BOYS SOCCER
Another year, more material for the Waynflete men’s soccer program. After winning a third consecutive Class C title a year ago, the Flyers are far from satisfied and will struggle to dethrone this season. File photos.
Coach: Brandon Salway (34th year, overall record 316-119-46, seven state championships)
Record 2021: 14-2-2 (beat Fort Kent, 2-1, to win third straight Class C state title)
Best Returning Players: Matt Adey (Senior), Liam Anderson (Senior), Jasper Curtis (Senior), Roan Hopkins (Senior), Cole Isherwood (Senior), Dana Bigelow (Junior), Nils Burton-Johanson (Junior), Nico Kirby (Junior) , Jacob Woodman (Junior)
pivotal games: Sept. 1 NYA, Sept. 13 SACOPEE VALLEY, Sept. 20 @ Cape Elizabeth, Sept. 22 TRAIP, Sept. 24 @ NYA, Sept. 27 GREELY, Sept. 29 FREEPORT, Oct. 7 @ York, Oct. 13 @ Traip, Oct 15 @ Sacopee Valley, Oct 18 YARMOUTH
Coach Commentary“We have lost three starters and four others who have played significant time, but we have all but one of our full backs returning and our keeper is back too. We have another very tough schedule, just the way we like it. We will face the best Class B, Class C and Class D teams. The goal is not to worry about our record as much as to improve. We have the potential to be very good, but the teams want to turn us around. We have to be ready for every game. »
Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete has had plenty of success over the years, but never have the Flyers dominated like they have since the start of the 2018 season, going an unthinkable 55-4-5 in that span while winning three state titles and being robbed of only a quarter by a global pandemic. With graduation once again weighing on the program, no one should question Waynflete’s ability to win another Ballon d’Or this fall.
Senior Matt Adey is expected to rise above the opposition again this fall.
Senior Roan Hopkins will be in the thick of the action for the Flyers all season.
The Flyers think they’re stingy defensively as Kirby returns in goal and Adey (a 2021 all-conference and Class C South all-region selection), Anderson, Bigelow and Curtis will hold the fort in front of him. In midfield, Hopkins (also a league star last fall) will be a nightmare. He is joined by Burton-Johanson and Isherwood. Woodman, last seen scoring the decisive goal in Waynflete’s epic double-overtime State Lacrosse game win over North Yarmouth Academy, will see time in midfield and up top, as will the new senior Mile Culley.
The Flyers (ranked 15th in the pre-season in New England by United Soccer Coaches) have set the bar so high that they will have no trouble rising for any opponent who dreams of bringing them down. There’s almost no respite on the schedule and while Waynflete may not be enjoying as stellar a record as he has in recent years, that won’t matter. The Flyers care the most about looking their best for the playoffs and it’s hard to see anything or anyone standing in their way as they battle to bring home another trophy. bright.
GIRL SOCCER
Junior Lucy Hart made all-conference, all-region teams last season and will play a major role in the Flyers’ success this fall.
Co-coaches: Carrie Earls and George Sherry (fifth year, 21-32-4 overall)
Record 2021: 10-7 (lost, 1-0, to Traip Academy in the Class C South semi-finals)
Best Returning Players: Lucy Sarno (Senior), Iris Stutzman (Senior), Morgan Earls (Junior), Izzy Gleason (Junior), Lucy Hart (Junior), Fallon Culley (Sophomore)
pivotal games: Sep 19 TRAIP, Sep 20 CAP ELIZABETH, Sep 23 @ NYA, Sep 28 OOB, Oct 12 @ Traip, Oct 15 NYA, Oct 18 @ OOB
Coach Earls Commentary“After an injury-riddled season last year, we just hope to stay healthy. With a fairly young squad, we hope to improve as the season progresses and hope to play our best football by the playoffs. Classe C Sud will be competitive this season.
Forecaster’s forecast: Waynflete made great progress a season ago, posting a winning record for the first time in five years and making a strong run to the semi-finals. While the Flyers will miss all-region selection Lolie Milspaugh and veteran goaltender Jesse Connors, there is talent coming back and this will be a team that will make some noise in the Class C South before all is said and done. do.
Up front, Earls, Sarno and Stutzman (an all-conference and regional all-star selection in 2021) will be looking to do some damage. Hart, another all-region selection a year ago, will be a force in midfield, along with Gleason and rookie Lucy Olson. Defensively, Culley (who will also play in midfield) has experience. She is joined by freshmen Grace Alexander and Liza Lawson. Connors will be replaced in goal by rookie Ayla Stutzman.
