Boothbay Region High School celebrated its fall athletes with dessert and an awards ceremony in the school gymnasium on Monday, Nov. 9. There was a lot to celebrate. This fall, every BRHS sports team qualified for the the post-season playoffs, an occurrence that may be a school first, Athletic Director Allan Crocker said.

Crocker opened the evening by thanking the many community members whose time and dedication are a mainstay of the BRHS athletics program.

“I probably say it every year, but our athletes are very lucky to live in a community that provides so much support to all of our programs,” Crocker said.

Crocker listed the fall sports season’s many accomplishments. Football cheerleading was resurrected this fall, with six enthusiastic girls cheering from the sidelines, under the direction of Coach Lisa Tilton.

The girls soccer team qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2002, upsetting some tough teams along the way. Soccer players Regan Cola and Ella Spear achieved honorable mention Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) all-star status and Lisa Pawlowski was named to the MVC Academic All-Star team.

The girls field hockey team finished the season 7-7, qualifying for the playoffs as #7 seed; they were defeated by Maine Central Institute, the ultimate Class C champion. Sydney Meader tied for the conference lead in scoring, earned second team MVC All-Star status, and was one of only 14 Class C girls named to the All-State team. Meghan Oakes made the MVC All-Star second team; Page Brown earned honorable mention MVC all-star status and Samantha Carter was named to the MVC Academic All-Star team.

The boys football team made it into the playoffs at #6 seed. Crocker called their win over Winthrop/Monmouth “probably the biggest football win in the last five years.” Xavier Downing and Gabe Purin were named to the Campbell Conference All-Star first team and Cole Barter and Doug Steinmetz earned honorable mention conference all-star status.

“We are the smallest school in the entire state of Maine with a football team and for us to continue to find ways to win against much bigger schools is truly a credit to our players and coaches,” Crocker said.

Finally, Crocker detailed the many accomplishments of the cross country program: the girls team was undefeated in conference competition, both girls and boys won conference team titles, the boys team won the Southern Maine regional team title and Faith Blethen, in a record-breaking season, won the conference title, southern Maine individual title, qualified for the New England championship race and was named the MVC female runner of the year.

Kyle Ames, Faith Blethen and Hannah Morley qualified for the MVC All-Star first team. Matt Burnham, Liam Conlin, Blake Erhard, Loren Gengrich and Lincoln Hamblett qualified for the MVC All-Star second team; Kate Friant, Bayly Gaughan-Carrasco and Shane Johnson achieved honorable mention MVC all-star status. Morley was MVC title runner-up and was also named to the MVC Academic All-Star team.

“Our cross country teams demonstrated again why they have been one of the premier programs in the state,” Crocker said.

Each coach then recognized the team’s most valuable player (MVP), most improved player and coach’s award winner.

Cross country: Boys: Kyle Ames, MVP; Matt Burnham, Coach’s Award; and Liam Conlin, Most Improved. Girls: Faith Blethen, MVP; Loren Gengrich, Most Improved; and Hannah Morley, Coach’s Award.

Field hockey: Lexi Lane, Most Improved; Sydney Meader, MVP; and Jo Shaw, Coach’s Award.

Football: Xavier Downing, Most Improved; Doug Steinmetz, MVP; and Gabe Purin, Coach’s Award.

Soccer: Evy Case, Most improved; Regan Cola, Coach’s Award; and Jackie McLoon, MVP.