Spring is seemingly always title time at Waynflete. Last year, girls’ lacrosse and boys’ tennis wound up in familiar spots at the top of the heap. This time around, both teams have to like their repeat chances. Baseball believes it can seriously contend and make the playoffs. Boys’ lacrosse is always is in the mix. The track program continues to establish itself as a factor. Girls’ tennis has the potential to play into June.

BASEBALL

Coach: Steve Kautz (fourth year)

2009 Record: 2-10 (no postseason)

Top returning players: Sam Fillinger (Senior), David Gorsky (Senior), Max Ritchie (Senior), Alex Hadiaras (Junior), Tom Ryan (Junior)

Pivotal games: April 26 @ OOB, April 30 (H) NYA, May 10 @ OOB, May 21 @ Traip, May 22 @ NYA, May 26 (H) RICHMOND, May 29 (H) TRAIP

Coach’s comments: “While we’ve improved over the years and closed the gap, we still lacked the winning touch last season. Four of our losses were by a total of seven or eight runs. This year, we hope to show that we can win those games and compete for a playoff spot. This is the most overall talent I’ve seen here and our first few weeks of practice have been the best. Our captains are instilling a very positive attitude for our program. We know that making the playoffs is a tall order, but that’s absolutely our goal.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: This could be the year for Waynflete to make a jump and contend in Western C. The Flyers haven’t won more than three games in a season since 2003 and haven’t won a playoff game since 2001. This spring, Kautz believes that the pieces are in place for Waynflete to be a force. Fillinger, Hadiaras and Ritchie anchor the pitching staff. Ryan is behind the plate. Gorsky (a second-team WMC all-star in 2009) is the team’s best hitter and will play several different positions during the season. A pair of freshmen look to earn a name for themselves. Andrew Butler will catch and play first base. Charlie Laprade will pitch and catch. Both figure to become a huge part of the program over the next four years. Waynflete had its share of close losses a year ago, a sign that a team is close to being a factor. If the Flyers can find a way to get clutch hits and earn some early victories, they’ll push NYA, Old Orchard Beach and Traip as top Class C teams in the Western Maine Conference. Waynflete likely needs to win six or seven games to earn enough Heal Points for the playoffs. If the team develops as hoped and believes it can be triumphant, the wins will come and the postseason is a realistic goal.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

Coach: Bob Johnson (22nd year)

2009 Record: 8-6 (Lost 14-2 to Cape Elizabeth in Western Class B semifinals)

Top returning players: Josiah Baker-Connick (Senior), Miles Beaven (Senior), Ethan Holm (Senior), Peter Smith (Senior), Jay Witte (Senior), Will Hallett (Junior)

Pivotal games: April 27 (H) FALMOUTH, May 3 @ Greely, May 11 @ Yarmouth, May 25 @ NYA, June 1 (H) CAPE ELIZABETH

Coach’s comment: “We have a lot of experience back. We picked up some nice kids. It’s a great group, a senior-heavy team. We’re really approaching it one day at a time. We want to get better, play hard and have fun at the same time. I think we could be very good. We have a great work ethic.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete has consistently held its own against a very difficult schedule. Since the Maine Principals’ Association began sponsoring lacrosse in 1998, the Flyers have reached the playoffs every year but one (2004). This year’s team should keep the good times rolling. Hallett is a returning second-team WMC all-star in goal. He’s as steady as anyone at the position and will keep his team in a lot of games. Holm leads the defensive unit. The offense should be balanced and diverse. Setting the pace is Baker-Connick, an all-star in 2009. He handles faceoffs and should score his share of goals, as will Beaven, Smith, Witte and a pair of newcomers, junior Tucker Geoffroy (a transfer from Greely, who will also see faceoff action) and sophomore Chris Burke, a transfer from Cape Elizabeth. The Flyers will be in shadow of perennial powerhouse Cape Elizabeth and rising power Falmouth, but this team has experience, talent and is hungry to move up the ladder. The schedule is favorable and should result in a winning record. If Waynflete can stay healthy and get the most from the newcomers, it will be a very dangerous out by the time the playoffs roll around.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Coach: Cathie Connors (18th year)

