For the 16th year, the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame has selected 10 Finalists for the 2023 Student Athlete of the Year Award. The Finalists are chosen from nominations ( two boys and two girls from each school) requested from from the athletic directors in the following Midcoast schools: Camden Hills, Oceanside, Medomak Valley, Lincoln Academy, Boothbay, Wiscasset, Islesboro, North Haven, and Vinalhaven.
The athletes must have had an outstanding year of accomplishments in their sport(s) and have also shown all of the attributes of a student athlete who is a person of high integrity, who demonstrates leadership, and who is respected by their peers as well as their coaches and fans.
The nominees are requested to send in additional information to the committee about their athletic accomplishments, involvement in their communities, and their reflections on the importance of sports in their lives.
All the finalists are invited to attend the Annual Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame Banquet, October 21, at the Rockland Elks Club, at which time, along with the adult inductees, they will receive their recognitions and the Winners will be announced. Banquet tickets can be purchased through any Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame director or by contacting Dave Ames at
damesref@tidewater.net. Tickets are $30 per person, with children 12 or young $20.
It is important to remember that all these athlete lives were greatly impacted and interrupted by COVID restrictions for more than 3 years of their careers. Yet, they prevailed and participated where they could and continued to be involved in the sports that they loved. Congratulations to them all!
The five female Finalists for 2023 are Emily Gilliam (Wiscasset), Amelia Johnson (Camden Hills), Natalie Kaler (Lincoln Academy), Audrey Mackie (Oceanside), and Maddie Ripley (Oceanside).The five male Finalists for 2023 are Marshall Addy (Medomak Valley), Kayden Ames (Boothbay Region), Julian Henderson (Camden Hills) , Gavin Ripley (Oceanside) and Isaac Simmons (Medomak Valley).
These athletes have all excelled in a variety of sports including basketball, field hockey, sailing, softball, tennis, soccer, wrestling, football, cross country, track & field, and baseball.
Emily Gilliam is a senior at Wiscasset High School and is an accomplished athlete in three sports, cross country running, swimming, and track and field.
In cross country, Emily was part of the Wiscasset team the won the 2022 Mountain Valley Conference Championship, and she went on to qualify to run in the State Meet in 2022.
In swimming, Emily qualified for the state meet the last two years, competing in 200 medley, 100 backstroke, and 50 freestyle.
In track & field, she competed in the Mountain Valley Conference Championships in 300 meter hurdles (6th place), 4 x 800 relay, 4 x4 00 relay, and 4 x 800 relay (first place).
Emily qualified for States in these three relays with the 4 x 800 relay coming in 4th. At Wiscasset High School as a senior, Emily is continuing with her three seasonal sports and is a member of Student Council, is President of the National Honor Society, and represented Wiscasset at Dirigo State.
Amelia Johnson is a senior at Camden Hills Regional High School and is an accomplished athlete in three sports, soccer, basketball and track. In soccer, Amelia was named to the 2022 Class A KVAC All Conference First Team and was a key player in the Windjammer soccer team that was the Class A North 2022 Runners Up.
In basketball, Amelia was named to the 2022-23 Class A KVAC All Conference Team and helped lead the Windjammers to qualify in 2023 for the Class A North Quarter Final game. In Track & Field, Amelia is an outstanding hurdler, competing the past 3 years in the Class A KVAC 100 m hurdles, 300 m hurdles, and the 4 x 100 relay, placing 3rd as a freshman, 1st as a junior, and 2nd as a junior.
In the State Meet in hurdles, she placed 4th as a sophomore and 6th as a junior. Amelia’s activities at Camden Hills include Student Council, National Honor Society, PEERS, and Habitat for Humanity. She also volunteers by coaching younger soccer athletes at the Pitch, also teaching middle school hurdlers, and assisting at summer basketball camps.
Natalie Kaler is a senior at Lincoln Academy and has earned varsity letters as a sophomore and a junior in thee sports: soccer, basketball and softball.
In soccer, Natalie played right defensive back and was named to the Class B KVAC 2nd Team.
In basketball, she was a shooting guard, and was invited to play in the MAC All Star Game.
Natalie devotes much of her time to softball playing for Lincoln Academy in the spring and playing on a travel softball team, Maine Thunder, in the summer, with winter practices, as well. She plays pitcher, shortstop, and right fielder.
Maine Thunder plays in tournaments throughout New England, winning one in Vermont, being runners-up in the Fastpitch Nation Points Championship in Connecticut, and placing in the top 5 in others. Natalie’s activities at Lincoln Academy include National Honor Society, Prom Committee, and Yearbook. She assists in coaching youth athletes in soccer, basketball, and softball camps, including pitching sessions for Little Leaguers, and reffing soccer and basketball. In the summer, Natalie works at Round Top Ice Cream.
