AUBURN — The Auburn-Lewiston YMCA recently held its Biddy Basketball Award Ceremonies for the over 200 participants in the 2023-2024 co-ed Biddy Basketball Program (Grades 1-6). The YMCA gives two youngsters from each team an award: One for being the “Most Improved” player on the team, and the second is the “Team Award” given to a player demonstrating characteristics that include having a positive attitude, giving good effort, is coachable, a good teammate, respectful of others, and has fun playing the game of basketball.

Rookie Division (Grades 1-2)

Team Awards

Aime’s Place: Madeline D’Auteuil; Austin Associates: Corbin Coburn; Auburn Family Dental: Nolan Thibodeau; Berube’s Complete Auto Care: Logan Berube; Elscott Manufacturing: Leni Belanger; The Dance Center: Bradley Tifft; Mobil on the Way: Lincoln Wallingford.

Most Improved Player Awards

Aime’s Place: Weston Bryant; Austin Associates: Isaac Sullivan; Auburn Family Dental: Landen Jensen; Berube’s Complete Auto Care: Sophia Trafford; Elscott Manufacturing: Lincoln Poirier; The Dance Center: Kingston Gaines; Mobil on the Way: Levi DiMatteo.

Boys Divisional Sportsmanship Award

Nominees: Cannon Roy, Rhett Chase, Milo Hinkley, Weston Bryant, Kameron Turner, Darius Faloon, Pearson Hird, Logan Berube, Elliott Higgins, Nolan Thibodeau, Ashton Lajoie, Kingston Gaines, Lincoln Wallingford, Wallace Richardson.

Winner: Wallace Richardson

Girls Divisional Sportsmanship Award

Nominees: Sierra Henderson, Chelsea Higgins, Amaiylah Adams, Madeleine D’Auteuil, Maisey Coleman, Jaela Whirley, Alice Lamp, Adamay Morissette, Guelphi Mpoyi, Sophia Trafford, Grace Cusson, Leni Belanger

Winner: Leni Belanger

Pee Wee Division [Grades 3-4]

Team Awards

Androscoggin Bank: Mark Rausch; Auburn Fire: Anthony Rizzolo; Bangor Savings: Daxton Ladd; BGA Financial: Patrick Sullivan; Gee & Bee Sporting Goods: Silas Stout; Hahne Brothers Co.: Weston Moreau; Leary & DeTroy: Cameron White; Roopers: Scarlett Gerry.

Most Improved Player Awards

Androscoggin Bank: Cyrus Faloon; Auburn Fire: Isabella Somers; Bangor Savings: Celena Burgess; BGA Financial: Lincoln Mulliner; Gee & Bee Sporting Goods: Simon Castonguay; Hahnel Brothers Co.: Thomas Bunyea; Leary & DeTroy: Ossian Fletcher- Larose; Roopers: Reagan Ross.

Boys Divisional Sportsmanship Award

Nominees: Silas Stout, Given Mpoyi, Patrick Sullivan, Elias Jones, Caleb Sardella, Blake Murphy, Cameron White, Luke Farrell, Aidan Carver, Lincoln Mulliner, Jakobi Smith, Ethan Gagnon, Chase Collins, Mark Rausch

Winner: Mark Rausch

Girls Division Sportsmanship Award

Nominees: Serenity Henderson, Scarlett Gerry, Celena Burgess, Ethel Rukundo, Isabella Somers, Sophia Tahlil, Annabelle Daigle, Elsie Lamp, Leighton Blackman, Addison Levesque

Winner: Addison Levesque

Junior Division [Grades 5-6]

Team Awards

DuBois Realty: Addison Collins; Emerson Chevrolet: Julia Swett; Emerson Toyota: Ian Rausch; F6 Detailing & Auto Service: Peyton Fournier; Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli: Damian Barajas; Pine State Pest Solutions: Ben Berry; Team Northstar: Bryan Levesque.

Junior Division Most Improved Awards

DuBois Realty: Jacoby Golden; Emerson Chevrolet: Cameron Goldrup; Emerson Toyota: Ian Rausch; F6 Detailing & Auto Service: Colton Doucette; Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli: Richard Pomerleau; Pine State Pest Solutions: Brayden Gaudette; Team Northstar: Cole Fofie.

Boys Divisional Sportsmanship Award

Nominees: Maximus Fontaine, Elijah Cyr, Cooper Lajoie, Jack Porter, Joey Cowan, Jamison Adams, Chase Putney, Ethan Bolduc, Ian Rausch, Carter Gagnon, Michael Ouellette, Ryder Danforth, Carter Belanger, Adam Landry, Ethan Small, Damian Barajas

Winner: Damian Barajas

Girls Divisional Sportsmanship Award

Nominees: Julia Swett, Kaida Gatcomb, Sydney Mooney, Ava Belknap, Peyton Fournier, Peyton Belknap, Addison Collins

Winner: Addison Collins

William J. Hood Outstanding Volunteer Award Winner

The YMCA’s Outstanding Volunteer Award is named after William J. Hood who was an exemplary youth leader in the Auburn-Lewiston community. Mr. Hood played at the YMCA as a youngster in the church league through the 1940’s. He continued to be committed to the YMCA’s basketball program as a coach, sponsor, donor, and mentor until he passed away in 1985. This award is given in honor of Mr. Hood for the positive impact he made and his commitment to the program and area youth. This year we had the honor to present this award to four deserving individuals. This year’s award winners are Joe Seger, Jason Fournier, Brendan Fontaine, and David Ouellette.

These individuals, as all past recipients, understand the Y’s mission, embrace the philosophy of the Biddy Basketball program, have good attitudes, and are positive teachers and role models for the kids in the program. Most importantly, they understand the responsibility of what it means to be a coach at the Y, and as it should be, that winning is secondary. What is most important is helping kids improve their skills, build self-confidence, achieve success, and helping them build positive relationships that lead to good sportsmanship and teamwork.

First-Year Player Basketballs

In conjunction with honoring William Hood, by presenting the Outstanding Volunteer Award in his name, his wife Jeanne Hood, established a tradition that began in 1996 where she has provided basketballs to every first-year player in the YMCA’s Biddy Basketball Program (encompassing all three divisions). Annually, that donation has equated to an average of over 60 basketballs given to first-year players in the program. Sadly, Mrs. Hood passed a few years ago but Wanda Brown, her daughter, and family continue to support the Biddy Basketball program through their overwhelming generosity.