WHS girls’ soccer continues winning streak by shutting out Bonny Eagle

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High’s varsity girls’ soccer team played Bonny Eagle and earned its fourth consecutive victory in shutting out the Scots 4-0 at Windham on Friday, Oct. 10.

Windham sophomore Morgan Clark is about to shoot the 
ball at the goal during a girls' soccer game against
Bonny Eagle at Windham High on Friday, Oct. 10.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

Senior Marley Jarvais and Neve Ledbetter both scored in the first half. Sophomore Morgan Clark scored her first varsity goal in the second half, then Ledbetter found the back of the net again partway through the second half.

“I think a lot of effort and grit led to tonight’s win, we don’t give up,” said Clark. “Lately, we’ve been doing a really good job distributing through the middle and switching the field. That's something we've struggled with in the first part of the season, but we've worked really hard and we've gotten better at it. Our first touches (need work), but that will get better as the season goes on.”

The Eagles had solid defense and took multiple shots at goal with high intensity. Jarvais found the back of the net roughly 10 minutes into the half. Windham never let up. Senior Neve Ledbetter scored off a corner kick and Windham led 2-0 at intermission.

“I think the past couple weeks we've been working really hard, and we've been showing up to practice and showing up for each other,” said Ledbetter. “It was a team effort, and it started from the back, and it started from the first play. We’ve come out the second half (strong) to prove we belong in this game. I feel like the second half we played a little bit harder than the first because we're more warmed up and more ready to play. We should always play super hard for each other and who we represent.”

The second half brought just as much hustle as the first half as Windham’s offense continued to take shot-after-shot at goal.

Clark scored her first varsity goal when she sent the ball fast right at the goalie and it flew over their team’s fingertips and into the net.

“It had felt so good, especially after beginning to feel a little frustrated that I hadn’t scored with it being so late in the season,” said Clark. “The team had been talking to me about it during team dinners always saying how I was going to get one, and the coaches were also reassuring me. It felt good to score, but it felt even better to know I was supported by my team.”

Ledbetter scored again before the end of the second half. Windham commanded the field in the second half and defense kept Bonny Eagle away.

“Ever since our Kennebunk loss we’ve been focusing on better passing to feet and trying to read the defense; is the outside open, which tonight was the better way to go,” said Windham varsity girls’ soccer coach Deb Lebel. “We’re reading defenses better which has led to some success. One thing that’s going great is we’ve got a lot of people scoring – it was super exciting to have Morgan Clark score her first goal, she’s been working really hard, and they were all so happy for her. One thing that we can probably keep working on is not as many touches in the middle of the field because that’s where the ball gets stripped from us if we pass too slowly.”

On Monday, Oct. 13, Windham defeated South Portland, at South Portland High School, 6-1, to extend its winning streak to five. <

Youth Soccer Under-11 teams excel during Falmouth Fall Classic Tournament

By Matt Pascarella

Two Windham Youth Soccer Association Under-11 boys’ teams, one led by coach Chris Hadidian and another by coach Dustin Roma, played in the Falmouth Fall Classic, an annual tournament hosted by the Falmouth Youth Soccer Association. The three-day tournament brings in teams from all over the state and is a great opportunity for teams to see a wide range of skills and play against a variety of athletes.

Windham Youth Soccer Association Under-11 player Ryan
Richards is first to the ball during a Falmouth Fall Classic
game against Dirigo LLC at Falmouth on Sunday, Oct. 12.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

At the youth Under-11 level, only one Windham boys’ team was allowed, so the two WYSA teams played a combined game where each team played a half on Saturday, Oct. 11 against Portland where Windham won 7-1. Hadidian’s team played Brunswick and won 6-1 on Sunday, Oct. 12. Roma’s team played Dirigo LLC on Sunday, Oct. 12 and won 3-1.

“It felt amazing, and it was really fun to play in the tournament,” said WYSA youth-11 Roma player Ryan Richards. “We played ... two games, that’s pretty fun. Playing with our team was fun and soccer is just really fun.”

Richards said playing in the Falmouth Fall Classic helped him score more goals and scoring more goals makes you a better soccer player.

John Woodcock, a member of the Windham Hadidian team, said the tournament was fun and competitive; it’s always good to play against competitive teams.

Both teams are having strong regular seasons. Hadidian’s has a record of 5-0. Roma’s team has a record of 4-1.

Windham Hadidian versus Brunswick

Brunswick scored early, but Windham defense wouldn’t allow more than that goal. Windham’s John Woodcock scored and tied the game 1-1. Offense was really giving the Brunswick goalie a workout.

In the second half, Windham’s Archer Burnham scored. Windham had hustle and their offense remained strong.

Woodcock scored twice more before the final whistle.

“It's always good to play against other competitive teams,” said Woodcock. “We took more shots than usual from farther away and that profited in our favor. (He learned) it is important to have strong people to pass up field.”

Windham’s Eliace Hadidian and Trent Richard scored in the second half.

“They always bring the intensity, teamwork and lots of good passing,” said Chris Hadidian about what led to the team win over Brunswick. “They are fun to watch. The Fall Classic gives the boys more exposure to a wider variety of teams and possibly allows them the opportunity to play against a team they have not played before. The tournament helps them learn how to transition from playing one team to another all in a day or a weekend. I think it helps them greatly with their teamwork and personal development.”

Windham Roma versus Dirigo LLC

WYSA Roma started by working hard to be first to the ball. They passed well and took multiple shots on goal. Offense and defense were strong. Richards scored twice in the first half.

The second half brought just as much hustle from Windham as the first. Defense held back Dirigo though they did score once. Logan Poirier scored for Windham.

Richards said they were successful as a team because they had more scoring opportunities. It felt really good for him to score because his team needed that to stay ahead.

It’s a different type of intensity at a tournament,” said Roma. “All around the energy is just higher. Windham feeds off that energy; I feel for us, we play better in this environment, than playing a regular season game. High energy helps us a lot. It was having high intensity from the beginning that led to the win.” <

WHS football falls to South Portland in homecoming game

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High varsity football’s annual homecoming game against South Portland on Friday, Oct. 4 began with a powerful start in the first half. It was back-and-forth with the game tied at 19-19 at halftime but Windham lost some momentum in the second half while South Portland found the end zone twice and won, 33-19.

Windham sophomore Jordan Pastore intercepts a South
Portland pass and rushes up the field during a homecoming
football game at Windham High School on Oct. 3.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

“The bigger picture here is not wins and losses ... the season is not over,” said Windham varsity football coach Matt Perkins. “Our plan is to continue to get better. We’ve got guys who still are green and are trying to figure it out. We saw some major steps; we just got to continue to push and grind and get better. We’ve got a lot of guys who have grown up and are playing the game the right way. I’m proud of our guys and how we responded.”

Perkins said Windham swarmed to the ball well; they got in the red zone three or four times but needed to finish. The Eagles had some costly mistakes that caught up to them in the first half; they need to clean up those mistakes. It takes reps and time to work out those things.

Early in the game, on a first-and-10 for Windham from the 33-yard line, sophomore Patrick Davenport completed a pass to junior Tegan Perkins putting Windham on the 50-yard line for a first down. Another competed pass to Tegan Perkins and it’s first and goal. Windham attempted a field goal, which failed.

The Eagles’ defense didn’t let the Red Riots near their end zone early in the first quarter.

Junior Parker Sperry scored a touchdown. The extra point was good and Windham led, 7-0.

