The winter teams are excited to get underway and compete this season. The Varsity coaches shared their teams’ outlook for this season.
GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY: COACH MARY VAUGHAN
Key players include Gorham seniors Phoebe Richards, Sadie Dyer, Anna Provost, Sydney Haskell. Captains of the ice hockey team are seniors Phoebe Richards and Sadie Dyer.
Coach Mary Vaughan shares, “We are so happy to be back on our home ice this season. Last season the team was unable to play at USM and were on the road for all practices and games, sometimes traveling to Bridgton for a late Friday night practice.”
Players to watch are the seniors and the returning players who have already set the tone in practices in regard to team energy. Coach Vaughan says she expects this will be a fun team to watch, and one of the most experienced groups that Gorham has seen in several years.
Challenging opponents this year will be Biddeford and Mt. Ararat.
BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY: COACH JON PORTWINE
Key players to watch are Brady Sawyer, Jacob Graham, Thaddeus Shain, Jasper Crane, Andrew Gaudreau, Cole Allen, and Corliss Ordway.
Four seniors graduated from last year’s abbreviated season. There were no home games played at USM, all practices and games were on the road for the Ice Hockey program. Coach Portwine shares, “It was a difficult season for the program but we are looking forward to being back at home at USM this season.”
The team will have at least two key rival matchups against Greely and Cape Elizabeth in February. These rival games in particular will have playoff implications.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: COACH LAUGHN BERTHIAUME
The team returns six seniors including, Anna Nelson, Sophia Michaud, Brylee Bishop, Nicole Walker, Leah Woodbury, Maddie Michaud who will all play a pivotal role this season. Other players to watch are Ellie Gay, Elizabeth Willette, and Kalin Curtis.
Gorham finished 6-4 last season in a COVID-shortened season. After a 5-0 start, the team had a 10-day quarantine that disrupted the season. Their signature win last year was against the Portland team that had two scholarship players on their roster.
The roster includes the six seniors mentioned above, two juniors, Marin Graham and Elizabeth Willette, three sophomores, Ellie Gay, Kalin Curtis, and Summer Gammon. Julia Reed and Vanessa Walker are both freshmen rounding out the roster.
Coach Berthiaume shares, “The team will look to play uptempo offense and tenacious defense. The team has veteran leadership and solid young talent. Depth will be one of the strengths of the team.”
Challenging opponents will be Windham, Thornton Academy, and Massabesic.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL: COACH MARK KARTER
Players to watch are team captain Elijah Wyatt, Jackson Smith, Quinn Dillon, Ashton Leclerc, Gabe Michaud, and Caden Smith.
Last season’s record for the Rams was 8-2 with no playoffs due to the COVID-19 shortened season. Gorham graduated eight seniors and all five starters from last year’s team.
Coach Mark Karter shares, “This year’s team will be a young yet uptempo team looking to play a fast-paced game. They will be a bit undersized, therefore, rebounding and positional defense will be key to their success. The team will need to fight and claw to compete within a very tough division. They should also be a fun team to watch.”
Challenging opponents will be South Portland, Bonny Eagle, Thornton Academy, and Scarborough.
SWIM TEAM: COACH WILLIAM YORK
This coming season for Gorham Swimming looks to be a bright one. Coach William York said, “As we look back to this past season, Gorham was able to finish 6th both for girls and boys within the Southern Maine virtual championships. As we move forward into the 2021-22 season the team looks forward to racing in person once again and closing the gap with our competition.”
The team will be led by returning head coach William York and assistant coach Vanessa Gauger. Captains Allison Bishop, Caroline Bishop, Abby Houp, and Evan Russo will lead a strong team of returning athletes, as well as valuable new additions to the team.
A number of key swimmers to watch include Taylor Jordan in the 100 fly, Kate Pelletier in the 500 free, Stephanie Labrie in the 100 breaststrokes, Abby Rossingana in the 500 free, Tommy Pritchard in the 200 free, and Kyle Brown in the 200 free.
Coach York emphasizes, “This season looks to be an incredible showing for Gorham High School Swimming. The team is excited for the return to in-person meets with matchups against longtime rivals Kennebunk High School and Thornton Academy.”
BOYS’ INDOOR TRACK: COACH JASON TANGUAY
The team was Class A runner-up in 2020 and did not compete last year.
Key athletes returning include Andrew Farr (senior), who will be leading the way in the sprints. Coach Tanguay says, “He is coming off a very successful spring season this past year. Andrew broke the school records in the 100, 200, and 400 each time he took to the track and capped the season off with being runner-up in the 100 and 200 and a state title in the 400.”
Coach Tanguay adds, “Another senior coming off a very successful fall season is Calvin Cummings. This past cross country season, he ran the fastest 5K time any Gorham runner has ever achieved along with earning All-New England honors at the New England Championships in Vermont. Calvin should be a top contender in the distance races this winter at both the league and state levels.”
Other athletes to watch are Tommy Sallinen, Jacob Lehmann, and Nolan Feyler.
Coach Tanguay shares, “There are many new faces joining our boys’ team this winter, and our overall success in the regular season will be determined by the development of these athletes. In the championship meets at the end of the season, we will have some top scorers.”
GIRLS’ INDOOR TRACK: COACH JOHN CATERINA
Coach John Caterina shares, “With a nucleus of veteran performers and some key newcomers, Gorham expects to be one of the top teams in the SMAA and be in contention for a Class A title this winter. Gorham will return a large and talented group of seniors who helped lead the team to State Class A runner-up in 2020.”
Key athletes to watch are Alyvia Caruso, Sydney Connolly, Emma Green, and Elisabeth Loranger.
Caruso was Class A 100 Hurdle State Champion last spring and has placed in the top three in long jump her sophomore and junior seasons. Connolly is a top sprinter and anchors the defending Class A 4 X 200m and 4 X 100m relays. Green won the Class A title in the high jump in winter 2020 and spring 2021. Loranger finished third in the Class A outdoor 400 last year.
Other key players to watch include seniors Allie Myles, Jillian Morrill, and Maddie Michaud; juniors Rachel Cummings and Grace Johnson; sophomores Rita Cummings and Andi Cloutier; and freshman Ashley Connolly
SKI TEAM: COACH STEVE MUNKACSI
Key athletes to watch this season are Ryker Spear, Trent Stevens, Sam Munkacsi, and Owen Ballard.
The Alpine ski team finished last year in 4th place in the SMAA Championships. This year Shawnee Peak will continue their tradition of outstanding high school racing, and Gorham looks to contend on both the boys and girls teams.
Coach Steve Munkacsi said, “The girls’ team lost a couple of strong seniors last year, but fortunately, sophomore Abby Fecteau is ready to step into a leadership role on and off the snow. Several freshmen will look to make an immediate impact as well. On the boys’ side, seniors Malachi Wilson and Evan Verrill will look to translate experience into results for their final year of high school racing.”
Coach Munkacsi explains, “Last year’s points leaders were Owen Ballard, Sam Munkacsi, Ryker Spear, and Trent Stevens. If those four hyper-competitive juniors ski well on the same night, they can compete with any team in the league.”
Coach Munkacsi is currently looking for additional ski racers to join their team.