Male:

NATE MULLEN, Senior-Basketball

• Team MVP
  
• Jim Spaulding Memorial Award winner
• Captain

Mullen is a dyed-in-the-wool Capers aficionado who went on to star for the program and bowed out by helping his team successfully move into a new era.

Mullen started playing basketball in kindergarten and immersed himself in the sport in the town’s youth program.

“In third grade, Cape Saturday morning youth program’s starts, which is the first organized basketball I played, and that was also when I first started getting coached by Coach (Jim) Ray,” Mullen said. “I went to his camps before I finally was playing for him (on the Cape Elizabeth varsity team) freshman year. When I was in the youth program, I remember looking at guys on the varsity team as if they were NBA players and I wanted to grow up and be just like them. Especially that 2015 (Class B state championship) team. I looked up to Eddie Galvin, Ethan Murphy, Jack O’Rourke, Quinn Hewitt, and Finn Bowe. The youth program was huge for me developing as a player and developing my love for the game. When I joined the varsity team freshman year, it was like I finally traveled full circle and now kids were looking up to me as I once looked up to the varsity players.

“I love the team aspect of basketball. In order to have a good team, all five guys need to be on the same page working hard to get each other good shots. Its also a fun thing to do with your friends to pass time and get some exercise. Also, I love watching the NBA and seeing players like Kyrie (Irving) and (Steph) Curry. They make basketball look like an art and nothing is more satisfying than going out in the driveway and mastering a move you learned from them.”

Mullen played four years of varsity for the Capers and nearly captured a state title of his own sophomore year, when Cape Elizabeth won the Class B South title, but lost a double-overtime heartbreaker to Caribou in the state game. After losing in the semifinals as a junior, Mullen and his teammates had high hopes for greatness this winter.

Instead, there would be an abbreviated season, with no playoffs, and for the first time in a long time, Mullen would play for someone other than Coach Ray, who stepped down following the 2019-20 season. As a captain, Mullen had to help new coach Jeff Mitchell get up to speed quickly, in unprecedented times, and that’s exactly what happened, as the Capers were very competitive.

Mullen averaged 15.3 points per game, good for 10th in the Western Maine Conference, was second in assists with 5.1 and sixth in steals with 2.4.

Highlights included 22 points in a season-opening loss to Waynflete, 15 points in a come-from-behind victory over the Flyers, 19 points in an overtime win over Greely, 20 points in a loss to the Rangers, 16 points in a win over Westbrook, two huge late free throws in a win at Freeport and 20 point in a victory over Lake Region.

“Nate was our leading scorer and a player that can drive, shoot and defend with the best that Maine high school basketball has to offer,” said Mitchell.

Mullen plans to play basketball and study criminal justice next year at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.

While his statistics told part of the story, you had to witness the impact that Nate Mullen, Cape Elizabeth’s Winter Male Athlete of the Year, had on his team. He’s the latest in a long line of star players who was also a terrific teammate.

Coach Jeff Mitchell’s comment: “Nate was our fearless leader this year. I was most impressed with Nate’s commitment to making his teammates better, whether it be by helping them understand the offense better or leading by example off the court. Nate was a true extension of the coach, something that every good point guard should be, and was the perfect player to help this first-year coach navigate this atypical season. He’ll go down as one of the best point guards to ever play in the program and will be missed by many.”

Previous winners:

2019-20 Matt Laughlin (hockey)

2018-19 Andrew Hartel (basketball)

2017-18 Finn Bowe (basketball)

2016-17 Quinn Hewitt (basketball)

2015-16 Devon Lathrop (Alpine skiing)

2014-15 Ethan Murphy (basketball)

2013-14 Eddie Galvin (basketball)

2012-13 Evan Long (swimming)

2011-12 Nick Breed (hockey)

2010-11 Theo Bowe (basketball)

2009-10 Conor Maloney (basketball)

2008-09 Alex Bowe (basketball)

2007-08 Tommy Ray (basketball)

2006-07 Graham Egan (Nordic skiing)

2005-06 Kevin Harrison (track)

2004-05 Dan Rautenberg (hockey)

2003-04 Ben Weimont (track)

2002-03 Luke Holden (hockey)

2001-02 Tom Alberi (swimming)

Female:

ANNIE GUIMOND, Senior-Hockey

• Becky Schaffer Award semifinalist
• All-State
• Hobey Baker Award winner
• Captain

Guimond anchored the defense of one of the state’s best teams and her performance on the ice, and off, led to some lofty recognition at season’s end.

Guimond was drawn to hockey at a young age and never looked back.

“I learned how to skate when I was 4 or 5 on my backyard rink and grew up watching my older brother, Curtis, play hockey,” Guimond said. “I began playing with Casco Bay Hockey Association in third grade and was a part of the association’s first all-girls’ team a few years later. With Casco Bay, I’ve traveled all around the Northeast and have had the opportunity to compete at the highest levels, including the USA Hockey National Championships in 2018.

“I grew up playing many sports, however, hockey is by far the one where I‘ve developed the longest-lasting and strongest relationships as it’s a sport that requires a big time commitment both on and off the ice. I have loved being a part of the growth of girls’ hockey in Maine and I’m excited for the future of the sport.”

Guimond was part of a Capers team that got to the state final her junior year, losing in overtime to Lewiston. This season, the squad was strong again, but didn’t get to have a postseason, due to COVID-19-restrictions. Still, she helped the Capers go 8-1 and allow just 19 goals. Guimond could also put the puck in the net herself, scoring four goals and assisting on five others.

“This year certainly wasn’t the senior season I had always imagined, however, I’m incredibly grateful for having the opportunity to have some sort of a final season with my teammates,” Guimond said. “Going into it, our team’s main focus was to enjoy every second on the ice together, as we had limited ice time this year and COVID could’ve ended this at any moment. We certainly achieved this goal and along the way had a very successful season in terms of winning games.”

Guimond was chosen an All-State player and was a semifinalist for the Becky Schaffer Award, given to the state’s finest senior player. She has yet to make her college decision.

Annie Guimond, Cape Elizabeth’s Winter Female Athlete of the Year, was a steady leader and a great player and it’s no coincidence that her time in uniform coincided with the Golden Era of Capers girls’ hockey.

Coach Bob Mills’ comment: “We only ran three defenders this season and Annie was on the ice for most of those minutes. She played in every situation and was very dependable with coverage, safely getting the puck out of our zone with possession and containing other team’s top players effectively. Annie worked hard in practices and games, was supportive of her teammates and coaches and represented the program with class, dedication and good sportsmanship.”

Previous winners:

2018-19 Olivia Tighe (swimming)

2017-18 Olivia Tighe (swimming)

2016-17 Olivia Tighe (swimming)

2015-16 Maddie Bowe (basketball)

2014-15 Hannah Sawyer (basketball)

2013-14 Sydney Wight (swimming)

2012-13 Marlo Dell’Aquila (basketball)

2011-12 Hannah Homans (swimming)

2010-11 Emily Donovan (basketball)

2009-10 Emily Attwood (Nordic skiing)

2008-09 Marita Stressenger (track)

2007-08 Nora Daly (swimming)

2006-07 Nora Daly (swimming)

2005-06 Kinsey Tarbell (swimming)

2004-05 Kate Barton (Nordic skiing)

2003-04 Taylor McFarlane (swimming)

2002-03 Taylor McFarlane (swimming)

2001-02 Whitney Rockwell (swimming)

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

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