For the 17th year, the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame has announced the10 finalists for the 2024 Student Athlete of the Year Award. and two Honored teams. The Honored Teams this year are the 1975 & 1976 state championship Girls Ski Teams from Camden-Rockport High School, the first girls team to win a state championship in the midcoast area, and the 1958 state championship football team from Boothbay Region High School.
The Student Athlete 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, Oct. 19 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 [email protected]. Tickets are $35 per person, with children 12 or young $20.
It is important to remember that all these athletes’ lives were greatly impacted and interrupted by COVID restrictions for more than four 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 2024 are Bailey Breen (Oceanside), Amelia Johnson (Camden Hills), Natalie Kaler (Lincoln Academy), Maddie Ripley (Oceanside), and Kytana Williamson (Medomak Valley. The five male finalists for 2024 are Kellen Adickes (Lincoln Academy), Marshall Addy (Medomak Valley), Cohen Galley (Oceanside), Gavin Ripley (Oceanside) and Eric (“Will”) Rush (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.
Bailey Breen has led the Oceanside High School girls basketball team to three KVAC Class B Championships, two Class B regional and state championships in 2022 and 2024, and this fall Bailey is refining her basketball skills as a senior at Montverde Academy in Florida. She has received 22 scholarship offers from colleges and prep schools. As a proud Oceanside Mariner, Bailey was a 3-time KVAC Player of the Year, and KVAC First Team All Conference, two time Class B South All Tourney Team and in 2024 was named Class B South MVP. In 2023 Bailey was named to the Portland Press First Team, and was twice named to the Bangor Daily Second Team All State. At the Great Harbor Shoot Out Tournament, Bailey led her team to the championship in 2022 & 2023. Growing up, Bailey played a variety of sports – soccer, field hockey, cross country, basketball, competitive swimming, softball, and lacrosse, eventually deciding to focus on developing her basketball skills. At Oceanside, Bailey has been involved in the Unified sports program since her freshman year. She works with these students in their gym classes, classrooms, in Special Olympics, and has created a Unified Corn Hole Tournament and a Basketball Tournament for Oceanside’s Unified students. She also has coached her brother and sister’s youth travel teams, offered youth basketball clinics and lessons, and assisted at summer basketball camps, as well as volunteering at the Lobster Festival every summer. Bailey is currently in her senior year at Montverde Academy in Florida.
Amelia Johnson is a 2024 graduate of Camden Hills Regional High School, is a second time Finalist for the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Year, and is an accomplished athlete in four sports – soccer, basketball, track, and indoor track her senior year. She was team captain in soccer, indoor track, and track and field her senior year. In soccer, Amelia was named to the 2022 & 2023 Class A KVAC All Conference First Team and was a key player in the Windjammer soccer team that was the 2022 & 2023 Class A North 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 four years in the Class A KVAC 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, achieving a state championship in 2024 the the Class A 4X100 relay.
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. Amelia will be attending Hamilton College in the fall to run varsity track and try out for the soccer team.
Natalie Kaler is a 2024 graduate of Lincoln Academy, a second time Finalist for the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Year Award, and has earned varsity letters for three years in three sports — soccer, basketball, and softball. In soccer, Natalie played right defensive back. in basketball, she was a shooting guard, and was invited to play in the MAC All Star Game. Natalie was KVAC All-Conference First Team in softball in 2023 & 2024, played in the Softball All-Star Game at St. Joseph’s College her junior and senior years, and led the KVAC for stolen bases in 2023 and has 250 career strikeouts. 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 has played 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 five 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 fall, Natalie will attend Husson University to pursue a degree in Conservation Law and try out for the softball team.
