A New Look For Hermon Boys Tennis

By: Danny Fowler

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the Hermon Boy’s Varsity Tennis team going into this year. With the team having a new head coach, all the while losing a lot of the starters from last year. The team has a vastly new look and it is uncertain how the team will fare this year. Last year the team had a rough year going 1-11 only beating Old Town for their one win but the boys are looking to change that this year. Recently I had the opportunity to to sit down with new head coach Matthew Murray and senior Ryan Hallett to talk about their outlook on the upcoming season.

With the 2023 season not living up to the expectations of the players and coaches Hallett has some new goals for the season ahead “The goal is to help this team get over the threshold of 1-2win seasons. I feel as if the Hermon Tennis Team is looked at as almost a joke right now, and that’d be something I’d like to see change before I leave after this season.” said Hallett when asked about his goals for the season. Hallett remains optimistic and hopes to make a change by the end of his senior year. When it comes to head coach Matthew Murray’s hopes for the season ahead he has similar goals in mind. “I want to be competitive in the matches, I don’t want to get blown out. I think the team last year was 1-1, I’d like to improve upon that but if we’re 1-11 and we’re competitive in every match then I take that as a victory as well.” Murray hopes to stay competitive in matches as he tries to grow the program in the following years. In order to stay competitive in matches the tennis program certainly needs to make a change. “I believe we need to work on not only the basics of the game but also on keeping your spirit when you’re losing or tired,” said Hallett when asked about what the team needs to do to have a better year. Hallett maintains a good mindset for the season and wants to encourage his teammates to do the same. While Murray agrees with what Hallett thinks needs change he also has some of his own. “If you want to be a good tennis player you need to watch tennis, you can’t play the sport without being a fan of it and knowing who some of the top guys and girls are. That’s what I want for the kids, they need to be students of the game,” said Murray on what the team needs to do this year to succeed. He believes that players need to watch that high level of play to have a deeper understanding of the game which in turn will help the players succeed.

While the Hawks have a new look going into the season many of the other teams have remained relatively similar. With this knowledge, Hallett has some teams to look out for going into this year. “Old Town has always been a big match and one we’ve played better in. John Bapst is always a fun team to play, mostly because of the Armstrong Center and playing indoors, and I love playing Caribou,” said Hallett at the competition this year. Hallett is excited for these matchups as the season nears and hopes to start the year off hot with some competitive matches.

The Boy’s Tennis team has an exciting season ahead with a brand new look and a new coach things are looking up for the team. With goals from both the players and coaches the Hawks are destined for growth in the upcoming season and years to come. With the help of Coach Murray and the effort of the players on the team, there is new hope for the team.

Big 2024 Season for The Kinney’s

By Max Hopkins and Braelynn Wilcox

 Coming into the 2024 season the Hawks are looking to make a big break for the playoffs this year. Last year going 7-9 just barely pushing their way into the postseason. Then having a heartbreaking loss to the Cony Rams in the quarter-finals. Whilst losing 7 seniors the Hawks have plenty of room to add to their varsity roster. Meaning that a younger group of players could make all the difference in this year’s outcome. The Hawks Starting first basemen Maddox Kinney the oldest of the two brothers is looking forward to “ some new faces because last year we lost some teammates who had brought the team down so I’m really looking forward to a new setup.” By talking shortly with other returners the feelings seem to be reciprocated. 

Going into this year the Kinney brothers plan to make a statement. While only going 7-9 last year the Hawks knew they didn’t play their best all year. Looking forward Maddox thinks “We will go at least 9-7 but it’s hard to predict, especially since we play some hard teams such as Brewer and Bangor.” Although if the Hawks can bring good leadership to the table this year they shouldn’t have a problem. With the season just weeks away from arriving the Kinneys look forward to making the Hermon Hawks a team that others fear to play no matter the circumstance. The Hawks are on a revenge tour.

Rising Resilience 

By Max Hopkins and Braelynn Wilcox 

The Hermon Girls Varsity Basketball team embarked on a journey with their new coach Tim Thornton this 2023-2024 season. The season began with a sense of anticipation as the players and fans wondered how the team would adapt to not only a new experienced coach on the staff but the new faces as well after welcoming 5 freshmen to the varsity roster. They would find their way by working through some challenges using the season as a rebuilding year after graduating the class of 2023, a significant number of their lineup last season. They landed in the 12th seed of Class B North with a record of 5-13 falling just short of the road to the Cross Insurance Center for Bangor’s notorious MPA Basketball Tournament. 

