High School state finals

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STATE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

CLASS A

Time, site: 10 a.m., Bates College, Lewiston

Last’s season champion: South Portland boys, Waterville girls

Teams/players to watch: BOYS – Deering: Donny Drake (800 meters, mile, 3,200 relay), Brian Vail (55 dash, 400), Rob Sampson (shot put), Mike Peters (relay, 300/200), Sean Steinhagen (relay, 400/600); Waterville: Jesse Remillard (800, mile), Ryan Crowell (hurdles, long jump, triple jump), Homer (400, 60 hurdles); Brewer: David Haluska (mile, two-mile); Portland: Trey Gadbois (high jump, hurdles); GIRLS – Brewer: Heather Clark (two-mile, mile, 800), Danielle Lainez (hurdles, pole vault, triple jump); Thornton Acad.: Erin Hatch (hurdles, 200/300), Jenny Pierpont (60, 200), Katie Pierpont (hurdles), Teig Choroszy (800, pole vault); South Portland: Andrea Giddings (mile, two-mile); Ann Grazewski (400); Fiona Mokry (60, 200); Waterville: Steph Fitton (hurdles), Beth Shattuck (triple jump, long jump)

Outlook: The Deering boys from Portland look particularly strong, especially in the sprints and middle distance races, but they’re vulnerable in field events, an area in which Waterville is fairly strong. If Waterville is to win its first state title, overall balance could give it the edge, but points will be hotly contested. Thornton of Saco’s girls team is riding a convincing win over South Portland at the SMAA title meet. Waterville won a squeaker with Brunswick and Brewer was impressive in taking the EMITL title last week. The time is right for a new champion to succeed three-time defending champ Waterville as the Purple Panthers lost lots of firepower to graduation last year.

CLASS B

Time, site: 10 a.m., University of Southern Maine field house, Gorham

Last’s season champion: Ellsworth boys, Greely girls

Teams/players to watch: BOYS – Greely: John Loren (55, 200, 400), Kerry Burke (high jump); Hampden: Brian Herasymchuck (800, mile, two-mile), Trainer Kapler (55, 200); Old Town: Kalle Eko (triple jump, long jump), Tyler Eastman (shot put); Gorham: Ben Byther (400, shot put), Nason (55, 200), David Baker (hurdles); Bucksport: Gunner Siverly (200, 400, relay); GIRLS – Greely: Kate Mason (55, 200), Abby Chapman (800, mile, two-mile), Alexis Heimann (200, 400, relay), Gessy LePage (mile, two-mile); Hampden: MacKenzie Rawcliffe (hurdles, triple jump, long jump), Oriana Farley (400, 800, mile); Gorham: Ashley Freeman (high jump); Old Town: Cassie Hintz (mile, two-mile)

Outlook: The girls meet looks like two-time defending champ Greely of Cumberland Center’s to lose, as the Rangers return a team a boatload of talent from last season and have at least one athlete in all 14 events. Hampden has good talent and depth, but will be hard-pressed to match Greely’s. The boys meet shapes up as a battle between Greely, Hampden, Old Town and Gorham, any of which could sneak away with a title. The Broncos won last week’s EMITL title meet. Gorham is gunning for its first state title in four years.

SWIMMING AND DIVING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

CLASS A GIRLS

Time, site: 9 a.m. preliminary heats, 3 p.m. finals; Greason Pool, Bowdoin College, Brunswick

Teams competing: Cape Elizabeth, Cheverus, Brunswick, Deering, Bangor, Massabesic, Messalonskee, Morse, Lewiston, South Portland, Brewer, Westbrook, Mount Ararat, Sanford, Thornton, Biddeford, Skowhegan, Edward Little, Portland, Cony, Bonny Eagle

