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Meet Maine’s fall high school sports players of the year
The best athletes of 2016 are recognized in football, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, golf and cross country.
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Football: Michael Laverriere, Thornton Academy
The quarterback battled through injuries and punished defenses primed to stop him.Michael Laverriere took over as Thornton Academy's starting quarterback this year and directed an offense that averaged more than 43 points per game. He accounted for almost 2,200 yards in nine games, including 1,384 on the ground while averaging 8.8 yards per carry.SACO — This season wasn’t easy for Michael Laverriere.
He had to replace a Division I recruit and good friend, Austin McCrum, as Thornton Academy’s quarterback. Every other skill position was also filled by a new starter. Defenses quickly realized Laverriere, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound power runner, would be carrying the lion’s share of the load. Bruises accumulated, and an injury to his throwing shoulder curtailed practice reps with his new receivers.
And, ultimately, Thornton lost its final two games – by a point to eventual Class A champion Bonny Eagle to end the regular season and a 36-29 upset loss to Scarborough in the Class A South semifinals.
But one thing didn’t change. Laverriere continued to be a highly productive all-around player.
“He ranks right up there with some of the best I’ve ever coached,” said Kevin Kezal, Thornton’s head coach for 18 seasons. “We were young and inexperienced, and in those big-game situations we had to rely on Michael – certainly more so than we have with any one guy the last four, five years. It’s just the way it was constructed.”
For his all-around play in the state’s toughest league, Laverriere is the Maine Sunday Telegram Player of the Year, getting the nod over running back/linebackers Trey Wood of Brewer and Dylan Bolduc of Portland. All three are finalists for the Fitzpatrick Trophy, to be awarded on Jan. 15.
“It’s great to be recognized as a standout at Thornton Academy and to be able to say that I did my time here and to be recognized for it and to set an example,” Laverriere said.
Laverriere, who lives in Arundel with his parents Chris and Michelle, started playing youth football in Saco in the second grade.
“Coming to high school games as a youth player and always watching (former Thornton players) Josh Woodward and Steve Trask and guys like that, you’re always thinking they’re a star. As a kid, they’re everything,” Laverriere said. “So to be able to be that kind of player matters. It means something. They’re remembered. I mean, I remember those guys and they have no clue who I am.”
Opponents sure knew who Laverriere was.
“There’s no secret when I’m getting the ball,” he said. “(Other teams) are calling it out. Scarborough had a guy mirroring me.”
In the season-ending loss, Laverriere rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns to bring his team back from a 14-0 deficit. He gave Thornton its only lead, 29-28, with 1:44 to play, scoring on a 19-yard run and powering in for the 2-point conversion.
Scarborough responded with a 60-yard drive for the winning score, ending Thornton’s two-year hold on the Class A title.
“A couple of plays here or there and the end of the season changes pretty well with different outcomes,” Laverriere said.
In nine games, Laverriere ran the ball 157 times for 1,384 yards, averaging 8.8 yards per carry. He rushed for 20 touchdowns.
As a passer, he was 49 of 86 for 813 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.
“Early on in the season I could throw well,” Laverriere said. “I actually have a shoulder injury that I’ve had for years now. I threw on game day. That was really it for practice. I might throw a couple of short routes, hitches and slants, if I was feeling well. And we had all young receivers and transfers, so that doesn’t help at all in terms of getting the timing down.”
Defensively, Laverriere started at safety and made a team-high 63 tackles.
A four-year varsity player, Laverriere has played a variety of roles. In addition to being the backup quarterback his first three seasons, he was a short-yardage specialist as a running back, ran some Wildcat offense his first two years, played safety on defense, and did his fair share of blocking.
His willingness and ability to play so many roles has brought recruiting interest from NCAA Division I programs such as Maine, New Hampshire, Stony Brook and Fordham, along with Division II Assumption and Division III Springfield.
“I’m going to play somewhere, but I’m not really sure where,” Laverriere said. “Obviously if I move up to the Division I level, I’m not playing quarterback. I’m like a utility linebacker, fullback, short-down runner or blocking back. I’m really a hybrid type of a player. We’ll figure it out.”
Offense
Michael Laverriere, Thornton Academy senior quarterback: A four-year varsity player, he earned Telegram Player of the Year honors by completing 49 of 86 passes for 813 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing for 1,384 yards and 20 touchdowns on only 157 carries. He also had 63 tackles, five for loss, with three interceptions.
Trey Wood, Brewer senior running back: A strong contender for player of the year honors, the 6-0, 240-pound Wood rushed for 2,014 yards and 27 touchdowns on 304 carries. He also scored eight 2-point conversions. As a rugged linebacker, he was in on 83 tackles and returned his one interception for a touchdown.
Miece Loureiro, Westbrook senior running back: A strong runner with breakaway speed, Loureiro rushed for 1,582 yards and 18 touchdowns on 184 carries. He also caught 14 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown, and added 380 yards in returns. A hard-hitting outside linebacker, Loureiro scored two defensive touchdowns.
Ethan Belanger, Sanford senior wide receiver: A good route runner with better hands, Belanger snared 48 passes for 848 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for two touchdowns and threw a 2-point conversion pass. “He killed us. We couldn’t defend him,” said Bonny Eagle Coach Kevin Cooper.
Jordan Roddy, Cony junior wide receiver: Roddy dominated in Class B North and was at his best down the stretch. The Kennebec Journal Player of the Year caught 68 passes for 1,074 yards and 17 TDs. He also had two rushing touchdowns.
Cam Day, Bonny Eagle senior utility: Day quarterbacked the Scots to the Class A state title and was known for his ability to make plays at big times. He completed 51 of 83 passes for 807 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions, and rushed for 1,045 yards and 15 scores.
Trey Fallon, Falmouth senior offensive lineman: The 6-foot-4, 306-pound tackle has committed to play at Lafayette. He was a dominant presence in Class B South as a run blocker and pass protector. A team captain, he was a Class B South first-team all-star.
Dakota Joy, Scarborough senior offensive lineman: A two-way tackle who excelled as both a run blocker and pass protector, Joy “changed the way we played football,” according to Coach Lance Johnson, by demanding and getting his teammates to improve their conditioning, focus and attention to detail.
Nick Bartholomew, Thornton Academy senior offensive lineman: A three-year starter and two-time first-team SMAA pick at center, Bartholomew distinguished himself as the best long snapper Coach Kevin Kezal has coached. He was also an All-Academic selection.