South Portland tied the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.

Following a completed pass from South Portland, they now led 13-7 after the extra point failed.

Senior Mason Arbour scored a touchdown and tied the game at 13-13 with less than a minute left in the first half.

“I thought we played a good game, came out strong, it’s not an effort issue it’s more cleaning up mistakes and trying to get our stuff right,” said Davenport, who threw for 138 yards and had 32 rushing yards. “I thought we did great with not getting bad calls and flagrant fouls, keeping our mouths shut, that helps a lot when we’re not losing yards on stupid penalties.”

Jordan Pastore, a sophomore, intercepted a pass with 20 seconds left in the second quarter. Arbour scored again and Windham led by six. Moments before the end of the first half, South Portland tied the game, 19-19.

Pastore said they need to keep their momentum up and stay focused. He was at the right place at the right time, and it felt really good to get that pick. 

“In the second half I think some kids were just waiting and expecting things,” said Tegan Perkins, who had three catches for 41 yards. “I saw after the interception where we just broke down and (South Portland) got the touchdown on the kick-return. Little things like that we just got to clean up. We got to know our roles and do them consistently and we’ll be good.”

The Red Riot offense scored two more times. Windham stayed in it, but did not score.

 

“We came out fighting in the first half, the second half was pretty slow; that’s something we just got to work on,” said Arbour, who had three catches for 25 yards and two TDs. “South Portland is a tough opponent, and we always got to fight against them. We had some great passing, obviously from Pat. We had some great defensive plays like Jordan’s interception. We defended the pass really well. We just got to work on the run a little bit. We got to work on everybody doing their own thing and once we do that as a team we will come together.” <

Raymond Parks and Recreation cross country club teaches kids importance of fitness through running

By Matt Pascarella

Raymond Parks and Recreation’s kindergarten through fourth grade cross country club have established a goal of helping young runners to understand the basics of running.

Raymond Parks and Recreation kindergarten through fourth
grade cross country club runner and second grader Ben Cyr
keeps up a good pace during the 1-mile race at Poland
Spring Resort in Poland on Saturday, Oct. 4.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

Aside from weekly practices, the team runs in four cross country races during the 10-week program. During the races, they can run a half-mile or a 1-mile run. They ran their most recent race at the Poland Spring Resort in Poland on Saturday, Oct. 4.

“A lot of the kids think running is just running hard,” said co-coach Sukie Dean. From a distance running perspective, we teach basic fundamentals. Making sure we’re nurturing their desire to run, they’re young enough where ... if it’s not nurtured, you get tired of running. It’s about building up a foundation.”

Raymond Parks and Recreation kindergarten through fourth grade cross country coaches Dean and Chanelle Sheridan said that they’ve seen immense improvements in the time since they began teaching the kids how to run most effectively. The focus for the club is on long-distance running.

There’s been growth in everyone’s confidence. Sheridan’s child, Bennett, went from running a half-mile to running a mile. She said they are all stepping up and wanting to do more than they did at first.

Also, there’s been a big improvement in the team environment. They cheer each other on during the races and are aware that each runner is at a different skill level. The runners who finish early wait for the rest of their team and high-five each other once they’ve completed the race.

Although running can be an individual sport, Dean said the kids are starting to build and understand what it means to be on a team.

Third grader Chase Nelsen said he joined running club because it makes him feel good to run. He really likes it.

“It was very hot ... it was mostly downhill and uphill; the race was fast, but ... I was thinking of that candy and popcorn that awaited me (at the end),” said Nelsen after running the 1-mile race on Oct. 4. “I did amazing. I can’t wait to find out what the next race is going to be like.”

First grader Olive Theriault said her favorite thing is to run because it makes her feel happy inside and she likes it a lot.

"The trail was good. It was shady and a little sunny,” said second grader Ben Cyr about running the 1-mile race on Oct. 4. “I felt good about the race because it’s going to be really helpful for soccer – it’ll be better for stamina, and it’ll give you more power running.”

Errol Bortles, a first grader, joined the Raymond Parks and Recreation cross country club because his favorite thing is running and he wanted to run more.

“We work really hard in practice to talk about that stamina and the endurance and to try to keep ... some fuel in the tank,” said Raymond Parks and Recreation kindergarten through fourth grade cross country co-coach Abby Feather Nelsen. “The energy at the meets is totally different so they’re excited to run and compete. We try to meet them on the trail and remind them of that stamina; here they are very determined and in the zone throughout the whole race.”

Feather Nelsen said everyone did so amazing, and they tried their hardest during the Oct. 4 race. A lot of them have a goal of trying to do better than they did in the last race. She said she was proud of how everyone did on Oct. 4. <

WHS volleyball earns second consecutive win by defeating Westbrook

By Matt Pascarella

After Windham High’s varsity volleyball team previously shut out Sanford, 3-0, the Eagles earned their second win of the season during a match against Westbrook at Windham High on Friday, Sept. 26. The match was pushed to the fifth set in a best-of-five sets contest and Windham won the match, 3-2.

Windham senior Sydney Harmon spikes the ball over the
net during a volleyball match against Westbrook at
Windham High School on Friday, Sept. 26.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“We knew that to win this we’d have to work together as a team and that’s something we’ve been working really hard on is trusting each other on the court,” said Windham senior libero Lauren Neal, who had 15 digs against Westbrook. “I think it really paid off tonight. Toward the end, our communication got a lot better, we were calling where things were going. I think our attitudes were pretty good throughout the match – we were staying positive. It was thinking about the big picture as the match was really close. We know we haven’t done our best this season and we want to be able to prove ourselves. A second win feels really good.”

Right out of the gate, Windham showed they were ready to win. Windham took the lead early and were able to hold onto it until the end of the set. At one point, Windham led by 11. Senior Josephine Sibley scored over 10 points serving in this set and Windham won the set in a 25-8 blowout. Overall, Sibley had 12 digs and nine aces.

In the second set, Westbrook took an early lead, but Windham wasn’t far behind. At one point Windham was down by seven points but fought back and tied the set, 19-19. Westbrook pulled ahead and took this set, 25-20.

The third set was tied 7-7 early on. Windham defense blocked a ball and allowed Windham to take the lead. Windham had a 10-point lead. With senior Rowan Cummings serving the Eagles reached set point and won, 25-14.

“It's not just winning,” said Cummings, who had two digs and four aces overall. “It's more about ... playing our best game. And playing up to how we know we're going to play. Our two main goals were communication and serve-receive. To bring that energy and support each other. It was having that communication and being there for each other (when the match got close) as a unit instead of individual players. I think what went really well was our energy, we had great serves, we had great hits. A big thing for us is to come into the game with a mindset of being our best, we need to have a more positive outlook to things because volleyball is a very error-surrounding game. We need to look at errors as ways to make improvements.”

In the fourth set, Windham fought hard to end the match here. Shortly, the set was tied 14-14 but Sibley spiked the ball, and the set was even closer. It was tied, 18-18, but Westbrook was able to pull ahead and won 25-20 to bring the match to a tiebreaker final set.

The fifth set is played to 15 and Windham jumped out in front early, and stayed there, as the Eagles’ defense kept Westbrook scoring to a minimum and Windham really came together. Quickly, it was match point and Windham won the deciding set, 15-6.