Last’s season champion: Cape Elizabeth

Teams/players to watch – Cape Elizabeth: Taylor McFarlane (200 freestyle, 200 IM), Jill Horan (100 free), Emily Caras (100 butterfly, 500 free); Brunswick: Laurin Lemieux (200 IM), Abbie King (50 free, 100 free); Bangor: Cami Howard (200 IM, 100 back), Kayle Shapero (200 free, 500 free), Lucy Gross (100 fly, 50 free), Samantha Hartery (diving); Brewer: Kallie Pottle (50 free, 100 fly)

Outlook: The Capers likely have too much frontline strength, depth, and talent on the relays for anyone to overcome, but Brunswick and Bangor will be gunning for an upset. McFarlane looks unbeatable in the 200 free and IM, although the events are consecutive and she could be tired. Howard is ranked second in the 200 IM and third in the back. The Rams were just over a second off Cape’s top 200 free relay time. Bangor could score four divers in the top six, which would be a big points boost.

CLASS B GIRLS

Time, site: noon preliminary heats, 6 p.m. finals; Wallace Pool, Orono

Teams competing: Scarborough, Falmouth, McAuley, Mount Desert Island, Old Town, Greely, Foxcroft, Waterville, North Yarmouth, Kennebunk, Boothbay, Camden Hills, Lincoln Academy, Ellsworth, John Bapst, Winslow, Erskine, Yarmouth, Saint Dominic, Belfast, Orono, Presque Isle, Caribou, Gardiner

Last’s season champion: McAuley

Teams/players to watch – Scarborough: Jennifer Flaherty (200, 500 freestyle); Falmouth: Alyson Tozier (200 free, 100 butterfly), Gina Mancini (50 free, 100 breaststroke); McAuley: Kary Goodman (100 fly); MDI: Jamie Garver (100 backstroke, 200 free), Iris Meehan (200 IM); Old Town: Libby Caldwell (50 free, 100 back), Kate Noonan (200 IM), Yanghee Kwon (100 fly)

Outlook: The two-time defending state champs will get a stiff challenge from Scarborough, which has the top seed in two relays and is second in another. Flaherty is seeded first in the 200 and 500 free events. Falmouth also has strong relays and a group of tough frontline swimmers. Garver is ranked first in the 100 back and third in the 200 free and the Trojans are seeded in the top five in all three relays.

STATE SKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS

CLASS B

Sites: Alpine events at Sunday Ski Resort in Newry beginning Monday. Nordic events begin Monday at Black Mountain Ski Area in Rumford. Championship runs through Wednesday.

Last year’s champions: Fryeburg girls, Maranacook of Readfield boys

Teams to watch: Maranacook, Fryeburg, Fort Kent, Leavitt

Skiers to watch: Greely’s Ben True is the defending classical cross country state champion. Maranacook’s Steve Monsulick and Lake Region’s Peter Gately in Nordic events. Gray-New Gloucester’s Peter Lobozzo in Alpine and John Bapst’s Richard Collenburg in Nordic events. Leavitt’s Kira Beckel and Megan Dumais are part of a strong cross country team. Hampden Academy’s Alyssa Forrest in both disciplines and teammate Emily O’Connell in the slalom and giant slalom.

Outlook: The Fryeburg girls have won the last two state championships while the Maranacook boys have won state titles four of the last five years. One coach said B is up for grabs and there are many “sleepers” in the field.

CLASS C

Site: Alpine events at Big Rock Ski Area in Mars Hill beginning Monday. Nordic events at Maine Winter Sports Nordic Heritage in Presque Isle beginning Monday. Championships run through Wednesday.

Last year’s champions: Madawaska boys and girls

Teams to watch: Madawaska, Jay, Freeport, Livermore Falls

Key skiers: Jay returns last year’s skimeister in Rachel Gagnon. Madawaska’s Rosa Londono was second a year ago and teammate Kristen Guerrette should provide a strong challenge. Freeport’s Max Hames, Livermore Falls’ Matt Brochu and Jake Letendre, and Madawaska’s Michael Arnold and Bryan Sirois.

Outlook: Madawaska’s girls have won the last three state championships and the boys have won four in the last six years. Freeport, Jay, and Livermore Falls should be in the mix.