerable as they get. Make no mistake, they will be the skiers to beat in Class A, but the customary depth of top-flight skiers isn’t there this season, meaning all of the team’s top skiers will have to be solid in every race. The girls return a bit more power than the boys, who lost four of the top skiers in Maine.

Coach’s comment: “The players who we once counted on to pick up the slack, they’re the top skiers now. Everyone on the team needs to step up and into a leadership role.” — Coach Mark Cyr