Courtland Austin, Wells senior offensive lineman: Despite playing the last four games with a club-like wrap around a broken hand, Austin was the top lineman for the Class C state champions – the highest-scoring team in the state. He also excelled as a defensive tackle.
Nick Giaquinto, Portland senior offensive lineman: The Bulldogs typically ran left behind Giaquinto, a stout two-way tackle who also stuffed the middle on defense for the Class A North champions.
Telegram All-State team
Defense
Raffaele Salamone, Deering senior defensive lineman: Playing tackle, the 6-4, 250-pounder made 70 tackles, with 16 for a loss, to go with 20 quarterback hurries and three sacks despite facing consistent double-team blocking. Salamone, who played tight end on offense, added two fumble recoveries and an interception that he returned for a score.
Austin Lufkin, Brewer senior defensive lineman: Called a “man among boys” by one Class B North coach, the 6-4, 260-pounder was a first-team all-conference player on both sides of the ball. He had 11 sacks and 47 tackles and blocked two field goals.
David Redmond, Westbrook senior defensive lineman: A two-way standout lineman, the 6-2, 265-pound defensive end led the Blue Blazes with 70 tackles despite constant double-teaming. He had 11 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Paul Buchanan, Greely senior defensive lineman: The 6-4, 210-pounder was a two-way starter and played on all special teams, and specialized in big plays on defense with 14 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 10 passes batted down. Buchanan finished with 76 tackles, 45 of them solo.
Jesse Devereaux, Brunswick senior linebacker: Devereaux was the emotional leader for the Class B champs. “He’s the reason we had 21 seniors. He kept them together,” said Coach Dan Cooper. Instinctive and ferocious despite his 5-7, 165-pound frame, Devereaux led a first-team defense that allowed only 45 points. He also played fullback and rushed for 765 yards with 10 touchdowns, added 150 receiving yards and threw two touchdown passes.
Parker Gammon, Bonny Eagle senior linebacker: A two-year captain and arguably the best player for the Class A champions, he was voted SMAA South lineman of the year as a center and was a first-team pick at linebacker, where he made 77 tackles, with five for loss, and forced one fumble.
Dylan Bolduc, Portland senior linebacker: A strong candidate for player of the year honors, Bolduc switched roles on both sides of the ball because of injuries to teammates. A converted defensive back, he was in on 134 tackles and had three sacks and an interception return for a touchdown. He also rushed for 1,464 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Ben Ekedahl, Cape Elizabeth senior defensive back: An all-around player, Ekedahl pursued the ball well and made 62 solo tackles, with two forced fumbles and two interceptions, returning one for a score. On offense, he had 610 receiving yards and six touchdown catches, and 295 rushing yards with four touchdowns. He also had a kick-return touchdown.
Cam Theberge, Bonny Eagle senior defensive back: A shutdown cornerback who was rarely tested, he still finished with six interceptions – five coming against the Scots’ toughest opponents (three vs. Scarborough, one each against Thornton and Portland). He was also a dangerous receiver, runner and return man, catching 23 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns.
Ben Palizay, Brunswick senior defensive back: Playing in a league that featured pass-heavy teams Skowhegan and Cony, Palizay distinguished himself as a shutdown cornerback and sure tackler. He also rushed for 523 yards and 11 touchdown, had 250 yards and three TDs as a receiver and was a dangerous return man.
Joey Curit, Biddeford senior utility: The Tigers’ quarterback was also the signal caller on defense at safety, where he made 56 tackles with two forced fumbles, three interceptions and a sack. He led the Class B South finalists with 701 rushing yards and five touchdowns and 1,015 passing yards for 10 touchdowns.
Coach of the year
Dan Cooper, Brunswick: Cooper kept a talented team focused and playing hard all season, as the Dragons completed an 11-0 season with their first state title since 1963 in their third straight appearance in the Class B championship game.
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Boys’ soccer: Jackson Fotter, Gorham
The senior forward scored 31 goals to lead the Rams to the state final.Jackson Fotter scored 65 goals in his career at Gorham, including 31 this season to help the Rams make it to the Class A state championship game. And even with a loss to Bangor on penalty kicks, Fotter has "no regrets."Electrifying. That’s how Jackson Fotter said it felt to score a goal in the boys’ soccer state championship game.
He paused for a moment before adding, “For the two minutes it lasted.”
Fotter laughed – he can laugh about it now. After the senior forward gave Gorham a 1-0 lead in the Class A final on Nov. 5, Bangor immediately answered to tie the score. Bangor eventually won the crown in penalty kicks.
While it wasn’t an ideal way to end his high school soccer career, Fotter’s 31 goals helped the Rams win a regional title and go undefeated during the regular season.
His ball skills and determination make Fotter the Maine Sunday Telegram Player of the Year.
“Some of the moves he has made have just been incredible,” Gorham Coach Tim King said. “He gets the guy going one way, then he cuts it back the other way, then he cuts it back again. It’s like the ball is on a string on his foot.”
King said Fotter’s field vision makes him an even better passer than he is a scorer, as he can perfectly place the ball to an open spot. However, Fotter’s “will to win” is what separates him from other great players – something King noticed in September when Gorham and Deering battled to a 0-0 draw.
With the game tied after regulation, King said Fotter pumped up his teammates as they headed into overtime.
“I knew he always had a burning desire underneath, but that was one of the first times I’d really seen it come out,” King said.
“Every time he steps on that field, he thinks, ‘this is a game we should win.'”
That doesn’t change when he steps off the field. Fotter said he watched film of that game against Deering two or three times – studying every missed opportunity. He even watched it again “just the other day.”
When asked if he rewatches games in which he played well over and over, Fotter didn’t hesitate.
“Oh no,” he said. “Just the ones where I feel like we could have done something – or I could have done something different.”
Fotter entered his senior year with 34 career goals, which he nearly doubled this season for a total of 65 – an unofficial school record. He also scored the go-ahead goal to win a national championship with his Seacoast United’s U-17 premier squad over the summer.
Fotter’s accomplishments earned him All-New England and Southwestern Maine Activities Association offensive player of the year honors. But King said individual recognition is not what drives Fotter.
“Every year, he has worked on some part of his game, and he got better and better and better,” King said. “He has a real desire to push himself and make the team better, and he’ll do what it takes to make that happen.”
Fotter intends to play soccer in college, though he’s still undecided where.
As for the state final loss, Fotter said he has watched the game. He has “no regrets.”
“Everyone played so well – I could tell we wanted it really bad,” Fotter said. “Even though we didn’t win the state championship, it was a great way to end. I’ll remember it forever.”
