MAYO SPARTANS
Head coach: Mike McCormack (sixth season, 58-69-4)
Assistants: Nicole Root, Case Hansen, Mackenzie McCormack, Brad Berge, Keegan Hakala, Maddie Sawyer.
Last season: 6-18-3, lost to Farmington in Section 1AA quarterfinals
Top returners: Jr. F Devynn Priest (25-6—31), Jr. D Luella Bianco (4-6—10), Sr. F Nakya Renn (2-6—8), Jr. D Maggie Augeson (1-1—2).
Outlook: The Spartans lost some talented players from a year ago, yet they return experienced players at key positions. Sophomore goalie Chloe Rupprecht stepped in after Makayla Pahl — a Miss Hockey finalist who now plays at the University of Minnesota — suffered an injury last season. Rupprecht is expected to be the full-time starter this winter. Two veteran defensemen, Maggie Augeson and Luella Bianco, will anchor a young blue line, which lost five-year varsity regular Alexa Hruska to graduation. Augeson and Bianco will help mentor a new crop of defensemen, several of whom are converting from forward. Junior Devynn Priest — who has 57 goals and 102 career points already at Mayo — leads the forward group. She scored 25 of Mayo's 51 goals last season. Senior Nakya Renn, Milla Sadowy and transfer Elizabeth Arendt will play key minutes at forward, too.
Coach McCormack says: "We have seven juniors and seniors and we are expecting a lot of leadership from them. The team has about eight players with limited hockey experience so we will be developing these players as well as expanding on the skills of our veterans. Elizabeth Arendt, Franka Boesch and Natalie Campbell are newcomers that are expected to see significant varsity time right away and they will be tested to see how quickly they can become contributors."
ROSTER
Seniors — F Holly Boesch, F Haley Handelman (C), F Nakya Renn. Juniors — D Maggie Augeson, F Ava Beetcher, D Luella Bianco, F Devynn Priest. Sophomores — F Elizabeth Arendt, D Abbie Jacobson, G Chloe Rupprecht, F Milla Sadowy. Freshmen — D Ella Dozois, F Rowan Ernster, F Megan Lutz, F Madison Staven-Sweeney, F Camberly Tripp, F Ryder Walter, F Isabel Wright. Eighth-graders — F Franka Boesch. Seventh-graders — F Natalie Campbell.