Boys’ Team:

DAVID PEARL—Yarmouth Lacrosse

A direct link to the glory years, Pearl helped the Clippers wake up the echoes and return to the state final, leading them to several memorable victories along the way.

Pearl got the most out of a roster which lacked a superstar and through his positive reinforcement, produced a terrific season, earning him The Forecaster’s nod as our Northern edition Coach of the Year, of a boys’ team.

Pearl is originally from Dexter and began playing lacrosse at a boarding school in Massachusetts in the seventh grade. He also skied and played soccer and followed in his father’s footsteps and played baseball (Dad played at Middlebury College and the University of Miami in Florida).

Pearl began with the Yarmouth program back in the days when Barry White still served as head coach. He was one of Craig Curry’s right-hand men during the Clippers’ glory years of 2004-10 (four state titles) and after taking off the 2011 season, rode back in on a white horse to restore order after Yarmouth suffered through a 6-7 campaign, losing in stunning fashion to Gardiner in the semifinals.

Pearl led the Clippers to a winning season in 2012, but they were upset by crosstown rival North Yarmouth Academy in the regional final.

This spring, Yarmouth was back to its accustomed level of excellence.

The Clippers opened with a thrilling win at NYA, on a goal in the final minute. Then, Yarmouth beat two-time defending Class B champion Falmouth on an overtime goal. That set the tone and the Clippers only lost to eventual Class A champion Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth (twice). A second OT win at Falmouth might have been the biggest highlight. The fun continued in the playoffs, as Yarmouth downed Oak Hill, NYA (in breathtaking fashion) and Gardiner to get to the state final for the first time in three years.

Pearl designed a strong gameplan which kept the Clippers close, but ultimately the Capers were too strong and the goalposts were unkind and Yarmouth fell three goals shy.

The disappointment didn’t linger.

“We had a good season,” Pearl said. “Earlier in the season, I said we were rising. Now I can say we’re back. I’m proud of our guys and my assistants, David Maxwell, David Bialek, Hans Tobiason and eighth grade coach Jared Harriman, have been terrific.”

Pearl lives and teaches in Yarmouth (history, at the high school). He and his wife, Amy, have four children, soon-to-be-freshman Conner (a frequent national anthem singer at Clippers games), Sophia, Benjamin and Bella.

Pearl plans to coach for the foreseeable future and hopes to lead the Clippers back to the Promised Land. With several top players returning, that could happen as soon as next June.

Yarmouth is indeed back and the echoes have been awakened. That’s due in large part to our northern edition boys’ Coach of the Year, David Pearl, who has long been synonymous with Clippers boys’ lacrosse success.

Previous winners:

2012: Kevin Winship (Falmouth baseball)

2011: Bob McCully (Falmouth track)

2010: Marc Halsted (Yarmouth baseball)

2009: Mike LeBel (Falmouth lacrosse)

2008: Casey Abbott (Greely lacrosse)

2007: Derek Soule (Greely baseball)

2006: Chris Carpentier (Freeport lacrosse)

2005: Chris Mazzurco (NYA track)

2004: Craig Curry (Yarmouth lacrosse)

2003: Bruce Poliquin (NYA baseball)

2002: Hank Ogilby (Freeport baseball)

Girls’ team:

SANDRA STONE-Falmouth tennis

Chasing perfection is often a fruitless task, but the Falmouth girls’ tennis team has caught it time and again in recent seasons. The Yachtsmen simply win every time out, usually by a 5-0 margin and this spring, extended their match win streak to 93 and their run of consecutive championships to six. Such excellence hasn’t come about by accident. Much of it is due to the devotion and hard work of Sandra Stone.

Stone always has an abundance of talent on the roster, but has found an uncanny way to make the most of all of her players and get them to enjoy the experience in the process.

As a result, The Forecaster is naming Sandra Stone our northern edition Coach of the Year, of a girls’ team, for the third time.

Stone is from Evanston, Ill., and grew up playing badminton and tennis. She came to Maine to attend Bowdoin College and played junior varsity tennis while majoring in economics.

Stone took over the Falmouth program in 2003 and by 2005, enjoyed a state title. Several more followed, including this year.

This spring, Stone had to replace a pair of standout singles players, but the Yachtsmen never missed a beat, thanks in part to the addition of star freshman Julia Brogan and the return of Libby Voccola from a prep school.

Falmouth won the Western Maine Conference doubles championship, the singles tournament and took the team state title as well, winning every match 5-0 until states.

Stone credits assistant Barb Neff for her strategic ability.

Singles standout Olivia Leavitt said that Stone brought several attributes to the team.

“(Coach is) very organized and determined,” said Leavitt. “She wants us to focus and work hard, but we also have fun.”

Stone is still an active player at the Woodlands and doesn’t plan on stopping this good thing anytime soon.

Falmouth appears primed for even more dominance going forward and as long as Sandra Stone, our northern edition girls’ team Coach of the Year, is at the helm, the Yachtsmen will be a force to be reckoned with. One that’s as close to perfect as you’ll find.

Previous winners:

2012: Karin Kurry (Freeport lacrosse)

2011: Sara Dimick (Greely lacrosse)

2010: Julia Sterling (NYA lacrosse)

2009: Sandra Stone (Falmouth tennis)

2008: Julia Littlefield (NYA lacrosse)

2007: Robin Haley (Falmouth lacrosse)

2006: Dorothy Holt (Yarmouth lacrosse)

2005: Sandra Stone (Falmouth tennis)

2004: Ann Harradon (Yarmouth tennis)

2003: Julia Seely (NYA tennis)

2002: Julia Littlefield (Yarmouth lacrosse)

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

Sidebar Elements

---

Pearl

Stone