Mt. Blue High School spring sports previews
Mt. Blue boys tennis
Coach: Stan Kuklinski (1st season)
Last season: Did not compete as a varsity team
Key newcomers: Matthew St. John (So.) Sam Cohen (Jr.), Nicholas Wilkins (So.), Harris Roberts (So.), Sam Whittle (Sr., captain), Keith Barton (Sr., captain), Eric Formella (Sr., captain).
Outlook: The Cougars take the court in a very challenging Eastern Class A division and will have heavyweights Lewiston, Brunswick and Mt. Ararat twice. They competed as a club team last season and played well. The group is young, but Kuklinski believes talented enough to be competitive.
Coach’s comment: “There are no freebies (in Eastern A) but we are playing to win. I told the guys we are not playing paddle ball.”
Mt. Blue softball
Coach: Mary Berry (2nd season)
Last season: 11-7, Eastern A quarterfinalist
Top returners: Amelia Allen (Sr., 3B), Niki Grant (Sr., 2B-SS), Johanna Laplant (Jr., OF-C), Kelly Yardley (So., SS-2B)
Key newcomers: Kaitlyn Bartlett (Jr., UT), Katrina Campbell (Jr., P), Kristin Trask (Jr.,1B-OF), Sierra Powers (Jr., OF), Chelsea Kendall (So., C-OF), Taryn Kennedy (So., UT), Jenna Williams (So., P-OF), Moria Rowe (So., UT), Brooke Lewis (So., UT), Hannah Allen (Fr., OF), Tanisha Dellarma (Fr., UT)
Outlook: The Cougars lost most of their team to graduation, but Berry prefers the term reloading to rebuilding. Campbell and Williams will split the pitching duties, and several other spots are up for grabs. The Cougars will likely need a few games outside to get used to each other.
Coach’s comment: “This team is very different from last year’s team. It’s almost a completely different lineup, top to bottom.”
Mt. Blue baseball
Coach: Craig Collins (2nd year)
Last season: 6-10 in Eastern A
Top returners: Joe Gilbert (Sr., P-3B-OF), Bobby Duley (Sr., 1B-OF), Brad Dority (Jr., SS-P), Scott Hilton (Sr., 2B-P)
Key newcomers: Devin Zamboni (Jr., OF), Leo Pulo (Sr., 1B), Chris Reynolds (Jr., OF-2B), Ryan Backus (So., IF-P), Alec Wallace (So., C), Jordan Schanck (Jr., C), Chad Simoneau (Jr., OF-P), Steve Harvall (Sr., IF), Tim Smith (So., P-OF), Alex Whitt (So., P-IF)
Outlook: The Cougars just missed the playoffs last season, but hope that with better pitching they’ll be back in the postseason this year. Gilbert is the most experienced pitcher back, and sophomores Smith, Whitt and Backus could see plenty of time on the mound. Collins feels the infield could be a team strength this season.
Coach’s comment: “Our goal is to win two out of three each week. If we do that, we’ll have enough wins to get back in the playoffs.”
Mt. Blue girls tennis
Coach: Judy Upham (9th season)
Last season: 8-4 in Eastern A
Top returners: Kelly Greene (Sr.), Marina Iida (Sr.), Meredith Allen (Jr.), Kelsey Frechette (Sr.)
Key newcomers: Unavailable at press time.
Outlook: The Cougars lost some talented players to graduation. Greene and Iida served as the second doubles team last season, and the pair of vying for the No. 1 singles spot. Allen and Frechette are in competition for the third and fourth singles positions. The team will count on younger players, and 10 freshmen came out for the squad this season.
Coach’s comment: “It’s a building year. I’d like to think they can learn the game of tennis and enjoy it the rest of their lives.”
Mt. Blue boys track
Coach: Kelley Cullenberg
Last season: 13-2, 4th at KVAC, 15th at Class A meet
Top returners: Eric Marceau (Sr., distance) Lee Corthell (Sr., distance, shot put), Sam Mungin (Jr., mid-distance), Andy Trask (Jr., mid-distance), Richie Brooks (Soph., distance, jumps), Kelton Cullenberg (Soph., distance), Jared Foster (Soph., hurdles, jumps), Nick Hart (Soph., distance) Alex Luchini (Soph., distance), Jake Malone (Soph., mid-distance), Joe McCathy (Soph., sprints), Dan Moore (Soph., mid-distance).
Outlook: Marceau leads the team and could challenge to qualify for two New England events — the 1,600 and 3,200. He qualified for New Englands in the 1,600 during the indoor season, and Cullenberg expects another big outdoor season.
Coach’s comment: “We should improve, but it will be tough to compete against Edward Little and Brunswick.”
Mt. Blue girls track
Coach: Kelley Cullenberg
Last season: 7-7-1, 8th at KVAC, 24 at states
Top returners: Amanda Deschenes (Sr., middle distance), Emma Gibson (Sr., sprint, thrower), Ava Amador (Jr., middle distance), Lauren Backman (Jr., sprint), Sasha Collins-Faunce (Jr., distance), ET Corthell (Jr., distance), Abby Dustin (Jr., middle distance), Kim Ferrari (Jr., mid-distance), Marjorie Hardy (Jr., mid-distance), Ariel Hobert (Jr., mid-distance), Kelby Lucas (Jr., sprints, jumps), Arin McLaughlin (Jr., sprints), Chenye Miller (Jr., sprints), Hannah West (Jr., mid-distance), Michelle Bence (Soph., middle distance), Emily Dustin (Soph., sprints), Ariel Hunter (Soph., sprints, thrower), Lindsey Keeanan (Soph., hurdles), Melody Lam (Soph., middle distance)
Outlook: Cullenberg says she could have up to 40 girls this season, which should help immensely. Collenberg singled Backman out as someone who could enjoy a breakout season. Backman, who is in just her second year of track, is expected to run most of the sprints.
Coach’s comment: “Our first goal is to have a better record and to place higher at the KVACs then we did.”
Mt. Blue boys
Coach: James Black (1st season).
Last season: 3-9.
Top returners: Shawn Andrews (Sr., D), Peter Smith (Sr, D), Zach Conoloque(Jr., A), Lance Dwight (Jr, M), Derek Rowe (Jr, M), Patrick Brophy (Sr.,M), Tim Lagasse (Sr., M).
Key newcomers: AJ Larrabbe (Fr., D), Nick Lucker (Fr., M), Ethan Keyes (Fr., M).
Outlook: Mt. Blue returns several key players who spent time at camps this summer and have improved significantly in all aspects. The Cougars, also have a solid group of under class men who will contribute this year. As a team the Cougars are working hard to be a competitive well-disciplined squad.
Coach's comment: " We are a young team, focused on building from the great lacrosse tradition we have at Mt. Blue."
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