Cheverus Stories

The Southwestern Maine Activities Association announced the 2021 All-Academic teams for fall sports. Seniors recognized for the All-Academic team have a minimum GPA of 3.2. Congratulations to our student-athletes!

Soccer (Boys)

• Odan Strock
• Aidan Fedrizzi
• Emmet Schuele
• Nicholas Nason
• Matthew Hatch
• Liam Fedrizzi
• Jamal Osei

Soccer (Girls)

• Emma Tweed
• Lydia Niedermeyer
• Hayley Jordan
• Julia Kratzer
• Emily Bontatibus
• Lillian Singleton
• Olivia Bradford
• Maeve Kelly

Field Hockey

• Norah Slattery
• Abigail Jennings
• Lily Smith
• Mary Kathryn Murphy
• Alison Nashawaty
• Emily Wiggin

Cross Country (Girls)

• Samantha Heinzman
• Arina Matkevich
• Grace Turner
• Leska Whitmarsh

Cross Country (Boys)

• John Herman
• Jackson Williams
• Jesse Cadigan
• Ryan Flaherty

Sailing

• Camden Hom

Football

• Richard Tremble
• Marshall Fowler
• Brett Bogosian
• Braden Smith
• Sebastian Merrill

Golf (Boys)

• Jackson Krieger
• Wyatt Header
• Matthew Bellantoni
• Kevin Connolly
• Nicholas Reilly
• Anthony Cloutier

Golf (Girls)

• Sophia Thees

Volleyball

• Sarah Earley
• Ainsley Gray
• Zoe Baker

Girls soccer coach Craig Roberts and the Cheverus girls soccer team will host a free  clinic on Saturday, October 9, 2021. The clinic will run from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on campus.  Girls in grades K-8 are welcome to join!

To sign up, please email Coach Roberts. 

Field hockey coach Theresa Hendrix and the Cheverus field hockey team will host a free field hockey clinic on Saturday, September 25, 2021. The clinic will run from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on campus.  Girls in grades K-8 are welcome to join!

To sign up, please email Coach Hendrix. 

In its 36th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Victoria Bossong '21 as its 2020-21 Gatorade Maine Girls Track & Field Player of the Year.  This is the third time Bossong has received this recognition.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Bossong as Maine’s best high school girls track & field athlete. She is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Player of the Year award to be announced in July. 

The valedictorian of her class, senior class president, named Outstanding Senior and All-around Student, as well as Cheverus Female Athlete of the Year, Bossong won three individual events at the Class A state championship meet this past season. Bossong set meet records of 55.08 seconds in the 400-meter dash and 2:10.66 in the 800-meter run. She also broke the tape in the 100 dash with a time of 11.81—setting a meet record of 11.73 in the preliminary round—and added a silver medal in the 200.

“Victoria is unlike any athlete I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching,” said Cheverus assistant coach Andrew Rose. “She has achieved almost every goal she set for herself or that I set for her over the course of these last four years. Both on and off of the track, she has been a model example of everything a coach would want to see in any athlete.”

She will attend Harvard University this fall, where she will compete in track and field.

Bossong joins recent Gatorade Maine Girls Track & Field Players of the Year former teammate Emma Gallant (2016-17), among the state’s list of former award winners.

PORTLAND, ME -- Cheverus High School has informed the Maine Principals’ Association that it will move from 11-man to eight-man football next season. 

Athletic Director Amy Ashley said, “We are excited about the move. This decision was made after a great deal of thought and discussion with the coaches about what kind of program Cheverus wants to have in the coming years. We have a rich tradition of football at Cheverus and our program will be deeper, stronger, and safer. The move to eight-man football is the right step.” 

The landscape of high school sports is shifting around the country and football is seeing the impact. In 2018-2019, the National Federation of State High School Associations reported a drop in high school sports participation for the first time in 30 years. The same year, participation in 11-player football fell to its lowest level since 1999-2000. At the same time, participation in eight-player football is increasing. The 2019 season was the first eight-man season for the Maine Principals’ Association, and 10 teams participated. This year, while the deadline is not until the end of February, the MPA projects 24 teams will play eight-man football this fall, or over one-third of the state’s football programs.

Moving to eight-man allows the Cheverus coaching staff, led by Head Coach Mike Vance and Assistant Coaches John Wolfgram, Richie Ashley and Ken Cianchette to build a consistently stable and competitive program. According to Coach Vance, “We have been talking about this for a while. This season, with just a varsity team, we hit a tipping point. We are graduating 12 seniors this year. Now we can be far more intentional about our player development. Next season we will be able to have a JV schedule, giving our younger players the chance to play at the right level. These kids love football. Moving to eight-man allows us to support the game we all love.”

