Preview: Lake Region fall sports

 

NEW LR COACH Brian Jahna will lead Lake Region into action this Friday night against rival Fryeburg Academy in the annual Pleasant Mountain Bowl at Art Kilborn Athletic Complex at 7 p.m. (Rivet Photo)

VARSITY FOOTBALL

Head Coach: Brian Jahna, first year

Assistant Coaches: Doug Banks

Impact players: Kamen Scott (Sr.) OL/DL; Mike Triglione (Sr.) QB/LB; Jarid Pierce (Sr.) OL/DL; Cody Gibbons (Jr.) RB/LB; Derek Douglas (Sr.) C/OL; Kyle Stevens (Sr.) RB/LB; David Cosgrove (Sr.) OL/DL; Quinn Piland (Soph.) QB/WR/DB.

Outlook: 2012 is a transition year (after the Lakers went 0-8 a year ago). The team is learning a new offense, defense and operating procedures. In addition, the team’s roster numbers are pretty low, with a substantial amount coming from the freshman class.

“The players seem to be really embracing the program, are producing a lot of positive energy and are demonstrating a tremendous amount of poise and character,” Coach Jahna said. “Our practice tempo is high and the team is improving their focus on details. If we stay healthy, we should continue to improve as the season progresses.”

Opening day: The Lakers host Fryeburg Academy this Friday at 7 p.m. at Art Kilborn Athletic Complex in the annual Pleasant Mountain Bowl.

TURNING A CORNER? — Junior running back Cody Gibbons should be a force in the running game this fall, which could help the Lakers rebound from an 0-8 campaign in 2011. (Rivet Photo)

VARSITY BOYS’ SOCCER

Head Coach: Mike Chaine, first year

Assistant Coach:

Top returnees: Seniors Brandon Wears (defense), Michael Mageles (midfield), Brody Stofflet (midfield), Michael Brooks (defense), Tyler Laplante (defense), Jeremy Leavitt (striker), foreign exchange student Adam Falk (midfield) and Pat Irish (goalie); juniors Logan Wears (striker); sophomore Nick Ball (midfield).

Top newcomers: Swing players: Sophomores Michael Rust (defense), Kolin Wyman (defense); freshmen Alex Langadas (striker), Brandon George (striker), Damon Knight (midfield)

Junior Varsity: Junior Joelson Rodrigez; sophomores Donavan Eaton, Lucien Sulloway and Kevin Flanagan; freshmen Elliott Ross, Matt Stenger, Taylor Davis, Mason Laplante, Brennan Lane, Max Evans, Conner Andrews, Nick Lepage, Matt Buchanan, Marcus Devoe and Jack Lesure. This is the first time in a couple of falls that the Lakers will field two boys’ squads.

Keys to success: “First and foremost is to put the past behind us, this is a new team starting fresh,” Coach Chaine said. “Secondly, learning to play controlled soccer. I have a large group of skilled players who are learning to play as a team, depending on each other instead of acting as individuals.”

“Lastly, developing an offense, in years past our teams have played almost entirely defense,” Coach Chaine said. “Though I have a strong defensive line, we need to take that pressure off them by keeping the ball at the other end of the field.”

Question marks: Physical fitness. “We are working everyday on conditioning and in years past we have fallen off in the second half of games due to poor fitness,” the coach said.

Inexperience on the bench. “With so many seniors and one junior starting, I am throwing several players into the varsity fray with little playing experience at this level as subs,” Coach Chaine said.

Goal keeping. “This year, I have Pat Irish as our goalie. I have known and coached Pat several times and have all the confidence in the world in his talent (he comes into the season with no varsity play time),” the coach said. “Pat is taking over for Dakota Bush, who graduated last year and who I believe was one of the best goalies in our division. Pat will need to take control of this team.”

Positives in the preseason: The Lakers just finished a three-game tournament at Lisbon High School where both LR teams were combined. The Lakers lost their first game to Dirigo (1-0), but “outplayed them the entire game,” Coach Chaine said. The Lakers then tied Lisbon (2-2) ending with a win against Oxford Hills (1-0).

“This performance only strengthened my belief in the ability of this team if they stay committed,” Coach Chaine said.

Coach’s outlook: “Things have already improved and there is plenty of room for further improvement,” Coach Chaine said. “We are looking for the support from our students and parents assist in rebuilding the program at Lake Region.”

Opening day: The Lakers travel to Greely on Friday for a 6 p.m. game. After a road trip to Yarmouth on Wednesday, Sept. 5 (6 p.m.), the Lakers first home game is on Thursday, Sept. 6 against Freeport at Art Kilborn Athletic Complex at 6 p.m.

VARSITY GIRLS’ SOCCER

Head Coach: Lynne Harrison, 13th year

Assistant Coach: Brian Clark

Top returnees: Senior Sydney Hancock, a fast scoring forward, who was named to Western Maine Regional All-State last year; senior Kasey Huntress, a sweeper back with “amazing speed and ability to read plays,” Coach Harrison said. Kasey was a Western Maine Conference All-Star as a sophomore and junior; senior midfielder Kayla Gray, who has the ability to direct play and a scoring threat from outside the 18-yard line. “She worked off season to develop strength,” Coach Harrison said.

