MALE:

HENRY CURRAN, Senior-Soccer

• SMAA honorable mention

Curran and his teammates embarked on the program’s most memorable journey in a quarter-century. Curran’s solid play in goal was a huge reason for the Red Riots’ success.

Curran grew up playing sports and is an accomplished pitcher. He joined the South Portland soccer varsity team as a freshman and became the starting goalie his junior season. This fall, Curran dazzled, shutting out half of the foes he faced, allowing only 13 goals.

The Red Riots, who came into the season with more expectations than they were accustomed to, started 1-2-1, but came alive and wound up 8-4-2, good for the No. 6 seed. South Portland then blanked Kennebunk in the preliminary round and shocked recent postseason nemesis Gorham in the quarterfinals behind Curran’s final shutout. The Red Riots then played in their first semifinal since 1989, but lost a heartbreaker to eventual state champion Cheverus on penalty kicks.

“It was heartbreaking, but least we lost to the best,” Curran said. “We achieved what we wanted. Beating Gorham was a highlight. We worked hard all season. We were a pretty close team.”

Curran said that his athletic drive started early.

“I grew up playing sports, it’s in my blood,” Curran said. “My parents pushed me hard to stay active and motivated.”

Curran will run the hurdles and distance and also compete in the high jump in indoor track this winter, then focus on baseball in the spring. He hopes to play baseball in college.

He certainly made his mark on the pitch. Henry Curran, South Portland’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year, saved his best for last.

Coach Bryan Hoy’s comment: “Henry single-handedly kept us alive in the tournament with a series of saves toward the end of our game against Gorham, which I’m convinced no other goalie could have made. His ability to deny goals as well as distribute the ball from the back were major reasons for our success. He was also one of the leaders of the team. He always brought a fun and relaxed attitude that made the grind of practice enjoyable. Games became all business. Henry became such a successful goalie by dedicating his time to improving his positioning, but also by setting high goals and working to achieve them.”

Prior winners:

2013: Duncan Preston (Football)

2012: Damjan Draskovic (Soccer)

2011: Logan Gaddar (Football)

2010: Nem Kaurin (Soccer)

2009: Ryan Curit (Football)

2008: Ryan Chapin (Soccer)

2007: Nick Gaddar (Football)

2006: David Knowland (Cross country)

2005: Endy Carrera (Soccer)

2004: Nolan Moon (Cross country)

2003: Eric Giddings (Cross country)

2002: Eric Giddings (Cross country)

2001: Devin Shaw (Cross country)

FEMALE:

CASEY LORING, Junior—Cross country

• All-state, honorable mention

• New Englands qualifier

• SMAA all-star, first-team

Loring continued the program’s tradition of running excellence and is only getting better, a scary thought indeed for the rest of the state.

Loring was a three-sport athlete through middle school and turned to running in high school. As a freshman, she was 10th at the state meet and qualified for New Englands. She improved to eighth as a sophomore and again made it to New Englands.

Loring’s junior season was even better, as she stepped into the lead runner role that was held so effectively by Nyajock Pan and Shannon Conley (both Fall Female Athletes of the Year) in recent autumns.

She opened the season by finishing first in a meet against Cheverus, Marshwood and Windham. Loring won the next week at Massabesic, then came in second at Gorham. At the Festival of Champions, Loring placed eighth. She won one final regular season meet, then produced a solid postseason.

Loring came in fourth at regionals and tied for seventh at states before running at New Englands, where she placed 102nd.

“It was a good season,” Loring said. “I hoped to be top three at states, but I matched my personal record from last year. I always want to be the best. I’m really competitive.”

Loring previously played basketball, but will run indoor track this winter. She’s also run two years of outdoor track. Loring also takes part in Interact and Dream Factory. She’s uncertain about running in college, but knows she wants to go somewhere far away.

When she puts her mind to it, she can certainly get somewhere quickly. Casey Loring, South Portland’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, set the pace this season and we haven’t heard the last of her excellence.

Coach Karen Reardon’s comment: “Casey has been a top runner since freshman year and this year, took on the role of number one runner. She took on the role without a hitch. She helped set the tone for all to go out and compete hard. She’s a fierce competitor who enjoys running and is a very hard worker. Her work ethic is contagious to other runners and they feel good running with her. She brings a lot of fun to the team with her personality and is just a good person to have around. The best part is that we get to do it all over again next year.”

Prior winners:

2013: Shannon Conley (Cross country)

2012: Nyajock Pan (Cross country)

2011: Nyajock Pan (Cross country)

2010: Rebecca Roberts (Field hockey)

2009; Karleigh Bradbury (Soccer)

2008: Annelise Donahue (Cross country)

2007: Annelise Donahue (Cross country)

2006: Kristina Aceto (Field hockey)

2005: Emily Haeuser (Cross country)

2004: Courtney Albin (Soccer)

2003: Christina Aceto (Soccer)

2002: Andrea Giddings (Cross country)

2001: Andrea Giddings (Cross country)

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

Sidebar Elements

---

Curran

Curran

Loring

Copy the Story Link