Spring Athletes of the Year: Cheverus Stags

Spring 2010 Male Athlete of the Year

JACK TERWILLIGER, Junior—Track

* SMAA All-Conference, first team, mile

* SMAA All-Conference, first team, two-mile

* Team MVP

After a frustrating year, Jack Terwilliger enjoyed a happy ending.

After finally overcoming a throat condition that affected his breathing for months, Terwilliger was at his best at the big meets, winning the mile and two-mile at the conference championships, then finishing runner-up to otherworldly Brunswick standout Will Geoghegan in the same events at states. Terwilliger then stole the show at the Nationals, winning the emerging elite two-mile.

For being pretty impressive, even when he wasn’t at his best, then for finishing strong, Jack Terwilliger is The Forecaster’s selection as Cheverus’ Spring 2010 Male Athlete of the Year.

Terwilliger started running in middle school and has long made his presence felt with the Stags, winning 2008 Fall Male Athlete of the Year honors in cross country.

After up-and-down cross country and indoor seasons this school year, Terwilliger learned from a specialist that he had a throat problem and once it was addressed, he returned to form.

Terwilliger ended the regular season with victories in the mile in a city meet and the mile and two-mile in a county meet. At the SMAA championships, he took the mile in 4 minutes, 25.38 seconds and the two-mile in 9:35.73. He also was part of a victorious 3,200 relay squad.

At states, Terwilliger ran the mile in 4:15.60 (three seconds behind Geoghegan) and the two-mile in 9:27.75 (a second-and-a-half behind Geoghegan). He also teamed with Taylor Dundas, Tim Woods and Andrew Snyder to set a new state record in the 3,200 relay (7:54.32).

Terwilliger came in ninth in the mile at New Englands (4:15.60), then turned heads at nationals.

Now that he’s back to 100 percent, don’t be surprised if Terwilliger is a three-season force in 2010-11. He’s already garnered plenty of college interest and figures to have several top schools to choose from.

Before he goes on to glory at the next level, however, local fans will get one last chance to witness the greatness of Jack Terwilliger, Cheverus’ Spring 2010 Male Athlete of the Year.

Coach Bruce Bickford’s comment: “He started out rough, but straightened things out and started flying again. From where he came from to his races at the end of the season, he was my team MVP. He’s a kid who can go sub-9:10 next year. It wouldn’t surprise me if he has the state’s fastest two-mile time. I don’t set expectations for him. I just know he’ll run well.”

2009 winner: Mick DiStasio (baseball)

2008 winner: Topher Pochebit (lacrosse)

2007 winner: Todd Keneborus (baseball)

2006 winner: Michael Antoniou (lacrosse)

2005 winner: Ben Michaud (track)

2004 winner: Ben Michaud (track)

Spring 2010 Female Athlete of the Year:

THERESA HENDRIX, Senior—Softball

* Miss Maine Softball finalist

* SMAA Player of the Year

* SMAA Offensive Player of the Year

* SMAA All-Conference, first team

* SMAA All-Academic team

If it’s spring, Theresa Hendrix has to be dominating for the Cheverus softball team.

That certainly proved to be the case again in 2010 as Hendrix’s arm and potent bat helped the Stags post another solid record and make the playoffs.

From setting the table on offense to shutting down the opposition from the mound, Hendrix capped her superb high school career in style and once again earned plenty of postseason acclaim.

In that light, The Forecaster is happy to name Theresa Hendrix as Cheverus’ Spring 2010 Female Athlete of the Year, marking the third year in a row she’s been honored.

Hendrix grew up in Scarborough and has long been a softball standout. She also made her mark in field hockey and basketball with the Stags. After earning all-conference honorable mention as a sophomore and second team mention as a junior, this spring, she enjoyed many, many highlights.

It all began with her first at-bat, at McAuley, when she went deep. Hendrix hit a home run in her first at-bat the next game too, against visiting Sanford, then hit for the cycle and fanned nine in earning the victory. She tripled, singled and struck out 10 in a one-hitter against Deering, had four hits, including a home run, scored five times and drove in four versus Westbrook, scored four times, drove in three and threw a one-hit shutout against Windham, fanned 14 versus Noble, tripled twice, scored three times, stole two bases and blanked Marshwood, doubled and tripled in a win over Gorham, doubled, tripled, scored twice, drove in three runs and threw four no-hit innings against Massabesic, had four hits, including a pair of doubles and a triple in a loss at Thornton Academy and had three hits and scored three times against Biddeford.

The biggest thrill of the season came May 25, when Hendrix shut down defending state champion Scarborough for a 5-1 victory, the Stags’ first against the Red Storm.

She capped the regular season by beating Bonny Eagle behind nine strikeouts, while adding a pair of hits, scoring twice and adding three steals.

In total, Hendrix hit .651 with 10 doubles, six triples, six home runs and 26 RBI, with 37 runs scored. Her on-base percentage was .662 and she slugged 1.286. On the mound, she finished 11-4 with a 2.16 ERA, fanning 119 in 92.2 innings.

Hendrix was an first team all-conference selection, the SMAA Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year and wound up one of two finalists for the prestigious Miss Maine Softball Award, which was won by Bangor’s Samantha Bedore.

Hendrix is spending the summer playing ASA ball with the Southern Maine Flame U-18 squad and will attend Nyack College in New York, a Division II school, next year, where she plans to study education and figures to add a new chapter to her legend on the diamond.

One of the school’s finest female athletes to date has departed, but won’t soon be forgotten. Theresa Hendrix, Cheverus’ Spring 2010 Female Athlete of the Year, capped her career in glorious style.

Coach Amy McMullin’s comment: “Theresa is the hardest working and most dedicated athlete I have ever coached. She has such motivation and drive. There are not too many kids who will wake up at 5 a.m. every morning to work out, then pitch before school even starts. She always comes through when we need her. She will accept nothing but being the best, which is one of her best qualities. I’m really going to miss her. She has done so much for the program, the school, and the Cheverus community.”

2009 winner: Theresa Hendrix (softball)

2008 winner: Theresa Hendrix (softball)

2007 winner: Dana Proscia (lacrosse)

2006 winner: Dana Proscia (lacrosse)

2005 winner: Meaghan Morris (track)

2004 winner: Kate McLaughlin (track)

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