Waynflete’s boys’ lacrosse team got to celebrate a Class C state title last spring and the Flyers have a great shot to repeat this season.

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BASEBALL

Coach: Paul Grazia (sixth year)

2018 record: 1-11 (no postseason)

Top returning players: Miles Anderson (Senior), Owen Ardell (Senior), Eliot Bramble (Junior)

Pivotal games: April 26 OOB, May 8 @ St. Dom’s, May 29 SACOPEE

Coach’s comments: “After posting a disappointing record last year, I believe that we have several reasons to be optimistic for the upcoming season. In addition to a strong core of returning players, we are happy to welcome five North Yarmouth Academy student-athletes to the team. I’ve been encouraged by our practices and how we are coming together as a team. As always, pitching and defense will be a focus. It will be exciting to see how the team develops throughout the year as players take on new roles, compete and challenge themselves. Consistency on offense and defense will be key for us and we look to improve on last year’s record.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete has a new look this spring as it looks to climb into contention. Several players from North Yarmouth Academy have joined the team and it’s now a co-op that still competes in Class C South.

The pitching staff is led by Ardell and Bramble. Ardell is also a top hitter (.320 average with six RBI a year ago). Seniors Miles Anderson, Ian Irvine and Sebastian Shames, junior Jack Cloutier and sophomores Ben Curtis, Cal Davies, Will Jackson, Anders Jonsson, Luke Josephson and Levi Lilienthal also look to play key roles.

The team’s newfound depth will help it compete. Look for Waynflete/NYA to enjoy more success on the diamond and if all goes well, a playoff berth could ensue.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

Coach: Parker Repko (second year)

2018 record: 11-4 (Beat Lincoln Academy, 18-4, to win Class C state championship)

Top returning players: Mitchell Adams (Senior), Liam Feeney (Senior), Mykel Henry (Senior), Miles Lipton (Senior), Musaid Mohammed (Senior), Zane Moorhead (Senior), Luca Antolini (Junior), Oliver Burdick (Junior), Harry Millspaugh (Sophomore)

Pivotal games: April 23 @ Greely, May 8 NYA, May 28 YORK, May 31 @ Yarmouth

Coach’s comment: “The kids are excited. We have a lot of varsity experience, 10 seniors who all played last year. We’re focusing on being in the present and winning the moment in practice. That will help us grow as a team. The seniors are very hungry to go out on top.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete is coming off the finest season in program history and while reigning Spring Male Athlete of the Year Hank Duvall, as well as several other key contributors, graduated, the Flyers’ cupboard is far from bare and this group is eager to go out and win another championship. Despite a 17-6 season-opening loss to Class A power Cape Elizabeth, they’re certainly the Class C favorite as a new season dawns.

All eyes will be on the Boston University-bound Lipton, a captain who will be one of the state’s premier goal scorers. He’ll be in the midfield, so he can be around the ball as much as possible. When he gets the ball close to the goal, even if he’s well defended, he’s almost impossible to stop. Adams, another captain, who is coming off a solid hockey campaign, Millspaugh and Moorhead are other experienced scorers. Look for Burdick, Feeney and sophomore Sam Whipple to also be in the scoring mix. Mohammed, the team’s third captain, anchors the defense with help from Antolini and Henry. Senior Ben Musgrave replaces all-star Will Armstrong in goal.

Waynflete plays a very tough schedule, which includes several top Class B teams, but that slate will make the Flyers battle-tested for the playoffs where more glory could be the end result.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Coach: Cathie Connors (27th year, 290-71-1 overall record, 12 state championships)

2018 record: 6-7 (Lost, 6-5, to Greely in Class B state quarterfinals)

Top returning players: Emi Boedeker (Senior), Marady Parr (Senior), Sophie Sangster (Senior), Avis Akers (Junior), Clara Sandberg (Junior), Emily Wagg (Junior)

Pivotal games: May 1 GREELY, May 6 FALMOUTH, May 16 @ Cape Elizabeth, May 21 @ Lake Region, May 23 FREEPORT, May 28 ST. DOM’S, May 31 @ Yarmouth

Coach’s comment: “It’s a wonderful group. They’re good athletes who work hard and want to learn. It’s a young team, but there’s so much enthusiasm. Defensively we’ll be strong. We just need to find our groove on offense. Our motto is to make each other look good and we’re doing that. We have a lot of work to do, but I’m cautiously optimistic.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Don’t let last year’s record fool you, the Flyers were very competitive, nearly upsetting eventual Class A champion Falmouth during the regular season and holding a second half lead over Greely in the state quarterfinals before falling a goal short. Several top talents graduated and this year’s squad has youth and question marks, but it’s likely they’ll show steady improvement and be a dangerous squad by the end of the season.

