Sanford High School’s winter sports season has begun and there is a lot to get excited about. We’ve reached out to each varsity coach on their team’s goals, expectations, and challenges for the upcoming season. If you aren’t already, be sure to follow @Sanford_Athletics on Instagram to stay up-to-date on game days, highlights and results!
BOYS BASKETBALL
HEAD COACH: Jake mills
Coach Jake Mills, a 2012 Sanford graduate, returns for his fifth season as the head coach of the boys varsity basketball team.
How did your 2022-2023 season go? What was your record?
Last season didn’t go as well as we hoped, finishing with a record of 5-13.
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
We return a good group this season led by seniors Tanner McCann, Makai Bougie, AJ Anderson, Tyler Sevigny and Tylor Pitman. We also have some good young players in Brady Adams, Dylan Gendron, Ryan Alexander, Scott Robitaille, Dominic Veino, Ben Terril, and newcomer Josh Callahan.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
The goal this season is to make it to the Civic Center and compete for a south AA title. The challenge continues to be playing in a tough conference with highly talented teams.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
We are looking forward to the positive experiences we have planned for the players this season. We are also looking forward to the opportunity to compete for a chance to play at the Civic Center in February.
The Spartans’ home opener is on Friday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Partners Bank Gymnasium against Thornton Academy.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
HEAD COACH: Rossie LONTINE-kearson
Coach Kearson enters his seventh season as the varsity girls basketball coach.
How did your 2022-23 season go? What was your record?
We had our most successful season since I have been coaching. The girls won the games they were supposed to and pulled out the tough ones when we could. Overall, we were 13-7 which includes the playoffs, and finished number 2 in our division.
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
Top returners are Julissa McBarron, Hailey Tarbox, Sadie Sevigny, Shelby Mcleod, Addie Fiandaca, Ava Hudson, and Annie Stimmell. The newcomers I’m excited about are Kya Duprey, Isabella McCall, Zoey McCann, and Paige Sevigny.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
The goal is always to get to Portland and see what happens from there. The challenge will be to battle the teams that are bigger than us. We are very vertically challenged. However, what we lack in size we make up for in speed, toughness, and grit.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I’m most looking forward to watching my girls compete! When they get after it, they are dangerous and I like that.
Anything else you’d like to share?
What would be a big help for our season this year is to get the same home support that our boys’ team receives. I’d love for our student section to be rocking at home games. Our girls would really appreciate that as well. It’s nice to support the teams on the road, but I found last year the girls didn’t receive nearly the same amount of support whether it was at home or on the road. As a former player, it’s really nice to draw that energy from the home crowd! So if you can send that message to the student body that would be awesome and most appreciated.
The Spartans’ first home game is Tuesday, Dec. 12th at 6 p.m. against Marshwood.
You can follow the @Spartan_Girls_Basketball team on Instagram.
CHEER
HEAD COACH: CATRINA WOODARD
Coach Woodard takes over the winter program after the tenured Kendra O’Connell stepped down after 15 seasons.
How did your 2022-2023 season go? What was your record?
I was not the coach last year, but they ended up fourth in the state, which was a new (tying) record for Sanford!
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
I have about half the team returning from last year which is exciting and I have some new freshmen and sophomores who are cheering for their first season/year with SHS that will be huge assets for the team.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
My goal is to be as competitive as possible and make it to the state championship. If we make it to States, I would like to at least finish in the top half (top 6). I have a small team this year which means that everything can be critiqued harsher because I don’t have a huge team with lots of things to look at so the judges won’t miss a thing this year.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I am looking forward to competitions and watching these athletes take the mat and do the best that they can!
Anything else you’d like to share?
I am excited to be the new coach for SHS cheer and I can’t wait to see where the season takes us!
You can follow @SanfordVarsityCheer on Instagram.
INDOOR TRACK
HEAD COACH: MAGNES LEWIS
Magnes Lewis enters his second season at the helm of the newly formed indoor track team.
How did the program’s first season go? What was your record?
The season went well for being the first season as a team. We had athletes place at both Southwesterns and the state meet. Our boys team went 8-46-2 and the girls team went 0-35-0.
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
Tucker Walker is coming back from a great junior season and is looking at claiming the state title in the shot put. Rhylen Avery is new to the team this season and from his performances from last outdoor season, he will certainly take the league by storm in the 55-meter dash.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
This season I expect the team to be competitive in all events. The goal is to have at least 10 athletes qualify for states this year.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I am looking forward to coaching a larger team, and seeing what kind of presence we can have at meets and on the scoreboard.
Anything else you’d like to share?
The most exciting news our team has to share is that we almost tripled in size from last year. We are excited and ready to compete with almost 40 athletes.
WRESTLING
HEAD COACH: nate smith
Coach Smith enters his 15th year as head coach. The Spartans hope to continue their success at both the regional and state-level competitions.
How did your 2022-23 season go? What was your record?
The team was 18-3 in the regular season last year. We were Regional Runners Up and 3rd in the Class A State Championship.
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
We have a number of top returners including two-time all-state wrestlers, Canton Hill, Mason Van Gieson and James Chaplick, as well as all-state wrestler Luke Callis leading us as captains. Freshman Ryder Lachance will take over the 106 lb spot and looks like he could be an all-state wrestler there. Christopher Chaplick, Ricky Callis and Gabe Roberge were all top wrestlers last year and will bring big points all year as well.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
Our goal is to chase down a State Championship. There are several other teams with tough squads as well. We have as good a shot at winning as we ever have. Noble and Massabesic will continue to be hard competition. It is a long season and we will need to stay healthy and positive to achieve our goals.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I am looking forward to seeing our team support each other and lift each other up to make ourselves one of the best teams in the state again. Our numbers are bigger than they ever have been and as long as we continue to move forward like we have been we will be in the running for championships.
The Spartans’ first home meet is Saturday, Dec. 23 at 9 a.m.
You can follow the wrestling team on Instagram and Facebook.
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