Telegram All-State team
Carson Atherley, Bangor senior midfielder: A Maine Soccer Coaches’ All-American and All-New England selection, Atherley led the Rams to a Class A state title. He was the MSCA Class A player of the year and Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference player of the year.
Jackson Fotter, Gorham senior forward: An All-New England selection and the SMAA offensive player of the year, Fotter scored 31 goals to lead the Rams to the Class A state final.
Shammah Gahomera, Westbrook senior midfielder: Gahomera scored eight goals in the last three games of the regular season to lead the Blazes into the playoffs. The first-team All-SMAA selection finished with 16 goals and seven assists.
Luke Groothoff, Yarmouth junior midfielder: The MSCA Class B player of the year and All-New England selection scored 10 goals – including two in the state final – and added six assists to help the Clippers earn their third straight Class B title.
Josiah Krul, Camden Hills senior midfielder: After an injury-plagued regular season, the All-New England pick accounted for all four of his team’s playoff goals as the Windjammers made it to the Class A North final.
Oneko Lowe, Washington Academy senior midfielder: The MSCA Class C player of the year helped Washington Academy go undefeated and win its second straight Class C state title.
Jonata Mbongo, Deering senior defender: Mbongo was the SMAA’s defensive player of the year as he helped the Rams earn a bye in the first round of the Class A South playoffs.
Noah Stracqualursi, Scarborough senior forward: The first-team all-SMAA and MSCA All-South pick led the Red Storm with 20 goals and eight assists.
Khalid Suja, South Portland senior midfielder: A defensive midfielder, Suja’s contributions could be seen in his passing and his ability to dictate the pace. Coach Bryan Hoy said Suja was South Portland’s top defender.
John Henry Villanueva, Gray-New Gloucester senior goalkeeper: The Western Maine Conference goalkeeper of the year posted eight shutouts this season and had a 0.63 goals-against average. In three years, he had 270 saves and 17 shutouts.
Tyler Welch, Bangor Christian senior midfielder: The Class D player of the year had two goals and two assists in a 4-1 win over Greenville for the Class D state crown. He totaled 23 goals and 20 assists for the unbeaten Patriots.
Coach of the Year
Mike Hagerty, Yarmouth: Despite losing all but four starters to graduation, the Clippers won their third straight Class B title, giving Hagerty eight championships in 20 years at Yarmouth.
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Girls’ soccer: Charlotte Messer, Camden Hills
She scored in overtime of the Class A championship for the Windjammers' first state title.Charlotte Messer, left, and her Camden Hills teammates hoisted the Gold Ball after a 1-0 win over Gorham in the Class A state final, and it was Messer who scored the only goal, in overtime.Any soccer player who had just scored the winning goal in a state championship game would likely describe the experience as “unreal.”
In Charlotte Messer’s case, she wasn’t exaggerating.
The Camden Hills senior concluded her high school career in a fashion that resembled something out of a movie. With a goal in overtime of the Class A final, Messer gave the Windjammers their first state championship while tying the school’s record of 67 career goals.
On top of that, she did it with her mom, Meredith Messer, as her coach.
“It’s every athlete’s dream to leave on top,” said Messer, the Maine Sunday Telegram Player of the Year for girls’ soccer.
“It just such a relief to know you left everything out there and fulfilled all of your goals.”
Messer scored off Eliza Roy’s corner kick, arching her shot over Gorham defenders into the back of the net for the 1-0 win. Meredith Messer said she froze at the sight – stunned – before realizing she was supposed to run out onto the field to celebrate with her players. Winning a state championship was a first for Messer, who has coached the Windjammers for 21 years.
“You just reflect over all of those events that led to that one moment,” she said. “I’m smiling right now while talking about it.”
After the excitement settled on the field, Charlotte stood by her mom and gestured toward the Gold Ball. “That’s ours,” she said.
“I know when she pauses and smiles that she doesn’t really have words because she’s so happy,” Charlotte Messer said. “After all the years she has put into coaching, she finally has something to show for it.”
Charlotte Messer grew up watching soccer games from the sidelines while her mom coached. Since Charlotte joined the squad as a freshman, the Windjammers have a 56-8-3 record. Of the 329 goals they scored, Charlotte has been a part of 117 – including a program record 50 career assists.
“When you think about what she has brought to our school and to our program, she’s just a really amazing player,” Meredith Messer said, noting Charlotte’s ability to see the field and pass the ball as two of her major strengths. “She’s also very composed when she plays. She can blast a shot from 20 yards out or beat someone one-on-one and just tap it to the corner.”
Messer totaled 26 goals and 17 assists this season, earning All-America, All-New England, Class A player of the year and Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference player of the year honors.
When asked what it’s going to be like without her daughter on the team next year, Meredith Messer was unsure.
“Maybe more relaxing?” she said, laughing. “It’s actually kind of easy for me to disconnect. I love to just watch her. Kind of like a play – I try not to critique it. I just get to sit back and enjoy the performance.”
The coach will likely have plenty of opportunities to do so next season. Charlotte Messer has verbally committed to playing soccer for the University of Maine. While excited for this new chapter, she said she’ll miss having her mom as her coach.
“It was such a good experience to have her because she really knows what she’s doing,” Charlotte said. “But she’s excited to just be a fan.”
Telegram All-State team
Alex Allain, Hermon junior forward: The Maine Soccer Coaches Association All-New England and All-Northern Maine pick scored 43 goals and was chosen as Penobscot Valley Conference player of the year.
Katie Clemmer, Yarmouth senior forward: An MSCA All-Southern Maine selection, Clemmer totaled 10 assists and 17 goals – including two in the state final against Waterville – to help the Clippers earn their first Class B title in 13 years.
Sara D’Appolonia, Yarmouth junior midfielder: The MSCA Class B player of the year contributed 17 assists and 16 goals – including one in the state final. She was the only junior from Maine to earn All-New England honors.
Mariah Deschino, Cape Elizabeth senior forward: Deschino carried a young and inexperienced team to the Class B South semifinals, notching six goals while playing numerous positions.
Emma Forgues, Gorham sophomore midfielder: The MSCA All-South pick was the Rams’ leading scorer with 17 goals and five assists and scored in a 2-0 win over Scarborough in the Class A South final.
Becky Lopez-Anido, Orono senior forward: An MSCA All-New England and All-South selection, Lopez-Anido scored 16 goals – including six in the playoffs – to help the Red Riots to the Class C state title.
Meranda Martin, Richmond senior forward: The MSCA Class D player of the year and All-South pick collected 38 goals and 14 assists to lead Richmond to state championship game.
