MALE:

JOE FITZPATRICK, Senior-Football

• Eastern A leading rusher

• SMAA first-team, running back

• Captain

Fitzpatrick had all eyes on him this fall and rose to the occasion time and again, capping a stellar, perhaps trophy-winning career in fine fashion.

Fitzpatrick ran around, through and past defenders, put up prolific stats and led the Stags to the brink of another trip to the state final and as a result is the repeat winner of this award.

Fitzpatrick lives in North Yarmouth and began playing football at a young age. He came to Cheverus as a freshman and was a rare freshman to make the varsity team, seeing some time on special teams. He saw spot duty as a sophomore, then broke into the state’s consciousness as a junior, gaining 1,444 yards in the regular season and 474 more in the postseason.

This fall was even better.

Fitzpatrick ran for 169 yards and had two touchdowns in a season-opening win over Portland, picked up 142 yards with two more scores in a win at Lewiston, had 251 yards and five scores in a win against Oxford Hills, enjoyed a season-high 319 yards and scored four TDs in a victory over Edward Little, ran for 195 yards with three scores in a thrilling double overtime win at eventual state champion Thornton Academy, picked up 187 yards in a home win over Bangor and gained 251 yards and scored five times in a win over Deering in the regular season finale. Only against Windham did Fitpzatrick not gain 10o yards (and he had 94 in that loss).

For the eight-game regular season, Fitzpatrick gained nearly 10 yards per carry, rushing for 1,608 yards on 166 attempts with 23 touchdowns. He was also Eastern A’s leading punter and had five kickoff returns for an average of 26 yards a pop.

In the playoffs, Fitzpatrick continued his excellence, rushing for 239 yards and a pair of scores in a semifinal round win over Bangor, then putting up 224 more yards with two more TDs in an agonizing regional final loss to Windham in overtime.

In all, Fitzpatrick gained 2,071 yards on 231 carries and scored 27 times.

“The year went really well,” said Fitzpatrick. “The team did really well. We had a lot of holes to fill, but we worked hard. I had great teammates. I’ve been lucky to have some influential people in my life. Coach (John Wolfgram) has been amazing.”

Fitzpatrick, who also boxes as a heavyweight at the Portland Boxing Club, something he credits for his mental development on the gridiron, belongs to Cheverus’ Key Club, Homefront Club and Civil Rights. He’s weighing his college options. He definitely plans to play at the next level, probably somewhere on the East Coast.

Joe Fitzpatrick, Cheverus’ Fall Male Athlete of the Year, was a transcendent talent. We won’t see his equal again anytime soon.

Coach John Wolfgram’s comment: “Joe’s an absolute warrior. He made big plays and had some big runs for us and put us in a position to win.”

Prior winners:

2013 Joe Fitzpatrick (Football)

2012 Donald Goodrich (Football)

2011 Elliot Maker (Soccer)

2010 Peter Gwilym (Football)

2009 Peter Gwilym (Football)

2008 Jack Terwilliger (Cross country)

2007 Galen Munroe (Soccer)

2006 Andrew Pochebit (Football)

2005 Anthony Ardito (Golf)

2004 Max Molleo (Soccer)

FEMALE:

ABBY GOODRICH, Senior-Soccer

• SMAA All-Star, second-team

• SMAA All-Academic team

• Senior All-Star

• All-Western A regional team

• Team Courage and Inspiration Award

• Captain

Goodrich played a key role as a talented player and a leader on a team which came on late and made it to the postseason for the 12th year in a row.

Goodrich started playing soccer at a young age (she also played basketball, softball, ran track and rode horses), came to Cheverus from York as a sophomore and made an immediate impact on the varsity team. As a junior, Goodrich scored four times and added three assists. This fall was even more prolific.

Goodrich, a midfielder, ended up with nine goals and five assists. After the Stags were blanked in their first two games, Goodrich scored twice in a win over McAuley. She had a goal and an assist in a win over Biddeford, had a goal in a tie against Sanford, set up two goals in a win over Bonny Eagle and had a goal and an assist in a victory over Westbrook.

Cheverus scored 22 goals this fall and Goodrich scored or assisted on more than half of them.

“We came together as a team,” Goodrich said. “It was a fun way to end my high school career. I’ve always been passionate and competitive in every sport I play. I enjoy being on a team. I want to work hard for my teammates and to win for them.”

For her effort, Goodrich was named to the All-Conference and All-Regional teams, qualified for the league’s All-Academic team and was a Senior All-Star. She was also selected by her teammates as Cheverus’ Courage and Inspiration Award winner.

Goodrich, who plays Premier soccer for Seacoast, also competes in the 100, 100 hurdles and the throws in indoor and outdoor track and field, belongs to Cheverus’ Key Club and volunteers. She’s weighing her college options, wants to play at the next level, maybe at a military academy, and there’s a good chance we haven’t seen the last of her on the pitch.

Abby Goodrich, Cheverus’ Fall Female Athlete of the Year, had a flair for the dramatic, made her teammates better and etched her name in program lore.

Coach Craig Roberts’ comment: “If you look at the games where we were most successful, Abby made the players around her better. Abby is dedicated to soccer and fitness and that hard work made her our team’s most technically sound player and also allowed her to win 50-50 balls and hold off defenders when teams concentrated on stopping her. If there were players in the conference physically stronger than Abby, you can count them on one hand.”

Prior winners:

2013: Elyse Caiazzo (Field hockey)

2012: Staci Swallow (Field hockey)

2011: Sarah LaQuerre (Field hockey)

2010: Emily Sawchuck (Field hockey)

2009: Emily Durgin (Cross country)

2008: Bethany Schleh (Field hockey)

2007: Elizabeth Somma (Soccer)

2006: Elise Roux (Soccer)

2005: Meaghan Mingo (Soccer)

2004: Lauren Metevier (Soccer)

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

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