The stage is set for a showdown in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B.

Waterville Senior High School is talented and deep enough this spring to win a fourth consecutive conference and state championship.

However, rejuvenated Winslow is talented and deep enough to challenge its rival.

“This is a group of seniors who have never lost in spring track,” Waterville coach Ian Wilson said. “They are really on a mission to win their fourth consecutive state championship. We have the potential to be just an awesome team this year.”

Added Winslow coach Shawn Carey: “We match up pretty well with everybody. Our program is getting bigger and better. We’ll be there. We’ll be competitive.”

In Class A, Cony junior Luke Fontaine is a state title contender in the distance events while Messalonskee senior Erik Anderson should challenge in the sprints. Lawrence also hopes to build on a fifth-place finish in the state meet last season.

Hall-Dale and Winthrop, despite graduating some talented athletes, should also field strong teams in Class C and the Mountain Valley Conference.

Elsewhere in Class B, Erskine returns a strong core of athletes while Maranacook hopes to rebound after losing several key point-getters from last season’s squad. Maine Central Institute should also improve from a year ago in Class B.

Although Waterville will be without Dominik Alexis this spring, the Panthers feature one of their most deepest teams in years.

“Our depth is just incredible,” Wilson said. “We have 63 boys on the team, and a lot of those 63 are very good athletes. We have strength in numbers and quality.”

Leading the way are a group of talented seniors that includes JD Gurski, Brad Loomis, Nate Theriault and Joe Sirois.

Gurski is the defending Class B state champ in the javelin. He reached 163 feet, 8 inches last season. Gurski also finished fifth in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth in the long jump at the state meet. Sirois finished second in the discus at the state meet, while Theriault (jumps) and Loomis (pole vault) should contend this spring as well.

The Panthers also feature a strong core of distance and mid-distance runners, including Tyler Roy, Nolan MacDonnell, Jeff Hale and Mike Nelson.

Winslow, meanwhile, returns the bulk of its indoor team that is coming off a strong season that included a second-place finish to Waterville in the KVAC B meet. Cody Souviney won the 55-meter hurdles at that meet, then finished third in the states. Newcomer Adam LeClair finished second to Souviney in the 55 hurdles at the league meet. LeClair also won the long jump at the league meet.

James Cassidy (distance), Colby Levesque (distance), Zach Ball (sprints, middle-distance) and Shaun McCutcheon (sprints) are poised for big springs as well. McCutcheon, a senior, won the 200 at the KVAC indoor meet.

“We ended up (with) 53 kids in indoor, which doubled our number from previous year,” Carey said. “We’re not losing much, but we’re gaining a lot. We’re no longer building.”

Also in Class B, Maranacook is coping with the graduation losses of Max HoddWells, Conrad Gilman, Cameron Madore and Jacob Knox.

“We lost some big guns,” Maranacook coach Ronn Gifford said. “But we still have some strengths.”

One will come in the race walk, in which Evan Vincent is coming off a strong indoor season. He was named an All-American in that event for his performance in the Nike Indoor Nationals in Boston.

“For a small team, we’ll have good coverage,” Gifford said.

Sam Seekins, (distance), Jacob Rollins (distance), Jackson Fortin (middle-distance) and Robbie Morang (jumps, sprints) will help Erskine stay competitive as well. Brandon Wilson (middle-distance) and Patrick Hapworth (javelin) will anchor MCI.

In Class A, Fontaine and Rick Orio will lead an experienced Cony team. Fontaine, one of the top distance runners in the state, won the mile and finished eighth in the 800 at the Class A indoor meet this winter. Orio can compete in an abundance of events, but should contend in the hurdles. He finished seventh in the 300 hurdles at the Class A meet last spring.

“Many of the athletes are coming off of fantastic indoor seasons,” Cony coach Shawn Totman said. “That additional experience combined with some quality newcomers should lead to an exciting season.”

Erik Anderson finished second in the 55 hurdles and 200 at the Class A indoor meet for Messalonskee. He missed the state outdoor meet last season with a hamstring injury and the goal, said coach Scott Wilson, is to keep him healthy all year.

Rossiter Mosher (middle-distance), Michael Brooks (middle-distance), Sebastian Peters (distance) and Brooks Spaulding (jumps) will lead Lawrence.

In Class C, Davis leads a veteran Hall-Dale team that could contend for the MVC title with Lisbon. Davis is the defending Class C state champ in the 3,200. Brad Longfellow (jumps), Ethan Solloway (sprints) and Kyle Bell-Colfer (throws and jumps) should also score well for the team.

Tom Conley (middle-distance) and Kevin Hart (sprints) should lead Winthrop. The Ramblers finished second in the league last season.

Bill Stewart — 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com