Communities across Maine are getting ready for the start of the high school sports season on September 5th when regular season games will begin. Athletes returning to fall sports are balancing a range of emotions they will feel on opening day of the season. “I’m definitely nervous, but I’m also excited because I think everyone loves the season, but the first day is always nerve wracking,” said Emma Silver, a senior soccer player at Greeley High School. It’s the last chance for the Class of 2025 to remember this day when they were freshmen not long ago, and they’re trying to help the new students. “I try to introduce myself to everyone and let them know what’s going on, because at least for me, it’s a lot easier to go with the flow if you know what’s going on,” said Ronan Mass, a senior soccer player at Portland High School. “I always want to step up and help them because I know there are things I wish the older guys had done when I was that age. “Conditioning is the word that comes to mind for all the players returning to play,” Falmouth High School football player Owen Bombardier said. “We have little group chats and texts going back and forth like, ‘Let’s make sure everyone is running, doing fitness,’ and then everyone’s like, ‘Oh, this is so stressful,'” Greeley High School senior football player Abby Lennox said. “But we know we’re all going to get in shape and be in top form for the season.” At Winthrop, the field hockey and football teams had the earliest start in the state, starting practice right at midnight, strictly on Monday. “Last year we practiced at 5 a.m. and we always talked about going earlier. The nerves of the guys are showing. So we’re just getting ready for the season,” Winthrop High School field hockey player Madeline Wagner said. For all sports teams across the state, championship optimism is at an all-time high. “We’re ready to go. We’re ready to beat whoever we’re going to beat,” Falmouth High School football player Indie Backman said. “No matter who we’re playing, even if it’s the Patriots, you can trust us. We’ll beat them. Let’s go.”
Cumberland, Maine —
The high school sports season has begun in communities across Maine, with programs preparing for the start of regular season games on Sept. 5.
Athletes returning to fall sports are balancing a range of emotions on opening day of the season.
“Obviously I’m nervous, but I think everyone loves this season so I’m excited too, but the first day is always nerve-wracking,” said Emma Silver, a senior soccer player at Greeley High School.
This is the last chance for students from the Class of 2025 who remember this day as freshmen not long ago and are eager to help the new students.
“I try to introduce myself to everybody and let them know what’s going on because, at least in my case, it’s a lot easier to go with the flow once you know what’s going on,” said Ronan Masse, a senior on the Portland High School football team.
“I always want to step up and help them out because I know when I was that age there were things I wish the older guys had taught me,” Falmouth High School football player Owen Bombardier said.
Conditioning is a word that every athlete has in mind when returning to competition.
“We’re all texting each other in our group chat like, ‘Let’s make sure everyone is running and doing fitness,’ and we’re all like, ‘Oh, this is so stressful,'” said Abby Lennox, a senior soccer player at Greeley High School. “But we all know we’re all going to be in shape and in tip-top condition for the season.”
At Winthrop, the field hockey and football teams got off to an early start in the state, beginning practices as soon as midnight on Monday.
“We did this at 5 a.m. last year and we always talked about doing it earlier. We’re all nervous, so we’re just getting ready for the season,” said Madeline Wagner, a senior field hockey player at Winthrop High School.
For sports teams across the state with championship dreams, optimism has never been higher.
“We’re ready to go. We’re ready to beat anybody,” Falmouth High School football player Indie Backman said. “Whoever it is, just play the Patriots. We can beat them. Let’s go.”