Charlotte Messer, Camden Hills senior forward: The MSCA Class A player of the year, Messer scored in overtime against Gorham to give the Windjammers their first Class A state title. Her 26 goals and 17 assists earned her All-American and All-New England honors.
Gaby Panagakos, Scarborough junior forward: The SMAA offensive player of the year and MSCA All-South pick broke the school record with 22 goals this season, to go with six assists.
Emma Smith, Gorham senior goalkeeper: The MSCA All-South pick notched 11 shutouts and anchored a defense that only allowed eight goals.
Madeline Wood, Madison senior midfielder: The MSCA Class C player of the year and All-South pick scored four goals in the Class C South semifinals and the only goal against Sacopee Valley in the regional final. She totaled 25 goals and 11 assists.
Coach of the Year
Meredith Messer, Camden Hills: After 21 years coaching, Messer led the Windjammers to their first state championship, edging Gorham 1-0 in overtime for the Class A title.
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Field hockey: Lily Posternak, York
The Wildcats won three Class B state titles and went 71-1 during her career.After leading York to three consecutive undefeated seasons, Lily Posternak will continue her field hockey career at Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse Duke, a perennial NCAA tournament qualifier that was ranked No. 1 this year.YORK — When asked to provide a list of the top field hockey players she saw this year, Kennebunk Coach Kayla Billings wrote a small comment in her email next to each name. When it came to York senior Lily Posternak, Billings simply wrote, “Enough said.”
Mention Lily Posternak, and everyone knew who you were talking about. The dominant player on perhaps the state’s dominant team the last three years, Posternak had an outstanding career that ended with her scoring the winning goal that gave the Wildcats their third consecutive Class B state championship and 54th consecutive victory.
Posternak is the Maine Sunday Telegram Player of the Year for the third consecutive year.
“From Day 1, as soon as she stepped on the field as a freshman, she was able to impact everything about our team,” said Barb Marois, the York coach and a former U.S. Olympic field hockey player. “She was pretty much all over the field and I think pretty much set a tone for our team and how we approached things.”
In her four years, York went 71-1, the lone loss to Nokomis in the 2013 state championship game. This year, she scored both goals in York’s 2-1 championship game victory over Belfast, including the winner with 3:22 remaining.
She set school career records for goals (88) and assists (57), including 33 goals and 15 assists this year. She will next play at Duke University, which was ranked No. 1 this year but lost in the NCAA quarterfinals.
“I’m sure there will be new pressure,” said Posternak, who plans to study design and architecture. “But I’m excited to learn new things and be pushed outside my comfort zone and expand my game.”
Asked where she saw Posternak improve the most, Marois said, “All areas. Her stick skills, mentality about playing the game, maturity in playing the game … And as a passer, too.”
Dan Posternak said his daughter would often go to tournaments when she was younger, then spend the evening going up and down the hallway in the hotel practicing her stick skills because she wasn’t satisfied with how she had played.
“You obviously are born with some talent,” he said. “But you can’t teach drive and you can’t teach motivation. And she had that. That’s what set her apart.”
She plays for the Boston Field Hockey Club in the offseason. “I get to play with more D1 commits, so playing with them has helped me become a better player, learning from them,” she said.
Looking back at her four years at York, Posternak said, “It’s incredible, really. It’s been a great four years, for sure.”
Telegram All-State team
Haley Carter, Skowhegan junior sweeper: Called by Coach Paula Doughty “absolutely the best sweeper I have ever had,” Carter was the backbone of Skowhegan’s defense and made six saves, including three in the playoffs.
Chase Collier, Lisbon senior forward: A finalist for Miss Maine Field Hockey, Collier helped the Greyhounds reach the Class C South final by scoring 21 goals and 13 assists. The Mountain Valley Conference player of the year, she finished her career with 38 goals and 21 assists.
Allison Corbett, Messalonskee senior midfielder: A repeat all-state selection, Corbett had four goals and three assists to help the Eagles reach the Class A North final. Corbett had 30 goals and 16 assists in her career. She will play at Division I St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia.
Hannah Costin, Marshwood senior center midfielder: A three-time all-SMAA pick, Costin won the Faith Littlefield Award as the league’s outstanding player. She collected 16 goals and 14 assists, despite being constantly double-teamed.
Emma Desrochers, Massabesic senior midfielder: Desrochers was valuable in so many aspects as the Mustangs advanced to their first state championship game. She scored seven goals this season and had 23 for her career.
Haley Frizzle, Mt. Ararat senior goalie: Frizzle made 241 saves this season, including some that Coach Krista Chase said “she had no business” saving. She had 648 career saves and will next play at UMaine-Farmington.
Lexi Fuller, Oak Hill senior sweeper: In helping the Raiders win the Class C state title, Fuller led a defense that gave up only eight goals. She made several defensive saves, and contributed offensively with six goals (including a penalty stroke in the state final) and four assists.
Delaney Keithley, Cony senior midfielder: Keithley, who plays with a combination of speed and power, had 11 goals and two assists, bringing her career totals to 39 goals and 22 assists. She will play at Colby College.
Maliea Kelso, Skowhegan sophomore midfielder: Kelso put in 19 goals and assisted on 16 to help the Indians win another Class A state championship. The key shooter on penalty corners, Kelso has 39 goals and 28 assists in her career.
Autumn Littlefield, Messalonskee sophomore forward: The KVAC player of the year, Littlefield had 11 goals and eight assists, using her ability to dribble and dodge opponents and get off a hard shot. She has 17 goals and 11 assists in just two years and has already verbally committed to Boston College.
Kylie Nelson, Belfast senior forward: A finalist for Miss Maine Field Hockey, Nelson is a repeat all-state selection. She recorded 37 goals and 14 assists to help the Lions to the Class B state championship game. For her career, she had 96 goals and 43 assists. She will next at Division I Bryant University.
Lily Posternak, York senior center midfielder: Bound for Duke University, Posternak is a three-time Player of the Year and was honored with the Miss Maine Field Hockey award. She collected 33 goals and 15 assists while helping the Wildcats win their third consecutive Class B state title.
Coach of the Year
Michele Martin-Moore, Massabesic: When an injury took away one of her starting midfielders late in the season, Martin-Moore had to adjust her lineup. After a couple losses at the end of the regular season, the Mustangs regrouped and won the school’s first regional championship before falling to Skowhegan in the Class A state final.
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Volleyball: Kayley Cimino, Greely
The senior channeled her intensity to help create a perfect season for the Rangers.Kayley Cimino focused much of her effort this season on helping her teammates improve, but she also collected 180 kills and 82 aces while leading Greely to the Class A state championship.Kayley Cimino finally got the chance to let her competitive nature out. And then she didn’t hold back.
