If the 2009 season wasn’t special enough for the Yarmouth boys’ lacrosse team, the news only gets better.

Fresh off an undefeated season, culminated by a second straight Class B state championship, the Clippers learned that three of their players have received the highest honor, being named All-Americans.

Yarmouth’s girls’ squad also produced a pair of All-Americans this spring.

Exclamation point

The Yarmouth boys enjoyed one of the most dominant seasons in program or state history in 2009 and had several players worthy of praise.

In the end, senior midfielder Rob Highland and junior attack Steven Petrovek were selected, while senior Casey Jones was named to the Academic All-American team.

Highland possessed a rocket shot, tremendous athleticism and led his team to great heights. He had 46 goals, 21 assists and snared 48 ground balls this year. Highland scored three times in the state game and plans to play at Bates next year.

“When Rob was a freshman, I really didn’t know what to make of him,” said Clippers coach Craig Curry. “He was so quiet. I didn’t think he’d come back from an injured knee that he suffered sophomore year. He came back all the way and became someone on a pedestal with (former standout and All-American) Zach Caldwell as a great player. He jelled in every way this year. Athletically, he was a house. He’s a quiet leader, but was so inclusive with everyone on the team. He loves the game. He brought a lot of joy to eveyone.”

Petrovek didn’t start as a sophomore, but made the most of his opportuntities this spring, scoring 56 goals, adding 35 assists and grabbing 45 ground balls. He also scored three times against Cape Elizabeth Saturday and added a pair of assists.

“Steven had a huge growth year,” Curry said. “He wasn’t a starter last year, but played a good role. He worked extra hard on his athleticism. He’s about an exciting a dodger that we’ve had since (former standout and All-American) Chris Hichborn. You can’t shut him off for long.”

Jones had a 96.67 grade point average and scored 2,230 on his SATs. He’ll go to Williams College in the fall.

“Casey’s a young man who didn’t start playing until he was a sophomore,” Curry said. “He was awesome. He’s a very talented kid scholastically and musically (he plays the violin in the Bangor Symphony). He speaks four or five languages. It’s stunning the breadth of his talents. He’s amazingly unassuming.”

Yarmouth has now produced All-Americans in eight straight seasons.

The boys’ All-American team also included Brunswick senior defender Max Rosner, Cape Elizabeth senior attack Mike Holden, Gould Academy senior attack Max Littlefield, Kennebunk senior goalie Cullen Finn, Portland senior defenseman Dylan Kenney, Portland senior midfielder K.R Jurgelevich, and Scarborough senior midfielder Danny Clark.

Other members of the Academic All-American team included Messalonskee’s Eric Caron, Mt. Ararat’s Chris Lalond and Portland’s Igor Radosavljevic.

Brunswick’s Dan Glover was named Coach of the Year. Falmouth’s Chris Richards was honored as Assistant Coach of the Year. Longtime Cape Elizabeth and Kennebunk coach Charlie Burch was named Man of the Year.

Two girls honored

Eight girls made the All-American team and two hailed from Yarmouth, which went 11-3 this season and reached the regional final before losing to North Yarmouth Academy.

Senior Lanier Bolmer made the first team, while sophomore Danielle Torres was an honorable mention selection.

Bolmer had 31 goals and five assists this year. She won 15 draw controls and had 20 ground balls. Bolmer will attend St. Lawrence in the fall and hopes to play lacrosse.

“Lanier is a very steady all-around player,” said Clippers coach Dorothy Holt. “She can go on defense when asked and play attack when asked. She’s a leader on and off the field. She comes to practice like she’s coming to a game. She encourages her teammates and is a key leader. We are going to really miss her.”

Torres had a breakout season, scoring 29 times and adding 12 assists. She grabbed 49 ground balls and had 21 draw control wins. The best news about Torres from a Yarmouth perspective is that she still has two years in a Clippers uniform.

“Danielle has shown as a sophomore that she is a key contributor to our team,” Holt said. “She never lets a ball just get by her, whether in the air or on the ground. She has an amazing sense of the field for such a young player. She attacks the net with a force. She gives 110 percent in practice and in a game. She will push herself to the maximum everyday.”

All-American honors are nothing new for Yarmouth. In the past six years, the Clippers have produced 13 of them.

Kennebunk senior Jamie Spang and Waynflete seniors Anna Libby and Mariah Monks also made the first team. Brunswick’s Cecilia Kjellman, Scarborough’s Ellie Morin and Waynflete’s Morgan Woodhouse were the other honorable mentions.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.