Maddie Ripley is a three time Finalist for this award, and is a 2024 graduate of Oceanside High School, where she was team captain her senior year in field hockey, wrestling, and softball. In Field Hockey, Maddie was four time MVP and led the team in goals & assists her senior year , was second in goals for the state in 2023, as was on the All State Team. In co-ed wrestling, Maddie was the first female wrestler in Maine to be 3-time 113-pound regional champion in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and state champion in 2023 & 2024. In girls wrestling, Maddie was 3-time state champion in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In honor of her achievements, Maddie was named 2024 Varsity Maine Female Wrestler of the Year , 2024 Varsity Maine Athlete of the Year, and 2024 Maine Wrestling Hall of Fame Female Wrestler of the Year. Maddie continued her career by wrestling at the Virginia Beach Nationals in 2023 & 2024, at Iowa Wrestling Nationals in2024, and was the 2024 champion at Northeast Regional Freestyle Wrestling. In softball, Maddie has played varsity all four years with batting averages of .630 and .702, and was named team MVP 2021, 2022, and 2024 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-plus 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. This fall, Maddie will wrestle at Wyoming Seminary, a prep school in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania to prepare for a college career and hopes to one day compete in the Olympics.
Kytana Williamson is entering her senior year at Medomak Valley High School where she has been an outstanding athlete in soccer, basketball, and softball. In soccer Kytana was named to the KVAC South All-Conference Class B Girls Soccer First Team in 2022 and 2023, and was MV team captain in 2023. In basketball, Kytana has received many awards in KVAC Class B Girls Basketball including All Rookie Team her freshman year, First Team her sophomore and junior years, First Team as well as All-Defensive Basketball team her junior year. For her sophomore and junior years she was named Medomak Valley girls basketball MVP. In addition to playing softball for Medomak, Kytana played on an AAU softball team and travel team. Kytana was inducted into the National Honor Society as a junior and has earned high academic awards all three years at Medomak Valley. She was chosen to be a member of the Olympia Snow Leaders Women’s Institute, a 3-year program that focuses on Value, Voice and Vision for women. In her school community, Kytana has assisted with the school’s art show, the empty bowl supper, an indoor track meet, along with tutoring some middle school students.
Kellen Adickes is entering his senior year at Lincoln Academy where he has earned a varsity letter in golf all three years with an outstanding record of achievement in golf. For three years in a row, Kellen has been named to the Portland Press Herald All State Golf Team. During his freshman and sophomore years, Kellen led the Lincoln Academy golf team to a 5th place and a 9th place respectively in the Class B golf team state championship. As a junior, he placed 3rd in the Individual Class B Golf State Championship, after which he went on to win the New England High School Golf Championship , which made him the first ever New England Golf Champion from Lincoln Academy. Last December Kellen placed in the top 25 finishers at the Tournament of Champions Golf at Walt Disney Resort in Florida, and followed that in May this year with a first place finish at the Carolinas Junior Open Golf Tournament as part of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour. In June, Kellen tied for 3rd in the Amateur Division of the Charlie’s Maine Open. For 3 years in a row, Kellen received the following three recognitions – the Lincoln Academy Golf MVP, The Lincoln Academy “L” Club Award, The KVAC All Conference Academic Award and the KVAC All Athletic Award. In his school and community, Kellen has been class president for his first 3 years, has been peer tutor, and has assisted with the 7 th and 8th grade basketball teams. He also serves on the Maine Junior Golf Committee., comprised of the 10 best young golfers in Maine. Kellen will continue his pursuit of excellence in golf during his senior year.
Marshall Addy , a second time Finalist for this Award and a 2024 graduate of Medomak Valley, was an outstanding athlete in football, wrestling, and track & field (shot put, discus, javelin). He recently received the Maine Sports Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. In his senior year in football, as team captain Marshall led the Panthers to the Class B North runners-up and was himself awarded Big 11 North Lineman of the Year, First Team middle linebacker, and First Team offensive guard. He was runner-up for the Gaziano Offensive Lineman Award and participated in the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl. In his junior and sophomore years, 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 team captain all four years and was the Martin Ryan 215-pound champion, the Westlake Tournament 215 champion , and the KVAC 215 champion. Marshall was Medomak Valley Most Valuable Wrestler 2021-22 and 2022- 23. As a sophomore , Marshall was the Class B South 220-pound regional champion, and as a junior he was the Class B 220 champion. In track, team Captain Marshall was named to the KVAC Class B All Conference in shot put in 2023, and placed 7th in the 2023 state meet in discus and placed 4th in the 2024 discus. In his school community, Marshall has volunteered on the Unified Basketball team for three years, is a member of National Honor Society, PAWS, and Sources of Strength. He also assists at youth football camps, middle school track meets, and youth wrestling tournaments. Marshall is attending the University of Maine in the fall to study electrical engineering.
