Athletes share their thoughts and expectations preceding the winter sports season

By Aiden Cote

Sanford, Maine — As the winter sports season at Sanford High School begins, athletes and coaches alike are excited to compete. Last year, numerous athletes across all winter sports were awarded for their high achievement and hard work. This year, we interviewed one notable athlete from each winter sport to gather their thoughts on the upcoming season. 

In the 2024-2025 winter sports season, the girls’ basketball team finished with an incredible record of 14-6. Mollie Puffer, who earned the team’s MVP award that year as well as conference awards, believes that they can do better. She stated in an email, “I expect us to make a deep playoff run, and I believe we have the roster to make it happen. I’m excited to return this year and use everything I learned from last season—both the successes and the failures—to be a better teammate, a better player, and give my all to this team.” 

The boys’ basketball team finished with a record of 6-13, earning a playoff spot. Dylan Gendron was awarded the MVP award and was recognized as an SMAA AA South First Team player. Regarding the upcoming basketball season, Gendron said, “The team is excited to get to work. I am confident that with the team and new coach we have, our team can make a deep run this year, hopefully bringing home a gold ball.” 

Sanford High School’s 2024-2025 cheer team qualified for states and finished eighth in the region, fighting hard against the fierce competition of southern Maine. Lillian McGrath, who was given the Most Improved award, stated, “This year I want to focus on improving and showing new skills and confidence in my cheer performance.” Those interested in visiting a cheer competition this season are in luck, as Sanford will host the Regional competition on Jan. 31, 2026. 

2024’s Sanford High School wrestling team finished with a record of 21-7, qualifying for Dual States before advancing to the quarter finals. Jack Van Gieson, recipient of an All-Academic SMAA recognition, believes that the team will remain a dominant force in Maine’s wrestling scene. “We’ll be a very solid team,” he stated. “We lost a lot of people last year, but we’re still going to come back just as strong as ever.”

Sanford didn’t have an official swim team last year, so interested SHS students competed alongside Massabesic. SHS Athlete Claire Pordon put up incredible performances in several categories. In the Southwesterns, Pordon placed 5th in the 200 free, 3rd in the 100 butterfly, and was part of a 2nd-place finish in the 400 free relay. During states, she placed 4th in the 100m butterfly. She stated that her goals for the upcoming season were to “place first at Southwesterns, and then I want to expand our team and at least have a relay at states that places.”

Last year’s indoor track team hosted an array of impressive athletes from SHS. A standout is Mattea Peters, who placed first in the southwestern JR 400m and qualified for the New Englands during state meet placers. She was awarded the team’s MVP award. When asked about her goals for the 2025 season, Peters stated, “I want to win states for 400, and as a team, I want to set really good relays.”

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