Boys’ Team

JEFF MADORE—Waynflete tennis

The sun rises, the sun sets and come June, the Waynflete boys’ tennis team wins the Class C state championship. Coach Jeff Madore and his approach to the sport is a big reason why.

Madore believes that too much of an emphasis is placed on winning and that can lead to just the opposite result.

“Kids want to win, but I focus on making a positive experience for every kid and developing their skills,” Madore said.

Whatever he’s doing is working wonders and in light of his sustained excellence, Jeff Madore gets The Forecaster’s nod as our Portland edition Coach of the Year, of a boys’ team.

Madore grew up in Rockland playing the “big three” sports, football, basketball and baseball. He played baseball for a short time at the University of Maine and took up tennis as an adult.

His first coaching job was with the Waynflete girls in 2002 and five years later, Madore took over the boys’ program. His first season, 2007, the Flyers fell short of a championship, but every year since, Waynflete has taken home the hardware.

That was the case again this spring, as the Flyers were only bested by defending Class B champion Falmouth and eventual Class B champ Cape Elizabeth before embarking on their annual run through the Class C field.

This spring, the final act came with a bit more of a challenge as a last-minute venue change forced Waynflete to travel to Hampden for a state match which began at 8:30 a.m. Madore’s biggest test that day was ensuring his charges awakened and got to the venue on time. Like they did with everything else, the Flyers mastered the early start and downed George Stevens Academy once more for the title.

Granted, Madore has been given an abundance of riches over the years in some of the best players in the state, but he’s molded a team on every occasion that saves its best for late-May and June.

Madore, a retired chemical engineer who has lived in many locales, but is now happily ensconced in Falmouth, isn’t done yet.

Waynflete should make another run at the top spot next year and behind the scenes, Jeff Madore, our Portland edition Spring Coach of the Year, of a boys’ team, will be the one making it happen.

Previous winners:

2012: Deke Andrew (Cheverus lacrosse)

2011: Mac McKew (Cheverus baseball)

2010: Steve Kautz (Waynflete baseball)

2009: Eric Begonia (Portland lacrosse)

2008 Mike D’Andrea (Deering baseball)

2007: Mike D’Andrea (Deering baseball)

2006: Stephane Pejic (Waynflete tennis)

2005: Eric Begonia (Portland lacrosse)

2004: Mike D’Andrea (Deering baseball)

Girls’ team

JAMIE CHAMBERLAIN, Cheverus Lacrosse

Cheverus’ girls’ lacrosse team finally broke through this season and a longtime coach and ambassador of the sport got to enjoy the sweet taste of victory.

Jamie Chamberlain has done it all when it comes to advancing high school girls’ lacrosse and after coming close on several occasions, this spring, he saw his team capture a championship.

In light of that accomplishment, Jamie Chamberlain is The Forecaster’s choice as our Portland edition Coach of the Year, of a girls’ team, marking the third time (2006, 2007) he’s been honored.

Chamberlain was a runner, basketball and baseball player at Old Orchard Beach and even ran in college in Colorado. He got involved with girls’ lacrosse as an official and began coaching with the Scarborough girls’ program in 2002. After three years with the Red Storm, Chamberlain served as an assistant to Waynflete’s Cathie Connors, the state’s premier girls’ coach, during an undefeated championship campaign in 2005, then took over at Cheverus, as the Stags entered their second varsity season.

Cheverus improved its record from 3-9 to 9-3 and got to the semifinals. The next year, the Stags shocked Waynflete in the semifinals and got to the regional final before finally falling short.

Cheverus got back to the regional final in 2011 and 2012, but lost to Brunswick each time.

This year, the Stags wouldn’t be denied. Cheverus dropped its opener to Massabesic in four overtimes, then won eight games in a row. The Stags wound up the second seed in Eastern A and weren’t even tested in the regional tournament, cruising past Mt. Ararat, Windham and Cony to win the Eastern A title for the first time. Cheverus ran into Massabesic again in the state game and after a sluggish start, rallied, then held on for a palpitating 8-7 triumph.

Through it all, Chamberlain molded new players with his accomplished core and got his players to believe they had no peer.

“Jamie’s a really great guy,” said Cheverus standout Alex Logan. “He works on our strengths and makes us grow as a team. He really knows us. He’s all about team chemistry.”

Chamberlain lives in Scarborough and teaches chemistry at Scarborough High. He’ll look to become a repeat state championship coach next spring.

He’s already won his share of coaching honors. Jamie Chamberlain, our Portland edition Coach of the Year, of a girls’ team, took the final step this season and may have laid the foundation for a dynasty of his own.

Previous winners:

2012: Cathie Connors (Waynflete lacrosse)

2011: Linda Cohen (Waynflete tennis)

2010: Robbie Ferrante (McAuley softball)

2009: Bonnie Moran (Portland tennis)

2008: Cathie Connors (Waynflete lacrosse)

2007: Jamie Chamberlain (Cheverus lacrosse)

2006: Jamie Chamberlain (Cheverus lacrosse)

2005: Rick Supinski (Cheverus softball)

2004: Cathie Connors (Waynflete lacrosse)

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

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