Top newcomers: Freshman CeCe Hancock, a speedy forward who should see plenty of action and be a scoring threat; sophomore Sarah Hancock, first year in high school soccer, will be the LR goalie. “Sarah is inexperienced, but a good athlete who has worked closely with Coach Clark. Sarah is a highly coachable young woman,” Coach Harrison said.

At press time Tuesday, Coach Harrison said the varsity roster had not yet been finalized.

Keys to the season: Meshing three to four inexperienced but skilled freshmen players with core group of players. Senior defenders Kasey Huntress, Ali Kepler and Hannah Perkins will have to work hard to protect first-year goalie, Sarah Hancock.

“A real concern is filling in our midfield to help out Kayla Gray and Kiersten Eldridge,” Coach Harrison added,

Question marks: Will we have the depth of bench to keep us competitive with the big teams such as Greely, Yarmouth, Falmouth and York? We will have a small team and will have to be in top shape and without major injuries.

Positives from preseason: Great attitudes and teamwork. Players are excited for the season to get underway and to pick up from where we left off last year (making the tournament, winning a first-round game). Impressive possession play and outside shooting, which we lacked before.

Coach’s outlook: “All indications are that we are pumped and ready to go. I think we’ll see an athletic and skilled team that is constantly looking for scoring opportunities,” Coach Harrison said.

Opening day: The Lakers open the regular season on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at home against Yarmouth at 6 p.m. (Kilborn Athletic Complex).

VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY

Head Coach: Dan Dors

Assistant Coach: Kurt Peterson

Girls’ roster: Seniors Julia Carlson, Maude Meeker, Kari Eldridge, Savannah DeVoe, Marsha Kuhlmann; junior Briana Gallinari.

Boys’ roster: Seniors Mark MacDougall, Mason Kluge-Edwards and James McCann; junior Ben Roy; sophomores Nick Hall, Kyle DeSouza and Nick Aceto; freshmen Tim Cronin, Nick Scarlett, Chris Belliveau, Garred Sanborn and Marcus DeVoe.

Coach’s outlook: “The boys will be a competitive team if they stay healthy,” Coach Dors said. “We have only six girls, but they are really hard workers. I am pleased with their performances.”

Invitational: Coaches Dors and Peterson ha a chance to see where their runners are at this point of the preseason when they competed in the Lake Region Invitational this past Saturday. With Fryeburg’s Silas Eastman setting a new course record over the 2.75-mile loop in 14:44, senior Mark MacDougall had the best LR time inn 17:58, good for 15th place in the field of 51. Mason Kluge Edwards was 31st in 19:22 followed by Ben Roy in 32nd at 19:24 and Kyle DeSouza 39th in 20:51. Five Lakers were missing due to family engagements or injuries.

On the girls’ side, Briana Gallinari cracked the Top 10 with a time of 20:25, good for seventh overall in the field of 45. Maude Meeker was 15th in 21:38 followed by Savannah DeVoe in 24th at 22:39, Kari Eldridge 29th in 24:144 and Julia Carlson was 32nd in 25:09. Winning time was 18:27.

In team scoring, Windham won the event with 17 points followed by Lake Region (65), Catherine McAuley (73) and Fryeburg Academy (79). Teams failing to score were Poland, Gray-New Gloucester and North Yarmouth Academy.

Opening day: The Lakers travel to Falmouth Community Park this Friday, Aug. 31, to take on the Yachtsmen along with York and North Yarmouth Academy. The boys start at 4:30 p.m. followed by the girls at 5 p.m.

CHEERING CAMPERS — Lake Region varsity cheerleaders who took part in a cheering camp over the weekend included (left to right) Jackie Laurent, NCA rep Sammi Sargent, Katelyn Esty, Frances Kimball, Mikayla Fortin and Kacie Tripp.

VARSITY CHEERLEADING

Head Coaches: Ashleigh London, fifth year; Kelley Tibbetts, third year.

Top returnees: Seniors Sarah Curley, Kassandra Girard, Rashawnda Currier and Katelyn Esty; juniors Jackie Laurent, Frances Kimball, Kacie Tripp and Arianna Aaskov.

Squad members: Senior Elizabeth Mitchell; juniors Mikayla Fortin, Kaitlynn Harmon and Kiana Paige; and sophomore Emily Secord.

Three keys to the season: Leadership from the current team members to help the new girls coming in; dedication from every single team member to ensure strong practices and game performances; and improved communication between coaches, cheerleaders and parents.

Three positives you have seen in the preseason: “Kelley and I have seen some strong dedication from a good handful of our girls through our practices as well as through the cheering camp we recently completed,” Coach London said. “We’ve seen a lot of interest from girls who have not yet tried cheering and we’re very excited to see some new faces and add some new personalities to the group. The third thing we’ve seen is more respect from the school community as a sport that seemed to have gotten lost a few years back. We feel it’s coming back and by the end of this season, everyone will see how far the girls have come and how much more we can accomplish.”

Coach’s outlook: “Our outlook for this upcoming season is an extremely positive one. We have various fundraising ideas to hopefully start the winter season with new uniforms,” Coach London said. “We have stronger set plans for what we want to see happen during practices. We will focus more time on being ‘game ready’ so our girls get more effective performance experience before competition season rolls around.”

Coach London added, “We as coaches are ensuring the team gets an overall more positive experience in every aspect of the season so they can leave practices or games feeling good about themselves.”