MALE:

THOMAS PITTS, Junior-Soccer

• Western C all-region team

• WMC Class C all-star, first-team

Pitts helped replace fallen star Henry Quesada, scored an abundance of big goals and helped North Yarmouth Academy enjoy another successful season.

Pitts, who hails from New Hampshire, started playing soccer at the age of four and has also excelled at ice hockey and lacrosse. After a promising freshman soccer season at NYA, Pitts missed his sophomore year with a knee injury.

This fall, the Panthers hoped to win a state title, but when Quesada got hurt, it appeared expectations would need to be tempered. Instead, NYA stayed in contention throughout as Pitts had 12 goals and 10 assists, highlighted by game-winning tallies versus Richmond, Freeport and Waynflete.

The sight of Pitts handling the ball while running full speed usually spelled doom for the opposition.

Pitts broke his hand during a quarterfinal round loss to Monmouth Academy, adding injury to insult that day, but all in all, he had a season to remember.

“Someone had to step in,” Pitts said. “I had good teammates. I like to be the best I can be and help out as much as I can.”

Pitts has taken part in Make-A-Wish and hopes to play lacrosse at the Division II or III level. He may take a post-graduate year first.

Thomas Pitts, NYA’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year, was tenacious, talented and came up big for a program which needed everything he brought to the pitch.

Coach Martyn Keen’s comment: “Thomas had a good year for us. Of all my players, he lived and breathed it the most. He had a first-rate attitude. Thomas has a low center of gravity and great speed on the ball. He is an excellent dribbler, causing havoc for opposing defenders and at times he was almost unstoppable. He also cared deeply and always sought to get better and that attitude is priceless for a coach and a team. Whatever he decides to do, he can look back on this season with fond memories and a great deal of pride.”

Prior winners:

2014 D.J. Nicholas (soccer)

2013 Jackson Cohan-Smith (soccer)

2012 Matt Malcom (cross country)

2011 Cam Regan (cross country)

2010 Cam Regan (cross country)

2009 Tim Millett (golf)

2008 Henry Sterling (soccer)

2007 Taylor Gorman (soccer)

2006 James Sterling (golf)

2005 Sean Lynch (soccer)

2004 Nathaniel Bishop (soccer)

2003 Luke Welch (soccer)

2002 Sam Crocker (cross Country)

2001 Colin Minte (soccer)

FEMALE:

LINNEA HULL, Senior-Field hockey

• All-State

• WMC Class C Player of the Year

• WMC Division II all-star, first-team

• Team MVP

• Captain

Hull’s devotion to her team and to her craft spelled great things for her personally and for another triumphant Panthers edition this fall.

Hull came to North Yarmouth Academy for middle school and started playing field hockey in the eighth grade (she was a runner previously). She joined the varsity team as a freshman and was along for the ride as the Panthers got to the regional final that year. She played a bigger role as NYA lost in the state game her sophomore year and she and her teammates managed to persevere with only 10 players and reach the semifinals her junior season.

While NYA had enough players to field a full team this season, barely, Hull found herself moving around to different positions to help the cause (after playing midfield her first three seasons, she spent much of this fall on defense). While that prevented her from earning the headlines she deserved, what mattered most was that the Panthers again succeeded, winning 10 games, upsetting Mountain Valley in the quarterfinals and taking Lisbon to overtime before losing in an exciting semifinal.

“It was an interesting year,” said Hull, who scored her first career goal this season. “We wanted to get back to the playoffs. The team really motivated me. I like to help out. I’m very competitive.”

Hull also throws and jumps in indoor and outdoor track, plays in the string ensemble, is the co-editor of the school yearbook and belongs to Key Club. She is in the process of selecting a college.

Linnea Hull, NYA’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, was the consummate student-athlete, a player who was tenacious and determined, yet happy to help her teammates earn the limelight. As a result, the Panthers were once again one of the most successful teams around.

Coach Julia Sterling’s comment: “Both in practice and in games, Linnea showed her self-confidence and willingness to help her teammates out at any time. She showed me what an unselfish player she was by putting her team first. She was willing to sacrifice the position she loved to play to move to various positions for the team. She’s a true leader, she gave 100 percent at all times, was a positive role model and was highly respected by her teammates and coaches. I was proud to have coached her for her positive attitude, care for the team and her outstanding playing abilities.”

Prior winners:

2014 Elizabeth Coughlin (field hockey)

2013 Kayla Rose (field hockey)

2012 Jen Brown (field hockey)

2011 Katherine Millett (field hockey)

2010 Katherine Millett (field hockey)

2009 Courtney Dumont (soccer)

2008 Nicole Fuller (field hockey)

2007 Allie Tocci (field hockey)

2006 Alex Mack (soccer)

2005 Zoe Filliter (cross country)

2004 Elizabeth Werley-Prieto (field hockey)

2003 Abby Hamilton (field hockey)

2002 Rachael Blanchard (cross country)

2001 Kelsey Wilcox (soccer)

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

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