“We had lows, but we had more of the highs,” said Windham volleyball coach Chris Cloutier. “We found out how to get out of those lows a little bit faster. It tends to be on our serve-receive that we have a couple missed serve-receive and that’s what starts that low. It was just in serve-receive; they didn't carry it to hitting. We kept the errors in that area and didn’t let it spread to errors in our hitting and our serving. That is a good start to mental toughness. Tonight was a good step ... we’ve made progress from where we were. Back-to-back wins feels good; I think it’ll give the girls a little more confidence.” <

Windham Little League’s flamethrowers heating up fall ball

By Matt Pascarella

The 12-and-under “Swing Away” Windham Little League fall ball baseball team have three aces on their pitching staff in Windham sixth graders Byron Dansereau, Alex McGonagle and Elijah Sun. In seven games, the three players have pitched in 25-plus innings and have combined for over 70 strikeouts. Each pitcher consistently strikes out at least two batters an inning.

Windham Little League sixth grade pitchers Byron
Dansereau, left, Alex McGonagle and Elijah Sun gather
before a fall ball baseball game against Bonny Eagle
Atkinson in Buxton on Monday, Sept. 29.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

Swing Away coach Jason Sun said he noticed this skill in just their second game against Gray New-Gloucester that these three each had something special happening on the mound.

“In ... Byron’s first time pitching in the second inning had us out of it with three batters up, three batters down - all strike outs on 16 pitches thrown,” said Jason Sun. “I just remember thinking ‘wow, that was fast.’ In the third inning, Byron got the leadoff batter to ground out on the first pitch of the inning and then struck out the next two for a total of eight pitches in the inning. Elijah pitched the fifth and sixth innings, striking out three batters each inning. I started looking at the stats and realized Alex struck out three in the first inning. Collectively they had 14 strikeouts of their 15 outs; that is impressive. I looked at the stats from our first game and found their dominance wasn’t a fluke, Elijah had seven strikeouts through two innings and Alex had four strikeouts through two innings.”

Dansereau, McGonagle and Elijah Sun were preselected as the fall ball team captains and have set a tone of excellence. This team has players as young as 9-years old. The three captains provide outstanding role modeling for the younger players. In addition, each captain is hitting very well. When not pitching, McGonagle plays strong defense at first base, Dansereau is a powerful shortstop, and Elijah Sun is the solid arm at third base.

At this age, players are still learning the game, so when a pitcher takes the mound, their main focus just throwing strikes – and that can be somewhat of a challenge. While in his first year as a head coach, Jason Sun has been around Windham Little League for three years and by his assessment, the hardest thing for a pitcher at this level to do is throw strikes.

“I learned how (to improve) my pinpoint, my cutoff and how to improve my attitudes towards the players,” said McGonagle. “This season has been like a journey ... I’ve been doing so good lately throwing strikes, throwing heat. It’s just been great by having good coaches, and a good pitching staff.”

McGonagle began playing baseball in 2021. In his second year of fall ball, he started pitching. The more he threw, the better he became at it, and the better he became the more he liked pitching.

“First, I wasn’t very good, but we worked on it a lot,” said Elijah Sun. “I think if you put your mind to it, you can really achieve something. I think it was pretty cool watching somebody walk back to the dugout (after you’ve struck them out). Fall ball has been good. We’ve really ... faced some good teams.”

Elijah Sun started playing baseball three years ago. He wanted to pitch because it looked fun and he’s fallen in love with it.

“I was watching the Red Sox a lot, and I wanted to play a sport, so I chose baseball,” said Dansereau, who is in his second year of pitching. “It’s really fun, I like pitching and hitting and hanging out with my friends. I feel like I’m improving; pitching is fun. (All three of us) try hard and encourage the team.”

Dansereau was the starting pitcher in the Sept. 29 game against Bonny Eagle Atkinson. He said he was excited, but not nervous to start the game.

Jason Sun said these three pitchers have remained consistent since he first realized their abilities and said these three aces are good kids on and off the field. <

 

WHS field hockey stays neck-and-neck with Gorham but falls in second half

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High’s varsity field hockey team played Gorham at Gorham High School on Tuesday, Sept. 23 and despite a strong start for the Eagles in which they tied the game 1-1 at the half and 2-2 early in the second half, the Rams pushed ahead and outscored Windham 7-2 at the final buzzer.

Windham High senior Abby Trainor keeps the ball away from
Gorham defenders during a varsity field hockey game on
Tuesday, Sept. 23. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA
 

"I think we did good; we wanted to win really bad,” said Windham sophomore Sarah Smyth, who scored Windham’s two goals. “We just ran out of energy; we put all our best in the second half with the most momentum, but some calls didn’t go our way. We need to come out with that energy that we did in the first quarter and keep it up throughout the second half of the game and keep wanting to win and be first to the ball. I think we did really well with our corners, everybody was where they needed to be, and I think that our fast breaks up the field worked really well, and we did well around defenders. I think just finishing in the circle (needs work), we had a lot of shots, especially in that first half. We had many shots around the goal; they just didn't happen to go in.”

In the first quarter, Windham moved the ball well and defense kept Gorham mostly away from Windham’s goal. Offense had several shots on goal, but nothing went in.

Smyth scored from the corner with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter which tied the game, 1-1, at intermission.

In the first minute of the second half, Smyth scored on a corner shot as Windham took the lead.

Unfortunately, Gorham scored again and tied the game, 2-2, in the third quarter.

From this point on, Windham would fight hard, but Gorham took a big lead and scored goal after goal. The Rams held a three-point lead over the Eagles at the end of the third quarter.

“I think we definitely could have come out with more positive attitudes in the second half to defeat Gorham,” said Windham junior Morgan McLain. “We started to lose more and more hope after like two more goals (scored) in the third quarter, and I think that we all started to get really, really tired and ... then we couldn't just keep up with ourselves. We can take away from this to not let the scoreboard affect our emotions because we can obviously come back from whatever challenges we face because we are a strong team with a ... lot of good stamina. This has been our first game that's been a challenging one and we're not done. We still have a lot of motivation in us.”

The Eagles continued to fight hard, but Gorham made it difficult.

“(Windham) played the whole game, and they stayed in it,” said Windham varsity field hockey coach Maddy Perfetti. “We made the adjustments that we set out to make at halftime, and it just didn't work for us. There were a couple calls that ended up turning the momentum which was really tough. A lot of it comes down to momentum and who’s going to make more mistakes and who’s going to recover from those mistakes. It feels bad, but the attitude after the game and getting back to work is going to set us up for a good season. It was our first really competitive game, and it showed. We're ready, though. The first half was great; we were with Gorham, even into the third quarter, if not having more possessions than Gorham. Seeing those things and then seeing the attitude after the game, I feel strongly it’s going to be a great rest of the season.” <

Unbeaten Scarborough holds off Windham in boys’ soccer

By Matt Pascarella

Windham went up against undefeated Scarborough at Windham on Monday, Sept. 22 and while the Eagles made it especially difficult for the Red Storm in the first half and kept them scoreless for the first 60 minutes, Scarborough’s defense was equally as tough, and kept Windham scoreless for two halves. At the final buzzer, Scarborough won 2-0.

Windham sophomore Sean Lebel turns to quickly get by an
opponent during a boys' varsity soccer game against
Scarborough on Monday, Sept. 22 at Windham High
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“I think especially in the first 60 minutes we were creating opportunities,” said Windham senior Daniel Hancock. “We were possessing the ball, winning 50-50s, and that’s just the energy we need to keep the whole game. We were confident on the ball and that led to us getting more opportunities. We know we can play with any team in the state; it’s just playing that 80 minutes and scoring goals. That (scoreless for 60 minutes) gives us a little more confidence, but there’s still a lot of stuff to work on; it’s nobody’s fault, we just got to keep communicating and working at practice. If we fill those gaps in, we’ll be alright.”