Key Players 

Every player on the team made great contributions from on the court to outside of those gymnasium doors. However there were a few standouts this season for the lady hawks. 

Izzy Byram, starting senior point guard, without a doubt left her mark. The senior had her chance to shine after finding herself only a handful of minutes on the floor her junior year. And she did just that. She was not just a leader and a captain for the Hawks, she was an exceptional defensive player and with being the team’s best ball handler, she never failed to generate plays on the other end of the floor. 

Bella Bowden, starting senior forward, was a key to the Hawks offense being one of the team’s top leading scorers draining shots from not only in the paint, but on the line and above the arc as well. She has proven to be an important part of the Hawks as she was a standout last season as well. 

Brooke Gallop, starting junior guard, is one of a kind. Her versatility and athletic abilities in the realm of sports can mark her as a standout even before stepping on the court. She found her comfort zone beyond the arc this year with the help of their new head coach. Her teammates never failed to believe that she could drain the three at any point. While new improvements in her skills continue to rise, the ones she’s always showcased on the floor never disappeared. She was a solid defender for the Hawks, always assigned with the crucial task of defending the stars of other opposing teams. 

Starting freshman guard Lila Ryan and starting freshman forward Rebecca Balmas started their high school careers off strong making a positive impact on each and every game scoring from all ranges. Last but definitely not least, Freshman Forward Madie Tracy, lent a helping hand by coming off the bench strong, seeing the floor, and adding to the points as well.   

Succeeding in goals 

The second goal is to “combine their developing skills to make the team better each day” expressed Thornton. Throughout the season Hermon fans could see the continuous growth from the Hawks. Seeing ball-handling moves that lead to passes and overall shots on the basket. In their second match against Central, Thornton would excitedly state that the girls “had 10 assists, shot 36 percent from the floor, and out-rebounded the Red Devils on the offensive and defensive glass.” The improvements showed hope for the Hawks as the different skills started to click allowing for them to successfully complete this season’s goal. 

Last but not least, “To play defense without fouling” Thornton stresses. As they say foul shots win games. Getting into foul trouble especially early in the match can put the game on the line, so focusing on playing strong effective defense without fouling was important to the Hawks. They would hold Central to just a mere 23 points the second time the two teams faced each other in the Hawks nest, but 15 of those were made foul shots by the Devils. As the Hawks finish up this season and start focusing on the next, this goal will remain the same as they look for a successful run next season. 

Stand out games 

Coach Tim Thronton felt that there were two games that showed great improvement for the Hawks. The first one being their second match-up against Presque Isle when the Hawks traveled up to the county on January 24th. Taking home the win defeating the Wildcats 30-20 on their home court. The Hawks would then take a jump up in the standings from 16th to 12th giving them momentum for the rest of the season. 

Secondly, their last game against John Bapts in the Hawks nest. “This was a fantastic team effort,” voiced Thornton. The Hawks combined to shoot a season-high of 34% from the two-point range which controlled the offensive and defensive rebounds for a total of 35. Not only that, the Hawks accumulated a total of 14 assists, and 14 steals which led to a 41-35 victory, concluding the season on a high note. 

Outlook of the Hawks  

Thornton would leave his team with this advice at the conclusion of the season, “Every day each player is asked to focus on making themselves and the team better than they were the day before. Therefore; team success depends on each player’s ability to become a consistently goal-oriented ‘team player’.” Looking ahead the road remains uncertain but the Hermon community is looking forward to the future of the Lady Hawks as they have a lot of depth and skill to continue to develop in the upcoming years, while the mission of bringing home the gold ball still remains near.

Lady Hawks Shoot Again

By: Cooper and Lily

2022 in Hermon

The Hawks finished a tough 2022 season going 9-9 earning themselves the tenth seed in Class B North. Hermon would struggle last year with their lack of size everywhere on the court. They lost most of if not all of their height when they graduated Elizabeth Wyman, Megan Tracy, and Charlotte Caron. These losses would prove tough for the Hawks going from a previously dominant 16-2, to a mediocre 9-9. 2022 would also be longtime coach Chris Cameron’s final year at Hermon, as he is now the assistant coach for women’s basketball at Colby College. The upside for 2022 was that they are returning most of the starters on the team, which proves to be a major upside for the Hawks and their future.

