Freeport Falcons Winter Athletes of the Year

2009-10 Winter Male Athlete of the Year:

RYAN COLLET, Junior-Skiing

* WMC All-Conference, first team

Freeport has produced plenty of standout skiers in recent seasons. One of the best is Ryan Collet, who produced another solid season while hinting at more greatness to come.

Collet had a pair of top five finishes at the state meet, qualified for the Eastern High School championships and devotes countless hours to improving.

He’s already very good, is only getting better and is an inspiration to teammates and foes alike. Those attributes convinced The Forecaster to name Ryan Collet Freeport’s 2009-10 Winter Male Athlete of the Year.

Collet grew up in Freeport, started skiing at the age of three and has raced for seven years. As a sophomore, he came in second in the slalom at the state meet. His junior season was one of excellence.

Collet came in second in the first slalom meet of the season, was first in the initial giant slalom and was superb in the postseason. In the Western Maine Conference championships, Collet won the slalom and was fifth in the GS. At states, while the Falcons were placing third as a team, he tied for second in the slalom and was fifth in the GS.

At the Eastern High School championships qualifier, Collet finished fourth and made the team for the first time.

Collet, who also competes in spring track, running the sprints, does dry land training in the fall, then races from November through April. He hopes to train this summer at Mt. Hood in Oregon. He wants to ski in college, but first has his senior year to look forward to.

For the Falcons, that’s good news. Ryan Collet, Freeport’s 2009-10 Winter Male Athlete of the Year, figures to have a sensational senior season in store.

Coach Eric Wallace’s Comment: “Ryan, for me, was very coachable from Day One. I feel what he brings to the team is what also helps bring him such good results and it’s the one thing that’s hard to get out of any young ski racer. That is, train like you’re racing and race like you’re training. He’s 100 percent, every practice run, an Alpine coach’s dream.”

2008-09 winner: Jon Klages (Basketball)

2007-08 winner: Reid Christian (Basketball)

2006-07 winner: Danny Mehler (Basketball)

2005-06 winner: Nate Fuller (Skiing)

2004-05 winner: Dan Sandberg (Skiing)

2003-04 winner: Kegan Pettit (Hockey)

2002-03 winner: Frank Roy (Skiing)

2001-02 winner: Griff Leach (Skiing)

2009-10 Winter Female Athlete of the Year:

ADRIAN BAKER, Senior-Track

* WMC All-Academic team

When Adrian Baker won the 400 at the state meet as a sophomore, it looked as if she was on her way to greatness.

She got there, but perhaps in a different way than people thought.

Baker never was able to duplicate her individual triumph of two years ago, but she branched out and helped make Freeport a relay force. She proved to be a tremendous team leader and helped pave the way for the program to excel down the road.

In light of her selflessness and talent, Adrian Baker is The Forecaster’s choice for Freeport’s 2009-10 Winter Female Athlete of the Year.

Baker came to Freeport from Bethel in time for middle school. She started indoor track as a freshman and quickly made noise. As a sophomore, she won a state title. As a junior, Baker spent much of the year away at the Island School, but helped the 4×800 relay team finish second at states and make it to the New England meet.

This season, Baker won the 400 at the opening meet of the regular season. She also competed in the 200 and the 800 as the season went on. She came in third in the 400 at the WMC meet, then was the lone Falcon to score at states, placing seventh in the 400.

Throughout the season, Baker was also contending with the pressure of college applications, but said she enjoyed her time with the team.

Baker played soccer as a freshman and sophomore and indicated that she might do outdoor track this spring. She’s a member of the Model U.N. and is a member of the Service Club. She also enjoys art. Looking ahead to next year, Baker wants to run track and hopes to increase her distance. She’s interested in International Relations.

She was more than willing and able to take one for the team this season. Adrian Baker, Freeport’s 2009-10 Winter Female Athlete of the Year, graduates as a champion athlete and teammate. She’ll long be hailed for her role with the Falcons program.

Coach Brian Berkemeyer’s comment: “Adrian has been a very important part of the indoor track team. Last year, she set aside personal goals to help propel the 4×800 relay team to the New England championships. This year, she was one of three seniors who helped develop a very young team. She has a lot of raw talent. She’s a natural athlete. She was the senior who brought the team together and encouraged each of them to perform their best. She’s a worker. She’ll be very successful in any endeavor she desires to pursue.”

2008-09 winner: Molly Susla (Skiing)

2007-08 winner: Adrian Baker (Indoor track)

2006-07 winner: Abby Fuller (Swimming)

2005-06 winner: Lucy Garrec (Skiing)

2004-05 winner: Logan Crane (Indoor track)

2003-04 winner: Logan Crane (Indoor track)

2002-03 winner: Jessica Harold (Skiing)

2001-02 winner: Molly Pierce (Skiing)

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