At the start of her senior volleyball season, wanting Greely to win its first state championship since 2012, Cimino put aside concerns that she was too intense on the court. She racked up 82 aces and 180 kills while leading her team to a 17-0 record and the Class A title.
“She took volleyball to a different place with her team,” said Yarmouth Coach Jim Senecal.
“I think wherever she was in the rotation, she was the best player on the floor.”
Many opposing coaches gave Cimino the nod as the best player in the state, and she’s the Maine Sunday Telegram’s choice as Player of the Year.
After a perfect regular season – no sets lost in 14 matches – Cimino and her teammates eventually defeated Scarborough in the state final, avenging a loss in the 2015 state championship match.
Cimino, who will play for Springfield College in Massachusetts next year, said she was determined to harness her ferocious drive and show others how to tap into theirs.
“I hate losing more than I like winning,” Cimino said with a laugh. “I’ve always been like that. My family is very competitive. As an underclassmen (in high school), you’re not really allowed to show it. It definitely came out more this year.”
Greely Coach Kelvin Hasch credits Cimino for leading the team with smart play and a positive attitude. Hasch said Cimino learned in the offseason how to finesse the ball, find the holes in the opponent’s defense, and motivate her team.
She was the all-around leader, he said.
“I knew I had to pick the girls up,” Cimino admits. “I think most of the time in practice, I was focused on making them better as opposed to making myself better. I didn’t let them slack off during practice. It became a thing that they had to work just as hard as I did.
“Together, we learned you could beat a team a different way each week. Greely has always been known for its offense. This year, we changed it up and focused on defense.”
Hasch credits the streak of 42 straight sets in the regular season to Cimino and senior Molly Chapin.
Hasch said when he called a timeout in a match and the team came together, Cimino and Chapin were the first to speak.
“That didn’t mean anything to me, really,” Hasch said of the streak. “The thing I was trying to get across was to play with confidence. But once they had won three to four matches in three sets, then it was a big deal to them. Molly and Kayley, that was the first thing they brought up to the team when I called timeout.
“(Cimino) is very intense and the other teammates are not quite as intense. This year, she learned how to deal with her own intensity and help others. She learned how to encourage them.”
Telegram All-State team
Molly Chapin, Greely senior, outside hitter: Chapin joined Kayley Cimino in providing the bulk of Greely’s offensive power, tallying 99 kills and leading the Rangers to their ninth Class A title.
Rachel Chille, Yarmouth senior, outside hitter: Along with Alison Clark, Chille fueled Yarmouth’s offense. She had 132 kills, 86 aces and 104 digs.
Kayley Cimino, Greely senior, opposite hitter: The hands-down pick for player-of-the-year honors according to most coaches, she led her team to its first Class A state championship since 2012, amassing 82 aces and 180 kills.
Alison Clark, Yarmouth senior, outside hitter: Clark led Yarmouth to the Class A semifinals with 255 kills, 56 aces and 70 digs.
Kendra Cote, Biddeford senior, middle hitter: Cote led her team to a 13-3 record. She tallied 130 kills with one of the hardest shots in the state.
Jordyn Cowan, Scarborough senior, middle hitter: A smart player with excellent ball placement, Cowan racked up 93 kills while leading Scarborough to a 16-2 record.
Kelly Delaney, Calais senior, outside hitter: Delaney her team to the Class B state championship, amassing 79 aces and 210 kills.
Kacey Foerster, Scarborough senior, outside hitter: Another standout on a deep Red Storm team, Foerster tallied 103 kills and 47 digs to help her team reach the Class A final.
Morgan Selby, Greely sophomore, setter: Selby set the ball perfectly for Greely’s powerful offense while tallying 50 aces and 51 kills.
Madi Tait, Falmouth senior, libero: Varied shots and perfect ball placement made Tait the leader of a team that reached the Class A semifinals. She recorded 104 kills, 64 aces and 279 digs.
Coach of the Year
Kelvin Hasch, Greely: Hasch won his ninth state championship since 2003, guiding the Rangers to a 17-0 record.
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Boys’ golf: Logan Thompson, Mattanawcook Academy
The junior won his third straight Class C crown in dominating fashion.Logan Thompson won the Maine Junior Golf Championship by five shots in July and was equally impressive in both the team and individual state tournaments in October.Bill McCarthy, the Mattanawcook Academy athletic director, knows Logan Thompson’s primary sport is golf.
After all, the slender junior won his third straight Class C championship this fall with a 5-under-par 67. Considering that Thompson beat his closest challenger by eight strokes and is determined to keep improving, he’s a good bet to become Maine’s first four-time boys’ golf champion.
“It just raises some expectations and the goals are going to be higher for myself, and I just have to work harder to try to reach those,” Thompson said.
But when McCarthy thinks about Thompson’s ability to perform in the clutch, he remembers a moment in Thompson’s freshman season of basketball. “I was an assistant coach then,” McCarthy said. “For a variety of reasons, our varsity team was without several starters. We were in a close game and we drew up a play and asked, ‘who wants to shoot it?'”
All the older players deferred. Thompson, at the time 5-foot-3 and barely 90 pounds, piped up.
“Logan said, ‘I’ll shoot it,'” McCarthy said. “He got fouled before he could get the shot off, but it just shows what he’s made of. He’s just so calm in pressure situations.”
Thompson played with extreme confidence this fall. He shot a 4-under 68 to lead Mattanawcook to its second straight Class C team title, then returned to the Arrowhead course at Natanis the following Saturday and went one stroke lower.
“I never try to get too high or too low. I just try to stay even-keeled,” Thompson said. “It helps when things aren’t going well that you can stay calm, and then when things are going right, you can build confidence.”
For his championship efforts, as well as an undefeated regular-season in which he posted a nine-hole scoring average of 35.6, Thompson is the Maine Sunday Telegram Boys’ Golfer of the Year.
Thompson was the only golfer to break par in either the team or individual state tournaments. He played the shorter of the 18-hole courses at Natanis while the Class A and B players were on the longer Tomahawk layout, but consider this: Playing against the best junior golfers in Maine this summer, including Class A champion Cole Anderson of Camden Hills, Thompson won the Maine Junior Championship by five strokes.
“He’s methodical,” said Mattanawcook Coach Ryan Libby. “He’s like a machine. He hits it down the middle, knocks it on the green and usually has a birdie putt. If he makes it, he takes his birdie, and if not, he two-putts for par.”