Key Players

Not only does Hermon have multiple returning players, including Brooke Gallop, Izzy Byram, Bella Bowden, Rachel Wickett, and more, but they have also gained about 7 new freshmen. Junior Brooke Gallop believes that these freshmen are a key part of the team and will help them to have an even better season: “They are all good ball handlers and they work well together so I feel like we will be able to replace and fill in what we lose this year.” The freshmen also bring back some more of the height that the Hermon girls had lost back in 2022. 

New Coach

Also new this year is Coach Tim Thornton, who stepped in after Coach Cameron left this last year. As he was Hermon’s girls basketball coach back in 1989, he knows the school system and how to work with the players. He is also a state championship winner as he brought the Hermon girls to a win back when he last coached in the 80’s. The girls are already enjoying their new coach so far and are learning to work with a different coaching style. Brooke Gallop feels that this year brings an especially positive atmosphere and feels that Coach Thornton helps to create this: “He brings all the energy, especially in practice where we are all clapping and loud.” While they will certainly miss Coach Cameron the team feels that this season will be a great year with their new coach.

Strengths and Weaknesses

One of the strengths of the girl’s team is they have a lot of good shooters, which will take some of the stress off of the post players. They also have an outstanding group in the post with lots of height from players like Bella Bowden, Erin Selleck, and Rebecca Balmas. Another strength is team chemistry. A lot of the girls play sports with each other year-round which will help with all the chemistry from previous years throughout the team. One weakness this year will be communication, despite the girls having lots of chemistry together from other sports. As junior Brooke Gallop said, “Lots of us haven’t played basketball together before so finding out everyone’s spots will be an issue for part of the season.” But they plan to figure it out and make a splash in Class B North.

Season Outlook

The Hawks expect to have a lot of success this is in Class B North, with the return of veteran Coach Tim Thornton who led the Hawks to a State Championship back in 1989 and the regional title in 1994. His goal is to “play hard-nosed defense and, hopefully, our offense will be driven by our defense.” Which sets the stage for what the Hawks season will look like.

Competition Within the Class

The biggest competition for the Hermon girls this year is expected to be Ellsworth and Old Town. Ellsworth has strength in the way that they only lost one player from last year. While Old Town has some key players that will be tough to beat including two seniors and a sophomore.

Optimistic Through the Hawk Eye 

By: Braelynn Wilcox and Addy Waning

The high school basketball season is underway, with league play just starting up this week. Take a look at the Class B Hermon Hawks Boys Varsity team and their upcoming season. 

The Hermon Hawks Boys Basketball team went from a powerhouse in 2018, raking up a 22-0  record, while taking home a gold ball to taking a sizable set back due to Covid-19 and the loss of some key players. While ending last year’s season with a 4-14 record they are hopeful for a successful run. Junior forward Colvin Hamm remains optimistic for this season’s outcome: “I feel kind of great now that we have a few practices under our belt” It won’t be easy against significant competition but with no nights off, their young but talented lineup is excited for the challenge. 

Biggest Losses 

Last season, the Hawks faced lots of competition within class B. With a regular season record of 4-14, it’s easy to say that they played against many tough teams. Another key difference between last season and now would be the loss of a starter Owen Wyman. With that being said, Colvin didn’t seem to worry too much about losing him: “There’s another guy, Madden Henderson, who knows how to work the rebounds.” Apart from that, Hermon also lost a few seniors, like Jacob Glidden, Carter Brocato, and Bryan White, but some seniors were also lost who didn’t play due to injury, like Johnny Kokoska and Xavier Jelks. 

Players To Watch 

Starting Sophomore Forward, Mason Kinney

Kinney brings skill to the team as he is a great shooter. His work ethic and high IQ help put him on the spectrum. As a sophomore he has a very long basketball body allowing him to guard multiple positions. 