Hancock said their problem all fall has been finishing; they need to score. He believes things are going to start clicking soon and they’ll figure it out.

Both teams started with incredibly strong defense. Windham went hard after the ball. Windham fired several shots at goal, but nothing got in.

Windham defense remained strong for the entire half as they made it difficult for Scarborough to score.

Senior Windham goalie Tate Robinson had several nice saves and the game was scoreless after one half of play.

“We prepared for the game really well and we expected to play with them,” said Windham sophomore Sean Lebel. “Our goal was to just hold them off as long as we could and put one in the back of the net, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. We had great opportunities in the first half, and we just ran out of gas in the second half. We were able to pair the ball really well we found marks in the back and when we were on the counterattack, we pushed the ball really quickly; we had a lot of good shots on net.”

Lebel said the mental and physical aspects need work. They need to build up more and stay connected.

In the second half, Windham came out with equal intensity as the first half, but it only lasted the first 20 minutes, which is when Scarborough scored.Windham kept their heads up and continued to fight.

Scarborough scored again, but Windham would not allow any more goals before the final buzzer.

“That first 60 minutes is the best we’ve played all year and that’s a huge success,” said Windham varsity boys’ soccer coach Jeff Neal. “The grind is there, the desire is there, the work rate is there, the believability is there in moments, but it’s not there consistently enough. We got to put the ball in the net and that’s something we’re working real hard at, and we’ll continue to work hard at and day-in-day-out. We had some great chances, it’ll come; everything seems to be right, but it’s not coming up right. We’re not going to get down on ourselves.

"We had some good combination play on the left flank in the first part of the second half but couldn’t connect that run on the finishing ball ... and when you're trying to push it a little bit that's a hard thing to sustain," Neal said. Hopefully we’re going to have some young players step up and we’re going to see some opportunities and just run, if it’s only five or six minutes if it gives some of our first-line guys a breather, I think tactically that’s something we need to look at more. Fuel in the tank – we ran out of it tonight.” <

Windham varsity football falls to Portland in waning minutes

By Matt Pascarella

Windham varsity football wasn’t going down against Portland without a fight in their season home opener at Windham High School on Friday, Sept. 12. The Eagles pretty much matched the Bulldogs touchdown-for-touchdown and led the game at halftime. Portland took the lead after the third quarter; but Windham answered and tied the game at 21 with 10 minutes remaining. Unfortunately, Portland scored late in the fourth quarter to edge out ahead and won, 28-21.

Windham junior Parker Sperry runs toward the end zone
during the WHS varsity football home opener against
Portland High on Friday, Sept. 12.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

“The biggest thing I see is our improvement from last week,” said Windham junior Parker Sperry, who had 104 rushing yards in the game. “We just got to put this game in the past and I think we’ve (taken) a big step since last week and we’ve got to work as hard as we’ve been working at practice and keep getting better. I think we definitely put up a battle against Portland. We got to all focus on our own job, and if we all focus on our own job we can come out with the ‘W’ next week. Effort went well; last week we had bad plays and hung our heads, this week we gave it everything we had and that’s all we need to do to win.”

In the first quarter, Portland had possession of the ball early, but Windham turned them over and took over on downs. The Eagles moved the ball up to a third and goal. Sperry ran the ball into the end zone to put Windham ahead, 6-0, after the extra point failed.

While Windham defense was strong, Portland scored before the end of the first quarter. Windham blocked the extra-point attempt, and the game was tied 6-6 after one quarter.

After Portland scored a touchdown in the second quarter, Windham sophomore Beckett Bragdon returned the kickoff all the way to the Eagles’s 48-yard line. Sophomore quarterback Patrick Davenport, who had 74 passing yards in the game, then connected on a pass to junior Tegan Perkins. Sperry then took the handoff and raced 25 yards for a touchdown. Junior Luke Drottar caught the two-point conversion and Windham led 14-13 at the half.

“We have a lot of young guys out there, and these guys are taking big steps, learning more and more each week throughout practice,” said Windham senior Ty Stahle. “You can see the improvement. We’re all starting to figure out everything we can do and then come together as a team. This was a big game coming in and we’ve been destroyed by Portland before and I’m glad that we fought hard and didn’t give up; I’m pleased with how we played.”

Portland scored another TD in the third quarter, but Windham didn’t let that go unanswered.

On a first-and-goal in the fourth quarter, Davenport ran eight yards for a touchdown. The extra-point conversion was good, and the game was tied 21-21, with just 10 minutes remaining to be played.

With just a little over 2 minutes left, Portland found the end zone to break the tie and take the lead, 28-21.

“I thought we swarmed to the ball pretty well defensively,” said Windham varsity football coach Matt Perkins. “Offensively we executed a lot better, guys made some good plays. We were right in the mix; I saw some really big improvements in our blocking and moved the ball pretty well. We could get better at the defensive-run game for sure. We had a turnover, shot ourselves in the foot a couple times and it caught up to us, but the kids played really well and we drastically improved.” <

Strong second half earns Windham varsity girls’ soccer win over Sanford

By Matt Pascarella

The WHS girls’ soccer team significantly overpowered Sanford at Sanford on Saturday, Sept. 13. Windham led 1-0 going into the second half and really turned up the intensity. The Eagles scored four goals in the second half; two goals from senior Neve Ledbetter, one from junior Mackenzie Delewski and one from freshman Logan Curry and at the final whistle, Windham seized a 5-0 win over the Spartans.

Windham freshman Logan Curry prepares to score a goal
during the final 40 seconds of a girls' soccer match against
Sanford at Sanford High School on Saturday, Sept. 13.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“I think in the first half we came out a little slow and we were probably not mentally prepared,” said Ledbetter. “In the second half we came out with more intensity, we worked harder, we played together more as a team and I feel like, overall, it was a better half for us mentally and physically. We played a lot better and showed ourselves in the second half.”

Windham attempted multiple shots at goal early on and their defense kept control of the pitch as Sanford had far fewer scoring opportunities.

On a direct kick late in the first half, Windham senior Marley Jarvais passed to Ledbetter who kicked in into the Sanford net putting Windham on the scoreboard, 1-0.

“Marley’s play was super creative,” said Windham varsity girls’ soccer coach Deb Lebel. “They did (the direct kick) indirectly, without us prompting. Once we made (Sanford’s) keeper go on her side – we knew she could save all those high ones – so we had to start putting it on the ground. (Sanford’s) keeper was extremely good and kept them in the game. We had some really nice shots. In the second half, we told them ‘you got to pick up the intensity just a little bit more.’ And they did. (Windham) started beating (Sanford) to balls, winning balls in the air; not giving up on balls and played through and that’s when we saw goals get to the back of the net.”

The increased intensity made a big difference on Windham’s side of the scoreboard. Delewski scored off a corner kick and a short time later, Ledbetter fired the ball from the side of the goal at just the right angle that it found its way to the back of the net.

With 23 minutes remaining Ledbetter scored again when she got out in front and fired the ball and sent it right past the Sanford goalie.

The Eagles’ defense continued to make things hard for the Spartans and Windham’s offensive attack did not let up the tiniest amount until the final whistle.

