Male:

GRIFFIN THORECK, Senior-Lacrosse

  • All-American

  • Maine Lacrosse Coaches’ Association Player of the Year

  • MLCA All-State

  • WMC all-star, first-team, attack

  • Senior all-star

  • Captain

Thoreck, despite being hindered by a balky knee, lived up to reputation as the state’s premier player and led his powerhouse team back to the pinnacle in a senior season to remember.

Thoreck grew up immersed in the legend of the Cape Elizabeth lacrosse program. His father, Jeff, was a one-time Capers star who went on to coach North Yarmouth Academy’s boys team to the 2007 Class B title before returning to his alma mater as athletic director. Griffin Thoreck grew up playing lacrosse, but for awhile it took a backseat to soccer. In high school, Thoreck played soccer in the fall and swam in the winter, but from freshman year on, it clear that lacrosse was going to take him places.

After showing great promise as a freshman, Thoreck played a bigger role as a sophomore, helping Cape Elizabeth win a championship, then, as a junior, he earned All-American recognition after scoring 30 goals and adding 25 assists, helping the Capers repeat with a perfect record. Thoreck hurt his knee in the fall and missed all of swimming this past winter, but he was ready to go this spring and while he and his teammates were burdened by enormous expectations, they were fulfilled by season’s end.

Thoreck, despite being the focal point of every opponent, scored 47 goals and added 27 assists. Highlights included six goals and four assists in a season-opening win over Waynflete, three goals and an assist in a victory over Yarmouth, two goals and three assists in a win against Wells, six goals in a win at Falmouth, which extended Cape Elizabeth’s win streak to 25 games, four goals in an overtime loss to eventual Class A champion Brunswick, three goals against Greely and four in a shocking home loss to Falmouth on Senior Night.

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To say that loss didn’t sit well with the Capers would be an understatement. The echo of coach Ben Raymond yelling, “Griffin!” to inform his captain to tell his teammates that Falmouth had just done the Capers’ cheer on Cape Elizabeth’s turf was a turning point. The Capers came out determined for the playoffs and wouldn’t be denied. Thoreck scored the first goal of the game when the teams met again and added two assists as Cape Elizabeth advanced to the state final, where it beat Yarmouth for the third year in a row, with Thoreck scoring one goal and assisting on three others.

“We had so much potential, but it took all year,” Thoreck said. “We struggled to find a balance of leadership. We needed that (Falmouth loss). I pushed it with my knee this spring, but I got a lot more confident as the season went on.”

From running around the field at Cape Elizabeth games as a young boy, to graduating as a champion and having his name mentioned along with the program’s finest, Thoreck lived the Capers lacrosse experience.

“I’ve watched Cape play forever,” Thoreck said. “Playing as a freshman was really cool. Playing for (coach) Ben (Raymond) helped so much. The example he set. He and my Dad. Playing with my brothers (Connor and Owen). Living up to my family name and not disappointing was motivating.”

Thoreck’s lacrosse career is just taking off. He’ll attend and play at Lynchburg College in Virginia next year. Lynchburg reached the Division III championship game this spring, so Thoreck will find himself in a familiar spot, playing for a tradition-rich program with high expectations.

And he’ll make the most of the opportunity. Griffin Thoreck, Cape Elizabeth’s Spring Male Athlete of the Year, is better at 80 percent than most players are at 100. He’ll be remembered as one of the finest players to ever grace the state’s premier boys’ lacrosse program.

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Coach Ben Raymond’s comment: “What made Griffin such an outstanding player has to be the amount of work he put into his game on and off the field. He’s surrounded himself with players who would push and challenge him to be better. He loves to compete no matter the sport. He’s extremely coachable, takes instruction well and constantly evaluates his game and tries to improve upon it. Most importantly, he’s a great young man who loves his teammates and his family and wants to be the best he can be for them.”

Previous winners:

2014 Tom Feenstra (lacrosse)

2013 Adam Haversat (lacrosse)

2012 Will LeBlond (baseball)

2011 Cam Brown (baseball)

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2010 Ben Brewster (lacrosse)

2009 Andrew Guay (baseball)

2008 Zach Belden (lacrosse)

2007 Pat Murphy (baseball)

2006 Evan Bagley (lacrosse)

2005 Brett Brown (lacrosse)

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2004 Garret Currier (tennis)

2003 Alex Weaver (lacrosse)

2002 Mike DiFusco (lacrosse)

Female:

KATE BOSWORTH, Senior-Lacrosse

  • WMC All-Star, second-team

  • Captain

Bosworth continued Cape Elizabeth’s tradition of goalkeeping excellence and capped her stellar career with another superb season this spring.

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Bosworth grew up in Cape Elizabeth, started playing lacrosse in the fifth grade, first strapped on the goalie pads in seventh grade and after playing on the junior varsity team as a freshman, she replaced standout Elin Sonesson between the pipes as a sophomore. Bosworth, who also played soccer and ice hockey in high school, helped the Capers reach the Western B Final as a sophomore, then was a huge reason behind the team’s stunning run to the state final her junior season. This year, much was expected of her and she consistently stood tall.

Bosworth made 115 saves this spring, good for a 52 percent save percentage. Highlights included 12 huge saves in an upset win at Falmouth, eight saves in a win over Gorham, 10 saves in a loss to Kennebunk, 12 saves in victory at Fryeburg Academy, 12 saves in a win at Yarmouth, which partially avenged last year’s loss in the state final, and 10 saves in a regular season-ending loss to Falmouth. In Cape Elizabeth’s quarterfinal round playoff loss to Waynflete, Bosworth capped her high school career with five more saves.

“Our season was awesome,” Bosworth said. “It was fun to see the younger girls come up and play. We overcame a lot. My defense was really supportive. (Senior defender) Melissa (Rudberg) was amazing. We’ve been best friends since kindergarten.”

Bosworth also spent all four years of high school on the student council, calling it “one of my favorite things ever.” She’ll attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall, where she plans to study business administration and play club hockey and possibly lacrosse.

She won’t soon be forgotten in her hometown where there will be some mighty big goalie shoes to fill next season. Kate Bosworth, Cape Elizabeth’s Spring Female Athlete of the Year, made a habit of coming up huge in the biggest spots.

Coach Alex Spark’s comment: “Kate was the backbone of our defense and was a player we could consistently depend on. She made key saves every game and was the voice heard all over the field, helping to glue our team together. She’s an amazing goalie and did a great job leading the team as a captain.

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Previous winners:

2014 Abby McInerney (lacrosse)

2013 Lauren Steidl (lacrosse)

2012 Lauren Steidl (lacrosse)

2011 Elin Sonesson (lacrosse)

2010 Gabe Donahue (softball)

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2009 Colleen Martin (softball)

2008 Trish Thibodeau (softball)

2007 Maureen Kertes (softball)

2006 Clare Egan (track)

2005 Elise Moody-Roberts (track)

2004 Dana Riker (track)

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2003 Leslie Harrison (track)

2002 Anna Lombard (lacrosse)

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

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