The winter sports season is underway with the Rams starting out fast early in the season. Here are the team outlooks.
Boys Ice Hockey: Coach Shawn Sullivan
Last year the Rams lost a heartbreaker in the Class B South Quarter finals to Greely 5-6 in overtime. From that squad they lost: Dayton Crockett, Trevor Krouse, Bode Bragdon, Cam Whittemore, Cole Allen, and Corliss Ordway.
The Rams top returning players and team captains with impressive stats from the previous season include: Landan Anctil, So, F/stats: 19GP, 14G, 21A, 35P, Jacob Shvets, Sr. D/stats: 19GP, 6G, 10A, 16P, Andrew Collins, Jr. D/stats: 20GP, 5G, 11A, 16P.
Promising newcomers are: Chris Cheseboro, Sr. G, has transferred back to Gorham from TA for his senior year. Cheseboro will assume his role as Goaltender. As described by Coach Sullivan, Stephen Connolly, Fr. F, will be a big part of the offense as a dynamic freshman.
The boys ice hockey team has already been out and about volunteering in the community. They volunteered in conjunction with the Gorham Rec. at the Burn off the Turkey 5k event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and also Sunday for the Gorham Christmas Tree Lighting. Coach Sullivan shared, “We will also be hosting “Teddy Bear Toss Night” and a canned food drive during our home opener Dec. 14 against Greely. Last year we were able to donate 200 teddy bears, over 100 lbs of food, and $100 to GFP. Our goal is to do even better this year.”
Photo credit:Kelly AllenGirls Ice Hockey Sr. Captain Katelyn Cyr.
Girls Ice Hockey: Coach Dave Grant
First year head coach Dave Grant takes over the program for long-time coach Mary Vaughn. Coach Grant shared; “We had a very successful season last year going to the regional finals for the second year in a row. Cheverus beat us to advance to the state finals. Two of our strongest players and team leaders (Emerson Homa and Greta Grant) graduated and are both playing college hockey this season, Emerson for UMass Lowell and Greta for New England College.”
This year’s seniors include: Katelyn Cyr, Sr. captain, Payson Plummer, Alison Smith, Brooklyn Sandstrom and Claire Rancourt round out the senior class.
Coach Grant added, “Players I expect to step up for us include: Cyr, Sophomore Azalea Grant, and Juniors Natalie Wilkins, Carlin Galligan and Isabel Brito. Another key player to watch is our freshman goalie Claire Farrenkopf. Claire has been in net her entire hockey career and is going to be very busy for us this season.”
Coach remarked, “Losing Homa and Grant creates a big void in our team and we are looking for players to step up and fill those shoes. We have started the season 1-0-1 beating York and have a tie against Cheverus (which was a big boost for morale). We expect Portland/Cape to be another battle.”
Boys Basketball: Coach Ryan Deschenes
The Rams have two returning starters from the previous year’s AA South Regional Champions, which concluded in a tight back/forth state championship game in 2024.
Returning Players are: Griffin Gammon 6 ‘5 Senior Forward, Jack Karlonas 6’ 1 Senior Forward, Jeffrey Legere 6 ‘5 Senior Center, Atticus Whitten 6′ 0 Junior Guard, Colton Jewett 6’1 Sophomore Guard, and Preston Brown 6’ 1 Sophomore Guard. Newcomers include; Kristan Hirwa 6 ‘5 Junior Center, Aidan Dudley 6’ 1 Junior Forward, Andrew Migliorini 6 ‘1 Junior Forward, Brandon Levesque 6′ 1 Sophomore Guard, Isaac Hunter 6’2 Sophomore Guard, Ty Caron 5’ 10 Freshman Guard.
