Thanksgiving is still more than a week away, back yards are stillflooded with leaves, and state championships have yet to be decidedin high school football.
But a winter feel was in the air at high schools across the stateMonday as thousands of athletes took to the courts, rinks, schoolhallways, pools and mats for the first time for preseason practicesand tryouts. High school basketball, track and field, swimming anddiving, wrestling, ice hockey and cheerleading were allowed to openon Monday.
The first countable games and meets can be held after 3 p.m. onFriday, Dec. 5.
The first day of tryouts usually brings optimism, and there'stons of it in the case of the Bangor girls basketball team.
The Rams had a stellar season last winter, compiling a 14-4regular season record and earning the fourth seed in the EasternMaine Class A tourney before falling in the first round to OxfordHills of South Paris.
Coach Tom Tennett will have to replace his top two offensivethreats in Amy Hackett and Allie Clukey, his main objective aspractices get into gear.
'I think between Amy and Allie last year we were getting about 25points per game,' said Tennett. 'We'll have to replace that, that'smy biggest concern, who's going to score consistently for us.'
The Rams lost seven seniors from last year's squad, but boast astrong corps of juniors to complement returning senior Hilary Sivik.
'We're going to have to work really hard in practice to get somescoring opportunities,' said Sivik.
The junior class includes 5-foot-9 center Stephanie Comstock and5-11 forward Kristina Curtis along with Kate Freudenberger, BriannaTocci, Melanie Jackson, Megan Doucette and Hillary Throckmorton.
'We have a great junior class coming with us,' Sivik said.
Tennett will also have to find someone who can handle the ball,as Clukey was the point guard last season.
'I think that's the great thing about high school basketball, youget to see the kids progress,' Tennent said.
'You're always excited, it's like a new beginning, every team'sgot the same dreams right now, the same expectations.'
Bangor should possess good depth and be tough defensively whiletrying to find an offensive balance.
'I think [opposing defenses] will be spread out more, have morepeople to guard this year,' Sivik said.
Leonardi tops Maine field
Ten of Maine's finest runners will be looking to take big bitesout of the Big Apple next weekend, as four girls and six boys fromMaine high schools will head to New York City for the FootlockerNortheast Regional Cross Country Championships at Van Cortlandt Parkin the Bronx on Nov. 29.
Headlining the Maine entries are two freshmen, Abbey Leonardi ofKennebunk and Emily Durgin from Bonny Eagle in Standish.
These two have been the lead horses among Maine schoolgirlrunners all season, and they showcased their talents in a big way atthe recent New England championship meet in New Hampshire, withLeonardi finishing first and Durgin second in a talented field.
The top 10 runners in the boys and girls seeded races willqualify for the Dec. 13 national championships at Balboa Park in SanDiego.
If Leonardi is on her game, she could be among those earningberths to Southern California.
Mount Desert Island senior Heather Spurling is entered in thesenior girls race while Hannah Wiley of Kennebunk will run in thejunior girls race.
Maine boys entered include juniors Taylor Dundas of Cheverus inPortland, Cony of Augusta's Luke Fontaine, Will Geoghegan ofBrunswick, Nate Hathaway of Scarborough, Marc McCauley of Greely andHampden Academy sophomore Ethan Burke.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JOHN CLARKE RUSS
Bangor junior Brian Higgins takes a shot as (left to right) NateFrazier, Zach Redman and Cal Winchester look on as the Rams kickedoff basketball tryouts at Red Barry Gymnasium Monday afternoon.
rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net
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