Windham swim team starts strong in season opener against Yarmouth

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School’s swimming team opened the season against Yarmouth at Greely High School in Cumberland on Saturday, Dec. 20. Windham finished first in several events and when they didn’t place first, they weren’t far behind in a strong season opener.

Windham sophomore Beckett Bragdon showcases his speed
in the prep swimming season opener against Yarmouth
at Greely High School in Cumberland on Saturday,
Dec. 20. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

“I think this sets a very optimistic tone,” said Windham swim coach Peter Small. “It’s early in the season and it’s your first race so we use it as a litmus test to say, ‘where are you now?’ Yes, we want to beat Yarmouth, but ultimately, it’s where we are right now, and how do we improve to get to March 6. Everybody had a couple things that we want to improve upon, and I think we were able to measure improvement on every single one of them. Even if they were disappointed in their time, it’s more about the technique. I’m very optimistic going forward, and I think our turns were better than they ever have been ... we really put a specialty focus on it this week. We’ve really been focusing on length over stroke so we’re really propelling ourselves forward and I think we’ve greatly improved over that. Our arm placement in the water (needs work). It’s time to ramp up the habits of efficiency in the water.”

The Eagles hit the water ready to get this season going.

Sophomore Rocco DiDonato finished first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:13.88 minutes.

In the girls 50-freestyle, sophomore Stephanie Roghelia had a first-place finish with a time of 28.36 seconds.

Beckett Bragdon, a Windham sophomore, finished first in the boys 50-freestyle with a 26.82 time. He also finished first in the 100-breaststroke with a 1:18.39 time.

In the 100-freestyle freshman Lauren Nickel finished second with a 1:13.20 time.

In the 500-freestyle, junior Maya Fitts finished second with an 8:50.94 time.

DiDonato had another first-place finish in the 500-freestyle with a 5:53.91 time, almost a full minute ahead of his competitor.

“I think the relay carnival was good to see where we’re starting at,” said DiDonato. “Now that we’ll practice more, it’ll be good to see where everyone is going to be in a few weeks. I think we were very strong today. I think our sportsmanship was very good today, and many of the swimmers improved their times a lot. Our starts and our turns (need work) and those can always be better. I think it’s going to be a great season. Even though we have less people, we’re stronger this year as a team.”

In the 100-breaststroke, Roghelia finished almost a full five seconds ahead of her opponent in her first-place finish where she had a 1:20.38 time.

“I think it went pretty good, we’re at the beginning of the season and working on technique and building that endurance you need for swim,” said Roghelia. “I’m pretty happy with how the first few weeks have been going. Things I think went really well were everyone’s turns and dives – we’ve been working really hard on. Also, just everyone’s pushing themselves because for some people this is the first time they’ve swam (in a high school meet), and they did very well. I think some things that need work are bringing some more energy to the table, more technique and more endurance. I think this meet sets the tone of determination; this is some people’s first time swimming, and I think we can really just go from here and this is just a starting point.” <

WHS graduate applies intensity of athletics to academics

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School 2019 graduate Meghan Hoffses played soccer and basketball while at Windham High School and then went on to attend the University of Southern Maine at the Gorham and Portland campuses. She played soccer there her sophomore year but chose academics over athletics and focused hard to achieve her degree in public health in 2023. She received her Advanced Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography from the Maine College of Health Professions in Lewiston on Dec. 12.

Windham High 2019 graduate Meghan
Hoffses is shown during her sophomore
year when she was on the soccer team
for the University of Southern Maine. 
She earned a degree in public health and
on Dec 12 received an Advanced
Certificate in Diagnostic Medical
Sonography from the Maine College 
of Health Professionals in Lewiston.
COURTESY PHOTO
USM ATHLETICS   

“Ultrasound school was both humbling and rewarding,” said Hoffses. “I am so excited to have recently graduated from Maine College of Health Professions and look forward to working at Maternal Fetal Medicine post-graduation. Being able to work with women during such a pivotal chapter of their lives is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.”

She always knew she wanted to work in healthcare. She toured the Maine College of Health Professions during her sophomore year and knew that after she graduated from USM, she wanted to go into sonography. Hoffses has an interest in anatomy and physiology with a passion for working in women’s health.

When she attended USM, she made the Dean’s List five times and was also a member of the National Honor Society. As a student at the Maine College of Health Professions she made the Deans List three times and was a Lamda Nu Radiologic and Imaging Sciences National Honor Society member.

During her one year of soccer at USM, she received the William B. Wise Scholar Athlete Award for the 2020 season. After choosing academics over playing a college sport, she stressed the importance of staying active by going to the gym, taking spin classes, attending yoga classes, weightlifting and running.