But before the match ended, Windham freshman Logan Curry scored her first varsity goal with just 38 seconds left.

"Maya (Dries) got the ball from a great pass and did a through ball right to me and I beat the defender and struck to the corner,” said Curry. “It felt amazing, I like varsity and that means a lot to score. Something that went well was playing the ball to each other and making passes and not just booting the ball. We need to work on pressuring the ball and making runs before the ball gets to the person you need to so we can make that run and potentially score.”

Lebel said this is a great win because the team has traditionally struggled playing at Sanford. She said she hopes this gives the girls confidence to know things are coming together, and if they keep at it, they’ll keep competing with good teams. <

Windham varsity golf works hard in early season match

By Matt Pascarella

Windham varsity golf now plays their home matches at a new location this season and are still getting the feel for the new course. They played Massabesic at home at Point Sebago in Casco, a par 36 course, on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Windham senior Josh Logan concentrates before he putts
during a prep golf match against Massabesic at Point
Sebago in Casco on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

While they lost to the Stags 8-5 in points, this was an improvement over their previous home match where they scored twice as many points this match and did significantly better stroke-wise. Windham hit 14 strokes more than Massabesic (230-244), compared to the 30-plus strokes they swung last week against Gorham. Several Windham players improved on their scores from last week too.

“I played it a little safer today and it was more of just trying to find the fairway rather than get the ball really, really far,” said Windham senior Devin Zachary who was tied with his opponent until the last hole. “My putting was significantly better today ... My distance on my chipping needs improvement. The putting was going great for me today.”

Top Windham scorers included: Zachary who registered a 44 against Massabesic and earned the team one match point, freshmen Riley Gallagher, who shot a 47 and earned the team two match points, and junior Matt Biggs, who shot a 49 and earned the team two match points. Freshman Hunter Pulkkinen also shot a 49 and was all square with his opponent, meaning they won the same number of holes.

“I won my match in stroke-play against my partner,” said Gallagher. “My short game was good, I only had 17 putts, just chipping ... just played good. My driver wasn’t too bad today, but if I can get a little more distance on it, a little bit straighter, that’d be good. My irons have been decent; my short game’s good. It was good (playing against Massabesic).”

Josh Logan, a senior, said last week’s match went a little better for him; he shot a 53 during this match. Everything else was dialed in, but he struggled with putting. His driver was great; on the last hole, he cut the trees and landed 40 feet from the green. His long game was good, but he’s going to work on his putting.

“I think we’re still trying to figure out the course; we’ve been at Riverside for eight years and then coming back here, there’s still a little bit of a learning curve,” said Windham varsity golf coach Adam Manzo. “We’re performing pretty good in practice and then matches come and there seem to be to one or two holes that eat us up or send us down the wrong path, right off the bat. It seems to be the first hole – you get off to the wrong start and ... when you’re five-over after the first hole, it’s hard to bounce back. The freshmen/sophomores seem to be doing pretty well so far; Riley today has been pretty steady. It’s the consistency piece we’re lacking and trying to get better at. The kids have to understand that one hole doesn’t make an entire match, and the kids have to figure out how to make use of the (remaining holes) in the match and not worry about one bad hole here or there. We’re trying to find some middle ground where we’re just a little more consistent day-to-day.” <

WHS varsity volleyball pushes Bonny Eagle to five sets in home opener

By Matt Pascarella

In their first home game of the regular season, Windham varsity volleyball showed they have what it takes to go up against tough teams. In a match that’s best three out of five sets; Windham forced a fifth set, but the Scots won this match, 3-2, at Windham High on Monday, Sept. 8.

Windham senior and team captain Sydney Harmon serves
the ball over the net during the varsity volleyball home 
opener against Bonny Eagle at Windham High on
Monday, Sept. 8. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

“Bonny Eagle pushes back (in the fourth set), but we held our ground and dug deep when we needed to get the points,” said Windham varsity volleyball coach Chris Cloutier. “Our serving did pretty well tonight, we were getting our serves in, we were making (Bonny Eagle) earn their points off our serves, but once it started getting into play, we didn’t keep them involved as much as we needed to – letting our defense try to win the game for us, instead of trying to score all the points offensively.”

In the first set, Windham, along with server senior captain Josephine Sibley put six points on the scoreboard quickly. Bonny Eagle had a few good serves too and was now three points behind the Eagles. Windham had strong volleying and soon it was set point. Bonny Eagle made a small comeback, but the Eagles won this set 25-21.

In the second set, it was close early on; Bonny Eagle took the lead. Windham fought hard, but Bonny Eagle was able to stay out in front. The Scots won this set 25-20.

Set three was similar in that Windham led the Scots early. The game was soon tied, but Bonny Eagle pulled away and won this set, 25-20.

“I feel like it’s so early in the season, this game was a good building block for us,” said Sibley. “We really gave it our all. I feel like we’re going to go far in the ... season. I think (this match) sets us up to know that we can sub people in and they can be equally as successful as our starters. Our team cares for each other, and that they’re going to cheer us on no matter what. Our serving was really good and our serve-receive just needs a little bit of work, but it’s progressively getting better every single season. Our biggest struggle is communication and trusting each other, but that’ll come over time.”

The fourth set was make-or-break, and it was a close one. Windham came out playing aggressively and took a six-point lead. Bonny Eagle was not far behind. The game was tied at 15, then it was tied at 23. The Eagles forced a fifth set as they won, 25-23.

“Our fourth set, we pushed and pushed; our scores kept fluctuating throughout the whole set,” said Windham senior captain Sydney Harmon. “Toward the end of the set we got together as a team and (knew) if we lose this it’s over, and we wanted to win. We kept pushing and pushing, but I think we were all really tired for the fifth set. Our communication was gone because we were so afraid of making mistakes.”

Bonny Eagle jumped out ahead in the final set with a 10-point lead in a set that ended at 15. Windham slowly made a comeback and did avoid being shut out. However, Bonny Eagle had a big lead and won the deciding set, 15-6.

“We yo-yoed a little bit in that match,” said Cloutier. “We had some technical things to clean up that stood out to me and some stuff we’ve been working on like block-coverage, not making the unforced errors ourselves. Our energy yo-yoed as well. In this game you’ve got to be mentally tough in order to pull through, you got to be able to roll through errors and ... let the last error go. That’s a tough thing to learn.”

Harmon said she was pretty happy overall with how things went, although they wanted the win, this match showed they were consistent in important areas of the court and they need to tighten some things up. <

WHS Cross Country team excels in season’s first 5K

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School’s Cross Country team competed in its first 5K of the season during the Dan Dors Invitational at Lake Region High School in Naples on Friday, Aug. 29. Thunder and lightning delayed the race, but these athletes were ready to give everything they had.

Windham seniors Sydney Broadbent, left, Lila Stanley,
back right, and Emma Fox run down a hill during the
Dan Dors Cross Country Invitational at Lake Region
High School in Naples on Friday, Aug, 29.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

In an effort to beat the rain, both boys and girls ran at the same time. Windham had a strong showing as the girls’ team finished second – only one point behind the first-place school – with a score of 31. The WHS boys’ team finished fourth with a score of 93.

GIRLS

“There was a lot of adrenaline buildup because of the rain, thunder and lightning delays ... that kind of added to the excitement on the start line, starting with boys and girls running together,” said Windham senior Sydney Broadbent who crossed the finish line first for Windham and fourth overall, with a 22:37-minute time. “It was a really exciting way to kick off the season. It feels good to run as a whole team, you can run with the boys and pace with them. I think we did amazing ... for it being the first 5K this season.”

