Junior Audrey Blais

VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY

Head Coach: Dan Dors

Assistant Coach: Kurt Peterson

Girls’ Roster: Audrey Blais, junior; Addie Blais, sophomore; Chandler True, freshman; Jen Springer, sophomore; Christin Morin, sophomore; Rachel Shanks, freshman; Aaryana Aliyaha, freshman.

Boys’ Roster: Nick Scarlett, junior; Kyle Mammana, freshman; A.J. Scammon, freshman.

Outlook: On both sides of the ledger, the Laker cross country team is experiencing low numbers this fall. Coach Dors feels the girls will be very competitive led by the sisters, Audrey and Addie Blais, who each qualified for the State Meet last year. The team adds two talented runners in Chandler True and Rachel Shanks. Coach Dors also has hardworkers in Springer, Aliyaha and Morin.

“We will surprise a few teams if we stay injury free,” Coach Dors said.

VARSITY BOYS’ SOCCER

Head Coach: Michael Chaine, third year

Assistant Coaches: Janine Rocca-Chaine, John Coyne

Key Returning Players: Senior goalie Michael Rust, junior center defense Brandan George.

Top Newcomers: Freshmen Tristen Chaine and Cutter Meeker.

Players to watch: Senior AFS student Magnus Holms (midfield ball control), junior Alex Langadas (offensive threat) and sophomore Zeke Tocci (speed and agility).

Strength: Physical conditioning.

Weakness: Maturity, still working on the “Team First” concept.

Most encouraging aspect seen in the preseason: Coach Chaine — Our first scrimmage, we out shot our opponent (Spruce Mountain) 28 to 13 shots on goal, so our ability to be an offensive threat is there.

Keys to the Season: Stay healthy (injury plagued); stay positive (have to eliminate the blame game); drive (always want to be and do better).

Goals: Reduce the number of shots opponents take; score more goals than last year; and bond as a team.

Senior goalkeeper Isabel Scribner

VARSITY GIRLS’ SOCCER

Head Coach: Harvey Toews, second year as LRGS coach, fifth year at LRHS

JV Coach: Jeff Juneau

Assistant Coaches: Shawn Rock, Peter Webb

Key Returning Players: The Lakers graduated only four seniors so most of the varsity squad is returning. “While it may sound like a cliché, all of the returning players will be key to team success,” Coach Toews said. Players who earned Western Maine Conference Class B all-star and/or honorable mention recognition last year include senior keeper Isabelle Scribner and junior fullbacks Katie Throgmorton and Devynn Turner.

Top Newcomers: Coach Toews — We have a number of talented and hard working freshmen girls who will make significant contributions.

Strengths: Continued improvement in overall team skill, confidence and maturity.

Weaknesses: Depth may be a concern if the Lakers are unable to avoid significant injuries.

Based on what you’ve seen thus far, by what are you most encouraged? Coach Toews — Team unity; strong work ethic; improved ability to possess, attack and finish; communication; team defense; and understanding positional responsibilities.

Keys to the season? Maintaining health; increased time of possession; increased ability to finish scoring opportunities

Goals? Stay healthy; play to our potential;extend the season into November.

VARSITY GOLF

Head Coach: Art Kilborn, 11th year of coaching.

Notable returnees: Tyler Walker (sophomore), Evan Kellough (senior), Sully Tidd (senior), Nick Scarlet (junior), Evan Sanborn (junior), Reed Bridge-Koenigsberg (senior) and Ryan Hodgson (junior). Freshmen are Bobby Caron and Ben Johnson.

“I’m still waiting on a few more players after school starts,” Coach Kilborn said. “Practices have been with few in numbers. Improvements for those participating is well-noted. Looking for steady improvements with increasing numbers.”

Keys to the season is the same — practice makes for better scoring and in golf, consistent scoring makes a better golfer.

Goals for the year: To realize improvement in our ability to play the game by better practice and concerted efforts at scoring; To qualify not only as an individual, but as a team for the States; To carry over this experience into a lifetime ability.

Senior receiver Quinn Piland

VARSITY FOOTBALL

Head Coach: Brian Jahna, third year

Assistant Coaches: Mike Shea, Chris Marston, T.J. Grassi, Jayson Bennett

JV Coach: Mike Shea

Key returning players (Position/Year in School): Quinn Piland, WR/DB, senior; Gunnar Harriman, RB/LB, junior; Steven Milton, C, senior; Jay Justason, G/LB, junior; Marcus Devoe, WR/DB/K, junior.

Top Newcomers: Kyle DeSouza, RB/DB, senior; Charlie McDonough, WR/DB, junior.

Players to watch: Quinn Piland had a strong off-season and is focused for his senior year. Gunnar Harriman is taking on new leadership roles and provides physical toughness to both the offense and defense.

Strengths: Skill positions, first groups of linemen. Commitment to the system. Positive attitude and character.

Weaknesses: Lack of depth. Adding to this, the Lakers lost two starters — Nick Wandishin and Luke Porter — to season-ending injuries. Wandishin sustained an arm injury during the Maranacook scrimmage, while Porter sustained a wrist injury during Friday’s exhibition game against Fryeburg Academy.

Based on what you’ve seen thus far, what are you most encouraged by? Coach Jahna —The team’s commitment to the Lake Region approach to football. The attitudes have been fantastic, the work ethic is strong, each player listens intently and allows for coaching, and the players treat each other well. This will allow us to get better each week and stay strong as a unit.

Three keys to the season? 1. Remaining healthy and eligible; 2. Commitment to the system; 3. Disciplined approach to carrying out individual assignments.

Three goals? 1. Winning the turnover battle each week; 2. Staying focused during Homecoming Week; 3. Consistently channeling emotions into a positive direction.

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

Head Coach: Ryan Shible, third year

Assistant Coaches: Sam Ellis, Leigh Fry

JV Coach: Sam Ellis

Key Returning Players (Position/Year in School): Michaela Tripp (junior) Passing Specialist; Nicole Fox (senior) Outside Hitter; Isabelle Edwards (senior) Middle Hitter.

Top Newcomers: Emily Secord, Nikola Gomolova, Lily Barrett, Michele Bender and Brittany Dorsey — all new players to the team and all have demonstrated some great skill and are contributing some fantastic energy to the team.

Players to Watch: Nicole Fox and Isabelle Edwards will be players to watch, as they will be bring a lot of offensive power to the team, and will be a big presence at the net, both offensively and defensively.

Strengths: Three returning players (Michaela Tripp, Nicole Fox) and Isabelle Edwards) will be bring experience and offensive/defensive power to the team.

Weaknesses: Coach Shible — In terms of weaknesses, I would prefer to describe them as areas in need of growth; I would say our team needs to further develop our defense, with both serve receive and blocking.

Based on what you’ve seen thus far, what are you most encouraged by? Coach Shible — Our team has strong numbers this year, which means we have some great depth, a good pool of talent that can be developed and honed, allowing us to become more competitive this season and next.

Keys to the season? Being aggressive and tenacious with our defense or response to the ball, making smooth transitions from defense to offense, and lastly, being consistent with our serve. “If we as a team can be consistent with these areas, I believe we can be competitive this year,” Coach Shible said.

Goals? Coach Shible — My three goals closely matches our keys to success: 1. Being tenacious with our offensive and defensive transitions; 2. Anticipating the ball; and lastly 3. Being consistent with our serve.