By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

AUBURN – They didn’t have leadership thrust upon them, but they got a helpful nudge in that direction.

The emphasis was on taking charge and the hope was to groom a new generation on Tuesday at the Leadership Academy, sponsored by the Lewiston/Auburn Sports Done Right Pilot Site Leadership Team.

“Basically, everybody can be a leader,” said EL senior Chris Ash. “It’s just being confident in yourself, and knowing what you’re doing and listening to others and trying to avoid conflict and working things out.”

Students from Edward Little and Lewiston gathered at the Central Maine Community College. The intent was to present core principles of Sports Done Right and inspire participants to promote the reform initiative.

“We want to have them get the message out and bring it back to the different teams and start incorporating it in the different schools,” said Paul Amnott, Lewiston’s assistant principal.

Students were chosen for their leadership skills and their potential to be leaders in their respective programs. There were 30 from each high school, with 10 athletes representing the middle schools.

“This is so grassroots,” said Karen Brown, director of the Maine Center for Sport and Coaching, which is guiding the implementation of Sports Done Right. “I think this is a great example of giving even more power to the student athletes, the people we’re trying to save these programs for. We’re not only giving them a voice in the report, but we’re also giving them a voice outside in the community and giving them some power back.”

Students were separated into five groups and rotated at various stations. Two activities tested teamwork and communication. Teams had to navigate through a Spider Web, while on the soccer field there was jump roping and timed events to promote competitiveness, fun and working together.

“I thought today went real well,” said Amnott. “Everything I heard was real positive. They had fun. They were engaged, even with the group discussions, which I thought could be a little tough. I thought they had a great time.”

There was a role playing session that addressed poor teammates and parental problems. There were also discussions about leadership and the out-of-bounds segments in the Sports Done Right report. Former Major League pitcher Bob Tewksbury was the guest speaker, telling athletes they had to have a dream, have a plan and do the work to make it happen. All the athletes received T-shirts and Sports Done Right bracelets.

“The discussion and talking about expectations and role models and leadership was my favorite,” said Lewiston cheerleader Chantel McLellan. “Not everybody was talking, but you could see how different people see things. It’s kind of nice. We’ll be able to bring it back to the kids in our schools and let them know what we learned.”

Brown commended Lewiston and Auburn for working together to produce such an event and serve as a model not only for Maine but also the nation. The Academy was the first of its kind from any of the Sports Done Right pilot sites.

“We’re basically the pioneers,” said Ash, a football player and track athlete. “We’re the first step. People will do this, and we’ll be able to say that we’re the first ones to take charge of it.”

Lewiston and Auburn was already featured in a Parade Magazine article last month. Now the respective schools have an army of athletes with new visions and empowered voices.

“It definitely opened my eyes up,” said Ash. “I feel like I can get my opinion across more in a better way. I understand the problems that kids go through and what I have to do to come off positive.”

“It showed that you can take charge and help in all different types of situations that we’re put in,” said McLellan.