EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Scott Berube (fourth year); assistant: Tara Eretzian (first year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Boys: KVAC champions, second at states; Girls: Second at KVACs, fourth at states
Top returners: Boys: Seniors — Kai Thistle, Joe LeBlanc; Juniors — Ben Cuetara, Calvin Vincent, Finn Kunas; Sophomores — Carter Hill, Sawyer Shanaman, Nathaniel Bigos-Lowe. Girls: Senior — Anaya Egge; Juniors — Maddie Ranger, Clara Wilson, Lola Cunningham
Key losses: Evan O’Donnell, Ethan Levesque, Kaelyn Langlois.
Promising newcomers: Boys: Peyton Langlois, Luke Wilson, Landon Folker, Zenon Marris, Cameron Hughes. Girls: Ellie Porter, Caroline Bosse.
Season outlook: The Red Eddies have a young team but Berube said there are good leaders and lots of depth on the boys side. The girls team may be small in numbers, but it is “mighty in talent and fortitude,” Berube said.

GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER PATRIOTS
Coach: Heidi Hackett (first year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Top returners: Seniors — Gus Pfeifle, Avalyn Beaudin, Rylee Brooks; Juniors — Jacob Buckley, Emery Ouellette, Brayden Russell, Matt Ladd, Thomas Sucharzewski
Season outlook: Using their skills and knowledge, the Patriots will continue to push each other to their limits. Captains Ava Beaudin and Rylee Brooks are leading the team through strength training and teaching course inspection strategies before each race.

LEAVITT HORNETS
Coach: Scott Berube (fourth season)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Top returners: Senior — Sophie Simard; Sophomore — Ava Twitchell.
Promising newcomers: Senior — Jade Haylock; Junior — Sage Dunn.
Season outlook: This will be the first year in some time that the Leavitt girls will have enough to skiers to score as a team. Led by All-State and all-conference racer Sophie Simard, the Hornets look to earn solid results with the support off second-year racer Ava Twitchell and newcomers Sage Dunn and Jade Haylock, who also is skiing for the Leavitt Nordic team.

MT. ABRAM ROADRUNNERS
Coach: Leah Danala (10th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Top returners: Junior — Addie Paul; Sophomores — Cheyenne Allen, Caitlyn Doucette
Key loss: Trey Reed
Promising newcomers: Harlee-May Wyman, Kaitlin Danala, Monica Buck, Alex Moody.
Season outlook: Leah Danala said Mt. Abram is looking forward to a great season with a really young and energetic group of skiers who are working hard in the gym and ready to get onto the snow.

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Matt Reynolds (1st year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: Girls: Sixth at states, third at KVACs; Boys: 11th at states
Top returners: Girls: Senior — Maddie Morton. Boys: Senior — Brodie Farmer
Key losses: Katie Yeaton, Trent Beaudoin
Promising newcomers: Girls: Sophomore — Malina McKendry; Freshman — Scout Simpson. Boys: Freshmen — River Wilkie, Koa Dumont.
Season outlook: This is a season of change with a new coaching staff that hopes to continue the Mt. Blue tradition that previous coach Mark Cyr established over his 20-year career. Each athlete brings their own style and athletic ability. The underclassman should make an immediate impact.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY FALCONS
Coach: Todd Papianou (ninth year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Top returners: Girls: Lily Boulanger, Aubrey Farnum. Boys: Dexter Rice, Whyatt Perham, Cahlil Durant, Nick McWilliams
Season outlook: Papianou said the Falcons are struggling to keep racing alive with the disbandment of the middle school team, the Black Mountain weekend program attracting primarily out-of-town and out-of-state skiers, and declining incomes per household in the area. He added that other sports like softball and field hockey have attracted former girls’ skiers to pursue off-season travel programs over skiing in the winter.

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Carter Bowers (first year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Top returners: Seniors — Gigi DeVivo, Richard Dietrich; Juniors — Alyson Cash, Samantha McPhail; Sophomores — Grady Miller, Elizabeth Wilkens
Key losses: Saige Winslow, Jack Bessette, Ross Campbell
Promising newcomers: Sophomores —Rowan O’Hanlon, Keyra Robertson; Freshman — Sam Landis
Season outlook: Oxford Hills is looking to build on a promising 2023-24 season with plenty of upperclassmen returners on the girls’ side, led by last year’s KVAC Skier of the Year, Gigi DeVivo, along with juniors Alyson Cash and Samantha McPhail and sophomore Elizabeth Wilkens. Newcomer Keyra Robertson rounds out a strong girls squad that should compete for top results throughout the winter. Returners Richard Dietrich and Grady Miller will set the tone for the boys and lead the way for promising newcomers Rowan O’Hanlon and Sam Landis.

RANGELEY LAKERS
Coach: Jeff Hawksley (12th year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Girls: Ninth in giant slalom and 12th slalom at states.
Top returners: Girls: Natalie Stokes, Maddy Richards, Natalie Alves. Boys: Eden Laliberti, Dylan Lemay, Rylan Bottger
Promising newcomer: Grace Taylor
Season outlook: The re-opening of Saddleback Mountain helps the program keep growing, and this year the Lakers add a boys team. Hawksley said the girls will be competitive in the Mountain Valley Conference.

SPRUCE MOUNTAIN PHOENIX
Coach: Leah Danala (fourth year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Top returners: Sophomores — Ashley Nelson, Leah Welch
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Jackson Archer, Madison Korhonen
Season outlook: The Phoenix are continuously working to increase numbers, and this year has a promising mix of new and well-developed racers. Danala said she’s looking forward getting on snow, building skills and seeing results.

ST. DOMINIC SAINTS
Coach: Uel Gardner (second year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: Girls: Fifth in giant slalom.
Top returners: Junior — Cecile Brown; Sophomores — Hailey LaBrecque, Lily Bonney, Olivia Tassinari, Mia Henderson, Evelyn Caron.
Promising newcomers: Dylan Cobb (Poland), Elliot Hill (Oak Hill).
Season outlook: The St. Dom’s has its own girls team this winter made up of six skiers who competed last year. LaBrecque placed 12th in slalom and 13th in slalom at Class B championships, while Henderson took 17th in slalom. “This year will be another building year with a focus on fundamentals, competitive spirit and a desire to ski fast and take chances,” Gardner said. “The team has strong skiing skills and will focus on bringing 100% effort to the hill every day.” Dylan Cobb of Poland and Elliot Hill of Oak Hill are training with the Saints and will compete as individuals. Cobb finished fourth in the boys slalom and ninth in GS at the Class B championships in 2024.

TELSTAR REBELS
Coach: Bill Corrigan (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: B
Top returners: Seniors — Jocelyn Nivus, Lily Souther; Sophomores — Teresa Poudereux, Lucas Peterson, Carter Inman
Season outlook: Corrigan, in his first season as the Rebels head coach, said he’s “fortunate to be standing on the shoulders of Mark Duchart,” the middle school coach for Telstar’s area. Corrigan said the focus will be on powerful, effective movement and letting the skis teach the athletes.