The Cheverus coaching staff also believes in the power of football to teach life lessons, and that will not change. “The techniques of the game are the same with eight-man. It is a game that emphasizes strong fundamentals and athleticism. The intrinsic values of football, such as teamwork, perseverance, and commitment are still there. The character-building component of the game will not be lost. The culture of the Cheverus team is unique. We may need to adjust our schemes for eight-man, but we will retain our culture of excellence,” said Coach Wolfgram.

The growing number of eight-man teams in the state, coupled with the full support of the MPA, means players will still have the opportunity to compete for championships as well as honors such as the Fitzpatrick Trophy and Gaziano Award. Vance stated, “Eight-man football is the trend of today. Our goal is to become an elite eight-man football program.”

Dean of Students, former Cheverus High School (‘82) and University of Maine football player Dan Costigan is a strong supporter of the move, “I see this as an awesome opportunity for Cheverus. We are nimble and responsive to the changing face of football in Maine.  This move makes the play safer and it also creates opportunities for our players to develop their game, compete at the highest level, and have fun.”

Link to video announcement by Coach Vance and Coach Wolfgram.

September 19, 2019 - Head baseball coach Mac McKew has announced his retirement from Cheverus High School after 11 years as the program’s head coach.  

Under Coach McKew, the Cheverus baseball program grew to a new level of competition. The Stags were playoff contenders for 11 straight years and became state championship in 2011. McKew retires with a winning record of 130 wins and 69 losses. 

Coach McKew said, “I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach the baseball team at Cheverus High School for the past 11 seasons.  I am very grateful to the coaches, players, parents, and administration for all their support during that time. It has been a slice of heaven!”

Cheverus Athletic Director Amy Ashley said, “Coach McKew has been integral to the growth of the baseball program at Cheverus. He understands that Cheverus educates the whole person and prioritized building character in his players - on and off the field. In addition to being a coach, he is a parent of three Cheverus graduates who went on to continue their education at Jesuit colleges. Coach McKew believes in the mission of our school and bleeds purple and gold. We are so grateful for all he has done for baseball at Cheverus. We wish him the best in his retirement.”

Picture how beautiful your front step or porch will look this fall adorned with some gorgeous mums!

It's that time of year again! Beautiful Estabrook's mums available in White, Bronze, Lavender, Burgundy, or Yellow. $10 per plant.

Sale proceeds benefit the Cheverus Athletics and Activities programs. 

See any fall athlete to order yours or contact purpleandgold@cheverus.org with your color selections and quantity!

Deadline for orders is Thursday, August 29. Mums will be delivered Saturday, September 7.

In its 34th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company today announced Cheverus High School sophomore Victoria Bossong as its 2018-19 Gatorade Maine Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Bossong is the second Gatorade Maine Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Cheverus High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes Bossong as Maine’s best high school girls track & field athlete.

Bossong won three individual races at the Class A state meet this past season, leading the Stags to the state championship as a team. Bossong won the 100-meter dash in 12.37 seconds, captured the 200 in 24.80 and took the 400 in 55.54. She placed eighth in the 400 at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor in a state-record time of 53.81.

Also a talented musician, Bossong has participated in a service-mission trip to the Philippines in addition to serving as a Eucharistic minister at her church. She has also volunteered locally on behalf of a soup kitchen.

“Throughout the past four months, Victoria has broken 23 separate records and won six individual state titles, ranging from the 55-meter dash all the way up to the 400-meter dash,” said Cheverus assistant coach Andrew Rose. “Many of the records that she hasn’t broken are held by the legendary (two-time NCAA champion and three-time collegiate All-American) Kate Hall—but she hopes to someday reach those same heights.”

Bossong has maintained a 4.15 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her junior year of high school this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. From the 12 national winners, one male and one female athlete are each named Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year. In all, 607 athletes are honored each year. Teammate Emma Gallant '20 was named Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year in 2016-2017.

As a part of Gatorade’s “Play it Forward,” Bossong also has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national youth sports organization of her choosing. She is also eligible to submit an essay to win one of twelve $10,000 spotlight grants for the organization of choice, which will be announced throughout the year.

PORTLAND, ME -- Cheverus High School is pleased to announce eight students signed their letters of intent to play at the collegiate level.

