29 May 2026 6 min read Newsletters

Newsletter #45...Renewing acquaintances

One of my favorite aspects of my job in recent years is the increasing number of new coaches with familiar names.

Names that are familiar because I used to cover them when they were high school athletes.

As terrific as they were as young men and women, they're just as fabulous as adults.

And while this makes me feel my advanced age at times, that feeling is secondary.

I love seeing them in their new roles and succeeding, just as they did as players so many years ago.

This spring alone, the list of coaches that were once players I covered for The Forecaster includes:

Baseball
Ryan Copp (Played at Greely, now coaches Cheverus)
Billy Barnard (Portland)

Boys' lacrosse
Peter Gerrity (North Yarmouth Academy)
Ryan Jurgelevich (Portland)
Jon Miller (Yarmouth)

Girls' lacrosse
Madison York (Played at Scarborough, now coaches Falmouth)
Becca Koelker (Greely)
Molly Moss-Stokes (NYA)
Eliza Hellier (Played at Cheverus, now coaches South Portland)
Rhiannan Jackson (Played at Waynflete, now coaches Westbrook)

Jackson, Jurgelevich and Miller all won state titles as players and I was present for their past glory. Miller has coached the Clippers to four championships since returning to the program and I've been fortunate enough to be on-hand for those titles as well.

Mix in the likes of basketball coaches like Connor Hasson, Brianne Maloney and Hope Olson and boys' hockey's Hogan Tracy and there were several familiar faces last winter.

In the fall, football's Issiah Bachelder, Caleb King and Dylan Rottkov, soccer's Will Burdick, Justin Morrill and Matt Morrill, volleyball's Autumn Vargo and field hockey's Megan Sullivan, Burgess LePage, Bre Page, Maddy Perfetti and Kaylee Whitten are all former players/present coaches.

And I anticipate that list will continue to grow.

A phenomenon I encourage and welcome.

Familiar face comes home

Speaking of former players now coaching, Greely announced earlier this week that its field hockey program will have a new assistant coach, as Hayly Holman joins former teammate Burgess LePage.

Holman, known as Hayly Ross in her playing days, was a Rangers' standout early this century, leading Greely to three straight regional championships and the 2003 Class B state title (still the lone crown in program annals). Holman went on to play at Boston University, coached at Bates College and spent over a decade as a varsity and assistant coach at Oxford Hills.

This Forecaster photo, circa 2001, is priceless...

Milestones

Another week, more milestones in softball and lacrosse.

Cheverus' junior girls' lacrosse standout Sydney Brunelle recently eclipsed 200 points for her illustrious career and she's by no means finished.

Like her sister Maddie before her, Scarborough sophomore Lily Howes has reached 100 career points.

On the softball diamond, Windham senior standout Addie Caiazzo reached a career milestone Thursday with her 100th career hit in a victory over South Portland.

Westbrook signings

Westbrook High School held its college signing night Wednesday and there was a large representation.

Blue Blazes athletes who plan to compete at the next level include the following:

Dimitri Lubin (Colby College, football)
Madeleine Worcester (Plymouth State, field hockey)
Tony Bongomin (University of Maine, football)
Emma Boulette (Saint Michael's College, softball)
John Cubahiro (University of Maine-Farmington, basketball)
Giovanni Staples (Southern Maine Community College, basketball)
Mohammed Ahmed (University of Southern Maine, soccer)
Wassemua Muel (University of Maine-Augusta, soccer)
Ithiel Mulumba (USM, soccer)
Bunga Pedro (SMCC, soccer)
Shaker Mahdi (USM, track and field)

In case you missed it

Game stories from the past week...

Yarmouth boys walk it off to beat Cape in extras

Falmouth boys handle Yarmouth to stay unbeaten

South Portland needs 10 innings to outlast Scarborough

Cape baseball handles Freeport at Bowdoin

Windham slugs its way past Westbrook

TA boys down Yarmouth to stay undefeated

South Portland baseball holds on to edge Cheverus

Gorham makes a statement by ending TA's win streak

Media

Last Friday's spot on Middays with Mannix and Mannix:

https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MMM-5-22-26-Michael-Hoffer.mp3

Features

Hoffer's High School Sports, in conjunction with cPort Credit Union, named Windham sophomore softball slugger Yani Kostopoulos our Athlete of the Week.

Tuesday brought the latest polls for baseball, softball and lacrosse:

Thursday's Hoffer's High School Sports Podcast featured Westbrook softball coach Brian Ross, a one-time major league baseball pitching prospect.

What's on tap

The action heats up over the next week with some key showdowns as the regular season comes to a close in baseball, softball and lacrosse.

Friday, the game of the day is either Cheverus at Kennebunk girls' lacrosse, or Thornton Academy at South Portland baseball, a contest originally scheduled for Saturday but moved up due to predicted bad weather (and unfortunately there's more of that in the forecast).

Saturday, it's unlikely we'll see any baseball or softball action, but if we do, the Gorham at Bonny Eagle softball contest will be telling. There's a very compelling interclass boys' lacrosse contest, as Class A contender Deering visits reigning Class C champion North Yarmouth Academy. Up the road, Yarmouth's girls play host to surging Greely.

Monday, Westbrook's softball team hosts Bonny Eagle, while lacrosse sees Greely's boys play host to Wells and Falmouth's girls welcome Scarborough, as Navigators coach Madison York goes up against her alma mater.

Tuesday's slate is highlighted by a boys' lacrosse state game rematch nearly a year in the making, as Thornton Academy visits Falmouth. A year ago, the Golden Trojans upset the seemingly unbeatable Navigators to win the crown. This time around, both powerhouses are undefeated, so something will have to give, and there's a good chance they'll meet again on the big stage June 20.

Wednesday, Yarmouth and Falmouth and Thornton Academy and Cheverus meet in pivotal season-ending girls' lacrosse showdowns. Greely at Freeport is a sneaky important boys' lacrosse contest.

Thursday, the regular season ends, as Scarborough's girls host reigning Class A champion Windham.

Play of the week

Let's wrap this up with the play of the week...Gorham senior shortstop Miles Brenner makes a breathtaking stab and throws out a Thornton Academy batter during Thursday's 9-1 victory.