Newsletter #12...Away we go
We're less than a week away from the start of the 2025 high school football, soccer, field hockey and volleyball seasons and based on early reports from players and coaches, the upcoming campaign will be most memorable.
I'm putting the finishing touches on fall previews, but there have already been multiple stories on some of the top teams as they prepare for the new year:
Falmouth football seeking a repeat title
Cheverus field hockey has a new look, but the same goal
Windham girls' soccer believes this is the year
Portland football looking to make history with another Gold Ball
Freeport field hockey ready to send seniors off in style
Look for the football preview to be posted sometime this weekend and the soccer, field hockey and volleyball previews to appear next week before countable games begin.
A farewell to coach
Legendary football coach John Wolfgram passed away Aug. 5. Wolfgram won 309 games and 10 state championships and is widely considered the greatest in his profession in the state of Maine.
Wolfgram's legacy was on display on Aug. 16 when a Banquet of Life was held in South Portland. In attendance were former players from Madison, Gardiner, South Portland and Cheverus (he won championships at each of those stops), as well as many, many others whom he influenced.
Additional tributes have poured in from far and wide.
"(My assistant coaches and I) talk about how Coach seemed almost invincible," said Aaron Filieo, South Portland's current head coach, who played for Wolfgram. "He gave us so much over the course of our lifetime, so we have so much that we carry with us and it still kind of feels like he's here. South Portland was already established as one of the best programs in the state when he came here, but him winning as much as did in the top class in the state, then raising his family here, that's why he's associated with South Portland. South Portland football and John Wolfgram will always be synonymous."
"Coach was a hard worker, he had good knowledge and he was a teacher," said Jack Flynn, who hired Wolfgram at South Portland and preceded him as the Red Riots' coach. "If you're a coach, you're a teacher and if you're a good teacher as a coach it will show up with your teams. Things happen so quickly in football, it's almost reflex action. If you're a good teacher, kids do things automatically. It was a combination of a lot of good things with him."
"I saw Coach Wolfgram as a teacher," said longtime Windham coach Matt Perkins. "I spent so many hours watching what he did, because you knew it was right. He set a great example. People talk about the wins, but it's how you do things that matter."
"Coach was the best," said longtime Thornton Academy coach Kevin Kezal. "Offensively, we have an 'if-then' chart. 'If they defend us this way, this is what we're going to do,' and John Wolfgram was the best that's ever been at that with his offense. He did it all (in his head) and I don't know how he did it, but he knew offense inside and out. Defensively, they were going to be disciplined and play sound football. We had some great games against each other. He was as good as they come."
"I learned so much about the game from competing against his teams and watching the films of his games," said Thornton Academy athletic director Lance Johnson, who coached against Wolfgram as an assistant at Portland and as a head coach at Scarborough. "His attention to detail, his preparation and his ability to adjust his scheme to take advantage of his players' strengths was unmatched. He was the best at getting his players to believe in themselves and believe how they would execute his plan. The other thing that stands out to me is what a great family man he was. His wife Adin was always at his side after games, win or lose. He was such a wonderful husband, father and grandfather."
In addition to Wolfgram, the local sports world also lost a couple of amazing women this summer.
Sister Edward Mary Kelleher, the longtime head of Catherine McAuley High School and the biggest cheerleader of the program's dynastic basketball program, passed away July 30.
Bonny Brown, the wife of legendary basketball coach Bob Brown and the mother of former National Basketball Association coach Brett Brown, passed away Aug. 15.
Condolences to all who loved Coach Wolfgram, Sister Edward Mary and Bonny Brown. I was lucky enough to get to know all three and their impact was undeniable.
Joining the podcast fun
In case you missed it, the first Hoffer's High School Sports podcast was posted Thursday. The podcast, featuring yours truly, with a big assist from Tim Eisenhart, debuted with an interview with longtime, legendary Channel 13 sports director Dave Eid and encompassed decades of Eid's career and delved into many of his triumphs, as well as the tragic loss of his wife, Lisa.
You can hear the pod here: https://www.hoffershighschoolsports.com/hoffers-high-schools-podcast-episode-one-dave-eid/
What's to come
You can look for fresh content every day this fall at Hoffer's High School Sports.
In addition to the regular game stories and occasional features, there will be something new every weekday.
On Monday, HHSS, in conjunction with partner cPort Credit Union, will name a "Player of the Week."
On Tuesday, you can look for our weekly polls.
Wednesdays will bring a story on the upcoming "Game of the Week."
Each Thursday will feature a new podcast.
Friday, as always, will see the release of our free newsletter where I'll post my high school football picks, as well as my ever popular, prescient, Patriots prediction. I'll also have my weekly 11:30 a.m. spot on the Mannix & Mannix Show on the Big Jab, 96.3 FM or 1440 AM.
A quick plug
While I undeniably have a face for radio, podcasts and print, twice a year my friend Travis Lee, the sports director at Channel 8, invites me to join him on air.
This coming Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., on Maine's CW (check your local listing), Travis and I, for the 12th time, will present the Blitz8 high school football preview show.
Please join us.
And you can look for a new newsletter next week, when we'll have a lot to talk about.
Best of luck to all fall athletes as a new season begins!
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