• Patsy Ciampi, Swimming - Keene State
• Andrew DeGeorge, Baseball - Ithaca College
• Tommy Gordon, Soccer - Maine Maritime Academy
• Anastasia Kapothanasis, Tennis - Saint Anselm College
• Teigan Lindstedt, Football- Maine Maritime Academy
• Jack Mullen, Baseball - Bowdoin College
• Rosie Train, Cross County & Track & Field - Husson University
• Emma White, Track & Field- University of Maine

Patsy Ciampi signed a National Letter of Intent to swim at the Keene State, a member of the NCAA Division III Little East Conference. Patsy is the daughter of Kara and Michael Ciampi and lives in South Portland. Patsy is a four-year member of the Cheverus swim team. She is also a member of the Coastal Maine Aquatics Swim Team.  

Ciampi Swimming Highlights:

• Most Improved Swimmer 2017 and 2018

Patsy is a four-year member of the volleyball team. In addition to her achievements as a student-athlete, Patsy is a member of the Key Club and the Homefront Club. She has also volunteered at Preble Street and St. Peter’s Church.

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Andrew DeGeorge signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at the Ithaca College, a member of the NCAA Division III Empire 8 Conference. Andrew is the son of  Erika and John DeGeorge and lives in Saco. Andrew is a four-year member of the Cheverus baseball team. 

Andrew is a three-year member of the football team. In addition to his achievements as a student-athlete, Andrew is a member of the Recycling Club. 

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Tommy Gordon signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at the Maine Maritime Academy, a member of the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference. Tommy is the son of Karen and Thomas Gordon and lives in Portland. Tommy is a four-year member of the Cheverus soccer team and has played club soccer during high school.

Tommy is a three-year member of the Cheverus ultimate frisbee team and ran track. In addition to his achievements as a student-athlete, Tommy is a member of the Key Club and he earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. 

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Anastasia Kapothanasis signed a National Letter of Intent to play tennis at Saint Anselm College, a member of the NCAA Division II Northeast-10 Conference. Anastasia is the daughter of Valentina and the late Tasso Kapothanasis and lives in Westbrook. Anastasia is a three-year member of the Cheverus tennis team.

Kapothanasis Tennis Highlights:

• Rookie of the Year, 2017 
• MVP, 2018

In addition to her achievements as a student-athlete, Anastasia is a member of the Key Club and the Spanish Club. She is also an active member and volunteer at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

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Teigan Lindstedt signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at the Maine Maritime Academy,a member of the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference. Teigan is the son of Jacqueline and Robert Lindstedt and lives in Gray. Teigan is a four-year member of the Cheverus football team.  

Lindstedt Football Highlights:

• MVP 2019
• Coach’s Award 2019
• 110% Award 2019
• Captain 2019
• Fall Athlete of the Year 2019

Teigan was also a four-year member of the wrestling team and was captain his senior year. He also played baseball, ultimate frisbee, and outdoor track.  In addition to his achievements as a student-athlete, Teigan has served as a retreat leader and volunteers at the Gray Fire Station.

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Jack Mullen signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Bowdoin College, a member of the NCAA Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference.  Jack is the son of James and Christine Mullen and lives in Freeport. Jack is a four-year member of the Cheverus baseball team. 
 

Mullen Baseball Career Highlights:

• Second-Team All-SMAA 
• Underclassmen All-Star Game

Jack is also a four-year member of the Cheverus soccer team.  In addition to his achievements as a student-athlete, Jack is a member of the Key Club and Recycling Club. 

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Rosie Train signed a National Letter of Intent to run cross-country and track & field at Husson University, a member of the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference.  Rosie is the daughter of Marcia and Stephen Train and lives on Long Island. Rosie is a four-year member of the Cheverus cross-country and outdoor track team. 

Train cross-country highlights:

• MVP 2018
• Captain 2017, 2018

Rosie is also a four-year member of the Cheverus swim team and three-year member of the indoor track team.  In addition to her achievements as a student-athlete, Rosie is a member of the Key Club and Outdoor Club and is a retreat leader and a member of the Long Island Volunteer Fire Dept. 

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Emma White signed a National Letter of Intent to run track & field at the University of Maine, a member of the NCAA Division I America East Conference.  Emma is a recipient of the University of Maine Presidential Scholarship and a University of Maine Athletic Scholarship. Emma is the daughter of Lisa and James White and lives in Wells. Emma is a four-year member of the Cheverus indoor and outdoor track teams. 

White track highlights:

• MVP 2019  - indoor track 
• MVP 2018  - outdoor track 
• Captain 2019 - indoor track 
• Most Improved Award 2017 - outdoor track  
• State record in the 4x200 2017 - indoor track  
• Coach’s Award 2017, 2018 - outdoor and indoor track 
• Captain’s Award: 2017, 2018 - outdoor and indoor track

Emma is also a member of the Cheverus volleyball team; she was awarded the Most Improved Award her junior year. In addition to her achievements as a student-athlete, Emma is a member of the Math Team and National Honor Society. In 2018, she was awarded the Dartmouth Book Award. 

