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Cougars reload
Staff photo by Joe Phelan
ZAC ATTACK: Mt. Blue senior Zac Conlogue, right, returns to anchor the Cougars' offense this season. Mt. Blue reached the Eastern Maine semifinals last spring, but lost a good portion of its defense to graduation.
Mt. Blue High School spring sports previews
Girls track
Coach: Kelley Cullenberg (8th season)
Last season: 7th at KVAC A, 21st in Class A
Top returners: Lauren Backman (Sr., sprints), Sasha Collins-Faunce (Sr., distance, javelin), Marjorie Hardy (Sr., mid-distance, hurdles), Ariel Hobert (Sr., mid-distance), Kelby Lucas (Sr., sprints, jumps), Arin McLaughlin (Sr., sprints), Chenye Miller (Sr., sprints), Lindsey Keenan (Jr., hurdles, discus), Melody Lam (Jr., mid-distance, hurdles), Shelby Aseltine (Soph., mid-distance), Gwen Beacham (Soph., distance), Kim Fronk (Jr., race walk, throws), Chelsea Hutchinson (Soph., mid-distance), Emily Reed (Soph., race walk, distance), Ashley Sampson (Sr., hurdles, jumps), Ashley Taylor (Soph., race walk, throws)
Key newcomers: Jana Albrecht (Sr., distance), Alexaiya Backman (Fr., sprints) Allison Brown (Soph., sprints, jumps), Megan Collins (Soph., mid-distance) Addie Cullenberg (Fr., distance), Danielle Davenport (Fr., mid-distance, distance), Rebekah Dunham (Jr., throws), Molly Fissette (Fr., distance), Juliette Luchini (Fr., mid-distance), Emily Ramsey (Fr., hurdles, jumps), Julie Tossings (Sr. jumps, hurdles), Marina West (Fr., mid-distance, jumps)
Outlook: The Cougars should be competitive once again. Lam qualified for the Class A meet in the 800 and mile last season. Cullenberg expects her to improve this season as well.
Coach's comment: "I think we'll do quite well. We have a number of girls who are compettive in their events. We wont shatter any records, but well hold our own."
Boys track
Coach: Kelley Cullenberg (8th season)
Last season: 8th in KVAC A; 19th in Class A
Top returners: Sam Mungin (Sr., mid-distance), Richie Brooks (Jr., jumps, sprints), Kelton Cullenberg (Jr., distance), Jared Foster (Jr., hurdles, jumps), Nick Hart (Jr., distance) Alex Luchini (Jr., distance), Joe McCathy (Jr., sprints), Alex Beale (Sr., race walk, sprints, throws), Fairfield Bonsall (Soph., race walk, sprints), Jaren Jones (Soph., distance), Kris Nadeau (Soph., race walk)
Key newcomers: Nic Allen (Sr., sprints), Tang (Sr., sprints), Andrea Venturi (Sr., sprints)
Outlook: The Cougars feature only about 19 athletes, which will make it difficult to contend. Cullenberg qualified for th Class A meet in the 800 and 1,600 last spring. Mungin is also expected to have another strong season.
Coach's comment: "The goal is to get kids in multiple events and to see how many points we can score with 16 boys. We have some talent in some of the returning boys. Its going to be tough to fill the field with 19 events, but we have some solid athletes, in particular in middle distance and distance."
Baseball
Coach: Craig Collins (3rd season)
Last season: 3-13 in Eastern A
Top returners: Brad Dority (Sr., P-SS), Devin Zamboni (Sr., OF), Tim Smith (Jr., P-OF), Jordan Schanck (Sr., C), Alec Wallace (Jr., OF)
Key newcomers: Chris Reynolds (Sr., IF), Shane Smith (Jr., 1B), Dylan Vining (So., P-1B), Jason Leavitt (Jr., OF), Jimmy Neal (So., IF-P), Clint Orcutt (So., P-OF), Adam Wiles-Rosell (So., 1B), Alex Witt (Jr., P-IF)
Outlook: The Cougars hope to rebound from last seasons tough campaign, and could have the pitching to do so. Dority and Smith return with more experience at the top of the rotation. Mt. Blue will be young at a number of position, especially in the infield, where Smith (1B) and Vining (3B) are likely starters.
Coach's comment: "If we play well (early) and gain confidence, I think well be right there."
