Maine XC Just Getting Started

With the Cross Country season just getting started, I would like to list the power rankings for this years best cross country in all classes teams both boy and girls. I would like to start out with the boys which goes:



1. Cheverus
Their top 3 in Dundas, Terwilliger, and Woods is arguably the best trio in the state. Terwilliger had a very strong outdooor track season posting a 9:23 2 mile at New Englands posting the 2nd fastest 2 mile in all classes that day. I expect him to have a very strong season and contend for the individual title at the state meet along with his teammate Taylor Dundas. They also have a very good supportive cast with senior Josh Reali and junior Mark Beahm. Don't be suprised to see them holding up some hardware at the class A state meet.

2. Greely
Their top 2 rank 2nd in my polls as best 1.2 combos in the state. (Price and McCauley) Greely looks like the preseason favorite in class B. McCauley should contend for the individual title at the state meet this year. Price should be a lock for a top 7 finish as well. Their supporting cast is pretty solid which includes last years JV WMC meet winner Connor Reagan along with Sam Johnston, and Sam Humphries. I like their chances at the Class B state meet.

3. Scarborough
Their losses to Craig Robinson and Sam Chick hurt them, but they return argubaly the best runner in Class A in Nate Hathaway who was 2nd in last years state meet to Will Geoghegan by .26 seconds. With that, they also return a very strong senior in Sean Griffin, and a stud junior in Zach Brown. Along with a very experienced coach in Jim Harmon, they should be able to give Cheverus a run for their money.

4. Brunswick
They return the best 1,2 combo in the state in Will Geoghegan and Liam Cassidy. Geoghegan won the Class A State meet out kicking Nate Hathaway by less than a half of a second. Cassidy had a very good summer by running an impressive time at the Beach to Beacon. They also return junior George Mills who was 32nd at the eastern maine championships last year. Junior Patrick Horan also returns along with senior Stephen Purcell which gives them a strong nucleus. Don't be suprised to see them sneek up to some of the other contending teams at the State Meet.


5. Falmouth
Some people believed that the Yachtsmen might have a down year with the losses of Scott Gardner, Jamey Epstein, Luke Barbour, and Kyle Weeks, but they still have one of the top runners in the state in Tim Follo who was 9th at the Class B state meet. They also return a solid senior in Charlie Swerdlow who stepped up when it counted last year. Sophomore Connor McGrory should have a big season along with senior pick up Eric hemphill. Their coaches, Danny Paul and Jorma Kurry, are two of the best coaches in the state who look to contend for the title in Class B.

6. Lewiston
Lewiston was second at last years Class A State Meet. Their top returner is Hussain Inbrahim who had a very strong XC season last fall. They also return a prime time performer in Faisal Abdillahi who should contend for a top 10 finish at the state meet. Along with Hussain, they form a formidale 1,2 punch that will be a force to reckon with in Class A.

7. Cape
Their loss of superstar Matt Rand will obviously hurt the Capers, but they do return one of the best sophomores in the state, Tom Bottomley who was 13th at the state meet last year. Cape's strong core consists of Peter Brigham, Sean Thomas, and Bobby Yokabaskas, who has the best name in the state. Them along with Falmouth have a good chance to chase down Greely for the title.

8. Caribou
Caribou was the top team in Eastern Maine in Class B, and the vikings hope to keep up their winning ways this year. They are led by seniors Finn Bonderson and Tim Freme who both had very strong xc seasons last year. A top 5 Finish at the State Meet this year is very reachable for this talented group of runners.

9. Mt. Blue
Mt. Blue returns 5 runners in 2009. Their number one is a stud in Kellton Cullenburg who should contend for the individual title in Class A. They return junoir Brody Hines and senior Richie Brooks who both look to have strong seasons this year. Mt. Blue looks like a lock for a top 5 finish at states.

10. Yarmouth
The clippers have a strong group of runners, who look contend this year in Class B. They are led by Juniors Andrew George, Ben Nickerson, and Ben Woodbury. Their top 3 can contend with the top dogs in their conference which should make them a formidable bunch. Along with Sam Woodbury, Yarmouth could be a tough team to beat going into the post season.