Fall sports programs are gearing up for another eventful and competitive season, and Spartans fans are eager to learn what to anticipate. We’ve reached out to each varsity coach for each team’s goals, expectations, and challenges for the upcoming season.
If you aren’t already, be sure to follow us at @Spartan.Times and @Sanford_Athletics on Instagram to stay up-to-date on game days, highlights and results!
CROSS COUNTRY (XC)
HEAD COACH: Nate SMITH
Coach Nate Smith returns for his twentieth season as the head coach of the boys and girls cross county teams.
How did your 2023 season go?
The boys finished 13th in the Regionals and the girls did not score, but we’re hoping an increase in numbers will help in that department!
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
Our top returners include Caleb Pelletier, Isaac Pelletier, Gabe Watermann, Eliza Allen and Sophie Therrien. We’re excited to welcome newcomer Jackson Stimmell.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
The boys team comes back very strong. Our top three, Caleb, Isaac and Gabe will pull the other scorers along to pick off many teams that finished ahead of us last year. We need to get healthy and stay healthy all season to make this happen. Fortunately, numbers continue to grow and we are focused on developing the team in their personal goals and achievements. The girls team is going to continue to get better and grow through the leadership of our captains Eliza Allen and Sophie Therrien.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
We have a strong young team with a great deal of potential. Many of our rookies will surprise the league as the make tremendous gains from the beginning of the season to the regional.
Our first home meet is Saturday, September 7th, so come enjoy the beautiful trails at the school on a nice late summer morning to cheer the team on!
You can follow @sanfordspartanxc on Instagram.
FIELD HOCKEY
HEAD COACH: MARTI KANE
Coach Marti Kane enters her third season at the helm of the Field Hockey program, but 25th year in coaching.
How did your 2023 season go?
In 2023, the Spartans finished with a record of 9-7, and made it to the 2nd round of the Class A South playoffs. As a team, we were thrilled to improve our record from 5-9-1 the year before, and 2-12 in 2021.
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
We have eight seniors who will contribute greatly this year: Ellie Davis, Ali Long, Miah Mondor, Logan Muise, Audrey Payeur, Sadie Sevigny, Megan Sheppard, and Olivia Tremblay.
Payeur is a 3 time All-SMAA and All-State selection, as well as a 2023 Northeast Regional All-American. She’s among the best to have played at SHS. She is surrounded by a talented cast of seniors, spanning all positions.
Paige Sevigny and Zoey McCann are also key returners, and freshmen Hailey Payeur and Ella Tederous are likely to be strong contributers this season as well.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
As a team, we continue to raise the expectations of ourselves. This year, we plan to be among the top 6 teams in the SMAA, and make a deeper playoff run than we have in the past several years. We have the experience and talent to be very successful, but know that we compete in a very strong league and will need to stay healthy, focused, and resilient throughout the season to be as successful as we can be.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
This team has strong senior leadership and a very positive vibe. During preseason, I’ve been impressed by the commitment of players to challenge each other, support each other, and focus daily on getting better as individuals and as a group. The team continues to work toward developing a level of cohesiveness that will largely determine our success this season. It’s really exciting to see this developing, and makes me very excited for what lies ahead!
You can follow @sanford_fieldhockey on Instagram.
FOOTBALL
HEAD COACH: Mark boissonneault
Coach Boissoneault has been coaching as an assistant for 32 years, and is ready to step into the role of Head Coach. Last year, he was voted the 2023 Class A South Assistant Coach of the Year, so the Spartans are in great hands.
How did your 2023 season go?
Finished the year with a 5-5 record and lost in the quarter-finals vs Thornton Academy.
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
Seniors include Ryland Avery, Gavin Strout, and Canton Hill. Juniors include Brady Boissonneault, Jonny Hunter, Drew McGrath, Jayden Franco, and Ricky Callis.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
Our Goal is to always compete at every facet of the game … Make playoffs and pursue to win at the highest level possible.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Watching these players compete.
GOLF
HEAD COACH: Rossie Kearson
Coach Kearson returns for his 12th season with the Spartans.
How is the team looking this year?
We’ve got a total of twelve players, including one girl!
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
Returners include Noah Corliss, Brody Baron, Brayden Baron, and Max Lapointe. They are scoring mid to high 40s to low 50s. For newcomers, Cameron Payeur and Carter Giroux; both are shooting mid to
high 40s.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
We have the potential to win a couple of matches and progress as the season goes along.
BOYS SOCCER
HEAD COACH: BILL PUFFER
Coach Puffer enters his third season as varsity coach but has significant coaching experience on his resume.
How did your 2022 season go?
2023 was a tough year finishing with a record of 1-12-1. Although we did not win, we had a lot of very close games.
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
Top returners include Gavin Hebler, Levi Mann, and Cam Provencher. Newcomers Ivo Mpeko and Eliaquim Hebo will be exciting to watch!
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
Goals and expectations for the season is to win more games than last year as well as have a balanced team. Staying injury free is a goal but also an anticipated challenge. We lost two of our top seniors Cole Adawadkar and Isiah Cole due to ACL tears
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Most looking forward to watching the boys play and compete over the course of the season. We’re hoping to get more fans out to support all the sports teams this year. The players really feed off of the crowd and they can get motivated from their peers cheering them on.
GIRLS SOCCER
HEAD COACH: DAVID McCALL
Coach David McCall enters the head coaching position having been an assistant varsity coach for the last few years. He’s eager to continue growing the program and is excited to step into the leading role.
How did your 2023 season go?
We completed the 2023 season with 9-4-1 record, and defeated Bonny Eagle 4-1 in the first round of playoffs. Unfortunately we lost to Gorham 3-2 in the following round.
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
We’re seeing most of our starting lineup return, which is very exciting. Top returners include starting goalie Sophie Olivo (’26), defensive backs Savannah Knight (’25), Kya Duprey (’25), Mackenzie Taylor (’26) and Ami Kane (’26); midfielders Addie Fiandaca (’25), Ava Hudson (’26), Bella McCall (’26), Annalise Stimmell (’26); and forwards Brielle Landry (’25) and Kailyn Stuart (’27). We also have some very competitive newcomers working hard with our core group of returners.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
Our goals are to have great teamwork and play hard, competitive soccer with all of the top-teams in the league. We will take every practice and every game as a chance to compete and get better. We want to make the playoffs and make some good things happen there!
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Just every day having a competitive group of great kids with strong character- all working together for a common goal!
To follow along with this team, follow @sanfordspartansgirlssoccer on Instagram.
VOLLEYBALL
HEAD COACH: Ryan Geary
This is Coach Geary’s first season as head coach for the Spartans, but is familiar with the program having stepped in to help with JV last year. He’s also in his second year teaching at SHS.
How did the 2023 season go?
Last season was a very successful season for our young program. The team went 9-5, finishing 5th in Class A. We hosted a preliminary playoff game against South Portland, winning 3-0 before our quarter-final game at Deering.
Who are the top returners, and/or newcomers this season you are excited about?
At least three returners should be on every scouting list of players to watch. Ellery Genest (Setter), Leah Soucey (Libero), and Samone Gallagher (Hitter). All three earned All-Conferences honors last season, with Gallagher earning a Second-Team All-State nod for her dominating performances.
What are your goals and expectations for this season? Any challenges you anticipate?
Unlike in years past, Sanford is now a mecca for volleyball, and we plan to prove that to Maine.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I am most looking forward to getting some more energy at our home games. Pack the Barn, and bump, set, spike!
To follow along with this team, follow @sanfordvarsityvolleyball on Instagram.
Editor’s note: We will wait to preview cheerleading for their competition season!
The Spartan Times 