Photo credit: Amanda LandryThe Fall season is underway at GHS. The preseason was strong for the Rams fall teams and here is why:
Girls Soccer: Coach Jeanne Zarrilli
Key players to watch this season include several players from the sophomore through senior class. Coach Zarilli shared, “The team returns four seniors whom will all lead in various forms including Faith Connolly, Erin Lawrence, Katie Martin and Katie Gooch. Juniors, Kaitlyn Nichols and Giselle Doucette along with a number of strong sophomores, Bailey Hatch, Ashley Connolly, Piper Forgues and Lily Tukey.”
Coach Zarrilli remarks, “if pre-season scrimmages have shown us anything, we should compete with everyone. We are young but strong and highly competitive.”
Coach also emphasizes, “we have great team camaraderie.” Last year the team lost in the regional final to Windham. This year, be looking for this team to be in close games and to compete once again in the playoffs.
Boys Soccer: Coach Nick Viola
Key Players for the Rams soccer squad include; Cole Bishop, Peter Wu, Nick Phinney, Tyler Matheson and Jacob Lehman. Last year the Rams made it to the SMAA south conference championship game, losing to the eventual state winner, Marshwood.
Coach Viola shares, “This years’ expectations are to compete with other top programs, with a strong emphasis on development of the total student-athlete experience. Improvement as a team and as individual players, team building, academic excellence, sportsmanship and community service will all be at the forefront this season.”
Field Hockey: Coach Becky Manson
Coach Manson shared, “Last season ended with a play-off run. We beat Bonny Eagle in a prelim game 1-0. We went on to quarter-finals to play Biddeford. We played an outstanding game, but ended up losing 3-2 in overtime.”
This year’s top players to watch are returning players Hannah Bickford Junior, Center-Mid with 7 career goals and 11 assists, ‘21 all-state player, 1st team all-conference, Brooke Farquhar Junior, Attack, 15 career goals (12 last season) and 8 assists, all conference honorable mention, Ellie Szostalo, Senior, Attack or Defense, Julia Wareham – Defense, Ella Downing – Defense, and new comers Annabelle Collier, Freshman – Midfielder.
This year’s captains are Annie Cunningham, Maeve Donnelly and Ellie Szostalo.
Coach Manson explains, “The Gorham Field Hockey team looks to use its speed and passing ability as a strength for the upcoming season. With many versatile players, our team strength can come in different looks. We have a vast amount of athletes who not only play field hockey all year long, they are also 2 and 3 sport athletes. These athletes also participate in strength and conditioning workouts.”
Coach Manson adds, “What continues to amaze me as a teacher and coach is how these players excel in the classroom. They are diligent and hard-working student-athletes. We have the potential to have an outstanding season once again.”
Photo credit: Amanda LandryFootball: Coach Sam Morrison
The Football team finished last season 3-5 and 6th place in Southern Maine Class B. The Rams lost in the first round of the playoffs to eventual B Champ Marshwood.
We have five seniors, including; Hayden Battaglia, Ian Connors, Cody Sellick, Malachi Scribner (new to Football), and Lucas Ouellette. Coach Morrison, adds, “All the seniors have worked very hard this preseason and will contribute to the team this season. Battaglia and Connors will anchor our O and D Lines. Sellick will be our main ball carrier.”
Other key players to watch are juniors Caden Smith, Izak Young, and Aiden Lee. Team Captains include, Hayden Battaglia and Caden Smith. Coach Morrison remarks, “We have several other quality leaders in the group.”
Morrison concludes, “The expectations are to compete in each game we play. A very challenging schedule that the players and staff are excited about are; Cape Week 1 (2021 Class C Champs), Kennebunk Week 5, and Portland Week 7.”
Golf: Coach Scott Nevers
The Golf team finished 3rd at the Class A State Championships last year, after an 8-2 season.
The captains for this year are: Patrick Cyr, Quinn Dillon & Taylor Farr.
Coach Scott Nevers shared, “Quinn Dillon and Taylor Farr are two golfers to watch, with a few others that could have a great year. Only two golfers return from last year’s Varsity starting roster, which means we have a lot of new faces. There’s a good mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen that will compete for starting spots.”
Coach added, “Bennett Walker, Patrick Cyr will be a great addition to the lineup with Dillon & Farr. Wyatt Nadeau, Owen Ballard, and incoming Freshmen Will Provost & Jackson Altham will all compete throughout the season.”
Coach Nevers concluded, “our challenging opponents will be Thornton Academy, Greely, and Windham. The goal for the season is to compete, and build confidence going into the SMAA Qualifier and State Championship.”
Volleyball: Coach Emma Tirrell
Coach Tirrell shared, “last season, we lost in the semi-finals against Scarborough to go to the state championship. Nine seniors worked really hard, but it wasn’t our year.” This season the team has two seniors, Zoe Diffin and Kaci Mollison. Coach remarks, “We expect to have lots of success as a program in growing a fresh, positive culture. We hope to make the playoffs and work hard to win as many games as we can. Challenging opponents will be Scarborough, Biddeford, Cheverus.”
Cross Country: Coach Jason Tanguay
Both our boys and girls teams qualified to compete in the state championship and our girls team qualified to compete at the New England Championships.
Boys’ captains are senior, Lucien Beardsley and junior, Jacob Mora and the Girls’ captains are seniors, Rachel Cummings and Grace Johnson.
Other runners to watch are junior, Nathan Bergquist-Guimond; junior, Cruise LaBrie; sophomore, Matt Sallinen; sophomore, Finn Henderson and junior, Rita Cummings; freshmen, Winni Moreland and Brooklyn Spearin.
Coach Jason Tanguay shared, “Both our girls and boys teams graduated a number of talented seniors, but I am grateful to see some promising new faces join our team. If these new runners can work hard to improve their physical and mental fitness, then I feel our teams can be competitive in our league schedule.”