Thompson, who is now 5-9 and 125 pounds, is also hitting it longer – about 40 yards further off the tee than he did as a freshman – without losing any of his vaunted accuracy. That’s allowed him to become strategically aggressive.
“Accuracy is a strength,” Thompson said. “I’ve worked really hard to be able to hit the ball straight. A big thing is you have to stay out of trouble the best you can.”
Thompson is still a three-sport athlete – he starts as an outfielder in baseball – but is intent on raising his profile this summer by playing in more junior tournaments, both in Maine and in American Junior Golf Association events.
“One of my goals for right now is to try to get to a Division I college and play on a golf team,” Thompson said. “I’ve gotten a few letters from some colleges, no Division I colleges yet, and I’ll have to work on my game.”
Along the way, hopefully win his fourth individual championship.
“He’s accomplished a lot, so I kept expecting a little bit of a letdown,” Libby said, “but he’s just relentless. I think next year he’ll be just as focused and he’ll want to end his career with people saying he’s the best golfer to come through this part of the state.”
Telegram All-State team
Cole Anderson, Camden Hills sophomore: The 2015 Telegram Player of the Year, he won his second consecutive Class A title with a 1-over 73.
Anthony Burnham, Scarborough sophomore: Burnham shot a team-low 76 to help the Red Storm place fourth in Class A, then tied for third in the Class A individual championship with a 75. Burnham was a first-team All-SMAA Northern Division pick.
Eric Dugas, Maine Central Institute senior: Dugas won the Class B title by 4 strokes with a 1-over 73. His round of 74 was the best score during the Class B team competition.
Reed Foehl, Portland junior: He placed sixth in the Class A individual championship with a 77 and was a first-team All-SMAA Northern Division choice.
Erin Holmes, Greely senior: Holmes tied Bailey Plourde for the girls’ individual championship with a 73, making a birdie on the final hole. The state runner-up as a junior, Holmes helped Greely finish fifth in Class A.
Caleb Manuel, Mt. Ararat freshman: Manuel led the Eagles to a Class A runner-up finish with a 73, then backed that up with 3-over 75 to tie for third in the state individual championship.
Bailey Plourde, Lincoln Academy senior: The Maine Sunday Telegram girls’ golfer of the year, she birdied the final hole to tie Erin Holmes of Greely for the girls’ championship. It was Plourde’s second straight and third overall; she finished second as a sophomore. Plourde also won the Maine Junior title this summer.
Lucas Roop, Gorham junior: The Class A runner-up with a 74, Roop shot a 79 during the team championship to help the Rams nip Mt. Ararat in a tiebreaker for the Class A title.
Lauren Schonewolf, Cape Elizabeth senior: She tied for fourth in the individual championship with a 78 and helped the Capers to a Class B runner-up finish with a 79.
Logan Thompson, Mattanawcook Academy junior: The Maine Sunday Telegram boys’ golfer of the year won his third straight Class C title with a 5-under 67. The week before, he shot a 68 to lead the Lynx to a second straight team title. Thompson was the Maine Junior champion this summer and is a three-time all-state selection.
Coach of the Year
Mark Bailey, Erskine Academy: Bailey’s team had four players shoot 80 or better to win the Class B title by eight strokes over defending champion Cape Elizabeth. It was Erskine’s first golf championship.
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Girls’ golf: Bailey Plourde, Lincoln Academy
The three-time state champion kept her cool when it mattered most.Bailey Plourde had an outstanding summer, with a victory at the Maine Junior Championship and a runner-up finish at the Maine Women's Amateur, then tied for the high school girls' championship in October.When Bailey Plourde is playing her best golf, she’s among the top female players in Maine, regardless of age.
This year at the high school state championships, the 17-year-old senior from Newcastle and Lincoln Academy showed she’s tough to beat even when struggling.
Plourde, the defending girls’ champion, was pushing too many shots to the right through the first nine holes and found herself trailing longtime rival Erin Holmes of Greely.
“Through the first nine holes, there were not a lot of shots where I was happy with the result, but when making the turn I took a deep breath and broke down my swing,” Plourde said. “On the back nine, I was able to adjust my swing a little and get more shots that I was happy with. If I hadn’t been able to move past those bad shots on the front, I couldn’t have adjusted.”
When Holmes birdied the 18th hole, Plourde stood over her own birdie putt knowing she needed to make it to post match Holmes at 1-over 73 and earn a share of her third state championship.
“My approach wasn’t the best, but I had the confidence I could make the putt,” Plourde said.
She rolled it in to forge the tie, ending her high school career with consecutive titles to go with the crown she won as a freshman. It also capped a season in which she was undefeated as Lincoln’s No. 1 player (9-0) and had a nine-hole stroke average of 37.4, and earned her a repeat selection as Maine Sunday Telegram Girls’ Golfer of the Year.
“When she gets upset with herself or a particular shot, she grinds it out,” said Lincoln Coach Todd Brackett. “She focuses that much more.”
Playing competitive golf at a high level is nothing new to Plourde, who started golfing when she was 5 and calls Samoset Resort her home course.
This summer, Plourde won the Maine Junior Championship at Val Halla Golf Course, then finished second in the Maine Women’s Amateur at Penobscot Valley Country Club.
Plourde said she’s worked hard over her high school career to improve her short game, particularly her chipping from within 50 yards.
“Her basics and her foundation are good but her short game is phenomenal,” said Brackett, who often plays against Plourde in practice situations. “Just when you think you’re going to go one-up on her and you’ve got a 4-footer for birdie, she rolls in her 15-footer.”
Plourde is looking forward to playing in college, in part because she wants to experience being part of a women’s team and playing competitive golf around the country. She hasn’t made a decision yet but is looking seriously at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, a Division III program that was nationally ranked in 2016.
In Maine high school golf, there are no girls’ teams, meaning Plourde is usually matched up against a boy in the team events.
“Playing against the guys during the school season has become a routine and doesn’t bother me much,” Plourde said. “I wouldn’t say beating them has become a routine because I could have lost at any point during the season. No match is a given win. But don’t get me wrong, I love winning, especially against the guys.”
Telegram All-State team
Cole Anderson, Camden Hills sophomore: The 2015 Telegram Player of the Year, he won his second consecutive Class A title with a 1-over 73.
Anthony Burnham, Scarborough sophomore: Burnham shot a team-low 76 to help the Red Storm place fourth in Class A, then tied for third in the Class A individual championship with a 75. Burnham was a first-team All-SMAA Northern Division pick.
