North Yarmouth Academy Spring Athletes of the Year

MALE

JACOB SCAMMON, Senior—Lacrosse

All-American
WMC all-star, first-team, midfield
Senior all-star

Scammon’s scoring ability helped NYA establish itself as one of the top teams in the state and he capped his high school career with a coveted recognition.

Scammon lives in Freeport, started playing lacrosse in the third grade and came to NYA for middle school. He swung up to varsity as a freshman, then played a key role as a sophomore and junior as the Panthers reached the state final.

Scammon, a middie, who had 33 goals and 10 assists in 2012, had a superb senior season, scoring and setting up teammates with equal ability to the tune of 32 goals and 28 assists.

Scammon had two goals and an assist in a one-goal loss to Yarmouth to start the season, had a goal, three timely assists and grabbed five ground balls in a come-from-behind upset home win over Cape Elizabeth, scored three times in an impressive win at eventual Class A champion Scarborough, had four goals against Fryeburg, scored twice and added two assists in a win over Thornton Academy, scored twice and had two assists in a second win at eventual Class B champion Cape Elizabeth and closed the regular season with three goals and three assists in a one-goal loss to Falmouth.

Scammon bowed out with two goals in a loss to Yarmouth in the semifinals. He was named to the all-conference team, was a senior all-star and best of all, was named an All-American.

Scammon, who also played soccer and basketball at NYA, credits his competitive nature and extra time working on his shot and fundamentals for his success. He will play at the Division II level in college, as he plans to attend St. Leo University in Florida.

This is one player who is only going to get better, a scary thought for those who go up against him. Jacob Scammon, North Yarmouth Academy’s Spring Male Athlete of the Year, had a shot to remember and boasts a future to envy.

Coach Peter Gerrity’s comment: “I was impressed all season with Jake’s maturity. He was clearly the best player on our team, but not once did he take it easy in practice. He’s constantly trying to get better. His unique style of play makes him very fun to watch. He throws a lot of fakes and does remarkable things with his stick, including a handful of effortless one-handed catches on clears. He’s an outside shooting threat with both hands. He had some assists that even the coaches didn’t see until the pass was in his teammates’ sticks. He’s the kind of player who dropped the jaws of his whole bench, coaches included, every game. We’re going to miss him. He was a special player for us.”

Previous winners:

2012: Jake Burns (track)

2011: Ryan Salerno (baseball)

2010: Henry Sterling (track)

2009: Sam Fear (track)

2008: Henry Gleason (lacrosse)

2007: Than Wellin (lacrosse)

2006: Michael Moody (track)

2005: Peter Gerrity (lacrosse)

2004: Brian Chin (track)

2003: Matt Curran (baseball)

2002: Matt Fortin (track)

FEMALE

MURIEL ADAMS, Sophomore—Track

All-state, first-team
Class C state champion, discus
WMC all-star, second-team, discus

Thanks to commitment and hard work, Adams showed dramatic improvement this spring and was rewarded with a state championship.

Adams began throwing at the age of nine, came to NYA in middle school and made an impact as a freshman, placing fourth in the discus at the Class C outdoor state meet (her top throw was 94 feet, 5 inches). She played JV field hockey in the fall and threw the shot put, ran the 400 and 4×200 relay last winter indoors. Then, she set about making her mark this spring.

Adams opened the 2013 season by finishing second to teammate Kayla Rose in the discus, with a top throw of 88-1. That figure would steadily rise. Adams leapfrogged Rose the next time out and won the discus with a top heave of 94-9. She would improve to 95-10 the next meet and win again.

By the Western Maine Conference championship meet, Adams was at her best and was improving in the shot put as well. She was second to Rose in the discus, but threw 97-9. In the shot put, Adams placed third.

That set the stage for states, where Adams unleashed a top discus throw of 107-6 and captured a championship in the process.

“It was pretty awesome to win states,” Adams said.

Adams wasn’t finished and came in 13th in the discus at New Englands, delivering a new personal best of 110-4 in her final attempt.

“I really had fun this year,” Adams said. “I like the team atmosphere. I have great support from my coaches and teammates. Kayla and I were neck and neck and really pushed each other, but we still stayed friends.”

Adams, who lives in Freeport, won the discus and placed second in the shot put at the Junior Olympics, is looking to continue to improve in both disciplines. She plays the trombone in Jazz Band, is a member of KIVA Club and Robotics and volunteers with kids and with Safe Passage. She hopes to throw the discus in college.

First she’ll look to keep getting better while remaining atop the heap. Muriel Adams, North Yarmouth Academy’s Spring Female Athlete of the Year, isn’t done turning heads.

Coach Chris Mazzurco’s comment: “Muriel grew tremendously this year as an athlete and a teammate. The difference between her freshman year and her sophomore was exceptional. In her training, she was focused and consistent, always putting in that little extra effort when needed. As a teammate, although her main event was the discus, she was always willing to step in and run a leg on our 4×400 relay or try out the open 400. Muriel’s successes this season are largely due to her ability to mainly be competitive with herself while focusing on her training and her teammates. Most impressively, at the New England meet, she had fouled her first two attempts in the discus and was at risk of not getting a distance at the meet after driving all the way to Connecticut. She stepped into the ring for her third and final attempt and released a clean toss straight down the middle of the sector for yet another personal record by over three inches. She certainly was able to put the throws together in the big meets when she really needed them.”