MALE:

CHANDLER VINCENT, Senior-Cross country

• Class B individual state champion

• Winged Foot award winner

• WMC all-star, first-team

Vincent played an integral role on a state championship team as a junior, was named Freeport Fall Male Athlete of the Year, then was even better this fall, leading the Falcons to a repeat crown.

Vincent started running freshman year and suffered through a knee injury, but he emerged as a star as a sophomore and hasn’t looked back. In 2013, Vincent placed 10th at states and qualified for New Englands. As a junior, he came in second at states, helping Freeport win its first Class B title.

This fall, Vincent was second to Yarmouth’s Luke Laverdiere in the season-opening meet, then was first the next week at a home meet. After placing first in a meet at Wells, Vincent missed three meets with tendinitis, then returned for the postseason, where he again turned heads.

At the Western Maine Conference championship meet at St. Joseph’s College, Vincent was third overall and second in Division I. At the regional final, where the Falcons were first, Vincent came in third behind Laverdiere and Greely’s Ryan Morrison. He had no peer at states, winning the Class B individual title in 16 minutes, 34.72 seconds, helping Freeport go back-to-back. Vincent then capped his year by competing at New Englands.

“My game plan since freshman year was to win a championship,” said Vincent, who estimates he trains by running 40 to 45 miles per week. “I liked the whole team aspect of cross country. It’s an individual sport, but without the team, nothing can happen.”

Vincent also runs the 800 and the mile in indoor and outdoor track and plans to run and study physical therapy in college, with a destination still being decided.

Chandler Vincent, Freeport’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year, overcame adversity and a daunting field to become the best runner in Class B. His excellence will long be remembered in program lore.

Coach Brian Berkemeyer’s comment: “Chandler helped move our program to the next level. Initially, it was all about his innate ability, but now it’s his work ethic and leadership. I’m very proud of his accomplishments. He’s proven that if you can conceive a goal, then you can attain it. It’s truly been a honor helping him mature into a solid athlete and young man. It will be just as enjoyable coaching him in indoor track for one last year.”

Prior winners:

2014 Chandler Vincent (cross country)

2013 Ben MacMillan (football)

2012 Dan Burke (football)

2011 Jack Dawe (soccer)

2010 James Purdy (football)

2009 Miguel Beckles (football)

2008 Cody Bartlett (soccer)

2007 Jon Klages (football)

2006 Luke Charest (soccer)

2005 Elliott Townsend (soccer)

2004 Jeff Smith (soccer)

2003 Josh Zolla (cross Country)

2002 Chris Vigliotta (soccer)

2001 Scott Newell (golf)

FEMALE:

MORGAN KARNES, Senior-Field hockey

• All-State

• WMC all-star, first-team

• Captain

Karnes never put on goalie pads until her sophomore year, but she quickly blossomed and this fall, capped her strong high school career by consistently coming up big, helping Freeport reach the playoffs.

Karnes was pressed into service as the Falcons goalie as a sophomore and it turned into one of the best moves that coach Marcia Wood ever made.

“Coach thought I’d be a good fit and I tried it and warmed to it quickly,” Karnes said. “I’ve loved playing goal. I was determined and driven to always get better. I don’t like to give up. I’m kind of ruthless.”

Karnes made 167 saves and surrendered 36 goals that first season. As a junior, she made 116 saves and allowed just 27 goals. This fall, Karnes stopped 153 shots and again allowed just 27 goals, saving 85 percent of the shots she faced.

Freeport made the playoffs in each of Karnes’ three seasons. For her career, she saved 82.9 percent of the shots she faced, made 437 saves, allowed just 90 goals and shut out 14 foes.

Karnes had the opportunity to play with her twin sister, Bailey, who was another key contributor for the Falcons.

“Our relationship is more supportive than competitive,” Morgan Karnes said. “We make each other work harder.”

Karnes has also played basketball and softball in high school. She’s an avid runner, belongs to National Honor Society and the Math team and has served as a mentor. 

Morgan Karnes, Freeport’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, showed that it doesn’t matter how long you play a sport, it’s how much heart and soul you pour into it. Her devotion and commitment allowed her to quickly became one of the premier goalies around.

Coach Marcia Wood’s comment: “Morgan has been huge for us. We started the same year and I wanted to establish a goalie. Morgan was a sophomore when she decided she wanted to start field hockey. We played her on the field and in goal and we realized quickly she’d be a great goalie and from there, she went and got personal training in the offseason. That extra work paid off and in her junior and senior years, she was our rock on defense. She was our communicator and leader. She was the heart of our team and that’s going to be hard to replace.””

Prior winners:

2014 Abby Smith (field hockey)

2013 Livvy Dimick (soccer)

2012 Jocelyn Davee (soccer)

2011 Kayla Thurlow (field hockey)

2010 Lauren Easler (cross country)

2009 Hannah Schuchert (field hockey)

2008 Molly Susla (cross country)

2007 Hannah Schuchert (field hockey)

2006 Molly Susla (cross country)

2005 Kelsey Nichols (cross country)

2004 Lucy Garrec (cross country)

2003 Dani O’Rourke-Suchoff (cross country)

2002 Michelle Peters (field Hockey)

2001 Amy Morejon (soccer)

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

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