Starting Sophomore Guard, Brody Hurd 

Hurd was a big name at Hermon especially his Freshman year, now with varsity experience under his belt, his work ethic, and love for the game he is able to help his team to its fullest potential. He is an all around very skilled player with solid defense. With an ability to shoot off the dribble as well as beyond the 3-point line. 

Starting Junior Forward, Bryce Edwards

This well rounded athlete not only carries great skill but a leadership role on the team as well. He is a solid defender with exceptional verticality, who can also drive the ball to the hoop very well. 

Starting Junior Center, Maddox Kinney

Kinney standing at 6 feet 5 inches brings good height to the starting lineup, while using it to his advantage by challenging shots defensively and raking up large numbers in rebounds. He has also been able to improve his post and perimeter skills, bringing himself to be a key player of this team’s lineup.  

Starting Senior Point Guard, Madden Henderson 

Henderson is the Hawks only senior this 2023-2024 season and his experience shows well on the court. While handling the ball well, he keeps the game steady and is very “court savvy” having great knowledge of the game.  

Sophomore Point Guard, Carter Wiggin

Wiggin is a stand out when on the court due to his speed and quickness. His ability to shoot off the dribble or the pass around the perimeter is an advantage for the Hawks.

Junior Forward, Caleb Doughty 

Doughty also brings good length to the team, allowing for him to be a versatile defender, with the skill to defend both guards and forwards. 

Junior guard/forward, Colvin Hamm

The Junior also holds a leadership role on the team being one his teammates can look up too. His  work ethic, toughness, and willingness to get physical is a standout on the floor.  

Junior Guard, Greyson Hanlon

Hanlon’s love for the game shows as the work he has put in is noticeable, being one of the team’s best 3-point and free throw shooters.

Class B North Dominators 

The Hawks are without a doubt not the only team looking toward a bright season. The competition comes from all over the coastal state. The Eagles from Ellsworth were ranked 1 last season landing a 20-2 record before falling to Orono in the Northern Maine Championship. 1000 point scorer, Chance Mercier, a senior guard for the Eagles poses a great threat to the northern teams as he averaged about 27 points a game last year. Pierce Walston would follow along gaining his 1000 point this past weekend leading Orono past MDI in their season opener. The reigning Class B State Champs are back at it again returning a significant part of their line up. These two teams are difficult to crack but the Hawks are hopeful that their strengths won’t make the boat so smooth sailing for the Eagles and Riots.  

Season Outlook

Colvin put things into perspective for us as he described the competition: “The top two teams from last year; Orono and Ellsworth are back at it.” He seems to think that the team has grown, skill-wise, so they should be stronger this year than they have previously been. It was also mentioned that many of his teammates played basketball over the summer, which also factors into their skill level. Overall, the outlook on this team is much better than in years past. Both the team and coaches are eager to get back on the court and show them what Hermon’s got.

F1 2023: What’s to Look Forward To?
By Aizik Durand

The 2023 F1 season has officially kicked off, and now that we are 3 races into what’s to be the longest F1 season ever, let’s talk about what to expect from this year, other than Max Verstappen’s 3rd straight championship win. So let’s talk about a few things.

1. Red Bull is Dominating… Again.

To just about nobody’s surprise, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are putting on some absolute master classes, and as the announcers have pointed out, they make some of their top competitors like Mercedes look like a F1 vs F2 car. Nobody can put together the car that Red Bull has made, and it just keeps getting worse. But at least the battle for who finishes third in the drivers championship looks exciting.

2. Fernando Alonso, and Aston Martin’s Success

Aston Martin had essentially copied the basics of Mercedes cars, then made their car better than Mercedes. Aston placed 7th last year in the Constructors Championship, and now they sit in 2nd. Alonso has made the podium in all 3 races, and really giving some meaning to the age is just a number phrase as he is doing this all at 41! I mean, the guy already retired once, and now he is teaching all the young folk how it’s truly done.

3. Darth Toto Returns

Mercedes is under performing and it’s no secret. It’s also no secret that Toto Wolff is not happy. Now Mercedes does sit at 3rd. Hamilton is the only driver for Mercedes with a podium, and Mercedes is 1 of 3 teams to have accomplished that feat, and Mercedes sits at under half the amount of points that Red Bull has. However despite this, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was seen wearing his black Mercedes jacket with his hood up, bringing back what most F1 fans know as Darth Toto, making Toto’s potential plot one of the most popular topics in the sport right now.

