PORTLAND — A top Waynflete girls’ lacrosse and basketball player and a Fryeburg Academy skiing and cross country star were named the state’s standout athletes by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram sports staff at an awards ceremony Sunday.

Martha Veroneau, a Waynflete senior heading to Boston College this fall, was named Female Athlete of the Year for her athletic feats in basketball and lacrosse. Veroneau led her basketball team to its first Class C championship and her lacrosse team to the Class B championship.

As Male Athlete of the Year, Silas Eastman, a senior headed to Colby College, was lauded for being named the newspaper’s cross country runner of the year in 2011 and skier of the year in 2012 and 2013.

“You all have so much in common. You are all accomplished athletes,” said Steve Solloway, Press Herald sports writer and award presenter.

The two were among athletes receiving recognition in the 28 sports sanctioned by the Maine

Principals’ Association at the 26th annual Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram All-Sports Awards Ceremony at the Italian Heritage Center.

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Athletes were picked by a panel of sports writers and editors with help from high school  athletic administrators and coaches.

The athletes received Press Herald staff photographs of themselves in action. Sports writer Steve Solloway presented individual mini-profiles of each athlete.

Julia Clukey, a U.S. Olympic women’s luger, urged the athletes to work hard and set goals.

“It is important to take new chances and try new things,” she said.

Solloway said Veroneau’s lacrosse coach described her as a “game changer.”

Solloway said Eastman,  undefeated in Nordic skiing last winter, was described by his coach as a “rising tide that lifts all ships.”

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Veroneau and Eastman said they were surprised by the recognition.

“Listening to what all the other guys had done I was very surprised,” said Eastman.

Eastman said he intends to continue with cross country and skiing at Colby, where he plans to pursue a self-designed major in furniture design. He said his long-term dream goal is to make the U.S.  Olympic ski team.

Veroneau said she is putting lacrosse and basketball behind her next year in order to concentrate on her studies for a nursing degree. She said athletics dominated her high school life and she wants to try new things.

“Maybe yoga or dance lessons might be the next big thing,” Veroneau said.

Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com


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