MALE:

JACK DRINAN, Senior—Football

• Campbell Conference Class C All-Star

• Campbell Conference All-Academic team

• Captain

Drinan was a bruising running back and defensive back and was also a leader during a challenging season which ended with the Capers making the playoffs yet again.

Drinan grew up in Cape Elizabeth and started playing football in the fourth grade. After battling injury as a freshman, he made the varsity team as a sophomore and earned the Coaches Award as a junior. Drinan credits older players Donald Clark and Derek Roberts in helping with his development.

As a senior, Drinan ran for 824 yards on 143 carries, a 5.8 yard average. He also scored six touchdowns. Additionally, he caught nine balls for 124 yards and a TD. Defensively, he made 25 tackles and had two interceptions.

Drinan had to take on a bigger role after standout quarterback Noah Wolfinger was lost for the season with a knee injury in the second week and he rose to the occasion, scoring two TDs in a key midseason win at Yarmouth.

The Capers ultimately made the playoffs for the ninth year in a row, but lost at home to Yarmouth in the quarterfinals.

“We had a lot of potential this year,” Drinan said. “We wanted to go farther.”

Drinan is also a center on the hockey team and plays midfield and defense for the two-time defending state champion lacrosse team. He’s a member of Model UN and is looking to attend Boston College or a NESCAC school.

His place in Capers lore is secure. Jack Drinan, Cape Elizabeth’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year, made an impact on offense and defense and was a terrific team leader to boot.

Coach Aaron Filieo’s comment: “Jack is as steady and as well rounded as they come. As a young man, Jack is extremely likable, personable, considerate and hardworking and as a football player, he is intelligent, fast, strong and elusive. Jack has been an outstanding leader for us through his ability to lead by example, as well as communicate effectively with both teammates and coaches.”

Prior winners:

2013: Liam Simpson (Cross country)

2012: Reese McFarlane (Golf)

2011: Tim Lavallee (Soccer)

2010: Jack Queeney (Soccer)

2009; Ezra Wolfinger (Football)

2008: Nate Lavallee (Football)

2007: Jim Bump (Football)

2006: Graham Egan (Cross country)

2005: Mike Kertes (Football)

2004: Ron Kelton (Golf)

2003: Elliot Cohen (Football)

2002: David Croft (Soccer)

2001: Jeff Hodge (Soccer)

FEMALE:

TESS HALLER, Junior-Volleyball

• All-State, second-team

Haller was an unstoppable force for a team that enjoyed a magical ride. Her brilliance at the net, poise and athleticism proved impossible to counter and like her teammates, she got better as matches went on, helping the Capers reach the pinnacle for the first time.

Haller played soccer until the eighth grade when she began playing volleyball and she took to it right way. After the Capers just missed out on a chance to play for a championship her sophomore year, Haller and her teammates went the distance this fall, even though it didn’t come easily.

Haller finished the season with 88 kills, 35 blocks and 32 aces and was at her best against the state’s best teams, producing nine aces and eight kills versus Scarborough, eight blocks and seven kills in the program’s first-ever win over Greely, eight kills against Gorham and 10 in a win over South Portland.

In a come-from-behind quarterfinal round playoff win over Scarborough, Haller had seven kills and eight service points. In an even more dramatic comeback win over Greely in the semis, Haller finished with 12 kills and 10 service points. Cape Elizabeth then rallied one final time to shock defending champion Falmouth in the Class A state final.

“The season was awesome,” Haller said. “We made it dramatic. I really like to play for my team. There’s something about playing for your school and getting that state title.”

Through it all, Haller got it done with her service acumen and her dominance at the net, producing aces and booming kills, while also blocking shots from the opposition.

Haller is also a standout catcher in softball in the spring, hitting an epic walk-off home run to beat Yarmouth in last year’s semifinals. She volunteers and is a member of Cape Elizabeth’s Siddartha and Volleyball clubs.

Haller wants to play sports in college, perhaps both softball and volleyball, and should have many options.

The Capers’ championship run was memorable for many reasons and it was the play of Tess Haller, Cape Elizabeth’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, which led the way.

Coach Sarah Boeckel’s comment: “Tess was a force. I’d put her up against any player in the state. She’s such an athlete. She was such a major part of our success this year.”

Prior winners:

2013: Kate Breed (Soccer)

2012: Kathryn Clark (Soccer)

2011: Melanie Vangel (Soccer)

2010: Karyn Barrett (Soccer)

2009; Karyn Barrett (Soccer)

2008: Emily Attwood (Cross country)

2007: Emily Attwood (Cross country)

2006: Marla Houghton (Soccer)

2005: Dana Riker (Soccer)

2004: Elise Moody-Roberts (Cross country)

2003: Elise Moody-Roberts (Cross country)

2002: Clare Egan (Cross country)

2001: Addie Rintel (Field hockey)

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

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