2009 Results: 15-0 (Defeated NYA 9-5 to win second straight Class B state championship)

Top returning players: Amy Allen (Senior), Morgan Woodhouse (Senior), Izzer Berrang (Junior), Scout Haffenreffer (Junior)

Pivotal games: April 30 @ NYA, May 6 (H) YARMOUTH, May 8 @ Kennebunk, May 10 @ Cape Elizabeth, May 12 @ Falmouth, May 24 @ Yarmouth, May 25 (H) NYA

Coach’s comment: “I’m enjoying this new, young team. We’re working out the glitches, but they’re great athletes with great attitudes. I’m looking forward to seeing how things work out. Defense will be a strength. We have athletes and experience on attack. We hope to get to a place where we’re comfortable playing together as a unit and have fun in the process.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: The most storied program in state history penned yet another championship chapter in 2009 in perfect fashion. The title was the second in a row for the Flyers and their eighth in the 12 seasons since the Maine Principals’ Association began sanctioning lacrosse in 1998. It was the 10th overall for Connors, who continues to set the bar for coaching excellence. Waynflete will come back to the pack a bit this spring after graduating such standouts as All-Americans Anna Libby and Mariah Monks and all-stars Ellie Cole and Greer Millard. As always, the Flyers reload and remain the standard bearer, but this squad is a little more mortal and has some work to do between now and June. The biggest question mark entering the campaign comes in goal. Sasha Timpson isn’t playing this year, so Waynflete will turn to a promising freshman, Katherine Torrey, to fill the void. The Flyers have a huge advantage in that their zone defense can keep even the most potent offense at bay, which should allow Torrey to ease into the role. The defense is anchored by Berrang and also features freshman Catherine Veroneau. In all, four freshmen are expected to play key roles. The other two are Martha Veroneau, a budding star at midfield, and Sadie Cole, the younger sister of Ellie, who will be a force to contend with on offense. That unit (which averaged 13 goals a game in 2009) is led by reigning All-America honorable mention Woodhouse (Waynflete’s Winter Female Athlete of the Year, who had three goals and two assists in last year’s state game), Allen (a first-team all-star last year, who was Waynflete’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year) and Haffenreffer, who has enjoyed two solid seasons in the shadow of the Flyers many other stars. She’s due for a breakout season. This year’s team doesn’t have a potential all-star at every position as the 2009 squad did, but the front line talent is still very impressive. Waynflete learned last year in the playoffs that regional rivals such as Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth are closing the gap and of course NYA and Yarmouth will always be dangerous. It’s likely the Flyers won’t be able to navigate the year with an unblemished record, but that’s a secondary concern. When it comes to Waynflete, it’s all about what you do in June. By June 19, the day of the state final, the guess here is that the Flyers will once again be the team to beat and could easily raise the trophy to the heavens once again.

OUTDOOR TRACK

Coach: Ziggy Gillespie (third year)

2009 Results

(Boys) no score @ Class C state meet

(Girls) no score @ Class C state meet

Top returning athletes:

(Boys) Bill Ngoal (Senior), Kieran Hanrahan (Junior), Mohamed Mohamud (Junior), Eli Sobel (Junior), Max Sobel (Junior), Abshir Horor (Sophomore), Eric Nathanson (Sophomore)

(Girls) Grace High (Senior), Emma Longcope (Junior), Annie Vogt (Junior), Gina Schnier (Sophomore)

Top foes: Freeport, NYA, Yarmouth

Coach’s comment: “We certainly have a small team, but with a potential of having five or six kids qualify for the state meet.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: There is plenty of optimism surrounding the Waynflete outdoor track program this spring.

The boys have several promising runners and jumpers and will be competitive in the Western Maine Conference and could produce some points in the championship meets. Freshman Abdi Mohamed is a high jump threat. Ngoal and new senior Robin Wajler will look to score in the long jump and both can top 19 feet. The distance crew is paced by Horor and freshman Abukar Adan, both of whom have a chance to do very well. Middle-distance could be the Flyers’ strength. Hanrihan, Mohamed Mohamud, Nathanson and Eli and Max Sobel (the team’s co-captains) are all capable. Waynflete will make some noise in the weeks to come and could score at states for the first time since 2004.