Coach Deschenes shared his teams outlook; “losing 80% of scoring between Leclerc, Michaud, and Smith we are finding new roles and opportunities. We do return two starters in Gammon and Karlonas, and a steady 6th man who started six games last year in Whitten. Gammon and Whitten can be extremely impactful two way players, Karlonas displays rebounding, defense, and toughness. While Jewett and Brown provide attacking and shooting, both will steadily improve as the season progresses. Our goal is to focus on daily habits while finding our identity and be a team in February that will be a tough out.”
Photo credit: Colleen HealZoe Dellinger with the ball for the Rams.
Photo credit: Colleen HealLogan Doughty ready to pick up where she left off.
Girls Basketball: Coach Laughn Berthiaume
The team finished 18-4, AA South Regional Champion & State runner-up during the previous season. Ellie Gay (Miss Maine Basketball Finalist), and all-star selection Summer Gammon, and Kalin Curtis also graduated. This year’s seniors include: Julia Reed (captain), Vanessa Walker (captain), Payton Thibodeau (captain) and Lindy Moreland. Reed is a Class AA South player to watch. She has spent the last two seasons as a high scorer on the perimeter and will likely continue to score double digits all season long. Walker is a key player on both ends of the court; strong on the boards and creates scoring opportunities. Other players to watch are: Logan Doughty, Zoe Dellinger, Lauren Dunbar, Winni Moreland and Jocelyn Clark. The Rams once again expect to be a contender in AA South, with the strongest competition coming from the Sanford Spartans, Scarborough Red Storm, and South Portland Red Riots.”
Photo credit: Dawn StevensThe Alpine Ski Team poses for a team picture following a workout.
Alpine Ski: Coach Sean Munkacsi
The Gorham and Scarborough High School ski teams will once again merge together this season. Coach Munkacsi shared, “both girls’ teams could win SMAAs and potentially place several skiers in the top 20 statewide. Thanks to Pleasant Mountain’s new high-speed lift and increased snowmaking, we look forward to additional on-snow training. Fitness Instructor, Dawn Stevens has been instrumental thus far in our dry-land workouts, as well as assistant coach Caroline Burns.”
Brooke Stevens, Sophie Kaczmarek, and TJ Nagle are the GHS tri-captains. In addition to Stevens and Kaczmarek, seniors Ari Flett and Natalie Miner are expected to be competitive in each race.
Coach Munkacsi added, “Cassidy Hjort and Jennifer Miner are anticipated to have a break-out season and be strong contributors. For the 2nd year in a row, TJ Nagle is the best racer on the GHS boy’s side and is expected to be top-20 in the SMAA’s thanks to his experience and increased strength.”
Lilah Ferrie and Rosa Perlut are the SHS co-captains. Ferrie and Perlut are teamed with returning racers Evie Wiernusz, Grace Baron, and Ria Pasalic.
Coach Munkacsi concluded, “There are high expectations for first-years Clara Ferrie and Madison Bailey. This level of depth could prove to be the difference in many races. Emery Miller and Giovanni Tria and leader Nagle will be racing for the boy’s side.”
Boys Indoor Track & Field : Coach Jason Tanguay
Coach Tanguay shared, “Our team is coming off a successful season last year where we finished with 13 wins and 3 losses. We graduated nine seniors who were strong contributors to the program of which four have gone on to compete in college.”
This years “athletes to watch” are: Jack Adams, middle distance; Harry Crider, distance; Harvey Crider, distance; Owen Cummings, distance; Jack Cyr, sprints; Riley Dever, middle distance; Antoine Dube, hurdles and sprints; Griffin Gammon, jumps; Finn Henderson, middle distance; Kuba Kaczmarek, jumps; Jackson Lavertu, middle distance; Shane Morrison, sprints; Kevin Munyaneza, hurdles and jumps; Nick Munyaneza, jumps; Tyler Olson, middle distance; Nick Sallinen, middle distance; Owen Spera, sprints.
Coach Tanguay remarked; “For the upcoming season, we have many new athletes who are joining our team and this is very exciting given how many quality veterans we return. Our team should be competitive in league competition and if the new faces can develop this season we may be a quality team in the postseason as well.
