2011-12 Winter Male Athlete of the Year:

JON AMABILE, Senior-Basketball

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CITATIONS

* George Vinall Award winner (MVP of Western Class A tournament)

* State champion

* SMAA all-star, first team

* SMAA Senior All-Star

* Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star

Amabile was the heart and soul of the Deering championship team, the focal point of the opposition, who always seemed to come up big. He played four years of varsity hoops and burst on to the scene as a sophomore, combining a sweet shooting stroke with a passion for the sport that few could match. He helped Deering reach the semifinals his junior year and was named Athlete of the Year.

This winter, Amabile’s highlights were many for a team with high expectations. He had 22 points in a season-opening victory at Thornton Academy, 20 in a narrow win over Marshwood, 26 versus Massabesic, 16 against Noble and 25 in a win over Sanford. And that was just in the 2011 portion of the schedule. Once the calendar flipped, Amabile continued his assault on the basket, scoring 24 points versus Kennebunk, 19 against Biddeford, 17 in a loss to Cheverus, 22 points in a timely win at Scarborough, 19 versus Westbrook, a season-high 27 versus South Portland and 18 against Gorham. Best of all, along the way, Amabile eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his high school career.

He was steady and often superb during Deering’s title run. Amabile had 24 points, six rebounds and four steals to help the Rams rally past Biddeford in the quarterfinals. He scored 15 points as Deering beat rival Cheverus in the semifinals. Amabile was held to eight points against Bonny Eagle in the regional final, but had nine rebounds. Then, in the state game, he capped his high school career with 27 huge points and four steals as the Rams downed Hampden Academy for the program’s second Gold Ball.

Amabile was second in the league in steals (2.8 per game), third in scoring (with 17.5 ppg) and seventh in made 3-pointers (32).

Amabile plans to play in college and could wind up at the University of Southern Maine.

He’ll live on in Deering lore as one of the biggest contributors to a legendary team.

Coach Dan LeGage’s comment: “Jon is a fearless competitor with an unyielding desire to be successful. Over the past four years, he’s worked relentlessly on his game and has become a prolific scorer. To score over 1,000 points in just three years on the varsity team is an incredible feat. Especially considering the fact that each time he played in a game the opponents’ focus was to try and stop him from scoring. Jon has been a huge part of the success of our program over the last four years. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach a player of his caliber.”

2010-11 winner: Jon Amabile (Basketball)

2009-10 winner: Eddie Tirabassi (Basketball)

2008-09 winner: E.J. Googins (Swimming)

2007-08 winner: Chris Smith (Wrestling)

2006-07 winner: Brandon Carbone (Basketball)

2005-06 winner: Allen Stein (Wrestling)

2004-05 winner: Kyle Johnson (Swimming)

2003-04 winner: Brian Vail (Indoor track)

2011-12 Winter Female Athlete of the Year:

GENEVIEVE WORTHLEY, Junior-Swimming

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CITATIONS

* Outstanding Performer of Class A state meet

* Class A state champion, 100 breaststroke

* Class A state champion, 200 individual medley

* Southern Maine Swim League all-star, first team, 100 breaststroke

* SMSL all-star, first-team, 200 medley relay

* SMSL all-star, second-team, 200 individual medley

* SMSL all-star, second-team, 200 freestyle relay

Worthley is one of the most devoted and talented swimmers in the state. She began at a young age and honed her skills with the Pine Tree Swim Club. While she claims to hate the freestyle, she’s come to excel in that discipline as well as everything else.

As a freshman, she arrived on the high school scene with a flourish, winning the 100 breaststroke, while finishing runner-up in the 200 individual medley at the Class A state meet. Last winter, she took first in the IM and repeated as breaststroke champion, setting a new record in the process.

This season was simply more of the same as Worthley excelled throughout and again was at her best in the postseason. She won the breaststroke at Southwesterns, then added two more state titles (IM and breaststroke once more), while being honored as the Outstanding Performer of the Class A meet, a feat that becomes even more admirable when you learn she had bronchitis.

Worthley estimates she swims over 25 hours a week and is now competing with the Westbrook Seals club team. Looking ahead to her senior season, she wants to lower her breaststroke record and break the IM record as well. She hopes to swim for a big college program, perhaps as far away as California or Texas.

Her talent has already carried her to the Maine pinnacle and after one last season entertaining the locals, the rest of the country will become familiar with this unrivaled talent.

Coach Angie Marcotte’s comment: “Genevieve’s drive to be successful comes from within. She’s focused, motivated and knows exactly what the payoff is for hard work and determination. She leads by example, executes sets during practice with intent and refuses to give up or give in. She looks for opportunities to help her teammates, offering whatever experience and advice she can. She approaches everyone with her casual, down-to-earth friendly smile and modestly discusses her successes in the pool. She embodies the spirit of a Deering Ram.”

2010-11 winner: Kayla Burchill (Basketball)

2009-10 winner: Claire Ramonas (Basketball)

2008-09 winner: Diana Manduca (Basketball)

2007-08 winner: Diana Manduca (Basketball)

2006-07 winner: Nicole Garland (Basketball)

2005-06 winner: Emily Sweatt (Swimming)

2004-05 winner: Rebecca Schack (Indoor Track)

2003-04 winner: Megan Urban (Basketball)

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

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