On the girls’ side, the group is smaller, but still promising. Vogt will look to compete in the sprints. Longcope and Schnier will battle in the middle distance races, while High has what it takes to qualify in the mile. This squad will look for individual glory, try to score at the state meet after a one-year absence and to further grow the program.

BOYS’ TENNIS

Coach: Jeff Madore (fourth year)

2009 Record: 16-0 (Defeated Madawaska 3-2 to win Class C state championship)

Top returning players: Sam Cleaves (Senior), Ross Cummings (Senior), Nate Niles (Senior), Devin Van Dyke (Senior), Eric Ordway (Junior), Brandon Thompson (Junior)

Pivotal matches: April 26 (H) CAPE ELIZABETH, April 30 (H) YARMOUTH, May 12 (H) FALMOUTH, May 19 @ Falmouth, May 21 @ Cape Elizabeth

Coach’s comment: “We plan to work hard to improve our tennis skills, compete well and have some fun along the way. With seven returning players, we are confident about our chance of success.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: If last year’s Waynflete team wasn’t impressive enough, this squad might just blow everyone out of the water after losing no one to graduation. In 2009, the Flyers went undefeated for the first time, won just three times by 3-2 scores, captured the program’s second title in a row, the fourth in five seasons and the sixth since 2000. In the minds of most, Waynflete is a heavy favorite to do it again. Thompson (the school’s 2008 and 2009 Spring Male Athlete of the Year) is back to lead the way at first singles. Van Dyke and promising freshman Patrick Ordway will also anchor singles positions. Cleaves, Cummings, Niles and Eric Ordway, along with newcomer Ben Shapiro, will be in the mix for doubles spots. The Flyers match up well with everyone, even the elite Class B programs on the slate (defending champ Yarmouth and perennial powers Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth), and will likely win most, if not all, of their matches. Come playoff time, Waynflete will be expected to cap another season with a championship. While there will be challenges, the safe bet says the Flyers will find a way to do it again.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Coach: Linda Cohen (third year)

2009 Record: 11-3 (Lost 3-2 to Winthrop in Western Class C semifinals)

Top returning players: Caitlin Britos (Senior), Grace High (Senior), Maddie High (Junior), Lucy Blatt (Sophomore)

Pivotal matches: April 26 @ Cape Elizabeth, May 5 @ NYA, May 12 @ Falmouth, May 17 (H) GREELY, May 21 (H) CAPE ELIZABETH

Coach’s comment: “We graduated six seniors, so those will be big shoes to fill, especially the loss of Christine Ordway. Early practices have given me some positive glimpses of a young, developing team. I’m hoping that these young ladies will gain match experience quickly and put their on-court skill sets into action. We’ll face tough competition.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete has enjoyed double-digit victories in each of the past three seasons, but hasn’t been able to win a championship. The task will be daunting this year, especially after the loss of three-time Spring Female Athlete of the Year, Christine Ordway. With that said, don’t write off the Flyers, they’re always going to be in the mix. Britos and both Grace and Maddie High bring experience. Blatt and freshman Kaitlyn Thompson represent the future, but both should contribute right away. Waynflete not only has to contend with defending champion NYA during the regular season, but will also have to overcome juggernaut defending Class B champ Falmouth and other tough foes. The Flyers will hang tough and should evolve into a very strong team over the next several weeks. Waynflete won’t be the favorite entering the playoffs, but in the postseason, it should be very dangerous. If the Flyers don’t capture their first state crown since 2006 this spring, it probably won’t be long until they return to the pinnacle.

Waynflete senior David Gorsky will look to lead the Flyers baseball team to great things in 2010.

Senior Max Ritchie is one of the top arms the Flyers possess this spring.

Senior Miles Beaven is a top scoring threat for the Waynflete boys’ lacrosse team.

Senior Jay Witte’s athleticism will be hard to match for the opposition.

Junior Scout Haffenreffer is due for a breakout season for the two-time defending Class B state champion Waynflete girls’ lacrosse squad.

Waynflete senior Morgan Woodhouse is one of the elite players in the state and will look to cap her high school career with another championship this spring.

Brandon Thompson has dominated during his high school career and should be one of the elite players in the state in 2010.

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Sam Cleaves returns and hopes to lead Waynflete’s boys’ tennis team to another title.

More photos below.

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