Cohen Galley is a 2024 graduate of Oceanside High School where he was an outstanding athlete in football and basketball, as well as salutatorian of the senior class. Cohen was team captain of football and basketball his junior and senior years. In football, Cohen was All Conference his junior and senior years as quarterback and outside linebacker. As a senior he was Conference Player of the Year, 1st Team All State, was a finalist for the Fitzpatrick Award, was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl, and received the National Football Association Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award. Cohen helped lead the Mariners to a semifinal playoff appearance as a junior and, as a senior, to the 2023 Class C North championship and to Class C state runners-up. In basketball, Cohen was 1st Team All Conference his junior and senior years and 1st Team All Tournament, and Class B South Regional MVP his senior year. In both 2023 and 2024, Cohen helped lead the Mariners to a Class B South championship and to state Class B runners-up. Cohen finished his high school basketball career having scored 1,000 points, and being chosen for the Maine McDonald’s All Star Team and being a semifinalist for Mr. Basketball. In his school and community, Cohen has volunteered at the school’s football camp and youth football games, as well as raising money for the Oceanside Boosters and coaching 1st and 2nd grade coed basketball. Cohen is attending Kents Hills School this fall for a post graduate year to play basketball and to further his education.
Gavin Ripley, a 2024 graduate of Oceanside High School is a 3-time Finalist for this Award. At Oceanside, he excelled in football, wrestling, and baseball. As a senior and team captain in football, Gavin was a wide receiver and inside linebacker. He was named to the Big 11 First Team inside linebacker, Big 11 Second Team wide receiver, and Oceanside Defensive Player of the Year. He was named to the KVAC 2nd team wide receiver in 2022, 2nd Team Big 11 wide receiver 2022, and was a big part of the Oceanside football team making it to the semifinals in the playoffs in 2022. In wrestling, Gavin was team captain and MVP for three years, becoming the KVAC Champion in 2023 and 2024 (and Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2024), South B regional champion for three years, Class B state champion for three years, and All-State Champion in 2022 and 2024, and runner-up in 2023. As a senior, he remained undefeated in Maine competition. Gavin has qualified in 2022, 2023, and 2024 for the New England competition placing 3rd in 2024 — the highest that a Maine wrestler has placed. He was named the 2024 Varsity Maine Boys Wrestler of the Year.
This past summer, Gavin has been busy wrestling in the Maine-Nebraska Wrestling Exchange, a Greco-Roman wrestling session in Colorado Springs, and the Fargo Nationals in North Dakota. In baseball, Gavin played center field and pitcher, and helped the team make it to the 2023 semifinals. 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 spent 120-plus hours volunteering in peewee and middle school wrestling and football, including three years of volunteering at Babe Ruth tournaments. Gavin will be attending Maine Maritime Academy to wrestle and study maritime engineering systems.
Eric (“Will”) Rush is a 2024 graduate of Medomak Valley High School where he participated all four years in cross country, soccer, and excelled especially in both indoor and outdoor track & field. Will’s specialty is the triple jump, but he also participates in long jump, relays, and hurdles. As a sophomore & junior, Will was named to KVAC Class B All Conference 2nd Team in triple jump, as a junior he was also named to the 2nd Team long jump. As a senior, Will set the Medomak Valley triple jump record, was the Class B indoor triple jump champion, the KVAC triple and long jump champion, and was the Class B state indoor triple jump champion and the Class B outdoor triple jump champion. In July, Will was invited to join the Coast 2 Coast International Track and Field Team to represent the USA in the Triple Jump in a competition held in Brisbane, Australia, where he won the Coast 2Coast International Track & Field Triple Jump Championship.
In his school and community, Will has assisted at middle school track & field meets and helped to train athletes in physicality and jumps. He also works at Wallace’s Market in Friendship, where he makes the best pizza in town. Will is attending the University of Maine this fall preparing for a career in kinesiology , physical education, and coaching.