Boys lacrosse
Coach: James Black (2nd season)
Last season: 8-6, lost in East B semifinals to NYA
Top returners: A Lance Dwight (Sr.), A Zac Conlogue (Sr.), M Joe Leclair (Sr.), M Derek Rowe (Sr.), M Travis Robinson (Sr.), D Anthony Larrabee (So.), D Colten Miranda (So.), GK Ben Altmaier (Sr.).
Key newcomers: Yet to be determined.
Outlook: Mt. Blue reached the semifinals in its first season in Class B last spring, but lost its entire defense. The Cougars do return a talented senior attack and midfield line.
Coach's comment: "We had a great group of players commit to camps this summer and put in a lot of playing time in the off season. We hope that helps us improve on last year's performance."
Boys tennis
Coach: Stan Kuklinski (3rd season)
Last season: 0-12
Top returners: Greg Melcher (Jr.), John Iams (Jr.), Harris Roberts (Jr.), Nick Wilkins (Jr.), Dylan Toothaker (Jr.), Nick Niles (So.), Dylan Stinchfield (So.), Nate Howard (So.), Jake Viagro (So.), Matthew St. John (Jr.), Sean Paul (Jr.), Seth Wagner (So.)
Key newcomers: Avaro Vian (Exchange Student-Spain), John Evans (Fr.), Dustin James (Fr.), Matt Dustin (Fr.), Sam Richardson (So.)
Outlook: Two years ago, Mt. Blue as a club team, now the Cougars have 35 players on their roster. Each of Mt. Blues starters this season are juniors, which bodes well for the future. St. John, Wilkins, Paul and Roberts will provide leadership, while Vian, an exchange student from Spain, will add depth.
Coach's comment: "I think kids are looking for something that is a lifetime sport and it's inexpensive compared to other sports. Tennis is on the comeback trail. The challenge with limited court space is to have them not lose interest."
Girls tennis
Coach: Judy Upham (10th season)
Last season: 2-10
Top returners: Meredith Allen (Sr.), Kaitlyn Dorr (Jr.), Anthea Fletcher (So.), Lena Kendall (So.), Abby Flanagan (So.), Liz LeClair (So.), Jodi Harnden (Jr.)
Key newcomers: Claire Fletcher (Fr.), Marlie Mochamer (So.), Nhi Ngo (Exchange Student-Vietnam)
Outlook: Allen played six matches as Mt. Blues No. 1 singles player and it the teams top returning player this season. Upham calls Allen solid, not splashy. Fletcher, Kendall and Dorr are all possible singles players. The Cougars have 25 players out, but just two courts, which is a challenge.
Coach's comment: "We run double practice sessions and expect some ladder matches to be played on Saturdays. There are two assistant coaches this year, Tessa DeSilva who is doing a practicum program through the coaching class at UMF and Sandra Dwight-Barris who will act as a JV coach so that more of the girls will have a chance to compete."
SOFTBALL
Coach: Paul Rodrigue (1st season)
Last season: 4-12 in Eastern A
Top returners: OF/C Johanna Laplant (Sr.), P/DP Kaitlynn Bartlett (Sr.), P Katrina Campbell (Sr.), OF Sierra Powers (Sr.), C/OF Chelsea Kendall (Jr.), OF Taryn Kennedy (Jr.), 2B Moria Rowe (Jr.), UT Brooke Lewis (Jr.), 3B Tanisha Dellarama (So.), OF Hannah Allen (So.)
Key newcomers: 3B Mirka Novakova (Sr.), 1B Sabrina Keach (Sr.), SS Kelly Yardley (Jr.), SS/OF Lindsay St. Laurent (So.), 2B/OF Kelsea Adams (So.)
Outlook: Rodrigue takes over after eight seasons as an assistant and then the head coach at Thomas College. Allen had a wonderful season as a freshman and there are several other players back. The Cougars spent the preseason working through the adjustment period of having a new coach, as Rodrigue was hired just days before pitrchers and catchers reported.
Coach's comment: "They're working real hard. They're really receptive to coaching."
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Mt Blue sports schedules
Spring 2009 events and results
Baseball
April 22 at Hampden 4 p.m.
Softball
April 22 at Hampden 4 p.m. Lacrosse
April 17 at Oak Hill 4 p.m. Track and field
April 17 at Edward Little 3:30 p.m. Boys tennis
April 27 at Hampden 4 p.m. Girls tennis
April 27 at Hampden 4 p.m. 
Cougars fans, click here:Read all about Mt. Blue sports. Outdoors
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