"As someone who was an athlete throughout high school and part of college, I was able to exercise in new ways and at whatever times best suited my schedule,” said Hoffses. “I typically exercise four to five times a week. Staying active has always been a priority for me and is a core part of who I am. Exercise is not only something that I enjoy, but it gives me structure in my day, and I feel my most energized and grounded when I make it a priority.”

She does miss playing both soccer and basketball. Hoffses enjoyed being part of a team and feeling like she was part of something bigger than herself. She made lifelong friendships and connections through playing basketball. While it’s been a while since she last played, she said it would be fun for her to help coach young girls at some point down the road.

“Meg has been one of my closest friends for as long as I can remember,” said former WHS teammate and friend Tara Flanders. “She has always been an extremely loyal friend and teammate. Although Meg and I didn’t get the chance to play sports together in college, our time playing basketball at Windham are memories I will cherish forever -- all the practices, Saturday morning youth clinics, games, and everything in between. As a friend, you always want to see the people you care about grow and succeed, and Meg has done exactly that. In high school, Meg ... brought high intensity every time she stepped on the field and court. I knew that as soon as I grabbed a rebound, I could always count on her to already be flying up the court ahead of everyone else.”

Hoffses said her advice for current athletes looking to play collegiately, is to give 100 percent effort and dedicate their time in the off-season. She also said to stay on top of academics because doing so will ensure that every door is open when deciding to play at the college level. Time management with practice and homework is an important skill to learn while in high school, which can pay off in college.

Lastly, Hoffses said to enjoy every moment. Being part of a team is a special feeling, and people are not lying when they say it goes by fast. <

Trail Blazers hockey earns big win after powerful second period surge

By Matt Pascarella

The Windham/ Bonny Eagle/Westbrook Trail Blazers added another win to their record when they played Portland at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham on Saturday, Dec. 13. After a scoreless first period, the Trail Blazers found their groove in the second period when they scored four goals. They kept up the intensity to skate past Portland. 5-1.

Windham High junior Braeden Greeley hustles toward the
goal with the puck during a boys' hockey game against 
Portland at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham
on Saturday, Dec. 13. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA      

During the game, the Trail Blazers outshot Portland 25-6 for total shots on goal.

“We’re going to come out and play tough,” said Trail Blazers coach Ben Haskell. “It doesn’t really matter what the stats say because any team can have a good game or a bad game. In the first period I don’t think we showed the attitude that we needed to and ... they weren’t puck hungry. In the second period they realized they needed to work and they stepped it up. Defensively, we didn’t allow many shots. After the first period we were retrieving pucks, we were moving the puck, we were skating a bit more and we got more scoring opportunities. (What needs work) is getting that chemistry down. We have six or seven freshmen and while they played together in middle school, it’s a lot faster, bodies are a lot bigger now so it’s getting that timing down.”

The Trail Blazers hit the ice, working hard to be first to the puck. They had great defense and limited Portland’s scoring chances. Trail Blazers intensity was solid, and they had multiple shots on goal, but nothing landed. After one period, the game was scoreless.

“I feel like in the first period we were slower jumping out,” said Bonny Eagle freshman Alden McGivney. “In the second period we really ... put it to them. In the third period we slowed down but still put it to them. We have a young team, and I think the nerves of the game got to us in the first period. We gelled into the game more in the second period. I liked our passing a lot, I liked our communication in the second period; in the first period our comms were not there, but we had good communication in the second. 50-50 battles to the puck (could use work). In practice it’s been a bit slow and we’re still getting used to it.”

Roughly five minutes into the second period, Bonny Eagle freshman Logan Guay scored, assisted by Bonny Eagle senior Mason Caron. Moments later Caron scored back-to-back goals. The Trail Blazers commanded the ice.

Bonny Eagle senior Colby Haskell scored. Trail Blazers Defense remained strong.

“We figured out (in the second period) how to dangle through the kid and take it wide, get shots on net, just execute it,” said Haskell. “We shot the puck quite a bit, more than we usually do and our physicality was on another level. Our passing and moving our feet (needs work).”

At the top of the third period, less than one minute in, McGivney scored. The Trail Blazers held off Portland for the remaining time and kept control of the ice. <

Windham High grad continues giving back to community through coaching

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School 2023 graduate Alex ‘Bob’ Wing is just one of the many post-WHS athletes who have gone on to make contributions to the up-and-coming group of young athletes and to work to instill in them the values that they have learned throughout their time on various teams.

Coach Alex 'Bob' Wing a 2023 Windham High graduate,
celebrates with his JSMS boys' basketball team during a
game against Sacopee Valley at Jordan-Small Middle
School in Raymond on Monday, Dec. 15.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  
 

Wing has been coaching with his older brother, Andrew for three years at Jordan-Small Middle School and last year was the first year that he coached soccer, basketball and baseball solo. Bob Wing has worked at his family’s restaurant, The Beacon, in Raymond since graduating from Windham High.

