Ed. Note: This story will appear in our April 11 print edition.
Male:
ANDREW WHIPPLE, Junior-Hockey
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Tier 2/3 all-star
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Captain
Whipple was a prolific scorer on a team with low numbers, but that didn’t matter. The Red Riots made a run to the postseason and even won a game and earned the admiration of the local hockey world in the process.
Whipple started playing hockey at the age of three. He plays midfield in soccer in the fall and attack on a talented lacrosse team in the spring, but in his third varsity hockey season this past winter, he really made a name for himself.
Whipple, a forward, wound up with 22 goals and 28 assists. He had a hat trick in a win over Westbrook, scored five goals, including the tying and winning tally in a come-from-behind overtime victory over Bonny Eagle, produced two goals in a win over Lake Region/Fryeburg/Oxford Hills, tickled the twine four times in a shutout win over Massabesic/Old Orchard Beach and had a goal and two assists in a preliminary round playoff win over Lake Region/Fryeburg/Oxford Hills.
By the end of the year, South Portland suited up nine skaters, yet the Red Riots persevered.
“It was very satisfying and very tiring,” Whipple said. “We got along well off the ice and that created success on the ice. We had to be well rested. I’m surprised we got as far as we did. We got a lot of respect and publicity. It got more fun as the season went on.”
Whipple hopes to win a state title in lacrosse this spring. He still has one more season on the ice with the Red Riots (hopefully with a little more help), then hopes to play either soccer or lacrosse in college. He’s interested in pursuing sports management.
He and his teammates managed to overcome a lot this season. Andrew Whipple, South Portland’s Winter Male Athlete of the Year, not only had a penchant for the big goal, but he made sure that the Red Riots succeeded against all odds.
Coach Joe Robinson’s comment: “Andrew is a good, positive leader who understands that being a captain is essentially being an extension of the coaching staff and that isn’t always an easy, popular position to be in. As a player, he’s hard-working and unselfish. Probably the most unselfish player I’ve ever coached. That explains why he led the league in points and the majority of those points were assists.”
Previous winners:
2012-13: Tanner Hyland (Basketball)
2011-12: Chad MacWhinnie (Swimming)
2010-11: Tommy Ellis (Hockey)
2009-10: Zach Horton (Hockey)
2008-09: Keegan Hyland (Basketball)
2007-08: Nick Wright (Basketball)
2006-07: Coleman Findlay (Basketball)
2005-06: Tim Clark (Hockey)
2004-05: Andrew Cousins (Basketball)
2003-04: Max Ludwig (Track)
2002-03: Ethan Gato (Track)
2001-02: Jesse Ludwig (Track)
Female:
BRIANNE MALONEY, Senior-Basketball
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SMAA All-Star, third-team
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SMAA Senior All-Star
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Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star
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Captain
Maloney capped a solid high school career with a strong senior season, helping the Red Riots to a surprisingly good record.
Maloney grew up in South Portland and came naturally to basketball, as her father, John, was a player and coach (Brianne and her siblings were regulars at Yarmouth boys’ games not too many years ago). She’s also played volleyball and lacrosse in high school, but basketball has been her sport and she spent four seasons with the Red Riots varsity.
Maloney made the All-Rookie team as a freshman and was named to the league’s all-star team as a junior.
This winter, under new coach Lynne Hasson, a longtime family friend, South Portland produced an unexpected 15-3 mark and wound up being ranked third in Western A.
Maloney was a big reason why, averaging 11.7 points (good for 13th in the league) and 8.1 rebounds (which tied her for fourth) per contest.
One of her most memorable efforts came in a come-from-behind home win over Cheverus, when she had 20 points and five rebounds. Maloney also had 20 points in a victory over Gorham and 23 in the regular season finale, a victory over Scarborough and former coach, Mike Giordano. Maloney bowed out with a team-high 12 points in a quarterfinal round playoff loss to Cheverus.
She was named to the conference all-star team and was selected as just one of 10 girls to play in the Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star Game, where she had four points in the West’s victory.
“I couldn’t be happier with our season,” Maloney said. “The McAuley game (a narrow 41-36 loss at the four-time champions) was when we realized we would be good.”
Maloney, a forward and post player, also played for a national champion Firecrackers AAU team. She will attend and play at St. Joseph’s College next year, where she plans to study secondary education or criminal justice.
The Red Riots program has produced many great players over the years and Brianne Maloney, South Portland’s Winter Female Athlete of the Year, belongs on that list.
Coach Lynne Hasson’s comment: “Bri’s as tough as they get. She’s a tremendous post player who’s a little undersized. She has great post moves and can get the defense to react. She was a strong defensive player and rebounder all year. I’ve known her since the day she was born. She wanted to be a South Portland Red Riot win or lose.”
Previous winners:
2012-13: Danica Gleason (Basketball)
2011-12: Nyajock Pan (Track)
2010-11: Abby Hasson (Basketball)
2009-10: Danielle DiBiase (Basketball)
2008-09: Brianna Hawkins (Basketball)
2007-08: Curry Girr (Diving)
2006-07: Kelsey Flaherty (Basketball)
2005-06: Christina Aceto (Basketball)
2004-05: Whitney Morrow (Basketball)
2003-04: Courtney Albin (Track)
2002-03: Abby Lesneski (Basketball)
2001-02: Abby Lesneski (Basketball)
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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Andrew Whipple
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