As March Madness comes to a close, high school sports are getting started for the spring season. Here is the outlook on the Rams’ spring teams for 2025.
BASEBALL: Coach Ed Smith
Last year the Rams ended the season with a record of 11-7 and lost to eventual state champion Scarborough after beating Sanford in the first round of the playoffs. The team graduated seven seniors from last year and three were everyday players: Brady Arsenault (OF), Caden Smith (OF/1B) and CJ Whitehead (C/ OF). Coach Smith shared, “we will look to replace their skills and strong leadership with another strong group of seniors and experienced varsity players.”
This year’s captains are Mason Finck (C/3B) 2025, Jack Karlonas (LHP/1B) 2025, Casey Skolfield (RHP/LF) 2025 and Miles Brenner (RHP/SS) 2026. Coach added, “All of those guys will be impact players to watch along with Hunter Finck (RHP/ IF) 2027 and Wyatt Nadeau (RHP/1B) 2025, who returns to Gorham after spending his junior year at prep school.” Finck will play at USM next year, Karlonas at Husson and Nadeau at Vanderbilt.
Coach reiterated, “We expect to compete among the best teams in the league, but this is a tough league to win in and every team has a pitcher who can beat any other team, on any given day. There will be no easy games, and I expect tough battles day in and day out. Defending State Champion Scarborough is the team to beat and SP, TA, Falmouth, Massabesic, Noble and Marshwood will be very tough opponents.”
The players held a youth clinic earlier in the spring to fundraise for their spring preseason trip to Rhode Island. Coach shared,“once again this year the players will be found on off nights, volunteer umpiring Little League games throughout the season.”
BOYS LACROSSE: Coach Zach Bryant
Last season ended with a 3-11 record with multiple one goal losses. Coach shared, “It was a young team with lots of players returning this year who gained confidence as freshmen and sophomores starting on varsity.”
Coach added, “Our biggest loss from last year is senior goalie Bode Bragdon, he was a defensive leader on the field and a brick wall between the pipes. We have 3 goalies this year battling it out for the starting spot, with some big shoes to fill.”
According to coach Bryant, Cole Chase had a good sophomore season, but I think he’s set to have a big year as a junior. His off hand has gotten better and he’s dodging with more confidence than last season. With his speed and ability to shoot on the run he’s going to be a tough midfielder to keep up with.
Max Duplisea is a two-time captain and a starting varsity player sinse his freshmen year. Max is a lock down defender and has great stick skills, he’s a big threat in transition and isn’t afraid to shoot the ball. Lucas Graham is a big lefty shooter. With a hammer of a shot he can finish from deep or inside. Lucas has gotten faster sinse his sophomore season and I can tell his field vision has increased. As a first-year captain his leadership has been great on and off the field.
Top opponents for the Rams this year will be Scarborough, Windham and Falmouth.
Photo credit: Colleen HealGirls lacrosse in action
GIRLS LACROSSE: Coach Meghan Cushing
Last Season the girls lacrosse team had a regular season record of 10-4, won their preliminary playoff game vs. Scarbrough and lost to Windham in the quarterfinals. Nine seniors graduated.
Coach shared, “This season we have six seniors leading our program. Some key returners are Piper Forgues, midfield, and Violet James, defense. We will also be led by Logan Doughty, junior midfielder, and Kennady Peary, sophomore midfielder. Both had dominant seasons last year and both will be impact players for us this season.”
Coach added, “The goals for this season are to continue building on the foundation that was set last year to establish us as a dominant program in the league.”
Challenging opponents for the rams will be Kennebunk, Falmouth and Windham.
Other news for the girls’ lacrosse program, on May 9, 2025 at Scarborough the team will be raising money for the American Heart Association. Varsity will play at 5:00 PM. Also, the team will be collecting items for the Backpack Program – Game TBD for that community event.
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD GIRLS: Coach Christina Stone
Coach shared, “We have one of the biggest rosters we have carried in years with almost fifty girls. This year’s team is a strong mix of veteran athletes and newcomers, eager to learn and compete. The veteran group is headlined by senior captain Lindy Moreland who will compete as a multi-event athlete at Southern New Hampshire University. Lindy is versatile, experienced, and will lead the team in the long jump, high jump, hurdles, and javelin. Other senior captains and leaders include Bailey Hatch and Abby Rogers, who will contribute a veteran presence in the sprints and two legs of the 4×100 relay. Zoe Dellinger, a junior and a captain, will set the tone for the distance group and run relays and open distance events.”
Grace Cunningham’s versatility will help the team cover a variety of events, and other juniors will carry the team with their experience. Most notably, Jessie Moreland and Laurel Emerson bring a strong mix of dedication and talent to carry them through the season, poised to score.
Coach added, “Though Scarborough has a few athletes who can score big points in big meets, Gorham’s numbers might help them be the surprise team in the postseason, much like they were during indoor track.”
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD BOYS: Coach Jason Tanguay
Last season, the team finished as runners-up in both the SMAA and state championships.
Coach shared, “This season, we are looking to find our identity as we graduated some outstanding athletes. Many of which have gone on to compete in college. We do have some great returning athletes who will be called upon to mentor and guide our new athletes so we can be competitive in the league and post season.”
