Greely Rangers Fall Athletes of the Year

MALE:

SVENN JACOBSON, Senior-Football

Campbell Conference Class B Player of the Year
Campbell Conference Class B all-star, first team
Team MVP

The heart and soul behind the best Greely team to date, Jacobson dished out punishment on the defensive end and was extremely difficult to corral when the ball was in his hands.

Jacobson, who calls his grandfather, Raymond, who played at Springfield College, his role model, started playing football in the third grade and made an immediate impact with the Rangers, starting as a freshman. He was an All-Conference selection his sophomore and junior seasons (the latter of which saw him named Greely’s Offensive Player of the Year) and emerged as the finest player in the Campbell Conference this autumn.

Jacobson returned a fumble for a touchdown in an Opening Night win at Spruce Mountain, had five catches and a touchdown, as well a TD on the ground in an upset victory at Westbrook, returned the opening kickoff for a score and added two touchdown receptions in a win over Fryeburg, had two TD catches and a scoring run against Gray-New Gloucester, ran for a TD and caught a touchdown pass in the Rangers’ first-ever win over Mountain Valley and made up for three years of frustration at the hands of rival Falmouth with all four TDs in a victory.

“It was a great team effort this year,” Jacobson said. “It was a close group.”

Jacobson was held in check in an agonizing playoff loss to Wells, but finished the year with 701 yards and eight TDs on the ground and had 19 receptions and several scores through the air. Defensively, Jacobson was second on the team with 41 solo tackles and 19 assists. He also had an interception.

That all added up to his being named the conference’s Class B Player of the Year.

“I like to handle the ball,” Jacobson said. “I can hit and score on offense. I’m driven by being told I can’t do it.”

Jacobson, who also plays lacrosse at Greely is a dual citizen of the United States and Norway. He spent the second semester of his sophomore year in Norway and may go to college there. He wants to play college football, however, and may take a gap year to weigh his options.

The Rangers are glad they had the option of suiting him up on both sides of the ball. Svenn Jacobson, Greely’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year, certainly bowed out in grand fashion.

Coach David Higgins’ comment: “Svenn was a huge threat running and catching the ball. He made players around him step up. Even when he wasn’t in the play, teams had to account for where he was. He’s an emotional leader. He has a very good understanding of what others’ responsibilities were. He’s a good tackler, so he was a force on that side of the ball too.”

Prior winners:
2011: Stefan Sandreuter (Cross country)

2010: Jon Higgins (Football)

2009: Logan Price (Cross country)

2008: Steven Chase (Soccer)

2007: James LePage (Cross country)

2006: Oliver Blum (Soccer)

2005: Greg Frost (Soccer)

2004: Casey Diehl (Cross country)

2003: Will Robinson (Golf)

2002: Ben True (Cross country)

2001: Ben True (Cross country)

FEMALE:

HALEIGH ROACH, Senior—Volleyball

Class A all-state team
Captain

An island of calm during an emotional season, Roach soared above the competition and helped the Rangers win yet another state title.

Roach started playing volleyball in the sixth grade and spent three years on the varsity team. Her initial season saw Greely fail to win it all for the first time in eight seasons, but the Rangers got back to the pinnacle in 2011. This fall, Greely stumbled twice early in the season against Biddeford, but didn’t lose again and after surviving close shaves against Falmouth and Scarborough, the Rangers avenged their regular season setbacks with a four set victory over Biddeford in the state match to make it nine championships in 10 seasons.

“We talked about what was going on after the second Biddeford loss,” said Roach, who helped set the tone as a captain. “We weren’t acting like a team. We turned it around.”

Through it all, Roach, a setter, played a huge role. She was equally adept skying for kills, setting up her teammates or serving with abandon.

Roach was at her best in the postseason, racking up 14 kills, 21 assists, five digs and a pair of aces against Falmouth, six aces and nine kills against Scarborough and 14 kills and 16 assists in the state match.

Roach, who was named to the all-state team after the season, also competes in the Junior Olympic program and plays tennis for Greely. She’s a member of the Gay Straight Alliance and likes to sing. She hopes to play in college (Emmanuel College is a top choice) and wants to become a doctor.

Her play on the court this past season was surgical and helped spell another title run. Haleigh Roach, Greely’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, saved her best for last.

Coach Kelvin Hasch‘s comment: “Haleigh has a calmness about her. She has a great work ethic. She just keeps working and working until she gets it right. You don’t find that in a lot of players. She can set any ball and get it in any position. That’s one of her best attributes. She improved tremendously over the past three years. She’s a very good leader.”

Prior winners:
2011: Maggie Bradley (Volleyball)

2010: Kirstin Sandreuter (Cross country)

2009: Erin Cadigan (Volleyball)

2008: Hillary Cederna (Volleyball)

2007: Mackenzie Ross (Field hockey)

2006: Aly Robinson (Soccer)

2005: Amanda Gray (Volleyball)

2004: Rachelle Doucette (Soccer)

2003: Hayly Ross (Field hockey)

2002: Kim Alexander (Soccer)

2001: Amanda Chase (Field hockey)

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