Waynflete has a busy schedule, but it will help the team fight for the playoffs. The Flyers may not be on the favorites list at the start of the season, but they will hit their stride and get tough when it matters most.
CROSS COUNTRY
Coaches:
(Boys) Jim Millard (Third Year)
(Girls) Steve Withers (fifth grade)
2021 results:
(Boys) 11th @ Class C State Meet
(Girls) 5th @ Class C State Meet
Best Feedback:
(Boys) Joe Dupree (Senior), Sawyer Linehan (Senior), Colton Nelson (Junior), Pi Crosby (Sophomore), Ben Duda (Sophomore)
(Girls) Maren Cooper (Senior), Calla Ruff (Senior), Maeve Mechtenberg (Junior), Anna Siegel (Junior), Vivi Jenkins (Sophomore)
Comment from Coach Millard: “Our goals for each season are consistent: to have fun and enjoy the team, to stay healthy and peak at the right time, to qualify for the national competition and finish there as high as possible. This year, I hope we can make the top four in the regional meet and then go from there. Above all, I look forward to spending my afternoons with a great group of athletes and helping them grow .
Coach Withers Commentary“We start each season with three goals: learn something about yourself as a runner, learn something about yourself as a young woman and improve yourself. After a strong Regional Championship performance last season, finishing second, we are looking for redemption at the State Meet. We will have to overcome adversity this season as we only return two of our top seven runners and one of our senior captains is out for the season due to injury. Nonetheless, the team is working hard, growing in culture and excited for what the season has in store for us. Overall, these ladies are eager to compete and we have a smaller time spread from top to bottom than in previous years. Look for our freshman to make a huge impact throughout the season. Although it may take us a few races to gain experience and find our legs, I’m confident this group will show immense improvement and be competitive in championship racing.
Forecaster’s forecast: The boys and girls of Waynflete have their eye on returning to meet the state, a constant destination for most of this century.
The men’s team finds three scorers from last year’s national match, Linehan (35th), Duda (40th) and Nelson (64th). Linehan is joined as captain by Dupree and Crosby will also be heard from this season. The team is made exponentially stronger by the arrival of junior Will Barmby, who a year ago at Maine Coast Waldorf School placed eighth in the Class C state competition. freshman Michael Marston is another big newcomer. The Flyers have the pieces in place to build on what they accomplished a year ago and move up the ranks in the process.
On the girls’ side, Jenkins (24th) and Mechtenberg (28th) scored in last year’s state meet. Waynflete has experienced runners behind them in Cooper, Ruff and Siegel, who will need to step up and plug some holes. Freshmen Grace Alexander and Lucy Olson will also be key contributors. The Flyers should only get better as the season improves and when the competitions matter the most they will be ready to shine. Expect Waynflete to return to the United States and maybe surprise some teams when he gets there.
GOLF
Coach: Ben Boonseng (second year)
2021 results: 3rd @ Class C State Match
Best Returning PlayersTy Davin (Senior), Henry Kerr (Senior), Oscar Twining (Senior)
Coach Commentary“Even though we missed a few shots in our first state championship last year, I’m confident we’ll have another successful year. This year we have quite a few long hitters and a few rookies. Our new golfers have good potential as dual sport athletes All golfers have a good understanding of their game and I hope they will enjoy golf more than before The four newcomers can hit the ball far from the tee and it’s up to them to take what we practice and apply it to their real games. My expectation for this year is for the team to understand what the game of golf is. It’s not just about hitting the perfect shot or recovering pars, it’s also about enjoying games with good friends, good playing partners, good competitors or with your loved ones.Golf is a lifelong sport that you can play at any age, if you wish.
The Forecaster’s Forecast: Waynflete made history last fall, not only qualifying for the States for the first time, but making a splash when he finished third. The departure of defending Class C individual champion George Fahey will be felt, but there is talent in store to keep the Flyers competitive.
Kerr (a league star in 2021) and Twinning are captains and Davin also has experience. The rest of the squad includes senior Oliver Eames and juniors Sebby Ovigele, Haven Savory-Kries and Skiddy Von Stade.
Waynflete won’t be sneaking up on anyone this fall as he has established himself as a contender. While last year’s accomplishments may be hard to match, expect another solid season from this group.
Sportswriter Michael Hoffer can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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