“Andrew asked if he wanted me to give him a hand coaching the boys’ sports at Jordan-Small Middle School,” said Bob Wing. “I hadn’t thought about coaching, but after I decided not to go to college, I thought it would be good for me to try something and see if I liked it. It’s a lot of fun, (Andrew and I) talk a lot about how each team is doing, games are fun because we’re doing it alongside one another – it’s been really cool.”

It’s fun for Bob Wing to watch the kids he coaches grow and improve. He enjoys coaching the various teams at JSMS.

“I think Bob is a pretty good coach,” said JSMS seventh grader Charlie Crowell. “He makes smart decisions. He tries to make the practices fun and the drills we run are usually fun. He makes jokes so the practices aren’t super serious.”

Playing for a variety of travel teams with all kinds of coaches let Bob Wing see many different coaching styles. That has helped him figure out how to approach his players and work out who he wants to be as a coach and how he wants to approach coaching.

JSMS eighth grader Eli Delude said Coach Bob Wing is very good at keeping them on track but also knows how to keep it fun. He said his practices are always productive and no time is wasted.

“If you do not know exactly what you want to do right out of high school, that is not the end of the world,” said Bob Wing. “Sometimes it takes some time to figure out what you want to do in life.”

While there are many definitions for success Bob Wing defines it as being there to help people get to where they want to be, to help them make the right decisions.

Bob Wing may help out Windham’s varsity baseball program this spring as an extra hand on the coaching staff.

“He lets us do scrimmages at the end of practice so that’s always fun,” said JSMS seventh grader Brecken Cressey. “He’s a five-star retrograde coach and he’s a fan favorite.” <

Varsity boys’ basketball falls to Sanford on ‘Pat Moody Night’

By Matt Pascarella

A wave of green shirts in remembrance of adored Windham resident Pat Moody flooded the bleachers at the varsity boys’ basketball home opener against Sanford on Tuesday, Dec. 9 and WHS fought hard and had the lead for portions of the game, but Sanford battled back and won the game, 68-60.

Windham sophomore Sean Lebel focuses on the hoop 
mid-air during a varsity boys' basketball game against
Sanford at Windham High School on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

It was Pat Moody Night, a night to honor the late Windham resident and raise money for the Pat Moody Foundation that was created after his passing as a way to carry on his legacy of compassion, love of community and random acts of kindness. Through the community’s generosity, the foundation has been able to fund scholarships for students, assist youth sports programs and invest in projects that bring the community together. T-shirt sales raised a net amount of $3,600 for the foundation with more money still coming in.

“Having (my dad) in our background and playing for him and his legacy, playing with joy within ourselves is the best,” said Windham senior AJ Moody. “It just shows what he did for the community ... I am just very thankful this can be a thing.”

Four community members were honored and inducted to become part of Moody’s Army that recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to better the community. Linda “Emma” Freese, Maureen Janvrin, Stephanie Bubier and Bob Witham were presented with flowers and a small gift for their tireless efforts to the community.

Windham came out with intensity in this fast-moving game. The Eagles rebounded and moved the ball quickly. Both defenses kept the first quarter to a low score.

In the second quarter, junior Colin Janvrin, who scored 18 points during the game, hit a three-pointer. The game was tied 15-15; AJ Moody scored twice from the top of the key. Junior Luke Drottar sunk a three-pointer. Windham led 28-24 at halftime.

“It was a really good team, so we know what they’re capable of,” said AJ Moody, who scored 11 points. “We knew down the line if we gave them space, they can really take over the game. Four minutes left in the fourth quarter, they were down by 10 and came back to beat us. Great game, great experience, in the end this will help us get more gritty. We know we were going to hit adversity and we just did. This loss will fuel us ... practice is going to be a different mentality. A really good team just beat us, but we’re going to keep going harder and harder – that’s what Windham’s about. We were supportive, had a great bench and great energy.”

A series of three-pointers gave Windham a substantial lead in the second half. They continued to rebound and had strong turnovers. Sanford was quick to make up ground and led by five with just 50 seconds left in the game.

Senior Tyrie James said Pat Moody had an impact on everyone in the gym in some way and it was amazing to see. James said it is the fourth quarter that is most important and that’s where Sanford got them. Windham was a little slow getting back on defense at times. Every loss is a lesson; they did great coming out with energy, but need to keep it up the entire game.