Windham senior Lila Stanley was second to cross the finish line for Windham, fifth overall, also with a time of 22:37.

Emma Fox, a senior, finished third for Windham, sixth overall, with a time of 22:40. Fox set a personal record for herself with this time.

Fifth to cross the finish line for Windham and 12th overall was Demetria Nicholas with a time of 24:54.

BOYS 

“We all did very good, we pushed ourselves,” said Windham senior Gavin Lawler who finished first for Windham, fifth overall, with a personal record of 18:45. “We had a meet two days ago as well, bouncing back from that was challenging. I had a good group to pace with, my teammates (junior) Mason (Bragdon) and (senior) Caleb (Saucier) with me. They pushed me as far as they could go and overall, I feel we did pretty good as a team. Running with the girls gave me more motivation to push further.”

Second to finish for Windham was Bragdon with an 18:56 time, seventh overall.

Saucier finished third for Windham, eighth overall, with a time of 18:58.

Reid VanDerburgh, a sophomore, finished fourth for the team with a time of 23:34.

Junior Morgan Willey finished fifth for Windham with a time of 24:15.

“We couldn’t do the course walk because of the weather,” said Windham Cross Country girls’ and boys’ coach Paula Pock. “Which I think a lot of the kids use to get mentally prepared. I told them to just trust it; if this isn’t exactly where you think you should be right now that’s ok. They ... rolled with it, so I was really proud of them. They all did a great job pacing. I know a lot of the girls got personal records, and we weren’t really gunning for that at all, so now they have a lot of confidence for the rest of the season and can use that as a building block for their next meet.”

Assistant coach Julia Parmakian said Windham looked really strong it was nice to see them pushing each other. <

Raymond’s Casual Kicks adult kickball group provides physicality in competitive, friendly environment

By Matt Pascarella

Raymond Parks and Recreation’s Casual Kicks adults-only kickball group has had a very exciting and community-building six to seven weeks each Wednesday night. They’ve been playing competitive, friendly games of kickball for most of the summer as a way to get out and exercise, while making friends with members of the town.

Raymond resident Samuel Glidden kicks the ball to the
outfield during Raymond Parks and Recreation's
Casual Kicks group kickball game at Sheri Gagnon
Memorial Park in Raymond on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

The Casual Kicks group had their final summer game at Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park in Raymond on Wednesday, Aug. 27.

“Personally, growing up I was a big soccer fan,” said Raymond Parks and Recreation Director Riley Silvia. “I wanted to do something ... everyone can do and something that’s chill for adults because we do a lot of youth programs and we’re trying to find something that adults can do and bring the community together during the summer. It’s been a pretty consistent group of at least 20 to 25 people every week. I think people kind of came the first week and didn’t know what to expect, and they were so happy to be here and wanted to return every week. It’s a great community event to bring the town together.”

The atmosphere was electric before, during and after the start of the game; everyone was mingling and having a good time. Since this was the final game of the summer, the group had a big cookout to celebrate the successful summer season.

“Some of our friends were joining and peer pressured us into joining and I’m so glad we did; it’s been a blast,” said Raymond resident Mandi Stevenson. “The whole family looks forward to Wednesday nights; the kids get together while we’re here and my husband and I get to get a little bit of exercise and also a little bit of social life, which we don’t normally get, so that’s nice. I just want to mention how awesome Riley has been organizing this – she’s been a rockstar for us.”

Samuel Glidden, a Raymond resident, said he joined the kickball group as a way to stay active while being with friends and the community, while showing the kids the importance of an active lifestyle. For Glidden, it’s been something he really looked forward to. He liked having that friendly, competitive spirit combined with community comradery and physical fitness.

“When (Riley) first brought it up, we were a little hesitant to do it because I’m 42, I’m going to hurt myself,” said Raymond resident Derek Milone. “Then everyone in the community said you got to do it, I signed you up. So, we said let’s do it. It’s been a great way to intermingle sport parents without being on the sidelines. It’s enabled us to scratch our own competitive itch and also stretch muscles and break things. The kids love it too, it’s almost like a juxtaposition, the kids get to watch us, and we get to have a little bit of fun.”

Raymond residents want other members of surrounding towns to know that Raymond Parks and Recreation are a super welcoming group and the more the merrier; residents and non-residents are welcome to sign up. The department is working hard to make sure that everyone, of all ages, are involved in something.

Milone says they are hand-over-foot improving the lives of Raymond residents.

“It’s a great community to get involved in, it’s a way to meet people,” said Silvia. “We have such a great community around us and (Raymond Parks and Recreation) is a great way to gather together, and to meet people. I see it growing. I’m really glad we made this decision this year and kickball will continue in the future.

For more details about available programs, visit their website at Raymond.recdesk.com or call 207-655-4742. <

WHS Varsity Football shows skills against Kennebunk in preseason scrimmage

By Matt Pascarella

Windham varsity football took the field against Kennebunk at Kennebunk High School on Saturday, Aug. 23 in preparation for the upcoming regular season.

Windham sophomore Jordan Pastore makes his way around
Kennebunk opponents during a varsity football preseason
controlled scrimmage at Kennebunk High School on
Saturday, Aug. 23. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

This was a controlled scrimmage, which is more of a practice session, than a game. Players and coaches improve skills and techniques through various plays, while evaluating performances as the Eagles worked in a competitive environment to be the strongest they can when it comes time for the start of the regular season. While no formal score was kept, Windham crossed into the end zone a significant amount more than the Rams did.

“I think (these scrimmages) help us a lot,” said Windham sophomore and quarterback Patrick Davenport. “Being able to see defenses and just getting live reps is definitely great. I got a lot better at reading defense today. I’m making reads off, handing the ball off from my running back. Defense (needs work), getting hats to ball, breaking down trying to make tackles better – we had too many missed tackles today, myself included and we got to fix that.”

WHS varsity head football coach Matt Perkins said the team had good speed but needed to continue to work on tackling and getting off the ball up front. While he was pleased with the team’s offense speed, he said they need to do a better job sustaining their blocks. Perkins said Windham made a lot of good plays.

Last year, Windham lost 10 seniors, but few were starters, and a lot of last year’s team have returned this year, so they’re having no problem reallocating senior-led positions.

“We all surprised ourselves,” said Windham junior Parker Sperry. “Coming into this season, no one really knew how we were going to be, but I think after this scrimmage we’ve definitely shown massive improvements and I’m very excited about the season. What went well was our team comradery has gotten so much better compared to last year. I think we’re all just working so hard as a team in practice; the whole offensive line and everyone on the offense and defense is just giving everything they have in every play.”

Junior Colin McKenna said these scrimmages are a good opportunity to put what they work on in practice into play. He felt like everybody put in a lot of effort and every play meant a lot to everybody – they didn’t take any plays off.

Davenport, Sperry and McKenna each agreed it’s going to be a good season; and Windham can go out there and beat anyone they want.

“Got to finish tackles and got to finish blocks,” said Perkins. “We got to continue to break down, but I thought our pass game was pretty good, quarterbacks did pretty well, receivers did a good job on the routes finishing. I saw a lot of productive things for sure.”