Audrey Mackie is a 2023 graduate of Oceanside High School where she was an outstanding athlete in soccer and basketball.
Audrey was a leader in the Oceanside girls basketball team’s drive to win the 2022 Class B Girls Basketball State Championship, and the 2023 Class B Regional Runner Up title. Audrey was named the 2022 Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player and was selected to play on the McDonalds All Star Team in 2023. She became a 1000 point scorer and is the holder of the leading scorer record at Oceanside for the most career points (1271).
During her career, Audrey made the KVAC Class B Basketball First Team for 2020, 2022, and 2023 ( award not given in 2021 due to COVID). She is also credited with scoring the second highest number of 3 pointers in the state of Maine (227). At Oceanside High School, Audrey was a member of National Honor Society, Key Club, and graduated in the top 4% of her class with Summa Cum Laude Honors. Audrey has played AAU basketball every spring and summer with the Maine Firecrackers based in Saco, traveling all throughout New England and the Eastern seaboard to play top competition.
Over her career, Audrey has assisted at the MAC skills camp, the Mini Mariner Oceanside camps, and a skills camp at St Michaels College in Vermont, where she will be attending this fall as a red shirt freshman, continuing her career in basketball and studying Computer Science.
Maddie Ripley is a second time Finalist for this award, and is entering her senior year at Oceanside High School this fall, where she will continue to compete in field hockey, wrestling, and softball.
For her three years in high school wrestling in the boys division, Maddie has wrestled in weight class 106 lb and 113 lb, and became the 2022 Class B KVAC Champion, 2 time Regional Champion, State Runner Up and State Champion ( a first for a girl in the boys division). Maddie won the Girls State Championship in Wrestling in 2022 & 2023, (named Maine State Female Wrestler of the Year and Team MVP 2022 & 2023), and was the Girls New England Champion in 2021 & 2022, placed third in 2023.
In additional 2023 tournaments, she was the Rhode Island Tournament Champion, Maine Women’s Freestyle Champion, Team Husky Classic Champions, Westlake Team Runner Up, Westlake Individual Champion, Husky Individual Runner Up, Chevrus Individual Champion. Maddie earned “All American” status with her performance at 2023 Nationals Northeast Nationals 3rd Place and Runner Up at Virginia Beach Nationals. In softball, Maddie has played varsity all 3 years with batting averages of .630 and .702, and was named team MVP 2021 & 2022, and received the 2023 Coaches Award.
In her school community Maddie is an Honor Roll Student, and an Oceanside Pride Award recipient who has logged 70+ hours volunteering in peewee and middle school wrestling and pee wee football, as well as middle school field hockey. Maddie is a Certified CNA through the MCST program, passed her state exam, and has done clinicals at Windward Gardens and Pen Bay Medical Center, and plans to go to college to become a nurse.
Kayden Ames is a second time Finalist for this Award and is entering his senior year at Boothbay Region High School where he has been an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and track & field. In football, Kayden was Rookie of the Year for the Seahawks his freshman year, Offensive Player of the Year his junior year as well as being named to the Campbell Conference All-Conference Team. During his senior year, he was named MVP and Second Team All Star.
Kayden played quarterback, running back, linebacker, and kicker. In basketball, Kayden was part of the team that won the Mountain Valley Conference Championship, and, in his junior year, he received an All-Conference MVC Honorable Mention and was the Seahawks Co-Captain. As a senior, Kayden was MVC Academic All Star, in the MVC Senior Game, co-MVP of his team, and finished second in the conference in assists per game for the season.
In track and field, Kayden excelled in discus, placing 6th in the Class C State meet as a freshman, and as a junior Kayden was MVC Champion, 1st Team All-Star, and Class C State Champion. In shot put, he placed 3rd in the State as a freshman and was named to the MVC 2nd Team All-Star. As a senior, Kayden was MVC and Class C State Champion in Shot Put and in Discus, in which he broke a 20+ year old school record and recorded the 2nd farthest throw in the State. He is passionate about physical fitness and weight lifting, works at Hogden’s Boatyard, and volunteers at the Midcoast Animal Thrift Shop as well as reffing youth league basketball games, youth basketball camps, youth football games, and middle school track meets.
Marshall Addy is entering his senior year at Medomak Valley where he is an accomplished athlete in football, wrestling, and track & field. In football, Marshall was a big part of MV football success - 2021 Class B North Runners Up, 2022 Class B North Champions, and 2022 State Runners Up.
