Edward Little Varsity girls basketball coach Chris Cifelli cheers his team on during the first half of a home game against South Portland in January. Cifelli is a Varsity Maine Award finalist for Coach of the Year, while the Red Eddies are a finalist for Female Team of the year. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal File Photo)
It’s almost showtime.
The Varsity Maine Awards — the high-energy show celebrating the best in high school athletics from across the state — will be held Tuesday, June 26, at Hannaford Hall on the University of Southern Maine’s campus in Portland. Red Carpet arrivals begin at 6 p.m. and the awards show is at 7 p.m.
And we are proud to announce the finalists in the award categories. They represent 33 high schools ranging from Houlton to South Berwick.
“It’s wonderful to see this sort of event to give credit to the athletes in Maine,” said former Gorham High School boys’ soccer standout Jackson Fotter, one of the winners at the 2017 Varsity Maine Awards.
Last year’s show attracted nearly 500 people, bringing together athletes, their families, coaches and school administrators. And this year’s event promises to be just as exciting. Winners will be announced on stage and all finalists will be recognized for their achievements. For tickets and more information, go to varsitymaine.com/vmea.
The Varsity Maine Awards, now in their third year, are hosted by the Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel, Sun Journal and The Forecaster. Finalists were selected by sports editors at these newspapers and the winners selected by a panel of judges featuring esteemed coaches/educators Gary Fifield, Rick Clark and Katie Thompson.
Here are the finalists in 11 of the 12 awards categories. We’ll announce finalists for the final category — Spring Team of the Year — on June 19.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kolleen Bouchard, Houlton; Anna DeWolfe, Greely; Emma Gallant, Cheverus; Juliana Selser, South Portland; Ally Turner, Messalonskee.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jarett Flaker, Scarborough; Ryan Fredette, Winslow; Terion Moss, Portland; Grant Hartley, Edward Little; Cayden Spencer-Thompson, Mattanawcook Academy.
COACH OF THE YEAR (BOYS’ TEAM)
Mike Adams, Edward Little; Jamie Belleau, Lewiston; Garrett Martin, Lincoln Academy; Matt Rix, Marshwood; Mike Rutherford, Portland.
COACH OF THE YEAR (GIRLS’ TEAM)
Annie Barker, Kennebunk; Chris Cifelli, Edward Little; Paula Doughty, Skowhegan; Tom Griffin, Scarborough; Bob Morse, Yarmouth:
THE FAB FRESHMAN
Emily Archibald, Kennebunk; Camille Clement, Greely; Ryan Friend, Maine Central Institute; Sofie Matson, Falmouth; Rylee Sevigny, Mountain Valley.
FEMALE ACADEMIC ACE
Jess Brown, Portland; Morgan Fenderson, Lisbon; Michaela Jordan, Cheverus; Hallie Schwartzman, Kennebunk; Erin Venard, Mt. Ararat.
MALE ACADEMIC ACE
Austin Baron, Ellsworth; Jack Bryant, Falmouth; William Carrolton, Morse; Joshua Roberts, Thornton Academy; Cole Smith, Messalonskee.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Kolton Brochu, Gardiner; Jerome Criado, Biddeford; Cam King, Portland; Mackenzie Johnston, Cheverus; Jake Warn, Winslow.
FALL TEAM OF THE YEAR
Camden Hills girls’ soccer, Cape Elizabeth volleyball, Scarborough football, St. Dominic Academy field hockey, Yarmouth girls’ soccer.
WINTER TEAM OF THE YEAR
Cony girls’ swimming, Edward Little boys’ basketball, Edward Little girls’ basketball, Greely girls’ hockey, Marshwood wrestling.
VIDEO CLIP OF THE YEAR
Biddeford boys’ basketball playoff buzzer-beater; Madison Post’s anchor leg for Gray-New Gloucester at WMC indoor track meet; MCI scores touchdown from wildcat formation at state title game; Westbrook field hockey wins in overtime; Windham’s Mike Gilman hits go-ahead basket in playoff upset of Portland.
Edward Little’s Grant Hartley passes the ball before Lewiston’s Jeremy Madore can tackle him during the Battle of the Bridge football game in October at Garcelon Field at Bates College. Hartley is a Varsity Maine Award finalist for Male Athlete of the Year. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal File Photo)
Mountain Valley’s Rylee Sevigny drives to the basket as Oak Hill’s Abigail Nadeau tries to block her during a game in Rumford in January. Sevigny is a Varsity Maine Award finalist for Fab Freshman. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal File Photo)
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