Windham will play an exhibition game at home with the kickoff at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29 against Sanford. The Eagles will face Portland in the regular season home opener on Sept. 12, with kickoff at 7 p.m. <

Candlepin bowling group fun for all ages

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Parks and Recreation began a candlepin bowling group earlier this year that is open to everyone and meets once a month. This group is a great way to meet new people. It’s not competitive and the participants are very encouraging of one another. The group had their monthly outing at Westport Bowling Lanes in Westbrook on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Windham resident Cindy Moxcey gives the ball some speed
and centers it during a Windham Parks and Recreation
candlepin bowling outing at Westport Bowling Lanes in
Westbrook on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA   

“I like it, it’s good exercise,” said Windham resident Jean Lake. “It’s fun, we all enjoy each other’s company. Being out with people and getting exercise. Windham Parks and Recreation have a lot to offer – it’s just a matter of choosing what you want to do.”

The candlepin bowling group began in May of this year and is without a doubt a success. Windham Parks and Recreation’s Adult Recreation Coordinator Maria Goodstein said she was trying to think of different activities that the program could do that incorporated exercise with socialization. The program already has a fitness class, so this was a natural progression.

“Everybody can enjoy it; I think it’s fantastic,” said Goodstein. “I’d like to grow the group a little bit more ... (Windham Parks and Recreation) have something for everybody, it doesn’t matter your ability, we’re just here to have fun; I don’t want people to stay away because they are intimated, or they feel they’re not as good as everybody else.”

Candlepin varies from 10-pin bowling in that you throw three smaller bowling balls instead of two large bowling balls. Candlepin pins are narrower than the 10-pin ones.

“I used to bowl a lot when I was a kid ... used to bowl 10-pin too,” said Windham resident Rick Varney. “I’ve been retired for eight years, being around people, getting to know different people around town ... I like to be as active as I can be. We’re a very friendly bunch, we’re only here to have a good time, nobody takes it real seriously. Try any of the activities (Windham Parks and Recreation offer), you might find out you like it; I’d encourage anybody to try it – we’re just here to have fun, that’s all.”

Some participants bowl to improve their game, while others bowl for exercise and socialization. Windham resident Cindy Moxcey is trying to get better and learn more about the game.

“I love to bowl; when I was younger, I used to bowl all the time,” said Windham resident Claire Cressey. “(This group) makes us laugh and get together. It’s just for fun, just being good friends. This is the best thing for an older person to do, because it gets you out of the house, make friends and have a lot of good times.”

Beverly Miller, a Windham resident, said she joined the group because she needed exercise. For her, what’s fun about the group is cheering everybody on. Miller said she used to bowl candlepin when she was in high school. She encourages anyone to join; it’s great exercise and nice to be around people.

While candlepin bowling session I has ended, the group’s Session II begins on Sept. 2 and runs through December. For more details, call 207-892-1905. <

Soccer remains a passion that provides opportunities for WHS grad Thornton

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School graduate Abbey Thornton truly loves the game of soccer and has continued to excel on the pitch at the University of Maine in Orono while earning her degree in nursing. Now a junior in college, Thornton is succeeding on and off the field, maintaining a 4.0 GPA her freshman year and made Dean’s List during her sophomore year.

Windham High graduate and University of Maine Orono
junior Abbey Thornton passes the ball during a conference
semifinal women's soccer game against the University of
Massachusetts Lowell on Nov 7, 2024.
PHOTO BY SETH POPLASKI 

"It is a huge adjustment from playing high school soccer to playing Division I soccer,” said Thornton. “I remember freshman year everyone felt so much bigger, stronger, and faster than myself. I was no longer playing against teenage girls, but adults. This adjustment required me to build mental toughness and belief in myself. It required me to always work hard and to earn everything.”

When she was 3 years old, her parents enrolled her in Windham Youth Soccer. Thornton grew up with an older brother and an active family and soccer has been an escape for her and has opened so many doors. She’s made lifelong friends and has traveled across the country to play.

“Windham High Soccer really taught me what soccer was all about,” said Thornton. “On long days, after school, when I was stressed and had a million little things to be doing, I was able to put that on hold. Instead, I got to kick around a ball with some of my best friends, do something I love and have fun. Soccer really is an escape for me and a place I can focus my energy.”

In her two seasons so far at UMaine, Thornton helped the Black Bears to win its first America's East Conference Championship in 2023 and then repeat that title in 2024.

For Thornton, this felt like a movie. She said the team had set out to win the Conference Championship in 2023 and followed through. The 2023 game was a nailbiter that went into overtime. That win made the long days and early mornings worth it. The team set out to be back-to-back champions in 2024 and accomplished that goal, too.

“(Abbey’s) constant commitment to give it her all pushes the people around her to match her energy and go one step further,” said UMO junior teammate Grace Johnson. “Vocally Abbey is constantly providing positive reinforcements to her sounding teammates who are on and off the pitch because Abbey’s support is not dependent on minutes but solely stems from her true compassion for others. Abbey is the teammate who is always reaching out to all the first years after their first game, and the teammate who shows up every day ready to contribute as a player, as a teammate, but most importantly as a friend. You can see the joy radiating off her, that exact energy is something that can’t be taught but a true gift to our program.”

Her advice to athletes who may be interested in continuing to play sports after high school is that hard work beats talent; even if you’re not the most skilled on the field, you can always be the most hardworking. College sports take discipline and sacrifice but are also beyond rewarding, she says.

Being a UMaine Black Bear has allowed Thornton to build relationships that will last a lifetime.

“Abbey leads by example (and) is extremely self-disciplined; her work habits are extraordinary,” said UMO women’s soccer coach Scott Atherley. “Abbey epitomizes the true meaning of student-athlete as she excels at the highest levels academically and athletically. Integrity is a word that immediately comes to mind when I think of Abbey. She is one of our most creative and technical players. In our system, we rely on skillful players who can problem solve and make decisions under pressure. Abbey has great vision and composure. She will assume an important on-field role this season and will continue to have a massive presence in our locker room.” <

Youth Soccer fifth grade girls’ travel team prepares for season

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Youth Soccer Association’s fifth grade girls’ team will begin their season on Labor Day Weekend with a tournament in Cumberland. Until then, they’ve been practicing hard and are looking good. They held a practice at Gambo Field in Windham on Monday, Aug. 18 showing that they are communicating well and coming together as a team.

Windham fifth grader Addesyn Salazar, left, maneuvers by a
teammate during a practice for the Windham Youth Soccer
Association's fifth grade girls' travel team at Gambo Field 
in Windham on Monday, Aug. 18.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

“I like running and I like playing defense,” said Windham fifth grader Charlotte Brown, who’s in her second year of playing soccer. “It’s fun playing defense and trying to score goals even though I don’t like offense that much. (I’d like) to get more into offense this season. I’d like to play in high school and still like the game as much (as I do now). I’m looking forward to the new season. It’s fun practicing with all my friends.”

This season will be a little more challenging as on-field players will increase to nine players-on-nine players where previously games were seven players-on-seven players. This season will also include new field formations and new rules, like offsides.

WYSA’s fifth grade girls’ coach, Geoff Sparrow is now in his fourth year of coaching the team. When he first began coaching, he had a few years of soccer experience but really dug into being a good coach and the research and studying necessary to make sure the kids have good, productive practice sessions.

“It’s so much fun, just seeing the kids develop over the course of the season,” said Sparrow. “To set up an environment where they are learning, building their personal relationships and developing their soccer skills in the game is pretty rewarding. My goal is to coach them to compete well but also make sure they are developing that love for the game and building their bonding relationships with their teammates.”

