Ed. Note: This article will appear in our April 10 print edition.

Male:

MICHAEL MCINTOSH, Senior—Track

• Class B state champion, 55

• Class B state champion, 200

• WMC all-star, first-team, 55

• WMC all-star, first-team, 200

• All-state, first-team

•  New Englands qualifier
  

• Team MVP

From start to finish this winter, McIntosh blew past the opposition and he capped his season and career in fine fashion, capturing a pair of state titles.

McIntosh, a Falmouth resident, came to NYA in middle school and while he’s played golf, soccer (he had an epic game-winning overtime goal against Waynflete in the Western C quarterfinals back in October), basketball and ran outdoor track (he was fifth in both the 100 and 200 and was part of a 400 relay champion last spring), he never ran indoor track until this winter.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” said McIntosh. “It’s different training. There’s no facility here.”

Despite being new to the sport, McIntosh made an immediate splash, winning every event during the league season, regularly breaking his own school record in the 55 and the 200.

He wasn’t about to let up with the onset of the postseason and at the Western Maine Conference championship meet, McIntosh captured the senior 55 (6.68 seconds) and senior 200 (23.32). At the Class B state meet, McIntosh doubled up again, but it wasn’t easy.

“I knew I had to push it at states, but it was closer than I expected,” McIntosh said. “I had two bad starts and fell behind.”

Regardless, McIntosh took the 55 in 6.67 and the 200 in 23.26, once more bettering the existing school mark.

“I never expected to get two school records,” McIntosh said. “I had great support from family and friends and especially Coach (Chris) Mazzurco. I couldn’t have asked for a better coach. He has all the answers.”

McIntosh went on to the New England championships, where he finished 19th in the 55 and 22nd in the 300.

McIntosh is an Eagle Scout, plays guitar and bass in NYA’s Steel Band and is looking to move up in the sprints this spring. Then, he hopes to run track in college (he is still weighing his options).

Michael McIntosh, North Yarmouth Academy’s Winter Male Athlete of the Year, made the most of his one and only indoor track season. His stay with the program was short and sweet and won’t soon be forgotten.

Coach Chris Mazzurco’s comment: “How often do you find an athlete who switches sports that late in his career and can win two state titles in that very same season? Never before has NYA had a male indoor state champion in the sprints, much less two titles in the same year. He was basically unbeatable all season, breaking his own school record in the 55 and the 200 week after week. At the state meet, the races were a bit closer than I think either of us expected, but he was able to pull it off with a heart full of desire. There were several challenges that needed to be dealt with over the course of the season that we knew about coming off of many seasons of spring track, but with some focus, especially in the latter half of the season, the results were quite clear.”

Previous winners:

2012-13 T.J. Daigler (Hockey)

2011-12: Asad Dahia (Basketball)

2010-11: Ian Moore (Skiing)

2009-10: Henry Sterling (Track)

2008-09: Henry Sterling (Track)

2007-08: Ian Nichols (Swimming)

2006-07: Chris Engel (Swimming)

2005-06: Rob Carpenter (Track)

2004-05: Tim DeLuca (Basketball)

2003-04: Dan Bartlett (Hockey)

2002-03: Steve Lawrence (Hockey)

2001-02: Matt Smith (Hockey)

Female:

SONIA LIN, Sophomore—Swimming

• Class B state champion, 100 breaststroke

• All-state, breaststroke

• All-state, medley relay

• All-conference, breaststroke

• All-conference, 200 medley relay

• All-conference, 200 freestyle relay

For the second year in a row, Lin was a swimmer without a team, but she still managed to produce sensational results and again managed to capture a state title.

Lin, a Topsham resident, started swimming at a young age, honed her skills with the Long Reach Swim Club in Bath and came to NYA, which doesn’t have an official team, and trained with Greely. As a freshman, she was the champion in the breaststroke and placed second in the individual medley and was named Winter Female Athlete of the Year.

This winter was just as triumphant. At Southwesterns, Lin was runner-up in the backstroke and came in fourth in the 50 free. She was even better at the Class B state meet, helping the NYA “team” come in 14th by repeating as breaststroke state champion and coming in third in the IM.

Lin also plays soccer and runs outdoor track. She’s also an accomplished musician, who plays the piano and the French horn.

Looking ahead, Lin wants to keep improving in the pool and winning titles. She hopes to lower her breaststroke time to 1 minute, 4 seconds (she swam it in 1:07.09 at states).

Lin, who took part in Nationals in North Carolina following the season, plans to run track this spring and play soccer next fall. She hopes to keep winning titles and breaking records. Eventually, Lin hopes to swim in college while pursuing a major in music and/or art.

Sonia Lin, NYA’s repeat Winter Female Athlete of the Year, is an all-around standout, but has saved her finest performances for the pool. She isn’t done yet.

Greely coach Rob Hale’s comment: “Sonia could be a great poker player. She is cool as a cucumber. You can’t tell if she about to race me or Michael Phelps. The approach is the same, but the bigger the race, the bigger the result. And that all comes from her work ethic. Sonia is of the belief that if you choose to do something to do it to the fullest. She has high standards for herself. Nothing is done half-heartedly. That is academically, musically, or athletically. She also works very hard at being a part of our team. In the winter she wears black and orange, but bleeds maroon and white.”

Previous winners:

2012-13: Sonia Lin (Swimming)

2011-12: Morgan Scully (Basketball)

2010-11: Blair Haggett (Basketball)

2009-10: Emily McKinnon (Swimming)

2008-09: Courtney Dumont (Hockey)

2007-08: Courtney Dumont (Hockey)

2006-07: Ingrid Knowles (Nordic skiing)

2005-06: Ingrid Knowles (Nordic skiing)

2004-05: Kathryn Engel (Swimming)

2003-04: Teddy Fortin (Hockey)

2002-03: Bobbi Dennison (Basketball)

2001-02: Ashley Spicer (Basketball)

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

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Michael McIntosh

Sonia Lin