Top returners include: Riley Dever, senior, middle distance; Griffin Gammon, senior, HJ, LJ & javelin; Finn Henderson, senior, middle distance; Kuba Kaczmarek, senior, jumps; Nick Munyaneza, senior, jumps; Logan Brassard, junior, jumps; Shane Morrison, junior, sprints, HJ; Devin Swanson, junior, PV; Harvey Crider, sophomore, long distance; Jack Cyr, sophomore, sprints; Antoine Dube, sophomore, sprints and hurdles; Everett Hurder, sophomore, racewalk; Kevin Munyaneza, sophomore, hurdles and jumps; Nick Sallinen, sophomore, middle distance.
Photo credit: Aaron LandryBoys Tennis L-R Logan Wilson, Owen Spera, Jacob Shvets, Patrick Downey
BOYS TENNIS: Coach Aaron Landry
Last year the team finished 4th in the league and lost in the Regional Semifinal to the eventual State Champion. The team is anchored by the returning doubles teams of Senior Captains Owen Spera / Jacob Shvets and Logan Wilson / Patrick Downey with Tyler Olsen (Jr) / Logan Spera (So) and Will Andreasen (So) / Cohen Landry (So) in support. The singles ladder is less clear at this time as Seniors Will Johnson and TJ Nagel, Juniors Derek Luo, Jeremy Hansen, TJ Nagel, and Sophomore Isaiah Whitehead all aim to be in the top four.
Coach added; “We look to improve on last year’s result and make a deep run in the playoffs. We also look for our players to qualify for the state single and newly created state doubles tournament in May.”
GIRLS TENNIS: Coach Nicole Bergeron
Last season the girls’ tennis program had a record of 10-2, with no seniors on the roster.
Coach shared; “The underclassmen stepped up and faced some very challenging competition with excellent results, especially big wins over Scarborough and TA.”
Player to watch this year is: Jasmine Radjabova. As a sophomore, Radjabova is already playing the first position on the team. This year’s seniors include: Julia Reed, Sarah Rosingana, Payton Thibodeau, Hadley Foster and Lucy Orlando. Coach added; “We will be losing a strong set of experienced and skilled girls.”
Expected challenges will once again be Scarborough and Thornton Academy.
Coach concluded; “I’m happy to see enthusiasm for this program, despite the condition of the high school courts which are much more than an inconvenience to parents and students alike. It shows great character and determination and an undying support from the parents of Gorham. I’m hoping that in the future, this program will not be forced out, and will only grow stronger.”
SOFTBALL: Coach Jason Dubail
Last Season the team finished 13-4 and lost to Scarborough in the playoffs. Eight seniors graduated form that squad.
Players Returning include: Captains: Lily Tukey SR OF, Winnie Dubail SR 1B, Lucy Dubail SR C/OF, Sawyer VonderHaar JR SS, Terra Rioux JR OF, Abigail Buckelew JR C/3B, Bella McBrady JR P and Tatum Wing SO INF/OF. Newcomers: Brooklyn Giroux JR 2B/OF, Adyson Hutchins SO 2B, Maddy Leeper FR OF/P, Myka Bush FR 3B/OF and Sarah Wilson SO 1B.
Pitching: Bella McBrady (transfer from Deering) last year stats: 72 2/3 IP, 36 ER, 100 K, 1.79 WHIP Coach shared, “We
are very excited to have Bella pitching for us this year. She is an extremely talented pitcher who is expected to have a fantastic year.”
Returning Starters: Winnie Dubail will be starting at 1B for her 3rd year. She has a .400 average and .525 OBP over the last 2 years with 37 runs scored in 30 games.
Sawyer VonderHaar will be one of the top hitters in the South. She has slugged 15 extra base hits and 5 HRs in her freshman and sophomore seasons. She is moving from 3B to SS and will also be one of the best defensive SS in the South.
Lucy Dubail will take the lead as the catcher this year after playing OF the last 2 seasons. She has hit .350 the last 2 years.
According to Coach Dubail, Terra Rioux and Lily Tukey shared time last year in the OF and they are both ready to take on a starting role this year. Defensively they will be one of the better OF pairings in the South. Both are looking to showcase their hitting ability also at the top of the lineup. Tatum Wing was a swinger last year and will step into a starting role this year as a sophomore. She can play all over the field and we will use that ability this year. Abigail Buckelew will split time as a C and 3B. She will be looking to establish herself in the middle of the order this year. Players to Watch:Bella McBrady, she will be one of the top pitchers in the South. 100 Ks last season and hit .441 for Deering. Sawyer VonderHaar, one of the best hitters in the South. Power hitter that is getting better each year. 4 HRs last year to go along with 10 extra base hits as a sophomore.
Coach added, “Gorham had 8 seniors graduate last year with 5 of them being multiple year starters. This year’s team will be looking to continue where the last group left off. We will be strong up the middle with solid catching, pitching, SS and CF players on defense. RF and 1B are also very strong defensively. 2B, 3B and LF will have new varsity players but lots of experience playing softball just not at the varsity level. The early season will be a lot of work to get these spots ready for the speed of varsity softball, but they are more than capable of having a great year. Offensively, the top 6 players in the lineup are strong hitters with the middle of the lineup having a lot of success at the varsity level. The bottom of the lineup will have players new to varsity but are good at getting bat on ball and will put pressure on the defense.”
Coach concluded, “I think Cheverus and Windham are the 2 best teams and will be very hard to beat on any day. They are deep and have top level talent. Jules Pike at Kennebunk is one of the best in the State and will keep Kennebunk at the top of the standings all season long. Bonny Eagle will also be a team to watch as every year that team gets more experience and has a bunch of fantastic softball players.”
The team is looking forward to celebrating the Volleyball team again for winning the state championship. The entire team will throw out a 1st pitch at a game TBD.
Good luck to all of the Rams teams this spring season.