“Such a special night,” said Windham varsity boys’ basketball coach Chad Pulkkinen. “A lot of people came out in support just like Pat would want, and the team fought really, really hard, just like he’d want. Just so happy to see that love and Pat Moody spirit out in the crowd. Little things led to the loss, Sanford is a talented team, and they can make you pay quickly. Shots didn’t fall, things like that happen; there are a lot of good possessions, there are a lot of bad possessions. They stole that win from us. (Windham’s) effort was extremely high. We’re trying to get better at a lot of little things and we’re trying to find our true identity.” <

United Soccer Coaches All-Region I list Marion on Third Team

Saint Joseph’s College sophomore forward Nick Marion of Windham has been named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region I Third Team, as announced by the organization.

Nick Marion of Windham, a 
sophomore forward on the Saint
Joseph's College men's soccer team,
has been named to the United
Soccer Coaches All-Region I
Third Team. SUBMITTED PHOTO

A 2025 First Team All-Conference honoree, Marion earns his first career All-Region nod after leading the Monks in goals (9), assists (6), and points (24) as a sophomore. He capped his second collegiate campaign ranked third in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) in assists and fifth in both goals and points.

Marion is one of just three GNAC student-athletes to earn United Soccer Coaches All-Region recognition, joining senior goalkeeper Logan Clough and sophomore defender Luigi Ferreira of Rivier University on the Third Team.

As a freshman at Saint Joseph’s, Marion played in 16 games and started 12. He tallied two goals and three assists for seven points for the season, recording 19 shots. He scored his first career goal as the game winner at Dean and recorded his first career assist versus Albertus Magnus. He tallied a goal and an assist at Regis and also scored the game-winning goal in that game.

Under seventh-year Head Coach Will Pike ’11, Saint Joseph’s closed the 2025 season with an 8–9–1 overall record and a 7–4–1 mark in GNAC play, securing the #4 seed in the conference tournament. The Monks opened postseason play with a 3–1 quarterfinal win over #5 Dean College before bowing out to eventual champion University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in the semifinal round.

He is a 2024 graduate of Windham High School and scored 34 goals for the Eagles during his senior season. He was honored as Offensive Player of the Year for the Southern Maine Activities Association, was the Portland Press Herald Player of the Year and Class A Player of the Year, just to name a few of his achievements.

United Soccer Coaches chose Marion as 2023 Fall Boys High School All-America Team, and he was Windham High School’s first All-American player.

Marion started playing soccer at age 5 and his grandmother helped him choose the sport. He first tried T-ball and didn’t like it, so he began playing soccer.

He is majoring in exercise science in college, while also playing soccer. <

WHS softball receives championship rings during ceremony

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High’s varsity 2025 softball team celebrated their second state championship win in three years after the team beat seventh-ranked Edward Little 7-0 at Saint Joseph’s College on Saturday, June 21. The Eagles celebrated with a championship ring ceremony at Pat’s Pizza in Windham on Friday, Nov. 28.

Windham High School's varsity 2025 softball team displays
its second Golden Glove and state championship rings
during the team's 2025 championship ring ceremony at
Pat's Pizza in Windham on Friday, Nov, 28.
PHOTO BY LANEY WORTHINGTON  

The 2025 girls’ softball team consisted of graduates Stella Jarvais, Kyla Harvie, Lydia Marden, Chloe Edwards, Kennedy Kimball; seniors Oakley McLeod, Jezabelle Pinto, Nola Bryant, Lacie Higgins, Addison Caiazzo, Chloe Delewski; juniors Kaylee Napolitano, Evelyn Anderson, Kiley Card, Sarah Smyth, Abhilasha Jain; sophomores Evelyn Robinson and Yani Kostopoulos.

“Being honored as a state champ for the second time felt awesome,” said Caiazzo. “Surrounded by our teammates, coaches, and family members ... this ceremony felt very meaningful to me personally. My teammates and I know what a big deal it is to win twice.”

From the start of preseason, this team had the goal of a second gold glove. They focused on it and reminded themselves why they were there. That mentality, plus skill, led to the championship win.

"It was amazing to reconnect with old coaches and especially the teammates I’ve known for most of my life,” said Jarvais. “I couldn’t be more grateful, especially in my final year, to have been part of something so special. Celebrating such an accomplishment meant the world to me; I will forever be grateful for that team.”

Each player received a championship plaque and a ring. They also received jackets donated from the Windham Athletic Boosters.

“Any chance to celebrate the 2025 team is special because of ... the bond that was formed over many years of playing together,” said Windham varsity softball coach Darcey Gardiner. “Our players go out and embrace whatever role they are asked to play, whether that’s starting pitcher or right fielder. I truly have to give all the credit to the players, they are champions because of their dedication, passion, and focus these past few seasons that has led them to have such great success.” <