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About Cheverus High School Founded in 1917,  Cheverus High School is an inclusive co-educational, independent, college preparatory school in Portland, ME sponsored by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), whose mission is to prepare young men and women to be people for and with others by fostering intellectual, spiritual, physical, and personal excellence. Cheverus has a rich history deeply rooted in Jesuit philosophy spanning nearly 500 years and remains committed to its founding principles of superior educational and spiritual growth of the individual. Cheverus is part of the Jesuit network of over 800 middle school, high school, colleges, and universities worldwide.

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CONTACT:

Jeannette Wycoff, Director of Communications, wycoff@cheverus.org ; (207) 774-6238 ext. 186

Amy Ashley, Director of Athletics, ashley.amy@cheverus.org ; (207) 774-6238 ext. 140

cheverus.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 11, 2019

Portland, ME—Cheverus High School Announces the Selection of William “Bill” Goodman as Varsity Girls Basketball Coach

Cheverus High School is pleased to announce that Bill Goodman will serve as the next head coach of the girls basketball program effective Wednesday, April 10. Amy Ashley, athletic director at Cheverus High School, said, “We are thrilled to have Coach Goodman lead our girls basketball program. Bill has been extremely successful at the high school level. His resume speaks for itself. He cares for his players on and off the court and he understands that skills development is as important as character development. He is a great fit for Cheverus High School.”

Coach Goodman comes to Cheverus from Deering High School, where he has served as assistant coach last season. From 2012-2017, Goodman was the varsity girls basketball head coach at McAuley/Maine Girls Academy (seven-year record of 121-24 with three Class A State Championships, four Class A Regional Finals and seven Class A Tournament appearances). Prior to that, Goodman served as varsity girls basketball head coach at Greely High School (51-11 Record and two Class B Regional Finals appearances).

He is a graduate of Western New England University.

About Cheverus High School: Founded in 1917,  Cheverus High School is an inclusive co-educational, independent, college preparatory school in Portland, ME sponsored by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), whose mission is to prepare young men and women to be people for and with others by fostering intellectual, spiritual, physical, and personal excellence. Cheverus has a rich history deeply rooted in Jesuit philosophy spanning nearly 500 years and remains committed to its founding principles of superior educational and spiritual growth of the individual.  Cheverus is part of the Jesuit network of over 800 middle school, high school, colleges, and universities worldwide.

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Four former student-athletes were inducted into the Cheverus Athletic Hall of Fame on Wednesday, April 3 in a ceremony held on campus.

The 2019 Hall of Fame inductees were James Beaudry ’41, Roman Pavlik ’91, Meaghan Phillips (Morris) ’05, and John Paul Thornton, Jr. ’73.

A 1941 graduate of Cheverus,  Beaudry competed on the football and basketball teams.Beaudry served as the Director of Athletics at St. Francis College (UNE) for 21 years, coaching baseball, basketball, soccer, cross country and golf. He was named an Honorary Alumnus of UNE, where the gym is named in his honor. At 95 years old, Beaudry continues to be active in local sports - teaching clinics at the elementary level and attending numerous sporting events in Southern Maine.

Pavlik left an indelible mark on the Cheverus tennis program. The Stags won state championships each of Pavlik’s four years on the team -- the only tennis state championships in Cheverus history. Pavlik was the top-ranked singles player three years in a row; elected captain twice; and the only Cheverus tennis player to ever win the individual boys tennis championship. His senior year, Pavlik never lost a set -- let alone a match. In addition to his prolific achievements in tennis, Pavlik was valedictorian of his 1991 graduating class. Pavlik continued his distinguished tennis career at Bryant College and was a Northeast-10 Champion for all four years. Pavlik is the only player in conference history to never lose a match.

As a member of the soccer, swimming, indoor and outdoor track and cross country teams, Meaghan Morris rose to the challenge wherever her team needed. Enrolling at Cheverus at the start of its transition to coeducation, Morris joined every sport she could to fill rosters and ensure that teams would be competitive against larger and more mature programs -- participating in as many as 5 sports per year. In 2005, Morris won the discus event at the Maine Class A Outdoor Track State Championship, and also scored as a member of the team’s 4x400 meter relay team; she also twice qualified for New Englands. As a member of the first Cheverus women’s swim team, dubbed the “Original Six”, she served as a key member of the state championship-winning and record-setting 200 medley relay and 200 free relay teams, and set a school record in the 100 butterfly. In addition to her athletic achievements, Morris was named Outstanding Senior and All-Around Student of her 2005 graduating class.

