MALE:

DILLON RUSSO, Senior-Football

• Fitzpatrick Trophy semifinalist

• SMAA first-team defense, back

The “Laser Show” powered the Scarborough football team to superb season. Whether it was passing the ball, running with it or playing defense, Russo was one of the region’s best and most exciting players.

Russo grew up in Scarborough, started playing football in the fourth grade and first made a splash on the Red Storm varsity as a sophomore as Scarborough made the Class A playoffs for the first time. He became the starting quarterback for his junior season and led the Red Storm back to the postseason while combining for over 1,000 yards of offense.

After spending time at elite clinics and camps over the summer, this fall featured a series of superb Russo performances.

Russo ran for a couple touchdowns and combined for nearly 200 yards of offense in a season-opening win at Kennebunk. He accounted for over 200 yards of offense, threw for TDs and ran for another in a statement-making victory over Bonny Eagle, produced over 300 yards of offense and had two touchdown passes against Windham and combined for over 200 yards and scored the winning TD versus Deering. After Scarborough fell from the unbeaten ranks with a loss at Thornton Academy (a game which saw Russo move the ball through the air, but not be able to finish drives), he had two touchdown passes in a win over Massabesic, two more in a loss to Portland, then closed the regular season with three rushing TDs and another through the air in a victory over Gorham.

Russo led Scarborough past Sanford in the quarterfinals with five TD passes, then bowed out with over 255 yards of offense and one last touchdown strike in a loss to eventual champion Thornton Academy in the semis.

For the year,. Russo averaged 163 passing yards per game, 74 rushing and slightly over two TDs. He was also a force from his safety position on defense, averaging seven solo and three assisted tackles per contest.

“I’m very motivated,” said Russo. “I strive to be successful. I got more and more confident as the season went on.”

Russo is also a shooting guard on the basketball team and may play baseball this spring. He hopes to play football in college and may study business.

His game figures to translate to the next level. What college wouldn’t want a player who features the skill, dexterity and leadership of Dillon Russo, Scarborough’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year.

Coach Lance Johnson’s comment: “Dillon was the heart and soul of our team from the first day of summer workouts in June. He went to college camps last summer to improve, he threw four days a week with our receivers and he competed four days a week in our speed, agility, strength and conditioning program. Playing the hardest position to play in all of sports, in the toughest conference in Maine, Dillon has dedicated himself on and off the field to become the best player and person he can be. He put the effort in to make himself a great player. I could never put into words how much it has meant to me to be a part of his life for the last three years.”

Prior winners:

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:

SARAH MARTENS, Senior -Soccer

• SMAA all-star, first-team

Every player dreams of scoring the winning goal in a state game and Martens got to live that dream last month. Of course, that she did the honors came as no surprise, as she had already become one of the state’s most clutch players.

Martens grew up in Scarborough and started playing soccer at a young age. She’s been a key part of state champions in lacrosse in the spring and plays ice hockey in the winter, but she was a star of stars this fall for the Red Storm, which won Class A for the second time in three seasons.

Martens wound up breaking the school record with 20 goals (while adding six assists) and most of those tallies came in the biggest games.

Martens had two goals in a season-opening win over South Portland, scored a goal in a victory at rival Gorham, had a goal and an assist versus Portland, scored on a penalty kick at Cheverus, had a goal against Deering, went off for four goals against Noble and had three more versus Westbrook.

That was a mere appetizer to the heroics Martens would produce in the postseason. She scored twice against Sanford in the quarterfinals, including the winner, scored two more, including the winner, in a semifinal round victory at Thornton Academy (which avenged Scarborough’s only loss of the season), propelled the Red Storm into the state final with the only goal against Cape Elizabeth in the Western A Final, then, made magic against Bangor, with her tally in double overtime which gave Scarborough the title.

“It was one of the best days of my life,” said Martens. “Fighting that long and coming out with a win felt so good. Scoring the winning goal was great, but having everyone with me was special. It wasn’t just my goal. It was the team’s goal. Everyone gave 100 percent.”

Martens also belongs to the Pink Ribbon Club, which raises breast cancer awareness. She hopes to play soccer and possibly lacrosse in college and is in the selection process. She’s interested in studying physical therapy.

She’ll certainly have a tough time producing an encore after a senior season that dreams are made of. Sarah Martens, Scarborough’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, came up big time and again and will long live in Red Storm lore.

Coach Mike Farley’s comment: “Sarah’s so good technically. She had a game winner in every playoff game. She makes the most of her chances. I’m really happy for her. The past couple years, I played her in the midfield. I could have put her anywhere. It’s good to see her be at forward this year. Coming out and playing varsity from freshman to senior year at Scarborough is such a hard thing to do. That says a lot about her as a person. She went out and did the role I asked her to do and did it well. She makes me look really good. Coming into the playoffs, she had 14 goals, nowhere near the school record, but she had six in the playoffs and got it. That’s amazing. That’s what you write stories about.”

Prior winners:

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)

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