Waeldner

Then

Male:

LUKE WAELDNER, Senior—Baseball

  • WMC all-star, Class B first-team

  • WMC All-Academic team

  • Senior All-Star

  • Captain

Waeldner capped his memorable Yarmouth career with a solid senior campaign, both at the plate and on the mound.

Waeldner started playing baseball at a young age and began pitching at the age of nine.

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“Pitching is the best thing,” said Waeldner. “You can control the game. I like hitting and playing the outfield, but you can’t hide when you’re on the mound.”

Waeldner, who also spent four years playing soccer for Yarmouth, winning state titles with the varsity team as a junior and senior, joined the baseball varsity as a sophomore and as a junior, he played a key role as the Clippers enjoyed a magical run to an unexpected Class B state title.

This spring, Waeldner was Yarmouth’s ace, leadoff hitter and leftfielder (when he wasn’t on the mound) and he enjoyed a strong season.

Waeldner threw a two-hitter and had two hits in a win over Poland and closed the regular season by beating Freeport, while producing two hits and scoring twice.

Waeldner then threw a one-hitter, with nine strikeouts, in a preliminary round playoff victory over Spruce Mountain. The Clippers lost in an extra inning heartbreaker to Cape Elizabeth in the quarterfinals.

“We competed with everyone and we were less of an underdog this year,” Waeldner said.

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Waeldner finished with 10 victories and 91 strikeouts on the mound and at the plate, he hit .410 for his high school career with 51 hits and 30 stolen bases. He served as Yarmouth’s leadoff hitter for 39 consecutive games.

Waeldner also worked with special needs children as part of the Clippers Buddies program. He plans to attend the University of Colorado next year, where he’ll study engineering and play club baseball.

Luke Waeldner, Yarmouth’s Spring Male Athlete of the Year, epitomized his program, giving his all every time out, and his role in keeping the Clippers near the top of the heap will be his legacy.

Coach Marc Halsted’s comment: “Luke gave us a chance to win every time he pitched.  He’s been a great competitor and a great kid to be around. Everybody talks about grit and Luke has it. He’s highly intelligent, perceptive and someone who will find your weakness and exploit it. Personally, I love the kid and I’ll miss being around him every day. He’s become synonymous with Yarmouth baseball and he’ll be remembered for decades around here. He’s been a huge part of our program and we’re going to miss him. When I write out that first lineup card next year and I can’t write ‘Luke Waeldner’ at the top, it’s going to hurt a lot.”

Previous winners:

2017 Gibson Harnett (baseball)

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2016 Matthew Beatty (lacrosse)

2015 Joe Oliva (lacrosse)

2014 Braden Becker (tennis)

2013 Ben Decker (tennis)

2012 Bryce Snyder (baseball)

2011 Campbell Belisle-Haley (baseball)

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2010 Nick Whittaker (baseball)

2009 Rob Highland (lacrosse)

2008 Robb Arndt (baseball)

2007 Jon Poole (lacrosse)

2006 Hans Tobiason (lacrosse)

2005 Chris Hichborn (lacrosse)

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2004 Jon Miller (lacrosse)

2003 Jared Harriman (lacrosse)

2002 Tim Kjeldgaard (lacrosse)

Female:

EVA THEN, Senior-Lacrosse

  • All-American

  • WMC all-star, first-team

  • WMC All-Academic team

  • Senior All-Star

Then was a consistent goal scorer for a powerhouse team, reached a career milestone and led the Clippers to another state final.

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Then’s first love was tennis. She started playing lacrosse in middle school and soon was drawn to the sport.

“I was on the fence at first, but from the moment I started playing, I loved it,” Then said. “I love the team aspect. I love having the freedom of playing all over as a midfielder.”

Then came up to the varsity team at the end of her freshman year and watched from the sidelines as Yarmouth upset Kennebunk in the Class B state final to win its second consecutive championship. The Clippers lost to the Rams in the 2016 and 2017 state games and as a junior, Then was named to the All-Conference team.

This season, she tickled the twine with regularity, scoring 39 times with 29 assists, as Yarmouth again got to the season’s final Saturday.

Then, who also played four years of soccer at Yarmouth, winning state titles as a junior and senior, exploded for nine goals in an early-season win over Freeport, scored three times in a victory over North Yarmouth Academy, had five goals in a win over York, five more in a victory over Messalonskee and had four in a regular season-ending win at Waynflete.

In the Clippers’ run to the state final, Then scored scored six goals against Messalonskee in the semifinals, giving her 98 for her career. She would reach the 100 plateau with a pair against Cape Elizabeth in the state final, but Yarmouth dropped an overtime heartbreaker.

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Then, who was named one of Maine’s four girls’ All-Americans, also was a co-leader of Yarmouth’s Global Action Coalition, was the student liaison for Aging in Place and was a member of class council and did community service. She will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology next year, where she plans to continue playing lacrosse.

Eva Then, Yarmouth’s Spring Female Athlete of the Year, has shown she can score goals with abandon in the biggest games. She’ll make a mark at the next level as well.

Coach Dorothy Holt’s comment: “Eva is a quiet, but determined player. She leads by example and gave 110 percent, whether it was a game or practice. I’m incredibly proud of what she has accomplished this year, both on and off the field and I look forward to watching her play at MIT.” 

Previous winners:

2017 Gretchen Barbera (lacrosse)

2016 Mary Kate Gunville (lacrosse)

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2015 Mari Cooper (softball)

2014 Grace O’Donnell (lacrosse)

2013 Grace O’Donnell (lacrosse)

2012 Hannah Potter (tennis)

2011 Danielle Torres (lacrosse)

2010 Danielle Torres (lacrosse)

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2009 Haley Knaub (track)

2008 Nicole Grover (lacrosse)

2007 Laurie Baker (lacrosse)

2006 Emily Johnson (lacrosse)

2005 Chrissie Attura (lacrosse)

2004 Louise Taylor (tennis)

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2003 Louise Taylor (tennis)

2002 Christine Clancy (tennis)

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

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Luke Waeldner

Eva Then


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