Thornton led many Cheverus sports teams to victory during his time on campus. As a two-way starting tackle, he helped his freshman-year football team win the league championship after an undefeated season. He was twice named All-State Offensive Tackle and was elected tri-captain his senior year. As a shot putter on the Cheverus indoor and outdoor track teams, Thornton won multiple meets and secured the state champion title as a 16-year-old. His junior year, Thornton held the role of forward for the Cheverus basketball team while also competing in indoor track that same season. A knee injury during his senior year basketball season curtailed his athletic activities that year. A talented athlete with a breadth of accomplishments both on and off the field, Thornton is known by his peers as a charismatic leader, “the soul” of his teams, and an exceptional player within a class of outstanding athletes.

Full album from this wonderful evening.

Congratulations to Cheverus junior Grace Elwell who was recently celebrated as the top All-Around gymnast at USA Gymnastics Maine State Championship meet held on March 15 at Winthrop High School. Grace is a competitive level-9 gymnast who trains with Dudziak’s School of Gymnastics in Biddeford; she earned first-place honors on balance beam and parallel bars, 2nd place on floor exercises, and 4th place on vault.

An honors student and member of the National Honor Society at Cheverus, Grace has been dedicated to the pursuit of gymnastics for many years, and devotes over twenty hours a week to practicing. In addition to year-round participation in gymnastics, Grace has been involved in Cheverus athletics including varsity soccer and this year indoor track, is a member of the Key Club and is employed as a coach to aspiring gymnasts.

Congratulations also to another Cheverus student, current freshman Stacy Taylor who was recognized as the 3rd place All-Around gymnast and placed first on the floor exercises.

This fall, all the sports teams will come together for an All-Sports Banquet. All teams will gather for the General Session where our Varsity coaches will hand out the Cheverus awards for their team in front of all parents, players, and coaches. Individual teams will conduct their banquets to honor all JV and varsity athletes and celebrate their season either before or after the general session. We hope you enjoy this new format designed to create a great sense of community by coming together to celebrate all student-athletes.

Sunday, November 18
The general session will start at 2:00 p.m. in Keegan Gym.
Dress code will be in effect for student-athletes.

To get more information on your individual celebration, please reach out to your team Liaison.

Cafeteria:

• Boys Soccer -- Before General Session
• Girls Soccer -- After General Session

Sparta Room:

• Golf -- After General Session

Loyola Parlor:

• Field Hockey -- Before General Session
• Volleyball -- After General Session

Gym:

• Football -- After General Session

Multi-Purpose Room:

• Cross Country -- Before General Session
• Sailing -- After General Session

Cheverus is very pleased to announce the appointment of Amy Ashley as Cheverus High School’s new Director of Athletics and Activities.  

Ms. Ashley most recently served as the Assistant to the Athletic Director of Yarmouth High School (Maine) and Athletic Director of Yarmouth Middle School (Maine), positions that she has held since August 2014. Prior to that, Ms. Ashley served as the Assistant to Athletic Director Gary Hoyt here at Cheverus from 2006-2014. While at Cheverus, Ms. Ashley coached the field hockey and girls basketball teams.
 
Ms. Ashley was selected from a pool of over 75 applicants -- men and women from Catholic schools, elementary schools, and independent schools -- from as far away as Ohio and Alabama and most states in between. Three finalists were invited to campus during the week of September 4 to meet with members of the search committee and the Athletic department and to engage in panel discussions with groups of students, parents and coaches. Twenty-eight members of our community participated in the panel discussions, including 13 members who met all three candidates. Ms. Ashley is the first woman to hold this position at Cheverus.
 
Ms. Ashley brings a deep understanding of the complexities of managing an athletic department and has honed her management skills working with two of Maine’s most respected Athletic Directors, Cheverus’s own Gary Hoyt and Yarmouth’s Susan Robbins.
 
Beyond her proven abilities as an athletic administrator, Ms. Ashley embodies the Cheverus mission. During her time as an assistant here at Cheverus, Ms. Ashley encountered and embraced the Jesuit charism of the school which led her to be deeply involved in the school community beyond athletics. Ms. Ashley served as a faculty leader in the Kairos retreat,  experiencing the value of educating the whole person.
 
Ms. Ashley’s first official day at Cheverus will be Thursday, September 21, 2017.   Please join me in welcoming Ms. Ashley to Cheverus.