Marshall was awarded KVAC Class B First Team All Conference Offensive Guard in 2021 & 2022, First Team All Conference Defensive End in 2022, and All Conference Honorable Mention Defensive End 2021. In Wrestling, Marshall was Medomak Valley Most Valuable Wrestler 2021-2022 and 2022 - 2023. As a sophomore , Marshall was the Class B South 220 lb Regional Champion, and as a junior he was the State Class B 220 lb Champion. In Track, Marshall competes in shot put, discus, and javelin and was named to the KVAC Class B All Conference in Shot Put in 2023, and placed 7th in the 2023 State Meet in discus.
In his school community, Marshall is a member of National Honor Society, PAWS, and Sources of Strength. He also assists at youth football camps, middle school track meets, youth wrestling tournaments, and with the Unified basketball team.
Julian Henderson is a 2023 high honor roll graduate of Camden Hills Regional High School who excelled in wrestling and sailing, and is now enrolled at the US Coast Guard Academy and is on their D1 Sailing Team. Julian was Varsity Skipper (2 yers) and Team Captain on the Camden Hills Sailing Team, which competes in five Regatta Races in the fall and in the spring.
Julian was a leader in the CH team winning the Pen Bay League Champions (fall & spring) in 2021 & 2022. As wrestler, Julian complied a record of 167 wins and 15 losses in 3 years ( no wrestling due to COVID during his sophomore year). Julian was an undefeated Class A KVAC and Regional Champion for those 3 years and 2 time Class A State Champion in his weight class.
As a junior, Julian was All State Runner Up and as a senior was All State Champion. As a junior and senior, Julian qualified for the New Englands and represented Team Maine on Maine/Nebraska exchange all 3 years. In addition, Julian was captain on the Camden Hills team that won the 2021 & 2022 Class A KVAC and Regional Championships. In his school and community, Julian was a 3 year member of NHS, class President 2 years, and a member of Student Council. In addition, was was active in Camden for Community Club, PALS, PEERS, Habitat for Humanity Club, AIO Food Pantry, was a Hunting Guide, and assisted with the C-R Middle School wrestling program. Julian was a Camden Area Youth Sailing Instructor for four years, moving from Apprentice, to Junior, to Senior Sailing Instructor.
Gavin Ripley is a second time Finalist for this Award and is entering his senior year at Oceanside High School where he will continue playing football, wrestling, and baseball. In football, Gavin is a versatile player at tailback, cornerback, wide receiver, and line backer.
He was named to the KVAC 2nd team in 2022, 2nd Team Big 11 Football Conference 2022, and was a big part of the Oceanside football team making it to the Semi Finals in the playoffs in 2022. In wrestling, Gavin has competed at the 126 lb and 132 lb weight class and was the 2023 KVAC Champion , 2022 & 2023 Class B South Region Champion, 2022 & 2023 Maine State Class B Champion, and 2022 Maine All Class All State Champion. Gavin has qualified in 2022 & 2023 for the New England Competition and competed at the Virginia Beach Nationals in 2023.
In other 2023 competitions, Gavin has been Westlake Champion, Zeb Leavitt Memorial Invitational Champion, Cheverus Individual Champion, Husky Winter Classic Champion, 2 time MVP Male 132 lb Wrestler of the Year, Westlake Team Champions, and Cheverus Team Champion. In baseball, Gavin played center field & pitcher, and helped the team make it to the Regional Semi-Finals. Gavin also played Babe Ruth baseball and was named to the All-Star Team in 2021. At Oceanside High School, Gavin is an Honor Student and recipient of the Oceanside Pride Award. He has spend 120+ hours volunteering in peewee and middle school wrestling and football, including 3 years of volunteering at Babe Ruth Tournaments.
Isaac Simmons is a 2023 honor graduate of Medomak Valley High School where he was outstanding in football and baseball. In football, Isaac was a leader in the MV team’s success - 2021 & 2022 Big 11 Champions, 2022 Class C Regional Champion and State Class C Runner Up. In 2022, Isaac was varsity football captain, received the Coaches Award for MV Varsity Football, and was named named to the Big 11 First Team Linebacker and First Team Center, and earned KVAC All Academic in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
In baseball, Isaac played first base and pitcher, and was named to 2021 & 2023 KVAC 2nd Team All Conference Baseball, was the Medomak Valley Baseball MVP, and was selected to the 2023 Maine State Senior All Star Baseball Team. In his school community, Isaac volunteers as a little League umpire, youth football camp instructor, and with the Middle School field crew. Isaac future plans include being a full time lobsterman.
