Skowhegan Area High School fall sports previews
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Tim West (4th season)
Last season: Did not qualify for states
Top returners: Aaron Champagne (Sr.), Ray Berube (Sr.), Dale Bickford (So.),
Key newcomers: Isaac LaCasse (Sr.), Travis Goodwin (Jr.), Jacob Lewia (Jr.), Steven Savio (Jr.), Soloman Nethers (So.), Matt Gordon (Fr.), Kenikki Hutchinson (Fr.), Jermiah Keller (Fr.)
Outlook: An influx of talent should make the Indians a contender to qualify for the regional and state meets. Goodwin and Savio have been working out through the summer and are expected to lead the way along with Champagne and Hutchinson.
Coach’s comment: “I think this is going to be a very strong group. We’ve got some new guys who are pretty good.”
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Tim West (4th season)
Last season: Did not qualify
Top returners: Cheyenne Hertlein (Jr.), Gretchen Grdon (Jr.), Amanda Dickey (So.)
Key newcomers: Not available
Outlook: The Indians need a couple of more runners to round out the team and qualify for a score during meets. Hertlein has the most experience and has an outside shot to qualify individually for the regional meet.
Coach’s comment: “Our goal is just to improve. We just want to get the numbers up.”
Golf
Coach: Dave Martin
Last season: 6-4
Home course: Lakewood
Top returners: Caleb Wiles (Sr.), Jordan Clark (Sr.), Kalvin Lord (Sr.), Jon Roy (Sr.), Brad Richardson (Jr.), Lim Huang (So.)
Key newcomers: Sara McGowan (So.), Katy Qualey (So.)
Outlook: Wildes will anchor the team and is coming off a strong summer. Clark, Lord and Roy give Skowhegan a formidable top four, but Martin says he needs to find some consistency among the other scorers.
Coach’s comment: “We’re better off than what we were last summer.We’ll take a long look to try to figure out the last two positions. There quite possibly could be a lot of shuffling around of the five and six positions.”
Girls soccer
Coach: Mike Herrick (3rd season)
Last season: 1-13-0.
Top returners: M Megan Thompson (Sr.), M Kelsey Hickey (Sr.), D Danielle Summers (Sr.), F Angie Camillo (Sr.), M Breanna Ames (Sr.), D Jami Poland (Jr.), D Chelsi Brewer (Jr.), M Whitney Jones (So.), F Adrienne Davis (So.).
Key Newcomers: D Sarah Jane Mackay (Sr.), M Taylor Rancourt (Jr.), M Katie Richards (Fr.), M Kylie Richards (Fr.), M Amanda Johnson (Fr.).
Outlook: After losing ten seniors, Skowhegan will look to reload. They have a mix of some experienced upperclassmen and a handful of promising young players that will look to gain some experience at the varsity level.
Coach’s comments: “As our team gains experience throughout the season, I look for our play to improve. We have a close team this year and I look for that to help us to be successful.”
Field hockey
Coach: Paula Doughty (28th season)
Last season: 17-1, Class A state champions
Top returners: F Erin Sevey (Sr.), B Kylie Damon (Sr.), M Morgan Lambert (Sr.), B Courtney Lyons (Sr.), F Katie Washburn (Jr.), F Becky Pratt (Jr.), M Elizabeth Noddin (Jr.), G Megan Hancock (Jr.), M Mallory Hancock (Jr.), B Makayla Hancock (Jr.), B Renee DesPres (Jr.), B Rebecca McCarty (Jr.), G Jasmine Garseau (Jr.)
Key newcomers: B Noelle Hancock (Jr.), B Corinne Anderson (So.), UT Nicole Sevey (Fr.), F Jessica Skillings (Fr.), M/B Makayla Fitzmaurice (Fr.)
Outlook: This is another outstanding team and probably the favorite to win the Class A state title, which would be No. 8 in a row for the Indians. For the second staright year, Skowhegan has only a handful of seniors. But two of those are Kylie Damon, one of the best backs in the state, and Erin Sevey, a threat to lead the conference in scoring. Then you get to the younger players, who are also very talented.
Coach’s comment: “They’re probably the hardest-working group I’ve had in years. Their work ethic and their attitudes are just amazing.”
Boys Soccer
Coach: Scott K. Curtis (2nd season)
Last Season: 2-12-0
Top Returners: M Shane Martineau (Sr.), F Ben Quirion (Sr.), D Hank Davis (Sr.), GK Nick Beaulieu (Sr.), D Jordan Norberto (Sr.), F Nick McCann (Jr.), F Sebastien Dumont (So.).
Key Newcomers: M Lucas Fortier (So.), M Felix Xie (So.), F Aaron Dufour (Jr.), D Nick Billington (Jr.), D Donovan Caron (Jr.), GK Chase Palmer (Fr.).
Outlook: A good turnout has bolstered the hopes of Skowhegan this season allowing the team to build for the future. Skowhegan continues to work on the possession game while working to advance in the KVAC North.
Coach’s comment: “Our blend of experienced seniors and skilled underclassmen, along with a great freshmen showing, has helped highlight the sport of soccer. Possession and control of the field of play will be our most important attributes from a team tactical standpoint.”
Football
Head coach: Mike Marston (5th season)
Assistant coaches: T.J. Plourde (defensive coordinator, running backs, linebackers), B.J. Dunlap (quarterbacks, secondary), Joe Clark (offensive line), Chapin LaBelle (defensive ends, tight ends), Al Wilson (freshmen), Ed Matthew (freshmen)
Last season: 7-3, reached Pine Tree Conference Class A semifinals
Offensive leaders: RB Billy Clark (Sr.), RB Dustin Corson (Jr.), TE Jordan Taylor (Jr.), TE Paul Verville (Jr.), WR Peter Boardman (Sr.), WR Devin Withee (Jr.), WR Craig Derouche (Jr.), C Cody Williamson (Sr.), G Jonathan Fuller (Sr.), G Jimmy Quirion (Sr.), T Justin Perri (Sr.), T Les Mercier (Sr.), T Todd Steward (Sr.), QB Brad Greenleaf (Sr.), QB Jordan McGowan (Jr.), FB Dylan Lancaster (Sr.), FB Cody Vigue (Sr.)
Defensive leaders: FS Withee, CB Eddie McGregor (Sr.), CB Dylan Stetson (Sr.), LB Vigue, LB Brendan Corson (So.), LB Lancaster, LB Ian Candage (Jr.), LB Boardman, LB Fuller, DL James Grant (Sr.), DL Steward, DL Matt Barnes (Jr.)
Special teams: P Vigue, K Taylor, KR Mike Roy (Jr.), KR Clark, KR Corson
Outlook: The Indians graduated key starters from last season's semifinal team, but a number of returning players and talented newcomers make Skowhegan a playoff threat again. Clark and Vigue each saw a number of carries last season and will pace the running game again, along with Corson. Williamson and Fuller return to the line. Marston hopes the team has enough depth so many players can play just one way.
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