2012-13 Winter Male Athlete of the Year:

TOM WILBERG, Senior-Basketball

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CITATIONS

* Maine McDonald’s All-State Academic Scholarship recipient

* WMC All-Academic team

* All-State All-Academic team

An unheralded yet pivotal member of an almost unbeatable team, Wilberg’s ability to come up huge on the court, combined with his academic excellence away from basketball, proved to be an ideal combination.

Wilberg grew up in Falmouth and came by his athletic talent naturally. His father was a volleyball player, his mother played field hockey and lacrosse at Brown and was a member of the national team before hurting her knee, and his older sister, Emma, was a volleyball standout and was named Falmouth’s 2009 Fall Female Athlete of the Year.

Wilberg started playing basketball at a young age. He’s certainly enjoyed plenty of triumph in high school, winning state titles in soccer (playing a pivotal role on the play which led to the game winning penalty kick back in November) and tennis prior to adding a basketball Gold Ball this winter.

While players like Grant Burfeind, Charlie Fay, Jack Simonds and even freshman Thomas Coyne got most of the attention, Wilberg had his moments during a 17-1 regular season.

Wilberg had 10 points in a win over Greely, seven points and five assists in a statement-making home romp over York, 13 points at Wells and a season-high 19 in a home victory over Wells.

He was even more of a force in the postseason, scoring 11 points to go with six rebounds and two assists against Maranacook in the quarterfinals, adding 11 points against Mountain Valley in the semifinals and producing 10 points in a win over York in the regional final. In the state game, Wilberg scored 15 points and added four boards and two steals as Falmouth romped to finish the season 21-1 and Class B state champions.

“Everybody was set on winning a state championship,” said Wilberg. “We knew we had to do it together.”

For the season, Wilberg averaged 7.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.1 assists per contest. In the tournament, he upped his scoring average to 11 points per game, made all 16 free throw attempts and shot 63 percent from the floor.

In truth, you simply couldn’t quantify what he brought to the court.

Wilberg’s high school basketball career came to an end, but he wasn’t finished with accolades, as his strong academics placed him on the Western Maine Conference All-Academic team, the all-state team and at the Maine McDonald’s awards banquet, he received a $2,000 scholarship for his work in the classroom.

Wilberg also belongs to Key Club, Math Team and National Honor Society and has been on the high honor roll since freshman year. Wilberg is a National Merit finalist, a U.S. Presidential Scholar candidate, a member of Science Olympiad, tutors younger students, used to play the alto sax and now plays the guitar.

It all makes you wonder when he sleeps.

Wilberg is looking at several colleges. He wants to try out for soccer and basketball and is considering pursuing something in law or bio medicine.

The term “student-athlete” is thrown around loosely, but no one exemplified both aspects of that phrase quite like Tom Wilberg, who earned some well-deserved recognition this winter.

Coach Dave Halligan’s comment: “Tom’s our offensive lineman. On other teams, he’d be the primary scorer, but for us, he does the dirty work, the stuff nobody else would want to do. We wouldn’t be successful without guys like Tommy. He was our unsung hero. He did whatever we asked of him and he did it to the best of his ability.”

2011-12 winner: Jack Cooleen (Basketball)

2010-11 winner: Reid Pryzant (Indoor track)

2009-10 winner: Stefano Mancini (Basketball)

2008-09 winner: Mike Chase (Hockey)

2007-08 winner: Tom Winger (Indoor track)

2006-07 winner: James Tolan (Hockey)

2005-06 winner: Bryant Barr (Basketball)

2004-05 winner: Peter Gustavson (Hockey)

2003-04 winner: Brandon Bonsey (Indoor track)

2002-03 winner: Jon Hutchins (Hockey)

2001-02 winner: Garrett Weliever (Basketball)

2012-13 Winter Female Athlete of the Year

CHARLOTTE JANELLE, Freshman—Diving

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CITATIONS

* Class B state champion

* Southwesterns champion

* All-Conference, second-team

* All-State, third-team

* FHS Diver of the Year

Gymnastics’ loss proved to be the Falmouth diving team’s gain this winter as Janelle made a triumphant splash in her freshman season, emerging as the finest diver in all of Class B.

Janelle grew up in Falmouth and found an outlet for her energy and skill in the sport of gymnastics.

“This kid has been flipping all her life,” said her mother, Katy Gannon-Janelle, who is also Falmouth’s diving coach. “When she did 100 without stopping one day at age 5, we knew she needed to get into gymnastics. Once she raised over $1,000 in a cartwheelathon to help victims of the Haiti earthquake by doing over 60 in one minute. Flipping is what she does.”

A knee malady eventually ended her competitive gymnastics career, but she discovered another sport at which she excelled.

“A few friends suggested she try diving,’ said Katy Gannon-Janelle. “She had no idea how well the sport would fit her. Charlotte started diving Labor Day weekend of eighth grade, competed in her first meet in Massachusetts on Halloween and won. She immediately decided she wanted to qualify for AAU nationals her first year. Darned if she didn’t do it.”

High school competition brought more glory as Janelle had an almost perfect season, losing only to Class A champion Tori Leonard of Kennebunk. She rolled to the North division Southwesterns championship and had little trouble winning the Class B state crown with a score of 289.40. She was named Class B Diver of the Year, All-Conference, All-State and received the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches’ Association of America State Top 16 Award.

“Winning states was a goal,” said Charlotte Janelle, who trains countless hours year-round to be her best. “I wanted to follow in (2010-11 Winter Female Athlete of the Year Nicola Mancini’s) footsteps. I just wanted to do my best and make sure I reached my goals.”

Janelle also belongs to Falmouth’s Service Club and hopes to dive in college.

She figures to produce many more memorable moments long before she sets foot on a college diving board. This standout had a freshman year that will make for a difficult encore, but Charlotte Janelle has what it takes to keep raising the bar.

Coach Katy Gannon-Janelle’s comment: “Charlotte’s success all comes from within. There is a place she goes to inside that just takes her where she wants to go. Charlotte has the ability to focus on a goal and never waver. She is the definition of the word determination. She works very hard, both in the pool and at dryland. She never misses a practice and is completely self motivated. No one ever has to push this girl. She pushes herself to the limit every time. Her hard work and great work ethic inspired others.”

2011-12 winner: Megan Fortier (Hockey)

2010-11 winner: Nicola Mancini (Diving)

2009-10 winner: Sarah Abramson (Skiing)

2008-09 winner: Kristin Jackson (Swimming)

2007-08 winner: Kristin Jackson (Swimming)

2006-07 winner: Alicia Hahn (Swimming)

2005-06 winner: Gina Mancini (Swimming)

2004-05 winner: Emily Sheldon (Swimming)

2003-04 winner: Alison Tozier (Swimming)

2002-03 winner: Gina Mancini (Swimming)

2001-02 winner: Megan White (Diving)

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

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