They made the oldest athlete in the house wait until the end to receive his applause.

Ninety-year-old John Druce didn’t mind, as he reminisced about his playing days in high school and at Springfield College. Druce, who played football, lacrosse and was a gymnast, was the guest speaker at Boothbay Region High School’s spring sports awards night on June 5.

Druce, a war veteran, told the young athletes that sports teach you a lot about life.

“Especially the track and tennis players. It’s just you. You’re out there doing your own thing, and whether you’re successful or not depends on how much you put into it. That’s a lot like life,” Druce said. “Team sports are important, too. You learn to get along with your coaches and teammates and you work together to accomplish something.”

Prior to Druce’s talk, the spring sports coaches talked briefly about their seasons and handed out individual plaques.

Athletic Director Allan Crocker gave a brief review of the spring sports – baseball, softball, boys’ and girls’ track, and boys’ and girls’ tennis – and said that nearly half of the school’s population of 217 students participated.

Crocker also announced the names of athletes honored by the Mountain Valley Conference (the MVC certificates were still in transit). Baseball, softball and tennis honorees were voted on by the league coaches, while track athletes were honored for finishing in the top seven places in the various events they participated in at the league meet.

Academic All-Stars: track – Chase Brown and Alexandra Andrews; girls’ tennis – Rosaline Campbell,.

All-Stars: softball – Meghan Smith, second-team; Tori Schmid and Allison Carbone-Crocker, honorable mention; baseball – Nate Colcord and Stephen Barter, honorable mention; boys’ tennis – Sam Schwehm, second-team; Brady Duncan, honorable mention; girls’ tennis – Monique Bertin and Rosaline Campbell, honorable mention; track – Morgan Crocker, first place, third place and seventh place; Chase Brown, second place (2); Sophia Thayer, second place (2); Linc Simmons, third place and seventh place; Kade Smith, fourth place; Tom Brown and Sarah Caron, fifth place; Hannah Brewer and Allison Carbone-Crocker, sixth place; Alexandra Andrews and the 4 x 100-meter relay team of Jude Alamo, Chase Brown, Tom Brown and Benn Scully, seventh place.

Track coach Ed Tostevin was a bit teary-eyed before he presented his final individual awards. Tostevin will be retiring as head coach and teacher after this year. He thanked his assistants – long-time friend and assistant Dick Morrison (who was head coach for many years before Tostevin) and running coach Nick Scott – before honoring his athletes and receiving a standing ovation.

Members of the Athletic Boosters Club provided homemade desserts and beverages for the event.