GIRLS LACROSSE: COACH MEGHAN CUSHING
New head coach Meghan Cushing is eager to lead the Rams in her first season. Her twin sister Morgan is the J.V. coach and the two couldn’t be more positive about their season outlook. The twins both played at Gorham (GHS ‘14), it is a true full circle moment for them.
Coach’s comment: “After a strong 2022 season, we are looking to come out even stronger this year and are very excited to see what we can do this season.”
The team is led by captains, seniors Miranda Chasse, Ellie Keil, Rylee Tenuta and junior Ellie Gay. Key returners are Miranda Chasse, Ellie Gay, Kaitlyn Nichols, and Brooke Farquhar.
Coach remarked, “Miranda and Kaitlyn are key returning attackers. Both scored many goals last season and were key to the success on attack. Ellie Gay is a key returning midfielder, “She can truly do it all”. She is a strong defender, a key member in our transition and ride, and a strong attacker. Brooke is one of our top defenders. She had many caused turnovers last year and will be set to guard some of the strongest players in the league.”
Coach added, “We look to improve upon the success from previous years, but look to have one of the best records the program has seen. We are hoping to connect with the youth programs and get the town talking about lacrosse.”
Tough opponents and pivotal games expected are Kennebunk and Falmouth.
BOYS LACROSSE: COACH CLAYTON JONES
After a strong run into the playoffs last year, where they lost a one-goal game to Scarborough, Gorham looks to field an intriguing mix of senior leadership and fresh faces looking to make an impact.
In speaking about key returning players, Coach shared, “The 2023 Rams will be led by a strong defensive unit, all returning from last year. Seniors Bode Coleman (capt.) Anthony Arsenault, and Hayden Battaglia are joined by Juniors Jesse James and Aydyn Garrett on what could be the best overall unit in years. Senior Ian Connors, coming off a stellar season last year with a 70% save percentage, will anchor the unit in Goal. Senior captain Justin Chasse could be a dominant force at mid-field both facing off and moving to the offensive side of the ball this year. Captain Jacob Lehmann and senior Joe Cowan should provide plenty of offensive punch while several newcomers will give the Rams the ability to run between the lines. The attack is also anchored by seniors, Ryker Spear and Brady Alexander, and Junior Haden Pelletier will look to follow up on a strong sophomore campaign.”
Coach Jones added, “A very competitive 14-game schedule will challenge the Rams, but they’ll be well-prepared for the postseason. The challenge for the senior leadership this year will be the rapid integration of newcomers with experienced talent to form a cohesive unit.
If the group comes together, this team could surprise some, making a deep run into the playoffs, remarks Jones.
BASEBALL: COACH CHUCK NADEAU
Coach Chuck Nadeau (14th season). The 2022 Rams ranked #5 lost to Marshwood to advance to the Class A Quarterfinals.
Coach Nadeau shared, “The coaching staff is excited to see the 2023 version of Gorham Ram Baseball compete against a league that is as strong as we can remember. There are no easy games on the schedule. Every team we face will have at least one top tier pitcher and most have pitching staffs that run 2-3 deep in aces.”
Coach added, “We have a nice mix of returning players and new players. Two-time all-conference selection Quinn Dillon leads the way for us this year. Quinn, a senior, has been one of the more consistent hitters in the SMAA over the past two seasons. Selected as a team captain this year, Quinn will continue to anchor our infield from the second base position. Seniors Cody Sellick and Brady Wintle along with Junior CJ Whitehead will also serve as team captains for the 2023 Rams; and each will be relied upon to deliver consistently good at-bats from the middle of our batting order. Sellick will handle leftfield and be counted on to be a run producer. Wintle is a talented offensive player who can drive the ball into gaps and use his speed as a consistent extra base threat. Whitehead is a throwback who can play any position on the field and play it well; he brings a versatility and toughness factor that all good teams need.”
Coach Nadeau rounds out the rest of the positions and players to watch: “Senior Noah Flynn steps in as the shortstop this year. His positive energy is contagious and he brings a dynamic athleticism to the middle of our infield. A very talented 9th grader, Miles Brenner will play alongside Flynn at third base. Brenner is an exciting addition to our team and will be a player to watch in Gorham for the next few years. Fellow seniors Malachi Scribner and Jett Wing will lead a pitching staff that is talented but relatively inexperienced coming into the 2023 season. Malachi is a strike throwing lefty who mixes multiple pitches for strikes in any count. Wing is a dependable bulldog righty; a bit of a late bloomer who is capable of getting big outs.
Junior Izak Young is an exciting utility player. Young is one of the more athletic members of our team; he has dynamic speed, can hit for power and has excellent baserunning instincts.”
All-Conference third baseman as a 9th grader in 2022, Mason Finck returns as our catcher to lead a very talented sophomore class. Finck is one of the more talented hitters in the entire league and has an understanding of the game that is well beyond his years. Joining Finck in the sophomore class are LHP and OF Jack Karlonas, RHP and 1B Wyatt Nadeau, as well as RHP and OF Casey Skolfield, according to coach Nadeau.
