2008-09 Winter Male Athlete of the Year:
ZANDER MARKELLOS, Senior-Skiing
* Class A state champion, slalom
* Class A state champion, giant slalom
* SMAA All-Conference

“I either win or I fall.”

While this statement from Zander Markellos, one of the state’s elite Alpine skiers, might come across to some as braggadocio, it’s simply a matter of fact.

Fact: Markellos won 13 races in a row.

Fact: Markellos won a pair of SMAA titles.

Fact: Markellos won five Class A state championships in his four years at Cheverus.

Not only has Markellos won both slalom and giant slalom races in abundance. He did it as a freshman, sophomore, junior and capped his stellar high school career this past winter with another series of memorable showings.

While he’s worn the bulls-eye as the favorite, he rose to the occasion time and time again and such dominance has convinced The Forecaster to name Zander Markellos Cheverus’ 2008-09 Winter Male Athlete of the Year.

Markellos grew up in Kennebunk and started skiing at the age of two. He certainly wasn’t a surprise after arriving at Cheverus, but the prodigious amount of triumph he’s enjoyed wasn’t expected.

Markellos won the Class A giant slalom as a freshman, took the slalom as a sophomore and a junior, then completed the sweep this season for the first time. In addition to qualifying for the Eastern Nationals on three occasions, he surpassed Luke Lemanski as the most decorated skier in program history.

Markellos has also been a four-year member of the always-competitive soccer team.

Markellos trains religiously and for “fun” likes to dirt bike and surf. Going fast is second nature.

He certainly has a serious side as well and that will be on display beginning this fall when he matriculates at The Citadel where he plans to study criminal justice.

He couldn’t have capped his high school career in more ideal fashion. As he said, when he stayed upright, he had no peer. The legend of Zander Markellos will carry on for a long time.

Coach Kim Pike’s Comment: “Zander has been a joy to coach. Every coach loves a winner and he’s been winning since his freshman year. One reason for his consistency and success is his great technique. Combine this with his great athleticism and you have a winner. He’s certainly one of the best I’ve ever coached.”

2007-08 winner: Matt Libby (Swimming)
2006-07 winner: Matt Libby (Swimming)
2005-06 winner: Alex Arthur (Hockey)
2004-05 winner: Adam Horgan (Hockey)
2003-04 winner: Kevin Marchesi (Hockey)

2008-09 Winter Female Athlete of the year:
CAROLINE SUMMA, Sophomore-Track
* SMAA All-Conference

Not everyone is born to jump.

Meet someone who is.

Caroline Summa was far from serious about track entering high school, but in two short years, she has become a premier talent in the local jumping world.

While her talent is natural, Summa has other intangibles that push her over the ever-rising bar. She has a burning desire to excel, displays poise that is rare in such a young athlete, and has no doubts about what she’s trying to accomplish.

In light of such determination and ability leading to excellence, Caroline Summa is The Forecaster’s choice for Cheverus’ 2008-09 Winter Female Athlete of the Year.

Summa, who lives on Chebeague Island, was first introduced to track and field in middle school. She played soccer as a freshman, but after realizing just how promising she was in the high jump, has since focused entirely on track. Her improvement has been dramatic.

After finishing fourth in the indoor state meet in the high jump as a freshman, Summa moved up to second outdoors and starred this winter. After a solid regular season, Summa was first in the high jump (and seventh in the 200) at the SMAA championships. She broke the Expo record in the high jump, soaring 5 feet, 6 1/4 inches. At the state championship meet, despite being under the weather, Summa was runner-up in the high jump and placed seventh again in the 200.

Summa credits coach Valerie Guillet (a mutual admiration society, see below) for her success.

Her goal outdoors is to jump 5-8. She also plans to try the javelin and triple jump this spring. Her goal is to out-jump indoor champion Colby Gail of Mt. Ararat and win a first state crown. She also belongs to the Cheverus Outdoors Club and is already thinking about competing in track in college.

Luckily for the Stags, she still has two-plus years remaining to work her magic in purple and gold. Caroline Summa, Cheverus’ 2008-09 Winter Female Athlete of the Year, has only begun to soar.

Coach Valerie Guillet’s comment: “In addition to her physical talents, Caroline has some innate qualities ideal for the high jump that allow her to perform at her best. She’s calm, centered and self-assured when she is about to jump in the same way she is about life in general. When you have an athlete with such determination, so much desire to excel, you don’t need to worry about whether or not she has the right type of fuel to get there.”

2007-08 winner: Jessica Groth (Indoor track)
2006-07 winner: Jessica Groth (Indoor track)
2005-06 winner: Caitlin Barber (Alpine skiing)
2004-05 winner: Jill Horan (Swimming)
2003-04 winner: Alana Van Loenen (Indoor track)

Zander Markellos
Caroline Summa

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