Freeport Falcons Fall Athletes of the Year

MALE:

DAN BURKE, Senior-Football

Campbell Conference Class C all-star
Freeport’s Best Defensive Player
Captain

A tenacious competitor who made the most of his skills and helped his team hold its own in a challenging region, Burke has been with the Freeport football program since its beginning and will go down as one of its best players to date.

He started playing in the fourth grade and while he also plays baseball in the spring, Burke calls football his favorite sport. The Falcons became a varsity program his freshman year and as a three-year captain, he helped them become a contender in Western C, making the playoffs his junior season and just missing this fall.

“It took awhile for us to understand how intense and competitive we had to be,” Burke said, of the growth process.

Burke, a fullback/linebacker, made his presence felt on both sides of the ball. He piled up the tackles and delivered bruising hits on defense and saw ample time with the ball in his hands, gaining over 800 yards on the ground.

Burke had nearly 150 yards in a close loss to Lisbon, rushed for three touchdowns versus Old Orchard Beach, had nearly 200 rushing yards and scored twice (once on the ground and once through the air) in a win over Telstar, ran for 204 yards, caught a TD pass and intercepted a pass against Winthrop, then finished his high school career with 130 yards and a two-point conversion rush in an agonizing 14-8 loss to two-time defending state champion Yarmouth, in a win-or-go-home finale.

After the season, Burke was honored by his team and the conference for his play.

“I like to be the best I can be,” Burke said. “There’s always someone bigger, stronger and faster. It’s how you work to better yourself. Football has taught me so much about working hard.”

Burke is also part of National Honor Society and Seeds of Independence, likes to hunt and snowboard and instead of rattling teeth, will look to fix them as he plans to study dentistry in college.

He will certainly be hard to replace. Dan Burke, Freeport’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year, did it all and left a legacy of hard work and commitment.

Coach Rob Grover’s comment: “Dan’s been our heart and soul for four years. He led the team in tackles for four years and was a captain for three. It’s been very enjoyable to watch him play. He carried the team on his back. We’ll miss him. He’s a great kid.”

Prior winners:
2011: Jack Dawe (Soccer)

2010: James Purdy (Football)

2009: Miguel Beckles (Football)

2008: Cody Bartlett (Soccer)

2007: Jon Klages (Football)

2006: Luke Charest (Soccer)

2005: Elliott Townsend (Soccer)

2004: Jeff Smith (Soccer)

2003: Josh Zolla (Cross Country)

2002: Chris Vigliotta (Soccer)

2001: Scott Newell (Golf)

FEMALE:

JOCELYN DAVEE, Senior-Soccer

Western B all-regional team
WMC all-star, first team
WMC All-Academic team
Coaches’ Award winner

One of the strongest players in the conference and the region, Davee helped the Falcons produce another competitive season this fall.

Davee has been a soccer aficionado since a young age and spent four years on the Freeport varsity, while also playing premier soccer with Odyssey and Velocity. After an all-star campaign last season, the midfielder had a memorable campaign in 2012, leading the Falcons with six timely goals.

Davee scored in a win over Lake Region, delivered the game-winner versus Fryeburg, scored an overtime game winner against Gray-New Gloucester and had tallies in wins over North Yarmouth Academy and Wells.

Following the season, Davee was named to the Western Maine Conference all-star team again and earned the extra honor of making the Western Class B all-regional squad.

“I’ve gotten better at seeing the field,” said Davee. “I always look to better myself with extra practice and I always work in the offseason.”

Davee was part of a lacrosse team which reached the state final last spring, also plays basketball, belongs to National Honor Society and enjoys snowboarding. She wants to play soccer and maybe lacrosse in college and study exercise science or something in the health field.

Her single-minded pursuit of excellence will serve her well going forward. Jocelyn Davee, Freeport’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, was a standout player who had a terrific senior season.

Coach Elayna Girardin’s comment: “Jocelyn was a key player for the team this year and for all four years she has been on the team. Our team has greatly depended on her to help with all our transitions. She helped create our attack by her distribution and ability to hold on to the ball and allow us to get up the field. Defensively, she is physically strong, quick and always in the right position to help slow the other team down, allowing us to get into our defensive shape. She often shut down the other team’s strong midfielders as well. She was a leader on the team by example and will definitely be a hard spot to fill next year.”

Prior winners:

2011: Kayla Thurlow (Field hockey)

2010: Lauren Easler (Cross country)

2009: Hannah Schuchert (Field hockey)

2008: Molly Susla (Cross country)

2007: Hannah Schuchert (Field hockey)

2006: Molly Susla (Cross country)

2005: Kelsey Nichols (Cross country)

2004: Lucy Garrec (Cross country)

2003: Dani O’Rourke-Suchoff (Cross country)

2002: Michelle Peters (Field Hockey)

2001: Amy Morejon (Soccer)