The addition of a girls lacrosse team at Gardiner is the latest example of the sports growth in popularity in central Maine. Numbers are up at many area schools.

So is the level of competition.

In Class A boys competition, for example, both Messalonskee and Cony will battle for playoff berths.

Messalonskee is a perennial playoff team in Eastern A and has battled Lewiston and Brunswick for championship honors. The Eagles are young this season, but are expected to contend again.

“We have a lot of young kids who are good athletes,” Messalonskee coach Tom Sheridan said. “This will be one of the most athletic teams I have coached.”

Messalonskee will need seniors Chris Pelletier (midfield), Eric Caron (defense) and Brian Candage (defense) to provide leadership while the younger players develop. Junior goalkeeper Chris DelGiudice returns to add stability in the back.

Messalonskee consistently has a high number of athletes on its roster, and this year features a number of sophomore and juniors.

“Our kids have good opportunities to play and develop,” Sheridan said. “The league is balanced and I think we will be right in the mix.”

After a three-year layoff, Deb Castonguay returns to the Cony sidelines.

Cony earned a playoff berth last season and will try to build on that success. A number of seniors return to a team that could improve on last season’s trip to the quarterfinals. Cony will be solid defensively with a quick transition game featuring midfielders Chris Logan, Calvin Dyke and Casey Jones.

In Class B, Oak Hill is the defending Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference champion, but will get challenged by Mt. Blue and Gardiner.

Mt. Blue lost its entire defensive unit but returns a strong group of midfielder and attackers. Mt. Blue will have a high-powered offense that will need to score goals while the defense develops. Lance Dwight and Zac Conlogue return on attack while Joe Leclair, Derek Rowe and Travis Robinson supply strength in the midfield.

“We are working hard on defense in preseason,” Mt. Blue coach James Black said. “Our focus will be on playing aggressive defense, starting in the midfield.”

Gardiner will shift to a fast-paced transition game this season and moved veteran goalkeeper Zoe Fisk to midfield to provide speed and quickness in that new attack.

“There is a lot of equality in the league this year,” Gardiner coach KC Johnson said. “With our speed, we should compete each day.”

Oak Hill turns to its third coach in three years. Adam Dube inherits a team that finished 11-3 and won the KVAC title last spring. The Raiders return a talented group of seniors who will try to defend their title.

Goalkeeper Caleb Fournier is one of the best in the league. Defenders Matt Averill and Tyler Michaud join Fournier to form a strong defensive unit. The Raiders are led offensively by Drew Janelle.

In the Eastern A girls division, Cony played its first season as a varsity team last spring and made an immediate impact. The Rams earned a playoff berth and return a group capable of going even further this spring.

“We want to continue to build on the strong foundation we established last year,” Cony coach Gretchen Livingston said. “We have a quick midfield that has improved their stick skills tremendously, an aggressive attack and a stronger defense.”

Midfielders Holly Parker and Cassie Diplock are back to give the Rams plenty of speed and scoring strength, along with senior attacker Maggie Jacques and senior defender Erika Adams.

Messalonskee slipped to 5-7 last season, but returns its entire varsity team this spring. Senior midfielders Hilary Flynn, Avery Kadnar and Katie Grenier will play key roles as the Eagles make a push to be one of the top teams in Eastern A.

Gardiner fields a girls varsity team for the first time this season. The Tigers play a 12-game schedule with four games against very good KVAC A teams. The Tigers have 36 players on their roster.

Meanwhile, the Kents Hill boys and girls should continue to strive in the Maine Association of Independent School’s Athletic Directors.