4. Ferrari Stinks.

Sitting at just 26 points over 3 races, Ferrari has already recorded two DNF’s, and has only 3 finishes in the points. Now they may have some of the best pit stop times in the sport. But that doesn’t matter when they keep putting on these disaster class style performances, making Ferrari the laughing point for F1 fans for the second year in a row.

5. Can the Rookies Find Their Footing?

F1 has 3 rookie drivers this year, and so far only 1 has scored any points, this being Oscar Piastri of Mclaren who placed 8 in the season opener at Bahrain. Nyck De Vries and Logan Sargeant are both averaging a finishing spot of 14, and they both have 1 DNF on the season as well. Hopefully they can figure it out soon before it’s too late.

F1 continues on April 30th with the Baku Grand Prix in Azerbaijan, which is the second street circuit of the year, as Sergio Perez looks to keep his crown as the king of the streets, and as anyone looks to try and compete with mighty Red Bull Cars.

NWSL Can Have a Season in Which They Can Focus on Soccer, Not Scandals

by: Sharon Arabambi

     The start of 2023 NWSL season is a big time for the organization, the marathon, and one that is being sandwiched around the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is about to begin.

          Over the course of the past two seasons, the NSWL has been rocked by many scandals. One investigation was about the coaches from nine of the leagues 12 teams losing their jobs for charges ranging from verbal and emotional abuse to sexual coercion. Two teams, the Portland Thorns and the Chicago Red Stars, are now for sale. Yet, the trauma effect is still on the players.

         While reforms are ongoing, others, like mechanisms to report instances of abuse and ensuring teams have fully staffed human resources departments, have been put in place. An unnamed player said, ‘’My feeling coming into San Diego was that it was somewhere that really wanted to be professional, top to bottom and create a culture that was one where players were safe and players were put first and that would allow having a successful product on the field’.’ The women soccer haven’t experienced something like that before.

         Now the heaviness the players has been feeling has come to an ease and there is a chance to maximize the momentum that has been generated on a wide range of topics. There are some compelling aspects of the NWSL as it heads into the 2023 campaign, but the league is still headstrong in making this year their year.

Revenge Tour

Season Preview on Hermon High School Softball 2023 Season

By: Allie Cameron

(Photo Credit: Ron Hawkes)

“Revenge,” says Makena Nevells. 

After a painful loss in the Northern Maine Softball final, the Hermon Hawks are ready to gain that title back: “It was a very depressing bus ride home,” senior Lyndsee Reed states after their loss to Winslow, “it ended better than we had anticipated, but also disappointing that we went that far and couldn’t finish it.” 

The Hawks only lost four seniors from last season, so they are motivated to earn another chance. The Hawks get retuner Lyndsee Reed, who is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the field. Makena Nevells is an experienced outfielder who the Hawks will also get back from the junior class. 

The Hawks also had a fierce freshman class, and has now gained a year of high school experience: “Molly [freshman] at the end of the season last year, her hitting really came together,” Reed says, “and her catching skills have improved a lot and I hope that continues into this year.” 

Every year, a team loses a group of seniors, and then the junior class becomes those seniors. And for that new group of seniors they hold one more season of hitting home runs, one more season of strikeouts, one more season of making it all count. 

One more season to go on a run and make it back to the Northern Maine final, but this time win it all: “I’m really looking forward to it,” Reed adds, “we have a really good group coming back.” 

The Hawks have to put in the work all over again, and prove to everyone else and themselves that they can do it, “coming from last season,” Nevells says, “proving ourselves, and knowing we can do it is what I’m most excited for.” 

The excitement grows of the thoughts of the anticipated season, “I’m excited to see how far we’ll go,” Reed adds, “We definitely lost some seniors, but we gained more freshman experience.” 

“It is our revenge tour” Reed states.

King of 1 Mile Recap

By: Gavin Lemos

The King Of 1 Mile Long Range shooting competition is held annually in different global spots. This year it was held in Texas. Each team is made up of two people one shooter and one spotter, the spotter’s job is to tell the shooter where to aim at the target to make a direct hit. The shooters are asked to use their own equipment only one shooter per rifle and only one rifle per shooter.

