Erskine High School fall sports previews
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Dianna Fredrikson (7th season)
Last season: 7th in KVAC B, 11th in Eastern B
Top returners: Nicole Morrisette (Sr.), Kate Reynolds (Sr.), Alex Portella (Sr.), Corrine Roberts (Jr.), Mallory Rauch(So.), Jessica Spencer (Jr.), Megan Devine (Sr.), Brooke Bell (Sr.), Katie Bell (Jr.), Bethany Britten (Jr.)
Key newcomers: Alley Reynolds (So.), Andrea Lees (So.), Taryn Love (So.), Angelika MacMunn (Jr).
Outlook: The Erskine girls program appeared to turn a corner last year as they wone three meets, including the one they hosted. The senior Morrisette looks very strong and has maintained a rigorous training schedule to prepare for this season. according to Fredrikson. Reynolds, Portella, Rauch and Roberts should round out the top five positions.
Coach's comment: "I am very optimistic about this years team potential.
They appear to be in better condition than in past years. We had a
volunteer summer program, which contributed to maintaining fitness
throughout the summer."
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Coach: Bryant Bourgoin (8th season)
Last season: 7th in KVAC Class B, 10th in Eastern B
Top returners: Jake Rollins (Sr.), Sam Seekins (Jr.), Aaron Gilbert (Jr.), Adam Childs (Jr.), Jason Grotton (Jr.), Jesse Elliot (Sr.), Ryan Spicer (Sr.), Jared Lenfelt (So.)
Key newcomers: Colby Sylvain (Sr.), Eben Hodgkins (Fr.), Spencer Gray (Fr.), Ryan Wood (Fr.), Alex Wood (Sr.), Kevin Graham (So.), Aaron Bengtson (Fr.).
Outlook: Rollins and Seekins will lead this Eagles squad again this year. With increased numbers in the last few years, Bourgoin thinks Erskine should be able to improve upon their finish at the KVAC meet. Seekins finished 15th in the Eastern B regional last fall as a sophomore. The coach has also been impressed with Elliot and Gilbert so far.
Coach's comment: "A good goal is to send at least three runners to the state meet. Teamwise, I would like to be in the top third of Class B."
GOLF
Coach: Mike Soule (5th season)
Last season: 5-5
Home course: Natanis
Top returners: Nick Cennamo (Sr.), Matt Corey (Sr.), Matt Vincent (Sr.), Shawn Carroll (Jr.), Nick Kenoyer (Jr.), Kelin Kruithoff (Jr.), Steven Wight (Jr.).
Key newcomers: Andrew Ballantyne (Sr.), Paden Pillow (Fr.), Simon Rollins (Fr.).
Outlook: The Eagles return seven players, including Kruithoff, who moves into the No. 1 spot after two years at No. 2. Corey, Cennamo and Vincent should all consistently shoot in the 40s, Soule said.
Coach's comment: "We were .500 last year, and I think the guys coming back would like to improve on that."
FIELD HOCKEY
Coach: Lori Dube (1st season)
Last season: 3-10-1 in Eastern B
Top returners: B Andrea James (Sr.), B Maureen Mahaney (Sr.), B Jordan Mullins (Sr.), M/F Stephanie Smith (Sr.), M/B Holly Theberge (Sr.), B Megan Porter (Sr.), F Amelia Jackson (Jr.), F Emily Woodbury (Jr.), B Emily Jordan (So.).
Key newcomers: M/F Kaci Hudson (Jr.), F Meghan Kothman (Jr.), B Christine Resendez (Jr.), F/M Megan Wright (Jr.), B Carleigh Wilson (So.), G Barbara Outten (So.), G Tabitha Plourde (So.), G Samantha Patterson (So.), M/F Lauryn Cote (Fr.).
Outlook: The Eagles are a hard-working team but most of the players arrive at the school with no foundation in field hockey. That and some knee injuries are things Erskine will have to overcome this fall. Veterans like Theberge and Woodbury will be counted on after Erskine lost about half of its starting lineup to graduation.
Coach's comment: "I think that we have a lot of potential. I'm impressed with their work ethic so far this preseason. We have a lot to work on, but with practice, we should be better and better."
BOYS SOCCER
Coach: Phil Hubbard (5th season)
Last season: 6-7-1 in Class B East
Top returners: MF Nick Grady (Sr.), MF Jordan Lyford (Sr.), F Devon Veilleux (Sr.), D Everett Fowle (Jr.), D Ryan Hall (Jr.), D Travis Lee (Jr.), MF Danny Belanger (Jr.), MF Jackson Fortin (Jr.), MF Jacob Miller (Jr.).
Key newcomers: D Patrick Dow (Jr.), D Ethan Foster (Jr.), D Cody Grasse (Jr.), MF Lucas Miller (Jr.).
Outlook: Of the the 59 players who tried out, five were seniors and 25 were freshmen, so the future looks bright. As far as the present goes, the team returns six juniors or sophomores who started last season. Hall is a versatile defender while Grady is the leading returning scorer.
Coach's comment: "I think we're going to be solid. We're still young, but I have a strong junior class that's very committed."
GIRLS SOCCER
Coach: Ryan Nored (2nd season)
Last season: 15-1-0, reached East B semis
Top returners: MF/F Callie Thompson (Sr.), MF Amanda Tower (Sr.), MF Brittney Doughty (Sr.), D Jenna Marcellino (Jr.), D Cathy Batchelder (Jr.), D Paige Plummer (Jr.).
Key newcomers:D Jess Souther (So.), MF Kimmy Bradbury (Jr.), D Katie Morissette (Jr.), F Nicole Bernhardt (Jr.), G Crystal Morin (Sr.), MF Olivia Michael (Sr.), MF Meg Thompson (Jr.), MF Brooke Glidden (Jr.), D Meg Helm (Jr.), F Natasha Sprague (So.).
Outlook: Forty-eight tried out for a team that graduated the bulk of a lineup that went unbeaten in the regular season. Goalie Crystal Morin, who served as backup the past two seasons, will have a strong defense in front of her. A proven goal scorer or two will need to emerge for the Eagles to challenge the top teams in the conference.
Coach's comment: "Following last year is going to be tough, but I think we'll be OK."
PREVIOUS WEEK'S SPORTS
See Morning Sentinel sports
Questions/Comments