Girls Indoor Track & Field: Coach Christina Stone
First year head coach (and long-time assistant coach) Christina Stone shared; “We return several veteran members of our team, and we will be especially strong in the senior division sprints and relays. Among our top performers is Ashley Connolly (soccer standout and South Carolina commit). Ashley scored in the SMAA conference meet and state meet last year in the sprints and is a perennial anchor to one or more of our relays. Other seniors who will contribute in individual and relays include Emily Fadrigon (sprints, jumps), Bailey Hatch (sprints, relays), Piper Forgues (sprints, relays), and Lindy Moreland (jumps, hurdles). Juniors Grace Cunningham (middle distance, jumps) and Laurel Emerson (jumps) will also provide points in SMAA competition.”
Coach added, “Our junior division will look for strong performances from Annabelle Vail (sprints, relays) and Sarah Brawn (middle distance, relays). This year’s freshmen class is bigger than it has been in the last three of four years, so the number of junior division competitors is promising not only for this season but for years to come. The freshmen cover much-needed spots in distance and hurdles, and will allow for more flexibility in entries, maximizing scoring potential for the entire team.”
Coach Stone concluded, “Scarborough girls return a very strong and deep team, and Portland girls have state scorers in Samantha Moore and Annalise Collin who will challenge not only Scarborough but the best in the state for top honors. The Gorham Girls’ Track Team should perform solidly in conference competition this season.”
Swim Teams: Coach William York
Coach York shared’ “Gorham swimming ended last season on a number of highlights. Maya Moores broke her school record in the 100 Breastroke, and Brodie Berlinger broke his 500 free school record as well as breaking 100 Fly School record. Outside of school records, The girls team finished second out South-Southwesterns and 8th at class A states. The boys team finished 3rd at Southwesterns and 9th at class A states – the biggest change for our team as we go into the 24-25 season. We saw the graduation of 10 seniors.”
Coach York added; “We have two incredible captains this season. Our boys captain, senior Ryan Morill has been with the program for four years of HS swimming and three years of MS swimming. A massive positive influence on deck, Ryan leads from the front both in his 100 Breast and 200 Free as well as rallying his scrappy boys team to individual and relay wins. Our girls captain, senior Aspenelle De Los Reyes joins us for her third season. Aspenelle is a fierce competitor and loves to take on just about any event. Outside of racing, Aspenelle has been working to shape and add new parts of team culture with Ryan to continue to build camaraderie and unity.
Athletes to watch include: Maya Moores (top 5 in multiple events including 2nd in the state in 100 Breast), Hanna Logan (Top 8 in multiple events including 4th in 200 IM & 6th 100 Back), Stella Moores (Top 8 in multiple events including the 500 Free), and finally Brodie Berlinger (Top 5 in multiple events including 2nd in the 500 Free).
Coach remarked; “the boys team is small and scrappy this season. With a smaller depth it provides some challenges though our focus is to win every opportunity to race. South-Westerns and States continue to be a large focus for our team. We plan to see state qualifications for every member of the boys team. The girls team is focused on the results. PRs, State cut times, and records-successful results lead to everything else. Both teams did a good job recruiting to fill in for 10 graduating seniors. This new group of swimmers, all upperclassmen, are incredible additions to the team with great promise.”
Challenging opponents continue to be Yarmouth and Thornton Academy. Both programs have incredible swimmers and coaches and the Rams are always up for the opportunity to race them. This year the Rams have a dual meet with Yarmouth and will face TA at regionals (South-Southwesterns).
Gorham Swimming is a multigrade program supporting the growth of the sport of swimming from grades 6-12. Over the last five years the program has grown to over 100 swimmers from grade 6-12. This is in large part due to the mentorship of the HS swimmers, a strong booster program and the help of assistant coaches, Gauger and Shiers.
Best of luck to all of the Rams teams this Winter season.