To qualify you must hit 5 targets in 10 minutes. The first target is a cold bore shot which is the first shot of the day you must hit the target to start your time, you then have  10 minutes to hit targets at 1200m, 1300m, 1400, and 1500m. For the qualifier, you have 3 attempts for each shot. You must hit the target within your allowed shots otherwise you are finished in the competition. The final is another round of targets between 1700m and 2400m you have 10 minutes to complete the final stage and are allowed 5 attempts on each target. In the end, the person with the most shots hit per target combined with your time crowns the winner.

Many of the competitors wound up missing shots on the first few qualifying targets but not Clay Rhoden, he had a perfect match through target 5. Many of the other competitors in the top 10 were out by that point. He put 3 shots on the mark for his 6th target and connected 1 on the 7th and final target to secure him the win. 1 shot quickly secured him the win based on his time and perfect round through target 5. 

(Photo Credit: Accurate Shooter Bulletin)

Clay Rhoden only received his rifle a few weeks before the match because all rifles are custom-built and tailored to the shooter. Despite that and this being his 6th ever competition in the sport he managed to beat the 6-time NRA national long-range shooting Champion, David Tubb.

Clay Rhoden was not the only outstanding performance in this match though. David Mann connected 3 shots on the 7th target which was set out 1.4 miles away. That is an amazing feat for both the spotter and the shooter. 

At the end of the day, only a select few shooters qualified for the king of 2-mile competition in southern France in 2023 yet all competitors will be practicing for next year to try and improve their standings.

2022 Mr.Olympia Open Division Preview

By: Ryan Shorey

Source: https://fitnessvolt.com/2022-olympia-preview-prediction/ 

Mr. Olympia is an annually held bodybuilding competition in December, with four different divisions:

Classic Physique

Men’s Physique

212 Olympia

Open Division

The open division category, the most difficult to win, has different ways of grading than the other divisions:

Symmetry: determined by how each side of our body is shaped by comparison to its opposite.

Muscularity: possessing muscular strength.

Size: possessing muscular size in volume.

Conditioning: ​​the composition of the body that accentuates muscle look and proportion.

Posing: striking poses that display your superior muscles over another.

Stage presentation: how you perform your posing routine on stage and if it flows well. 

In the 2021, Mr. Olympia’s top five winners in ascending order were: Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, Hadi Choopan, Brandon Curry, and Mamdouh Elissbiay. The top 5 will most likely change in 2022: “We’re confident of the winner, but the next few places in our Oympia prediction will depend on conditioning” (barbell.com). This is referring to Mamdouh Elissbiay, or “Big Ramy” being the clear winner, achieving back to back wins if he takes home gold this year. The next four places will most likely be anyone of these four names: William Bonac, Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan, and Nick Walker. Three of those four names are recurring contestants from last year. Since these four are so close in all the categories for scoring, this year the judges will be keeping a keen eye for these four’s conditioning. In other words how well they present the muscle by bringing down their body fat percentage. Doing this will show the muscle in its true form and amplify the muscle striations. This type of judging will heavily favor Nick Walker’s physique, giving him a distinct advantage.

The Mr.Olympia open division will occur this December, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A total of 36 athletes will be competing with only the top five receiving a cash reward for their placement.

Image Via New England Patriots

NFL Playoff Preview : Who’s in and who’s out?

By: Aizik Durand

Week 14 is right around the corner and the playoffs are starting to shape up. The expectations are much different than the expectations at the start of the season. It looks like the “stacked” AFC West is only going to have one playoff team, while the NFC and AFC East are looking to have every team in their divisions in the playoffs. The Tom Brady led Bucs are a .500 team and it seems as if the NFC South could be one of the worst divisions of all time joining the 2020 NFC East.

