Freeport Falcons Spring Athletes of the Year

WILL SPAULDING, Senior – Track

Shawn Patrick Ouellette / Portland Press Herald

Captain

Spaulding has been a model of consistency and helped Freeport’s boys’ outdoor track team to a top-10 finish at the state meet.

Spaulding is the twin brother of multiple time individual golf state champion (and Freeport Fall Athlete of the Year) Eli Spaulding and is the son of Andy Spaulding, is a two-time Maine division Beach to Beacon winner and a founding member of the Dirigo Running Club and a Maine Running Hall of Famer.

Spaulding has run all three seasons, also taking part in cross country and indoor track and after placing second in the two-mile in February, he had a terrific outdoor season this spring.

Spaulding set new personal marks in the 800 (2 minutes, 7 seconds), mile (4:33) and two-mile (9:35). He excelled in the postseason as well, placing fourth in the mile at the conference championship meet, then finishing runner-up in the two-mile (9:37.01) at the Class B state meet, helping the Falcons place ninth as a team.

Spaulding’s running shoes will be tough to fill. He did so much for the Freeport program and will be remembered for all he accomplished.

Coach Matt Greear’s comment: “Will has meant a lot to our team the last four years, as a competitor, leader and friend. He has been a pillar of our team as a captain who always worked hard and supported every teammate. This spring, he had huge (personal records) and took home second at states. I’m excited to see him continue to run and set PRs.”

Previous winners:

• 2023 Henry Horne (track)
* 2022 Blaine Cockburn (baseball)
* 2021 Anthony Panciocco (baseball)
• 2020 No season
• 2019 Shea Wagner (baseball)
• 2018 Colby Wagner (baseball)
• 2017 Bennett Hight (baseball)
• 2016 Jack Davenport (baseball)
• 2015 Jack Davenport (baseball)
• 2014 Sam Wogan (lacrosse)
• 2013 Harrison Stivers (track)
• 2012 Sawyer Williams (baseball)
• 2011 Hans Pope (lacrosse)
• 2010 Hans Pope (lacrosse)
• 2009 Greg Ordway (lacrosse)
• 2008 Parker Chipman (track)
• 2007 Luke Charest (lacrosse)
• 2006 Kelso Davis (lacrosse)
• 2005 Tim Gray (lacrosse)
• 2004 Kelso Davis (lacrosse)
• 2003 Tyler Allen (baseball)
• 2002 Ben Grant (baseball)

ROSIE PANENKA, Senior – Softball

Ben McCanna / Portland Press Herald

* WMC all-star, first-team
• Senior all-star

Contributed photo

Freeport posted its best season in memory this spring and Panenka’s brilliance was a big reason why.

Panenka emerged from the depths of COVID as a three-sport star, a matchup nightmare in soccer, hockey and softball, and playing in two straight hockey state finals, she led the Falcons to big things on the diamond this spring.

Panenka, a power hitting shortstop, who hit .547 and was a first-team league all-star as a sophomore, then repeated as an all-star as a junior, posted some lofty stats this season, batting .542, slugging .881 with an on-base percentage of .611. Panenka had 32 hits, including four doubles, two triples and four home runs, drove in 27 runs, scored 37 and stole 22 bases.

Highlights were plentiful, including a home run and four runs scored in a season-opening win over Gardiner, two hits in a victory over Gray-New Gloucester, three hits in a win over Morse, three hits, including a triple, three RBI and three runs scored in a victory over Old Orchard Beach, a double and a single in a win over Lincoln Academy, two hits and two RBI in a victory over Wells and three RBI in a win over Fryeburg Academy as Freeport began a season 10-0 for the first time. Panenka also had two hits in a loss to North Yarmouth Academy, three runs scored in a win over Yarmouth, a single, double, home run and four RBI in a second victory over Yarmouth, a single, home run, two RBI and three runs scored in a win over Lake Region and two hits, two runs scored and three RBI in a regular season-ending victory over Cape Elizabeth.

In the playoffs, as the Falcons made their first-ever run to the Class B South Final, Panenka homered and scored three times in a come-from-behind quarterfinal round win over Oak Hill, scored twice and drove in a run in a semifinal round victory over Medomak Valley, then bowed out with two hits, two runs and an RBI in a regional final loss to York.

“We knew our potential coming into this season,” said Panenka. “We knew what other teams thought of us because of our record, We knew we had the potential to turn it around and make this season what we wanted it to be.”

Panenka plans to play softball next year at Bowdoin College and figures to step right in and make an impact, just as she did for the Falcons.

Coach Chris St. Pierre’s comment: “Rosie played a large role in how hard the girls played this season with her approach to every game. She wanted to win and it rubbed off on all the girls. The way she was willing to put herself on the ground every play if needed to try and make a play was amazing. Every plate appearance, she went up thinking she was going to get a hit and be a difference-maker. Rosie was a hard-nosed player who would not accept defeat even if the odds seemed stacked against us. It was a pleasure to coach someone with such grit and talent.”

Previous winners:

• 2023 Kate Tracy (lacrosse)
* 2022 Savannah Tracy (lacrosse)
* 2021 Rianna Tomm (lacrosse)
• 2020 No season
• 2019 Alexa Koenig (softball)
• 2018 Taylor Rinaldi (lacrosse)
• 2017 Alexa Koenig (softball)
• 2016 Courtney Broderick (lacrosse)
• 2015 Emily Johnson (lacrosse)
• 2014 Meredith Broderick (lacrosse)
• 2013 Jocelyn Davee (lacrosse)
• 2012 Alexandra Mitch (lacrosse)
• 2011 Leigh Wyman (softball)
• 2010 Lucy Whitacre (lacrosse)
• 2009 Kristen Poulin (track)
• 2008 Andrea Goodrich (track)
• 2007 Molly Lincoln (lacrosse)
• 2006 Amber Klages (lacrosse)
• 2005 Cassandra Dyer (softball)
• 2004 Logan Crane (track)
• 2003 Molly Charest (lacrosse)
• 2002 Kerry Blenk (softball)