It is important to keep the game at a fast pace. Sparrow said If the players are idle for 15 seconds, you risk losing their attention. One theory of good coaching for kids is maximizing touches on the ball and not standing in line, doing drills, it’s also important to make sure everyone is involved.

Ridley Fulton, a Windham fifth grader, said she’s been playing soccer since she was very little. She wanted to learn the game so she could improve her skills. Fulton really likes scoring and playing scrimmages. Her goal for the season is to get faster and score more goals; she’d also like to improve her footwork. Fulton says that she likes her teammates and she’s played with a lot of them for a while.

Dorothy “Dottie” Sparrow, a Windham fifth grader, said she has been playing soccer since she was 3. Her sister played, and it seemed like it would be really fun, so she wanted to try it. Sparrow has learned how to pass better and play new positions she’s never tried. She is the team’s goalie and her aim this season is to improve her skills as goalie. Sparrow is looking forward to the season and her long-term goal is to play on the varsity team one day. 

The Windham Youth Soccer program is a great way for kids who are into the game to develop more than they might otherwise with a recreation soccer program; there’s a higher level of coaching that comes with it and it’s a great opportunity for the kids, with not as much travel as people think. For the fifth grade girls’ team, the farthest they travel is 45 minutes away, with most games in neighboring towns.

After the practice Coach Geoff Sparrow gets feedback from his players on what they thought went well, or didn’t go well. He asks them what they learned and uses that feedback to improve future practices. <

Windham seventh- and eighth-grade youth football team off to promising start

By Matt Pascarella

While it was only the seventh and eighth grader’s second Windham Youth Football practice of the season at Windham on Monday, Aug. 11, the team is coming together and getting ready for their upcoming season which begins later this month. For the seventh and eighth graders, their regular season runs through October and has the potential for playoffs.

Windham eighth grader Luke Russell catches a pass during 
a Windham Youth Football seventh- and eighth-grade
practice at Windham High School on Monday, Aug. 11.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

“We’re looking good,” said Windham Youth Football seventh and eighth grade coach Lavon Mckoy. “(The team is) understanding, they’re seeing the expectations. I have a great group of other coaches with me, so we set the tone and expectations right from the start. All the players have adapted and accepted what the responsibilities are.”

Mckoy has been a coach for the program for nine years and wanted to get involved to help the kids and give back. He was fortunate to have a good high school career and played in college, so what made him get into coaching was his passion for football when he was playing as a kid and through his high school career. He says that he wanted to give back to his son and his son’s teammates and friends and help them excel in the sport.

The challenge is what keeps Mckoy coming back. His coaches and he are dedicated to helping their team succeed. They’ll start the season with a group of kids that come from all different backgrounds. For Mckoy and his coaches, what they strive for is seeing their team excel and building confidence in themselves. When you give a player that little bit of confidence and they take it not just from the football field, but they might be able to gain confidence when they’re out in the real world.

For Windham seventh grader Kody Freese, this is his fifth year playing football. He likes scoring touchdowns; he likes all the players and coaches. Freese said it doesn’t matter if you lose, because there’s always the opportunity to come back and win. His goal is to one day play varsity football. He said his team is already like a family, he’s been playing with most of the guys for a while. He’s looking forward to the season.

“Windham Youth Football is a great program from start to finish,” said Mckoy. “From the flag all the way up to eighth grade and a good feeder program into the high school to excel. We’re all out here, a group of parents, who just volunteer their time because they have a passion for the game and want to see groups of young men and young women build their confidence and get the abilities of the game to excel. I think we’re doing a great job; our numbers are not where we want them to be, but we’re going to do with what we have. Hopefully we build up players, so that when they get to the high school level, they are well-rounded individuals ... and potentially excel in college if they decide to go that route.”

It's less about wins and losses for Mckoy. His focus is more on character and confidence building. At the end of the season, he wants any one of his players to feel like they’ve accomplished something; not only physically, but seeing they have a lot to give mentally.

Lewis Walker, a Windham eighth grader, has been playing football since he was in fifth grade. He wanted to play because the teams are like family. Football has taught him that you’ve got to keep pushing, even when things get hard, you got to keep going. His goal is to make it to the National Football League. What’s fun for Walker about playing is you get to build connections with people, you get to hit, everything about it.

Windham Youth Football is always looking for volunteers; if you are interested in getting involved with the program, you can email Wyf.eagles@gmail.com. <

Pickleball delivers a low-impact way to get exercise, have fun and socialize

By Matt Pascarella

Whether you’ve heard of pickleball, played it or just been curious what it’s all about, it’s grown in popularity in recent years. Pickleball is a paddle sport with parts of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It’s easy to learn and a great way to get exercise and meet new people.

Windham resident Laura Page gets to the ball in time during
a Windham Parks and Recreation pickleball lesson at the
Pat Moody Courts in Windham on Saturday, Aug. 9.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

Windham’s Parks and Recreation Department is currently offering a four-week summer session and the group met at the Pat Moody Courts in Windham on Saturday, Aug. 9.

“I’ve been playing for four months now,” said Gorham resident Lisa King. “It was really just to meet people, to get out of the house and do something a little different, that engages with the community and maybe meet people that I have something in common with.”

Norma Ewing, a Windham resident, said pickleball is something she really looks forward to. She said it’s a good workout. She chose to play because it was about doing something for her; Ewing was busy with work and loves sports; pickleball gives her a break to do something fun.

The objective of pickleball is to serve the ball, similar to a wiffle ball with a paddle similar to a table tennis paddle, return the serve, make sure the ball bounces twice and be ready, because depending on skill levels that ball can come at you really fast.

Windham pickleball coach and Gorham resident Dave Cousins started playing pickleball in the early 1990s. Prior to that he had coached tennis. He said he always had pickleball as a base in the back of his mind. Cousins first began coaching pickleball in South Portland, but with low attendance.

Something happened around 2018 when his classes jumped from three or four people to 10 people. His attendance numbers continued to increase month after month; he was able to add another pickleball session and then another.

“I decided to play pickleball because I go to a resort in Florida and my friends played pickleball the last two times I went” said Windham resident Laura Page. “I want(ed) to learn to play. It’s a low-impact sport and it’s good for me. Everybody you play with is pretty understanding and nice.”

During the pickleball lesson, Cousins is a very patient teacher and allowed his players to learn at their own pace, while having fun at the same time.

“It doesn't take a lot of classes to get pretty good at pickleball pretty fast,” said Cousins. “One of the reasons I got into pickleball was I found folks could pick the game up that much faster. My goal as a coach is to be coaching everywhere in Southern Maine and New Hampshire. I want to expand the territory out a little bit, but the bigger over-arching goal is to get as many people into a racquet sport as possible. All it takes is that first hour. In that first hour you start to discover ... there’s strategy to this game. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s social. What’s the selling point – socialization and low-barrier to entry. Easy to pick up, and then it makes you want to play more.”

Windham resident Darlene Haskell said pickleball is great. She wasn’t going to play because she thought it’d be too intense, but it doesn’t have to be intense. Anybody can play, have fun and not get hurt.

Cousins said his group has improved a lot over the weeks of the session. The class gets a chance to play but then has someone who is looking out for them to tell them what they’re doing great and what they can improve upon.

There is a place for everybody to play, and Cousins said he wants to be the one who introduces pickleball, or another racquet sport, to as many people as possible.

Windham’s Parks and Recreation Department will also offer fall and winter pickleball sessions; for more details, call 207-892-1905. <