For the 15th year, the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame has selected 10 finalists for the 2022 Student Athlete of the Year Award. Two of the nominees, Jaelyn Crocker and Kayden Ames, are representatives from Boothbay Region High School.

The finalists are chosen from nominations (two boys and two girls from each school) from the athletic directors in the following Midcoast schools: Camden Hills, Oceanside, Medomak Valley, Islesboro, North Haven, Vinalhaven, Lincoln Academy, Boothbay, and Wiscasset.

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.

The finalists are invited to attend the annual Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame banquet October 8 at the Rockland Elks Club, at which time, along with the adult inductees, they will receive their recognitions and the winners will be announced.

“ It is important to remember that all these athlete lives were greatly impacted and interrupted by COVID restrictions for more than 2 years of their careers,” a news release stated. “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 2022 are Oceanside’s Bailey Breen, Medomak Valley’s Alyssa Creamer, Boothbay Region’s Jaelyn Crocker, Lincoln Academy’s Payson Kaler and Oceanside’s Maddie Ripley.

The five male finalists for 2022 are Kayden Ames of Boothbay Region, Austin Chilles of Oceanside, Connor Daigle of Medomak Valley, Hunter Norton of Camden Hills and Gavin Ripley of Oceanside.

These athletes have all excelled in a variety of sports including basketball, field hockey, softball, tennis, soccer, wrestling, football, cross country, track & field, and baseball.

Bailey Breen this fall is entering her sophomore year at Oceanside High School after an outstanding freshman year in which she helped lead the Mariners to their Class B KVAC Championship, Southern Maine Class B Regional Championship and their first Class B State Championship in Girls Basketball. Bailey was named the KVAC Player of the Year. Bailey enjoys weight training, lobstering, and assisting with the younger athletes.

Alyssa Creamer is a 2022 graduate of Medomak Valley High School where she was an outstanding athlete in soccer, basketball, and softball. Alyssa received the KVAC All Academic designation in all three sports as well as being chosen KVAC All Conference First Team in basketball and softball. In her school and community, Alyssa is a member of NHS, student government and has been involved in recycling, food pantry, as a camp counselor, and enjoys volunteering with youth basketball and soccer.

Jaelyn Crocker is a 2022 graduate of Boothbay Region High School where she was an outstanding athlete in field hockey, basketball, tennis, and track and field. As a field hockey goalie, Jaelyn made 534 saves and 7 shutouts over her 4 year career. Jaelyn was named to the Mountain Valley Conference First Team All-Stars her junior and senior years, to the McDonald’s Senior C/D South All Stars, Team MVP and Team Captain.

In basketball, Jaelyn was a team member of the 2018 / 2019 team that was the Mountain Valley Class C Conference Champions, Southern Maine Class C Regional Champions and the Class C State Champions and the 2019 / 2020 team that was MVC Runner-Up and Southern Maine Class C Runner-Up. In tennis 2022, Jaelyn was team captain, and the team was MVC Class C Runner-Up. In 2022 in track, Jaelyn also qualified for the Class C State Meet in shot put and in discus. In her school and community, Jaelyn has been active in NHS, as class Vice President and Student Body President. Jaelyn has enjoyed volunteering in her community by running the scoreboard or keeping the scorebook at YMCA youth games, videotaping for the football team and assisting at practices for youth field hockey and basketball. Jaelyn will be attending the University of New England in the fall to study applied exercise science.

Payson Kaler is a 2022 graduate of Lincoln Academy where she was an outstanding athlete on the soccer, basketball and softball teams. As a senior, Payson was named KVAC First Team for soccer and softball, KVAC All Academic in all three sports, and Lincoln Academy Player of the Year both years. At graduation, Payson received the Lowell Simmons Award for excellence in athletics and citizenship.

Payson has dedicated much of her time to developing her softball skills, playing for 3 years as pitcher and shortstop for the Capital Mainiacs , which won the ASA/USA Maine Softball State Championship 3 years in a row. In addition, Payson volunteers for Unified Sports, is a member of the community service sorority Sigma Sigma Chi, NHS, and Varsity L Club. Payson will be attending Husson University in the fall to major in nursing and to play softball.

Maddie Ripley is entering her junior year at Oceanside High School this fall, where she will continue to compete in field hockey, wrestling, and softball. As a sophomore in wrestling weight class 113 lb, Maddie became the Class B KVAC Champion, Class B South Regional Champion, was second in Class B States, 4th in Maine All Class All State Champion. She was named to the KVAC first team in her wrestling weight class and was named Outstanding Wrestler.