Akers is back for a third year in goal. Defensively, Sangster, a captain, is a top returner. She’ll be assisted by sophomores Ellis Dougherty and Laney Friedland. Offensively, look for Boedeker (a captain, who is healthy this spring), Parr (a captain), Sandberg and Wagg to do damage. Juniors Abby Aleshire and Eliza Gervais and sophomore Kilee Sherry will also be heard from. The roster features three freshmen and that group will make its mark as the year progresses.

While defending champion Cape Elizabeth remains the Class B favorite, with teams like Greely and Yarmouth not far behind, Waynflete can bide its time growing, coming together and gaining confidence. Connors will mold this squad into a winner as the season progresses and in June, no one will want to face the Flyers in a win-or-go-home scenario.

BOYS’ TENNIS

Coach: Jeff Madore (13th year, 11 state championships)

2018 record: 16-0 (Defeated Mattanawcook, 5-0, to win 11th straight Class C state championship)

Top returning players: Thorne Kieffer (Senior), Ben Lualdi (Senior), Chris Register (Senior), Cooper Sherman (Senior), Ben Adey (Sophomore), Aiden Kieffer (Sophomore), John Moon-Black (Sophomore)

Coach’s comment: “We look forward to warmer weather and gentler breezes. Our very enthusiastic team will do their best to maintain a tradition of solid play and good sportsmanship.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete didn’t just win another Class C state title last spring, the Flyers did so in perfect fashion, just the third time they accomplished that feat. This season, Waynflete is a heavy favorite to bring home more hardware and it’s easy to see why.

Thorne Kieffer was a first-team league all-star in 2018 and he’ll be in the top singles spot. Adey and Aidan Kieffer were honored for their doubles play last spring. They were vying for singles spots at press time, along with Lualdi, Moon-Black, Register and Sherman. Sophomore Fritz Van Winkle and freshmen Henry Hart, Henry Moore and Jackson Shurman are new to the squad and add depth.

The Flyers will be tested by some of the best teams in the conference during the regular season and that will prime them for another run to the top in June. A Waynflete championship is a rite of spring. A 12th straight crown appears likely.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Coach: Linda Cohen (13th year, five state championships)

2018 record: 8-6 (Lost, 3-2, to Carrabec in Class C South semifinals)

Top returning players: Tabby Al Musawi (Senior), Gabby Eng (Senior), Lily Fanburg (Senior), Chloe Fisher (Senior)

Coach’s comment: “If everyone can stay healthy and injury free, we should be able to field a mixture of both experienced players and newcomers to tackle the match schedule. Several strong players graduated last year and it will be interesting to see who steps up to fill those shoes.”

The Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete extended its postseason streak to 20 years last spring and a 21st straight appearance is sure to follow. How far the Flyers can advance is yet to be determined.

Fisher was an all-star a year ago and will likely be in a singles position this spring. Sophomore Morgan Warner comes over from lacrosse to take over the top singles spot. Warner plays USTA tournaments and is poised to become one of the best players in the league. Eng and Fanburg were vying for the other singles positions at press time. Al Musawi will play doubles. The other spots figure to be filled by sophomores Courtney Ford, Selina He or Dylan Randall-Newberg. Eliza Clark, Safa Hussein, Julia Curran, Zoe Ruff and Izzy Gordon round out the team.

Waynflete should once again be very competitive against a tough regular season schedule. The Flyers hope to be at their best at the end of May and into June and if that happens, they’ll be on the short list of title favorites.

OUTDOOR TRACK

Waynflete’s outdoor track athletes are competing with Cheverus this spring. Sophomore Pat Shaw is a sprinter. Freshman Devin Sherry will also be a sprinter. Sophomores Helen Hornor and Maddie Landry are distance runners. Freshman Lily Waldrep is also on the squad.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Senior Miles Lipton is an unstoppable offensive force, who projects to do a lot of goal-scoring this spring while attempting to lead Waynflete’s boys’ lacrosse team to a repeat state title.

Junior Oliver Burdick will score his share of goals as well.

Senior captain Musaid Mohammed will be a top defender for the Flyers.

Junior Avis Akers is back for her third year in goal for Waynflete’s girls’ lacrosse team, which hopes to move up the standings this season.

Junior Clara Sandberg’s athleticism makes her a difficult matchup.

Senior Sophie Sangster is a top defender and captain for the Flyers.

Look for junior Emily Wagg to come up big at big times for the Flyers this spring.

Senior Thorne Kieffer is back at first singles for a Waynflete boys’ tennis juggernaut seeking its amazing 12th consecutive Class C state title.

Senior Chris Register will play a key role again this season for the Flyers.

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