Playoff picture after week 14:

NFC:

1.  Eagles, 12-1, BYE
2.  Vikings, 10-3, vs (7) Commanders, 7-5-1 
3.  49ers, 9-4, vs (6) Giants, 7-5-1
4.  Buccaneers, 6-7, vs (5) Cowboys, 10-3

In The Hunt

Seahawks, 7-6

Lions, 6-7

Panthers & Falcons, 5-8

AFC:

1.  Bills, 10-3, BYE
2.  Chiefs, 10-3, vs (7)  Patriots, 7-6
3.  Ravens, 9-4, vs (6) Dolphins, 8-5
4.  Titans, 7-6, vs (5) Bengals, 9-4

In The Hunt

Jets, 7-6

Chargers, 7-6

Now, I expect this to stay very similar except I think the chargers are going to make a run and get in at the 7 seed. Well, as long as their defense can get it together. So far, the bounce back is looking good for them, as they come off of a win over the Dolphins. Their banged up defense finally showed up to a game, and the Chargers receiving core is back. Ekeler and Herbert are great at moving the ball on the ground and really all the chargers need is to keep it up. They are hungry, and hungry dogs run faster. I would say they are a sleeper pick for the playoffs in the AFC.

As far as the rest of the AFC goes, I would say the Bills are the fan favorite pick to win this year, they are going full steam ahead, Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs leading the way, with an improved defense even without an injured Von Miller, and boy are they a hungry team after last years controversy. If it’s not the Bills coming out of the AFC well then it probably, the Chiefs are probably the safest pick in the AFC maybe other than the Bengals, arguably a top 2 team. They have the most experience, and most efficient offense in the league with a solid young defense to go with.

Now things are very different in the NFC, I really don’t see any clear contenders, even as an Eagles fan. I think the Eagles are the safe choice to win, due to their powerful offense and defense, while the fan favorite pick is a match between the Eagles, Cowboys, and 49ers. All of these teams are led by amazing offenses, and very efficient defenses. If the 49ers were healthy, I would say they are the favorite out of the NFC. Now as far as sleeper picks go, I have to go with the Lions. They are a young team with some shining stars with Amon Ra, Penei Sewell, Swift, Okudah and Hutchinson. They have a top 5 offensive efficiency and they have some true potential. Not only that, but they are just a fun team to watch overall, Dan Campbell has some great chemistry with his team and they are a good group of guys.

If you are wondering why you should even care about the playoffs this year, well we have some much needed change. Games that reach overtime are no longer almost decided by a coin toss. We saw this last year between the Chiefs and Bills, when the Chiefs got the ball first and the Bills couldn’t make a stop so the Chiefs won on the first drive. Now, both teams get possession of the ball before the game can be decided. This will in turn make games much more exciting as well as giving fans a worthy ending in the really close games.

Starting From Scratch

Hermon Boys Varsity Basketball Season Preview

By: Allie Cameron

The Hermon Boys Varsity Basketball team have recently faced some bumps in the road in their 2022-23 upcoming season. Due to many upperclassmen not being able to play due to injuries, prior commitments, and some not returning to play for the season, the season is now in the hands of the underclassmen. 

Hermon was the team to defeat from 2017-2019. Taking the Maine State title in 2018, the undefeated Hawks defeated Wells to take home their first title 55-34. They were one of the teams with a target on their back, always at the top. 

The Hermon boys basketball team has fallen short of making it back to the state championship since then. They were looking like they had a good chance to make the run this season, until it all came crumbling down, and quickly. 

Senior Xavier Jelks, faced a serious injury in the Class B Northern Maine Football game this year. In the second quarter, 11 minutes and 19 seconds in, Jelks went for a block, and felt a pop in his knee. He then returned to the game later on in the second half, and went down again. He later found out that he had torn his ACL in his knee, and would be out for the basketball season. (Picture credit: 92.9 The Ticket)

 “I think my injury will affect the team on the court,” Jelks says,  “but I’m still around with the team to help be a leader.” 
Photo Credit: Walter Churchill

Senior Johnny Kokoska, was going to be a strong impact to this 2022-23 season as the starting point guard once again. He, too, has faced a season ending injury in the basketball preseason, and will need surgery on his shoulder. Just like Jelks, Kokoska will be there for the rest of the team this season, as a leader on the sidelines.

Hermon has faced yet again, another loss of the senior class. Center forward Jaykob Dow, has made the decision to focus on his opportunities in his collegiate football career. His height and strength in the paint would’ve been a tremendous help this season, as well as his years of experience playing at the high school varsity level. But with his dedication and devotion to football, he will no longer be a part of this program, but best of luck to him in his journey to the next level.  Photo Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik

Hawks returners, who did not return for the season: Bruce Coulter (sophomore) and Chasen Flanders (senior) would’ve also had very important roles this year. 