Eric Dugas, Maine Central Institute senior: Dugas won the Class B title by 4 strokes with a 1-over 73. His round of 74 was the best score during the Class B team competition.
Reed Foehl, Portland junior: He placed sixth in the Class A individual championship with a 77 and was a first-team All-SMAA Northern Division choice.
Erin Holmes, Greely senior: Holmes tied Bailey Plourde for the girls’ individual championship with a 73, making a birdie on the final hole. The state runner-up as a junior, Holmes helped Greely finish fifth in Class A.
Caleb Manuel, Mt. Ararat freshman: Manuel led the Eagles to a Class A runner-up finish with a 73, then backed that up with 3-over 75 to tie for third in the state individual championship.
Bailey Plourde, Lincoln Academy senior: The Maine Sunday Telegram girls’ golfer of the year, she birdied the final hole to tie Erin Holmes of Greely for the girls’ championship. It was Plourde’s second straight and third overall; she finished second as a sophomore. Plourde also won the Maine Junior title this summer.
Lucas Roop, Gorham junior: The Class A runner-up with a 74, Roop shot a 79 during the team championship to help the Rams nip Mt. Ararat in a tiebreaker for the Class A title.
Lauren Schonewolf, Cape Elizabeth senior: She tied for fourth in the individual championship with a 78 and helped the Capers to a Class B runner-up finish with a 79.
Logan Thompson, Mattanawcook Academy junior: The Maine Sunday Telegram boys’ golfer of the year won his third straight Class C title with a 5-under 67. The week before, he shot a 68 to lead the Lynx to a second straight team title. Thompson was the Maine Junior champion this summer and is a three-time all-state selection.
Coach of the Year
Mark Bailey, Erskine Academy: Bailey’s team had four players shoot 80 or better to win the Class B title by eight strokes over defending champion Cape Elizabeth. It was Erskine’s first golf championship.
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Boys’ cross country: Luke Laverdiere, Yarmouth
The junior erased bad memories of the 2015 state meet by winning this year's Class B title.Luke Laverdiere's victories this fall included the Festival of Champions, a second straight Class B South championship, and his first cross country state title. He also was the top Mainer at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional.It wasn’t a perfect season, but Yarmouth junior Luke Laverdiere will take it.
Yes, he dropped out of two races, the first in oppressive heat in York in early September and the second while among the lead pack through two miles at the New England championships in Rhode Island.
But those will only serve as motivation for next fall, the same way he used a disappointing 2015 state meet performance to fuel the fire for this fall’s Class B state title. One week after repeating as regional champion, Laverdiere ran away from the field in the Class B championship race in Belfast to win by eight seconds over Henry Jaques of Freeport and almost a minute over Wells junior Mitchell Libby.
Five weeks earlier, on the same 5-kilometer course at Troy Howard Middle School, Laverdiere finished in 15 minutes, 33 seconds to win the Festival of Champions by 18 seconds over a field of 320.
He is our choice as Maine Sunday Telegram Runner of the Year for boys’ cross country.
“I would have liked to have had some better races at New Englands, and probably at Foot Lockers, too,” said Laverdiere, referring to his Northeast Regional finish of 38th in the Bronx in late November. “But I accomplished my basic goals. I wanted to run around 15:30, which I did at the Festival, and I wanted to win states. So I’m really happy about my season.”
Laverdiere’s time of 15:49 at the state meet was two seconds off that of Class A champion Tucker Barber, a senior from Mt. Blue. Then again, Barber had Mt. Ararat senior Cameron Meier chasing him to the end, whereas Laverdiere cruised to victory after running alone over the final two miles.
As a sophomore, Laverdiere won the regional at Twin Brook Recreation Area in Cumberland but was nearly a minute slower over the same course at the state meet and dropped to 13th, missing New England qualification. It was his first loss of the season in Maine.
Laverdiere has an asthma-like condition called vocal cord dysfunction. Small muscles on the larynx sometimes fail to open when he breathes in, making it difficult to move air in and out of his lungs. Stress can be a trigger.
He said he didn’t think VCD was to blame for the races in York or Rhode Island. At New Englands, “he just said he ran out of gas,” said Yarmouth Coach Bob Morse. “It wasn’t a breathing thing. It was something else.”
Whether the problem was nutritional or simply fatigue from racing three consecutive weekends, Laverdiere said he simply wasn’t race ready on that day and figured, rather than endure what he knew would be a painful final mile, he ought to save something for the Northeast Regional.
An honor student who plays guitar and dabbles in politics (at the school level), Laverdiere has been in touch with half a dozen colleges about continuing his running career. Like Yarmouth senior Abby Hamilton, Laverdiere used outdoor track success last spring (he won Class B titles at 800 and 1,600 meters) as a springboard to consistent summer training and a cross country state championship.
“He’s like Abby in many ways,” Morse said. “They both have a beautiful stride. They’re not struggle runners. He’s a great kid who listens very well and has a great sense of humor. His teammates like him and respect him a lot.”
The challenge, Morse said, is going to be the final mile of his toughest races.
“Both mentally and physically,” Morse said. “But he’ll get there. No doubt in my mind. As strong as he was this year, he’ll be even stronger next year.”
Telegram All-State team
Tucker Barber, Mt. Blue senior: The Class A champion with fastest time of the day (15:47), regardless of class, Barber also earned all-New England honors with a 12th-place showing.
Paul Casavant, Hampden Academy senior: The runner-up in Class A North, Casavant placed fourth at the state meet and was one of seven sub-16 runners (15:59) among all classes. He placed 41st in New England as the eighth Mainer runner.
Jacob Gamache, Edward Little senior: Gamache was sixth in Class A with a time (16:09) ninth-best of all runners, regardless of class, and was among the top 100 finishers at the New England meet.
John Hassett, George Stevens senior: The two-time Class C champion, Hassett dropped 24 seconds from his winning regional time on the same course to finish in 15:56. He was the fifth Mainer at New Englands, 35th overall.
Jacob Hickey, Winthrop senior: The Class C runner-up in 16:10 after winning the South regional, Hickey earned all-New England status by placing 20th, behind only three other Mainers.
Henry Jaques, Freeport senior: Jaques was the runner-up in Class B for the second year in a row, in a time of 15:57. He earned all-New England honors with a 19th-place showing, third among Mainers.
Luke Laverdiere, Yarmouth junior: The Class B state champion in 15:49, Laverdiere also won the Festival of Champions in October and was the first Mainer runner at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional, 38th overall.
Wyatt Lord, Hampden Academy sophomore: Lord placed fifth in Class A with a time (16:08), eighth-best of all runners, regardless of class. He was third at the North regional and among the top 100 at the New England meet.
