BOYS’ TEAM

ROCCO FRENZILLI—PORTLAND SOCCER

Not a whole lot was expected from the Portland boys’ soccer team this fall, but it didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to make a statement and they wound up being one of the final four teams standing in Class A.

For leading his squad to a surprisingly strong record, continuing to revel in the melting pot that is Portland High and for providing opportunities for kids of all backgrounds, Rocco Frenzilli is The Forecaster’s choice for our Portland edition Coach of the Year, of a boys’ team.

Frenzilli was also honored in 2010.

Frenzilli grew up in Portland and graduated from Cheverus, where he ran track. He attended Niagara University where he tried soccer, got hooked and played as a junior and senior. He was a co-captain his senior season. Frenzilli returned to Portland, got his teaching certificate from the University of Southern Maine and got a job at King Middle School. The Portland High athletic director asked him to start a soccer program and with the exception of his two years as the PHS athletic director and a stint teaching in Biddeford, Frenzilli has led the Bulldogs since.

While the 2012 campaign was one of Frenzilli’s most challenging, as Portland had to forfeit a game for inadvertently using an player past the Maine Principals’ Association’s age limit and won just twice in its first 10 games before rallying to make the playoffs and win a prelim, this fall was one of the best in program annals.

The Bulldogs made an immediate statement when they went to defending champion Scarborough and beat the state’s Class A gold standard for the first time in the regular season. Portland would win all but four of its games (two of which ended in ties), including a victory over Deering, and wound up earning the No. 3 seed for the Western Class A playoffs.

The Bulldogs then decided to stay awhile, knocking off two-time defending Class B state champion Falmouth (which moved up this fall) in the quarterfinals before avenging a regular season loss by beating Noble in the semifinals. While Portland finally met its match in the regional final against eventual champion Scarborough, its 12 wins tied for the second best this century.

Frenzilli teaches earth science and physical education at Portland High. He has also coached the U-19 rugby team since 1996. He lives in Falmouth with his wife, Kathy. Even at 65, Frenzilli has more energy than many half his age, and the hope is he’ll continue to coach for many more years.

That’s because Rocco Frenzilli, our Portland edition boys’ team Coach of the Year, is a true gem. A wonderful mentor who also knows how to lead his soccer team to triumph. This season was just another example.

Prior winners:

2012: John Wolfgram (Cheverus football)

2011: Brandon Salway (Waynflete soccer)

2010: Rocky Frenzilli (Portland soccer)

2009: John Wolfgram (Cheverus football)

2008: Billy Goodman (Deering golf)

2007: Andy LeFebvre (Deering soccer)

2006: John Simpson (Cheverus cross country)

2005: Jim Ouellette (Cheverus golf)

2004: Mike Bailey (Portland football)

GIRLS’ TEAM

TODD DOMINSKI—WAYNFLETE SOCCER

Waynflete’s girls’ soccer team managed to repeat as Class C state champions this fall, but there were a lot of changes from the 2012 champion. The road wasn’t always easy and the Flyers were certainly tested on many occasions, but the steady hand of coach Todd Dominski helped lead the way to more hardware.

For getting the most out of a team which featured veterans and youngsters and for always exhibiting calm and poise in the process, Todd Dominski is our repeat choice for our Portland edition Coach of the Year, of a girls’ team.

Dominski grew up in Connecticut and played at the University of Southern Maine. He served as the club coach for the Maine Metro premier program and was also an assistant coach at Deering High for three seasons before taking over the defending champion Flyers in 2009. After three near misses, Waynflete got back to the pinnacle in 2012, then managed to do it again this fall.

The Flyers had holes to fill, but Dominski, with a big assist from his captains, steered the team through some rocky patches and produced a 10-2-2 record. After beating Mt. Abram in the preliminary round, Waynflete was forced to go on the road and there were some anxious moments in the quarterfinals, but the Flyers escaped Wiscasset on penalty kicks. They then went to top-ranked St. Dom’s and won with relative ease in the semifinals. After surviving Cinderella Sacopee Valley in the regional final, Waynflete found itself down early, 2-0, to Orono in the state finale, but this group, modeling the comportment of its coach, never panicked, got a goal just before halftime, the tying tally in the second half and the winner in the second overtime to become champions.

Again.

Dominski is still an active player. He works for East Brown Cow Management in Portland, lives in Windham with his wife and three children and hopes to coach for a long time to come.

Waynflete will be fortunate if that’s the case. Todd Dominski, our Portland edition girls’ team Coach of the Year, has shown he has the magic touch.

Prior winners:

2012: Todd Dominski (Waynflete soccer)

2011: Beth Arsenault (Portland field hockey)

2010: Noelle Surette (Waynflete field hockey)

2009: Amy McMullin (Cheverus field hockey)

2008: Ziggy Gillespie (Waynflete cross country)

2007: Patsy Fowler (Cheverus field hockey)

2006: Dave Levasseur (Portland soccer)

2005: Tim Donovan (McAuley cross country)

2004: Jon Shardlow (Waynflete soccer)

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

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