Yet, this is just the beginning for new opportunities: To start from scratch. 

With impact seniors not being able to make an impact on the court this year, it is time for the underclassmen to step it up. There is an abundance of talent from the freshmen and sophomores, who are going to be the glue of the season. 

Sophomores Bryce Edwards – Guard, and Owen Wyman Guard/Forward, are going to play some big roles this year. With Edwards ability to spot up and shoot, and penetrate to the rim, and with Wyman’s versatility to shoot from the outside, and grab rebounds in the paint, these two will be a hard duo to stop on the court. 

Freshmen Brody Hurd – PG/Guard, and Carter Wiggins PG/Guard as well are going to be great impact players for the Hawks. With Hurd’s vision of the court, and Wiggin speed, these two freshmen are predicted to dominate the court, and dominate as fearless freshmen. 

The Hawks are predicted to be towards the bottom of this league this year. With key upperclassmen players: Jelks, Kokoska, Dow and Flanders being out, the Hawks are going to be overlooked this season. Yet, these underclassmen are going to catch many teams off guard, and give them a run for their money. They aren’t going to make it easy to beat the Hawks this season.  

Despite their lack of experience playing high school varsity basketball, the freshmen and sophomores are going to shock the league with their talent and skill. The Hawks are starting from scratch. In a couple years, this program will be back at the top. 

This rebuilding phase will be worth it. Starting from scratch- will be worth it. 

“I think the season will go well,” says senior Xavier Jelks, “there are a lot of younger guys that will gain experience for the seasons in the future.” 

Gold is in the future. Go Hawks! 

Hermon High School Cheering: A Legacy

By: Makena Nevells

“The Hawks of Hermon High School!” These have been said 10 times before during the MPA Cheerleading Championships.  (Photo Credit to HHS Athletics Facebook Page)

The legacy, the work, and the passion for the sport that this team has are not comparable. With year after year being a powerhouse team, last year was a shock to the community. 

The team ended the year being PVC Champions, Northern Maine Class B Champions, and State Champion Runners-up. 

Runners-Up….

The Hawks gained their first loss in a State Championship since Old Town won in 2016. The Medomak Valley Panthers gained their first gold plaque in history, beating the reigning champs. 

Cheerleader, Madison Higgins graduated in 2022, ending her High School career with 3 State Championships. She says that she feels “grateful” for the fact that she could be a part of such an amazing team. Knowing that Medomak was “super talented, and they had something to prove”, affected their emotions after the loss. 

“Every year there was always pressure to outperform ourselves from the previous year.”

Due to this mentality, this year will be different than any other year, with the pressure of upholding a legacy still being there, but it just being “different”. The so-called “standards” that Higgins talked about are still there, just changed. With attitudes being high, seniors Madison Smith, Megan Dorr, Abi Sinclair, and Lyndsee Reed are all looking to experience the feeling of winning one more time. Abi Sinclair said that there was not as much pressure on them this year, as they did not have a “title to uphold”. Due to this, they are looking to redeem themselves this year in ways that they have not needed to before.  (Photo Credit: Bangor Daily News)

Coach Kristie Reed says that “The kids definitely feel some pressure from the success of years past, but that is never our focus.” With the goal not just getting the gold, more the idea of staying whole as a team and reaching goals that they have set for themselves all season. 

The idea of Hermon Cheering is held up by many different factors, including starting off young with the time that goes into the Youth programs that both Reed and the assistant coaches help with. The “sacrifices” they make “progress their skills”, combined with consistency and family aspect that makes this team so successful. 

(Photo Credit: Bangor Daily News)

The teams to look out for this year are defending Northern Maine Runners Up- Ellsworth, and 2021 Champions, Medomak Valley. 

Looking into the future, there is a strong interest in cheering, with the younger groups overflowing with future state champs. This is important, as the cheering community must continue to grow. 

Coach Kristie Reed is going into her 15th season, this year coaching her daughter Lyndsee going for her third state championship for her senior year. 

When people think of Hermon Cheering, they think of a legacy, a coach that leads year after year, and a family of girls all trying for the same results. Success.