Cameron Meier, Mt. Ararat senior: The runner-up in Class A, Meier dropped 24 seconds from his regional showing (sixth place in the North) on the same Belfast course to finish in 15:51. He placed 36th in New England.
Jeremiah Sands, Falmouth senior: The Class A South champion, Sands placed third in Class A with a 15:59 clocking. He beat all Mainers in the New England meet, placing seventh overall, and won the Western Maine Conference championship.
Coach of the Year
David Dowling, Greely: Despite losing his two fastest runners to graduation from a team that placed third in the state last fall, Dowling guided the Rangers to a 15-point victory in Class B over Wells and 34 points over two-time defending state champ Freeport, despite placing only one runner, sophomore Luke Marsanskis, among the top 12. The boys’ state title was Dowling’s ninth at Greely to go along with four girls’ state championships, including this fall.
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Girls’ cross country: Abby Hamilton, Yarmouth
The senior emerged this fall as an unlikely state champion.Abby Hamiton lowered her best 5-kilometer time from her junior season by more than a minute this fall and was the fastest Maine runner at both the state championships and the New England championships.In August, a coach asked Yarmouth senior Abby Hamilton to write down her goals for the upcoming cross country season.
After thinking a bit, Hamilton came up with this:
Try to get under 18:30 in the 5K.
Her coach suggested something different: Try to be a state champion.
“I didn’t think that was a possibility,” said Hamilton, who had placed sixth in Class B as a junior, behind three other returning runners. “So I wrote: Top 3.”
It seemed logical, considering that Greely senior Katherine Leggat-Barr was the two-time defending Class B state champion and Mt. Desert Island senior Tia Tardy, a transfer from Orono, was the two-time defending Class C champ.
Hamilton beat them both. In fact, she turned in the fastest time of the day (18 minutes, 5 seconds), regardless of class, by more than 10 seconds at the Class B state meet in Belfast. A week later, she was Maine’s top finisher, ninth overall, at the New England championships in Rhode Island.
“I definitely didn’t expect this season to go the way it did,” said Hamilton, the Maine Sunday Telegram Runner of the Year. “I’m very surprised, and very happy with the results.”
An honor student who is clearly humble and rather quiet, Hamilton listens well and does every drill to the best of her ability, said Yarmouth Coach Bob Morse, who figures the groundwork for Hamilton’s stellar fall season was laid in spring success and summer mileage.
In outdoor track in June, Hamilton won the Class B state title at 3,200 meters.
“When you win a big race and you become a state champion,” Morse said, “that changes your whole perspective of yourself.”
Hamilton said she doubled her summer mileage from 2015 and made a point of running every day.
“A big part of it was knowing this was my last cross country season in high school,” she said. “I wanted to make the most of it.”
Her opening meet came in Cape Elizabeth, where she ran away from a field of 43 to win by nearly two minutes in 17:59 over three miles, becoming only the second girl to break 18 minutes on that course. A week later in the heat at York, she beat junior teammate Anneka Murrin, who finished ahead of Hamilton at last fall’s state meet, and Falmouth sophomore Malaika Pasch, who would go on to win the Class A state title.
Then came the 5-kilometer races. As a junior, Hamilton’s best time was the 19:18 she ran at the Manchester (N.H.) Invitational. As a senior, she ran five races at that distance and every time broke the 19-minute barrier, including a late-November performance at the Foot Locker Northeast Regionals in which she placed 20th.
It wasn’t easy to sit out the Western Maine Conference meet – “I like to race every week,” she said, “but my coaches clearly know what they’re doing, so listening to them is always best” – and Hamilton also missed the Festival of Champions (Tardy, Pasch, Murrin and Leggat-Barr swept the top four places) because of an injury unrelated to running.
“She was very disappointed that she couldn’t race,” Morse said of the Festival. “But I think everything fell into place.”
Without testing herself in a big meet, Hamilton found herself unsure of what to expect at the South regional at Twin Brook Recreation Area in Cumberland. On a rainy, chilly morning, she won by 23 seconds.
A week later, she finally made the trip to Belfast and earned the Class B crown by 11 seconds.
“Class B this year was very talented,” she said. “I was definitely intimidated, but I just became more confident at the season went along.”
Telegram All-State team
Kassidy Dill, Orono senior: Class C state champion, Dill placed 51st at the New England meet in Rhode Island. She posted a top-10 finish at the Festival of Champions in Belfast in early October.
Abby Hamilton, Yarmouth senior: Hamilton, the Class B state champion (18:05), placed ninth in New England and 20th at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional, both times finishing first among Maine runners.
Louise Holway, Kennebunk senior: In her first year of cross country, Holway was runner-up by less than half a second in both the Class A state meet and South regional, and was 32nd at the New England meet.
Katherine Leckbee, Mt. Ararat junior: The North regional and KVAC champion, Leckbee placed third in the Class A state meet in 18:42. She was 5 seconds shy of all-New England honors, finishing 29th.
Katherine Leggat-Barr, Greely senior: The two-time Class B state champion placed third (18:14) this year and was the second Mainer at New Englands, taking 12th overall.
Kathryn Miller, York junior: Miller placed sixth in Class B (18:57) and was one of nine girls in all classes who broke 19 minutes on the 5-kilometer course in Belfast.
Anneka Murrin, Yarmouth junior: Murrin placed fifth in Class B (18:46) and earned all-New England honors by virtue of a 24th place. She finished third in the Festival of Champions.
Malaika Pasch, Falmouth sophomore: The Class A state champion (18:22), Pasch placed 14th in New England – fourth among Maine runners. She was the Festival of Champions runner-up.
Tia Tardy, Mt. Desert Island senior: A two-time Class C state champion, she was the runner-up in Class B this fall after winning the North regional. She earned all-New England honors (24th) and was the Festival of Champions winner.
Carolyn Todd, Greely sophomore: Todd placed fourth at the Class B state meet (18:39) and earned all-New England honors by finishing 13th overall, the third Maine runner across the line.
Coach of the Year
Will Fulford, Biddeford: Since taking over a program struggling to field a five-runner team six years ago, Fulford built things up to the point where this fall, the Tigers had 15 girls and placed fourth of 17 teams in Class A South to qualify for the state meet for the first time in 22 years. Sadly, barely a month after the state meet, Fulford collapsed and died at 29 after a treadmill workout. “The girls improved drastically throughout the season,” said Dennis Walton, Biddeford’s athletic director. “Will was the reason so many of these girls gained a passion for cross country and distance running.”
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