In addition, she was Girls Maine State Wrestling Champion and Girls New England Champion. In softball, Maddie has played varsity both freshman and sophomore years with batting averages of .630 and .702, and was named team MVP and received the Coaches Award. Maddie has been involved in wrestling, softball, football, and field hockey from a very early age, and enjoys volunteering with the middle school wresting team and PeeWee football team.

Kayden Ames 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. 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.

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. Kayden is passionate about physical fitness and weight lifting. He works at Hodgdon’s Boatyard and volunteers at the Midcoast Animal Thrift Shop as well as officiating youth league basketball games, youth basketball camps, youth football games, and middle school track meets.

Austin Chilles is a 2022 graduate of Oceanside High School where he has been an outstanding athlete in golf, basketball, and baseball, and was named KVAC All-Academic in all three sports seasons. Austin was Oceanside Golf Team MVP for his last 3 years , KVAC Class B All-Conference in his junior & senior years. Austin 4th place finisher at the 2020 Maine Boys High School Class B States, and he qualified to the New England Golf Competition to be held in 2021 ( which was cancelled due to COVID). In basketball, Austin was Most Improved Player his senior year.

In baseball, Austin was on the 2019 Babe Ruth Team, Rock Coast Rip Tide, that won the MidCoast Babe Ruth Championship and who won the Junior American Legion State Championship in 2021. In his community, Austin was part of Trekkers, NHS, and Interactive Theatre as a peer mentor. Austin has volunteered by assisting PeeWee basketball games and Little League clinics as well as helping friends and family members with their golf skills. Austin’s work experience at Goose River Golf Course and Boothbay Harbor Country will serve him is good stead as he attends Drew University in New Jersey this fall to study business and play golf.

Connor Daigle, a 2022 graduate of at Medomak Valley High School, is a runner with outstanding performances in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, including 2 individual State Championship titles. In 2020 Connor was KVAC Class B 2 mile Champion in Indoor Track, and in 2021 he was the 3200m Outdoor Track State B Champion. In 2021 in Class B Cross Country, Connor was KVAC Champion, KVAC Class B Runner of the Year, Northern Maine Regional Champion, and State B Champion. Connor holds Medomak Valley school records in X-C, indoor track, and outdoor track for the following events - 5 K, 2 mile ( X-C and indoor track), 1600 m and 3200 m.

Over his career, Connor was KVAC Class B first team in X-C for 2019 - 2021, for indoor track 2020 & 2022, and outdoor track 2021 & 2022, and was KVAC All-Academic. Connor has been very involved in his school and community in NHS, PAWS, Interact Club, Yearbook, Student Council, and volunteering at youth running events. Connor will be attending the University of Maine Orono in the fall to study physical therapy and to run x-c and track & field.

Hunter Norton is a 2022 graduate of Camden Hills Regional High School where he was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, Hunter played running back / linebacker and was recognized as a 5 Stars of Maine in 2019 and twice as a 6 Stars of Maine in 2021, a Fitzpatrick Award Semi-Finalist in 2021, Lobster Bowl Player Selection 2021, All-Campbell Conference 1st Team 2021 and the Howard Vandersea Scholar-Athlete Award from the Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation. In basketball as a forward, Hunter was a Mid-Coast High School All Star and was an important part of the Windjammers winning the 2021 “COVID Cup”.

In baseball as a catcher & right fielder, Hunter was named to the KVAC Class A Senior All Star Selection and the KVAC Class A 2nd Team selection. Hunter also was on the Junior American Legion State Champion Team in 2021 and was also an All Star Selection for the League. In his school and community, Hunter was a member of NHS and received the KVAC All Academic Award for 2021 & 2022 in all 3 sports. He has volunteered with Peewee football, baseball, basketball, and at the Food Pantry, and has helped with fundraising for the football team. In the fall, Hunter will be attending Bates College and playing football.

Gavin Ripley will be a junior at Oceanside High School this fall where he will continue playing football, wrestling, and baseball. In football as a sophomore, Gavin was a versatile player at tailback, cornerback, wide receiver, and line backer. The Oceanside football 2021 season was cut short by COVID. In wrestling at the 126 weight class as a sophomore, Gavin was the Class B South Region Champion, Maine State Class B Champion, and Maine All Class All State Champion, and was 3rd at the KVAC’s. In baseball, Gavin played varsity center fielder and pitcher. and the team made it to the Regional Semi-Finals. Gavin also played Babe Ruth baseball and was named to the All-Star Team in 2021.