MALE:

BEN GREENBERG, Senior—Football

• Fitzpatrick Trophy semifinalist

• SMAA all-star, first-team, punter

• SMAA all-star, second-team, quarterback

Greenberg was a fierce and accomplished competitor on the field, a gentleman off of it and exemplified the student-athlete ideal during a transcendent season for the Red Storm, which rose from the depths of a 1-3 start to make it all the way to the Western A semifinals.

Greenberg is best known for his baseball brilliance, he’s Maine’s reigning Gatorade Player of the Year for his powerful arm and potent bat, but he’s not too shabby on the gridiron either. He grew up in Scarborough and started playing at a young age, learning to appreciate what the sport offers in contrast to baseball.

“Football teaches so much about life,” Greenberg said. “I really like football. There’s a team aspect that you don’t get as much in baseball.”

After playing on the freshman team his first year of high school, Greenberg played a little on the varsity defense as a sophomore and was a wide receiver and defensive back as a junior, preparing himself to replace Dillon Russo at quarterback this season, something he did with aplomb.

Greenberg threw for 1,021 yards and a dozen touchdowns this fall. He also ran for 844 yards (averaging over seven yards per carry) and 11 TDs, placing him second on the team. If that wasn’t enough, Greenberg punted, returned punts and held on extra points.

Highlights were plentiful.

After struggling in a season opening loss to Sanford, Greenberg threw for 158 yards and a TD and ran for 95 more in a decisive victory over Bangor. He produced over 200 yards in a close loss at defending state champion Thornton Academy and did it again (running for a touchdown and throwing for two) the next week in another frustrating loss, at eventual champion Bonny Eagle. Scarborough wouldn’t lose again, however, for over a month, and Greenberg was a huge reason why. He threw for two scores in a win over Biddeford, then played a heroic role in arguably the most exciting victory in program history, a 58-57, double overtime win over South Portland. In that one, Greenberg ran for 186 yards and four TDs and threw for 102 more with another touchdown. Greenberg then led the Red Storm past Massabesic (running for two scores and passing for another) and Noble (with 150 rushing yards and three total touchdowns) and into the playoffs.

In the quarterfinals, Greenberg threw for two TDs and ran for another to beat Biddeford and send Scarborough to the semifinals, where it lost to Bonny Eagle.

“The second half of the year was good for us,” Greenberg said. “I wish it would have ended differently. We were close-knit.”

Greenberg will spend the winter working out, lifting and getting stronger for baseball, where he hopes to have a strong senior season before taking his act to Fordham University, where he plans to play baseball. He may study business.

He was in the business of starring on the gridiron this past season. Ben Greenberg, Scarborough’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year, is a remarkable talent and an even better young man.

Coach Lance Johnson’s comment: “Ben is a remarkable mature high school student-athlete. He would ask every week for two or three things to improve upon in practice. He improved week to week in all aspects of the game. He learned to put more touch on the deep throws and learned how to read his blockers better as a runner. Ben was a fierce competitor and always wanted the ball in his hands at crucial times during the game.”

Prior winners:

2012: Dillon Russo (Football)

2011: Nick Morris (Cross country)

2010: Mike Cyr (Football)

2009: Trevor Hoxsie (Soccer)

2008: Ian Philbrick (Soccer)

2007: Nate Gove (Soccer)

2006: Jack Snyder (Golf)

2005: Derek Poulin (Soccer)

2004: Brad Carlson (Soccer)

2003: Tim Waterhouse (Cross country)

2002: Travis Hitchcock (Football)

2001: Nial DeMena (Football)

FEMALE:

ABBY MILLS, Senior -Volleyball

• SMAA all-star, first team

• All-State, second-team

Nobody likes sitting on the bench and watching helplessly as their team succeeds or fails without them. Mills decided to channel her frustration of not playing late last season into a senior year to remember, one which resulted in a trip to the state championship match.

Mills grew up in Scarborough and while she has become a star at downhill skiing, she took up volleyball in high school and quickly became an aficionado, joining the varsity team as a sophomore. As a junior, Mills got an opportunity to play after an injury, but was relegated back to the bench for the playoffs and watched in dismay and helplessness as the Red Storm was ousted by eventual champion Greely.

She made of point of not having to watch from the bench this year.

“Abby wasn’t happy to go back to the bench and was literally falling off her seat in last year’s playoff loss,” said Scarborough coach Jon Roberts. “Some girls on the bench complain, but Abby wanted to be in the big game with the match on the line. She made it her mission this year to be in every game the whole time. She focused on improving her weaknesses and made it almost impossible for me to take her out.”

Mills, an outside hitter, not only became a Red Storm stalwart, she was good enough this fall to make the all-conference and all-state teams, after registering 117 kills, 55 digs, 129 service points, 42 aces and a service reception percentage of 85.

Early in the season, Scarborough beat Greely for the first time in program history and Mills played a big role with 11 kills and three digs. When the Red Storm went to Cumberland and beat the Rangers again, Mills had five kills, eight digs and six aces. She had nine digs, seven kills and two aces as Scarborough edged Falmouth in five games in the finale, as the Red Storm went 14-0 for the first team and earned the top seed.

After ousting Kennebunk in the quarterfinals, Scarborough finally beat Greely in a playoff match to earn a berth in the state match versus Falmouth. Despite beating the Yachtsmen twice in the regular season, the Red Storm’s fairy tale didn’t produce a happy ending as Falmouth prevailed in four games. Mills did manage eight kills and seven service points in defeat.

“It was a disappointing ending, but going undefeated was huge,” Mills said. “We accomplished so many goals. We worked well together. We were very close knit. I just wanted to prove that I deserved to play.”

Mills, who also skis at an elite level and plays for the Red Storm’s always strong lacrosse team, takes part in Speech and Debate and hopes to study occupational therapy in college. Don’t be surprised if you see her make a mark athletically at the next level.

That’s because this young lady proved that belief and tenacity can carry you a long way. Abby Mills, Scarborough’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, soared above the net and the competition in leading the Red Storm to the brink of a championship.

Coach Jon Roberts’ comment: “Abby wants to win every drill in practice and gets on her teammates if they don’t give their all. She was a leader on the court. It seemed like every close game we won came down to Abby making a play for us in a clutch situation. I’m proud of what she accomplished.”

Prior winners:

2012: Sarah Martens (Soccer)

2011: Brittany Bona (Volleyball)

2010: Cortney Hughes (Soccer)

2009: Brittany Ross (Field hockey)

2008: Brittany Ross (Field hockey)

2007: Sarah Bonenfant (Field hockey)

2006: Erica Jesseman (Cross country)

2005: Liz Houle (Soccer)

2004: Caitlin Albert (Field hockey)

2003: Zaria Udeh (Soccer)

2002: Caitlin Neelon (Field hockey)

2001: Maureen McHugh (Soccer)

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

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