James

Male:

NICK JAMES, Senior-Lacrosse

  •  SMAA all-star, first-team

  • SMAA All-Academic

  • Senior All-Star

  • Captain

James was the engine that made the playoff-bound Rams go this spring and he reached a personal landmark in the process.

James started playing lacrosse in middle school and it quickly became his favorite sport.

“I love the fast pace of lacrosse,” James said. “The history of the sport. I love how specific the sticks are. There’s a playing style for everyone. I just feel right when I pick up a stick. I’m really competitive. I want to be the best I can be.”

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James joined the Deering varsity as a freshman and as a middie, quickly made his mark. As a junior, he was an honorable mention league all-star and played in the Underclass All-Star Game.

This spring, James scored goals with abandon, 35 of them in fact, and he assisted on 15 others, while also scooping up 64 ground balls.

James scored four times in a season-opening loss to South Portland, scored four goals and had three assists in a win over Lewiston, scored three times, including a goal late in regulation, in an overtime loss to Kennebunk, had four goals in a win over Gorham and produced six goals in a win over Cheverus.

The Rams reached the postseason and lost to Lewiston in the Class A North quarterfinals. 

“We had a tough schedule compared to last year, so I was happy to make playoffs,” James said.

James also played soccer and sprinted and ran middle distance in indoor track for Deering. He was a member of Future Teachers and Natural Helpers and plans to attend the University of Southern Maine next year, where he’ll study nursing and play lacrosse.

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Nick James, Deering’s Spring Male Athlete of the Year, faced the best that the opposition could throw at him all season long and he came up big time after time. That kind of performance won’t soon be forgotten.

Coach Jon Dubois’ comment: “Nick was the guy we could lean on this season. He really pushed when the team needed it. He would stay late and shoot, not just by himself, but with whoever he could convince to get better with him. Other teams had to have a game plan for him in order to beat us. He was the one guy who could really hurt you. No team held him scoreless this year on his way to over 100 career goals. He’ll be sorely missed at Deering.”

Previous winners:

2017 Nate Richards (lacrosse)

2016 Max Hornblower (lacrosse)

2015 Kevin Goldberg (baseball)

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2014 Tyler Butler (tennis)

2013 Jared Bell (track)

2012 Karl Rickett (lacrosse)

2011 Carleton Allen (lacrosse)

2010 Sam Balzano (baseball)

2009 Regan Flaherty (baseball)

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2008 Taylor Candage (baseball)

2007 Matt Watson (baseball)

2006 Adam Rothbart (lacrosse)

2005 Neall Oliver (tennis)

2004 Ryan Reid (baseball)

Female:

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ANNAH ROSSVALL, Senior-Track

  •  Class A state champion, 300 hurdles

  • SMAA all-star, first-team, 300 hurdles

  • SMAA All-Academic team

Rossvall graduates as one of the special athletes in the long history of the Deering track program and we haven’t heard the last of her, on the track or in the classroom.

Rossvall has made her mark with the Rams, indoor and outdoor, as a sprinter and hurdler, since her freshman year. As a junior, Rossvall came in fourth in the 300 hurdles at the Class A outdoor state meet and after a strong indoor season this past winter, Rossvall rewrote the record books and captured a state title this spring.

Rossvall set school records in the 100, 200, 400 and the 300 hurdles, to add to her existing record in the 100 hurdles. If that wasn’t enough, she’s also part of a record-holding 4×400 relay team.

Rossvall was at her best in the postseason, winning the 300 hurdles in 46.2 seconds at the SMAA meet, then capturing the Class A state title in that event with a time of 45.85 seconds. Rossvall concluded her high school career at the New England championship meet, where her time of 46.49 seconds left her 12th in the 300 hurdles.

Rossvall, who also played soccer at Deering and belonged to the Key Club, Student Senate and National Honor Society, will matriculate at Colby College in Waterville, where she will continue to run.

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And she’ll continue to run well. Annah Rossvall, Deering’s Spring Female Athlete of the Year, was a standout on and off the track and her impact on the Rams program will be felt for a long time.

Coach Kevin Campbell’s comment: “I’ve worked with Annah since the sixth grade and I’ve never coached an athlete more dedicated to the sport of track and field. She gives everything she has at practice and motivates others to do the same. She continually strives to improve and will do whatever if takes to get better. She’s a true leader. She owns all or part of eight school records and leaves big shoes to fill. She didn’t just excel on the track, graduating sixth in her class.”

Previous winners:

2017 Sydney Giroux (softball)

2016 Micary Verville (lacrosse)

2015 Maddie Abbott (tennis)

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2014 Alexis Elowitch (track)

2013 Rashad Zagon (track)

2012 Veronica Mitchell (lacrosse/track)

2011 Jen Lynch (softball)

2010 Julie Pallozzi (lacrosse)

2009 Melissa Bell (softball)

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2008 Lesley Warn (softball)

2007 Chelsea Johnson (lacrosse)

2006 Kate Bustin (softball)

2005 Lesley Warn (softball)

2004 Gina Axelson (softball)

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

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Nick James

Annah Rossvall


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