All- in-all Coach remarked, “How quickly this group acclimates to SMAA competition will be a big factor in positioning Gorham as a contender in 2023. Karlonas, Nadeau and Skolfield are all capable of being top tier pitchers in the SMAA. Nadeau and Karlonas are also expected to contribute offensively as mainstays in the batting order.”
Photo credit: Katie BrownGirls tennis team
GIRLS TENNIS: COACH NICOLE BERGERON
The 2022 regular season record concluded 7-5 and with playoffs, 8-6. Coach shared, “players to watch is a tough one, they have all worked hard to improve, and it shows. Even more than what I was expecting and hoping for. I’d say we’re a very solid team to watch this season.” The seniors are the captains, Sarah Rathbun and Klarha Cajuste.
Sarah is playing 2nd singles, and Klarha is in the first doubles team. Coach expects their record will most definitely improve. “I have no doubt whatsoever that this group will compete past last year’s goals. Our toughest opponents will be Scarborough and Thornton Academy.”
BOYS OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD: COACH JASON TANGUAY
Last season, the team finished as runner-up in the conference championship and 4th place in the state championship.
Coach Tanguay shared, “We graduated some of the best senior track and field athletes that have come through our program with many of them continuing their careers in college. This season, we are looking to find our identity as nearly half our team are new faces. We do have some outstanding returning athletes who will be called upon to mentor and guide our new competitors so we can be competitive in the league.”
This seasons captains are Lucien Beardsley, Owen Duplisea, Nolan Feyler, Aidan Lee, and Dylan Phillips. In speaking about key returning athletes, coach shared the athletes and their respective events are: Lucien Beardsley, senior, racewalk; Nathan Bergquist-Guimond, junior, distance; Luke Burns, junior, throws; Nolan Feyler, junior, sprints & hurdles; Griffin Gammon, sophomore, HJ & javelin; Kuba Kaczmarek, sophomore, jumps; Aidan Lee, junior; hurdles & HJ; Nick Munyaneza, sophomore, jumps; Joshua Wright, junior, hurdles.
GIRLS OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD: JOHN CATERINA
Coach Caterina shared, “Gorham graduated many top scorers from last year’s state runner up team but looks to remain very competitive in the SMAA this spring. The team is led by senior tri-captains Rachel Cummings, Sadie Fiore and Mayla Wilson.”
The top returners for Gorham include seniors Rachel Cummings (distance), Sadie Fiore (high jump) and Mayla Wilson (pole vault); juniors Lillian Andreasen (javelin), Rita Cummings (distance), Ella Downing (distance), Addie Harjula (jumps), Ella Labrie (jumps), Meryk Lewellen (jumps) and Aislyn McLean (distance); sophomores Ashley Connolly (sprints), Bailey Hatch (sprints), Lindy Moreland (hurdles) and Abby Rogers (sprints).
Coach remarked, “There are several newcomers who should make an immediate impact this spring. They include Camryn Caruso (sprints), Grayson Cole (mid-distance), Zoe Dellinger (distance) and Summer Gammon (jumps). The team looks to be very competitive in regular season meets against other SMAA teams and should be among the top 5 in the SMAA championship in late May.”
SOFTBALL: COACH PHIL MCGOULDRICK
Key returning players: Kaci Mollison OF (S), Amber Bretton Pitcher (Jr), Sopia Diphilippo Catcher (Jr), Andi Cloutier MIF (Jr), Makayla Quintal MIF (Jr), Kyleah Mack OF, Pitcher (Jr). Impressive stats include: Amber Bretton – Avg .481, OBP .534, OPS 1.419, 5 HR, Sophia Diphilippo – Avg. .345, OBP ..383, OPS .929 2 HR, Andi Cloutier – Avg .422, OBP .481 OPS 1.236 2 HR, Kyleah Mack – Avg .370 OBP .408 OPS .843.
Coach McGouldrick remarked, “I really like the look of our team top to bottom. We are very deep and versatile with several players having the ability to play multiple positions with confidence. Our identity will still be a power hitting team with good bats all through the lineup 1-9, but expect to see some speed game and small ball injected into our game. I think we will be right there in every game, it just depends on how we do the little things that determine our success.” Pivotal games for the Rams will continue to be Windham and Biddeford.
Coached added, “there is some real high level talent and coaching in the SMAA this year, particularly Pitching. We already have 3 D1 commits at Pitcher in Bretton, Gerry and Armstrong with Donovan committed to a very good D2 school. To have one softball player a year or every couple years go D1 out of Southern Maine is great. To have 3 from the same class and at the same position is a true anomaly.”
BOYS TENNIS: COACH AARON LANDRY
Coach Aaron Landry shared, “we look to improve on last season when we lost in the quarterfinals to Thornton Academy.” Key returning players are: Senior Captains Kevin Luo and Patrick Cyr at #1 and #2 Singles. Georg Brummer (Sr) and Derek Luo (Fr) look to contribute to the singles lineup. At doubles, Owen Spera (So)/Jacob Shvets (So) start the year at #1.
Coach added, “ some combination of Logan Wilson (So)/Gavin Monkiewicz (Fr), and Patrick Downey (So)/TJ Nagle (So) will likely make up the rest of the ladder.”
Coach remarked, “We have a young team and look to gain experience through the regular season and make a push in the playoffs.”