Male:

ANDREW WHIPPLE, Senior-Hockey

* Travis Roy Award finalist

* All-State

* Senior All-Star

* Captain

After winning this award as a junior, the bar was set high, but Whipple raised it again with his tremendous play in a dominant senior season which saw him make school history and be recognized as one of the state’s premier talents.

Whipple was born in Memphis and moved to South Portland at the age of three, which is when he started playing hockey. Whipple has played four seasons of soccer and last spring, played an integral role as the boys’ lacrosse team won states for the first time.

On the ice, Whipple has been a stalwart on a program which has been competitive despite low numbers. Whipple really made his presence felt as a junior, when he scored 22 goals and added 28 assists, earning Athlete of the Year honors.

This winter, Whipple excelled again, scoring 24 times, adding 16 assists. Highlights included two goals and an assist in a win over Massabesic/Bonny Eagle/Old Orchard Beach, two goals in a win over Lake Region/Fryeburg/Oxford Hills, a hat trick in a victory over Westbrook, two goals (including the winner) and three assists in an overtime victory over Mt. Ararat/Lisbon, a goal and an assist in a win over Marshwood/Traip, two goals in a victory over Windham and a season-high six goals in a second game versus Marshwood/Traip. Whipple’s final goal came in a playoff loss to Noble/Wells.

“It was a close team this year,” Whipple said. “We had fun. I knew we’d be young, but the upperclassmen did a good job bringing kids up. The freshmen stepped up.”

Following the season came the exciting news that Whipple became the program’s first finalist for the Travis Roy Award.

“It was very exciting,” said Whipple, of the award, which was won by Falmouth’s Isac Nordstrom. “I didn’t think I’d be chosen. I was shocked. It was a great way to go out. Hockey made me become a more thankful and mature person.”

Whipple hopes to win another lacrosse championship this spring. He’s still weighing his college options (Endicott College and the University of New Hampshire are top options) and could play lacrosse at the next level. His competitive hockey career appears to be over, however.

If so, he’ll bow out as his program’s most storied contributor. Andrew Whipple, South Portland’s Winter Male Athlete of the Year, had a tremendous career and carried his team a long way.

Coach Joe Robinson’s comment: “Andrew being named a Travis Roy Award finalist was huge for our program. It’s the first time in our history it happened and it couldn’t have happened to a better kid. This proves that South Portland kids don’t have to go play elsewhere to be recognized at a higher level. Andrew worked extremely hard and is a great leader and teammate. I’m very proud of him. I will surely miss having him around.”

Previous winners:

2013-14: Andrew Whipple (hockey)

2012-13: Tanner Hyland (basketball)

2011-12: Chad MacWhinnie (swimming)

2010-11: Tommy Ellis (hockey)

2009-10: Zach Horton (hockey)

2008-09: Keegan Hyland (basketball)

2007-08: Nick Wright (basketball)

2006-07: Coleman Findlay (basketball)

2005-06: Tim Clark (hockey)

2004-05: Andrew Cousins (basketball)

2003-04: Max Ludwig (track)

2002-03: Ethan Gato (track)

2001-02: Jesse Ludwig (track)

Female:

MADDIE HASSON, Junior-Basketball

* SMAA All-Star, first-team

* Captain

Hasson was the engine that drove the Red Riots to their best season in nearly a decade and she isn’t done yet.

Hasson grew up in a basketball family in South Portland (her parents are both coaches and older sister, Abby, was the school’s Athlete of the Year four years ago). Maddie Hasson grew up playing South Portland’s youth program and rec league. She started playing AAU (with the Maineiacs) in middle school and made the Red Riots varsity as a freshman. That year, she was named to the SMAA’s All-Rookie team. As a sophomore, now playing for her mother, Lynne, Hasson was seventh in the league in scoring and was named an SMAA second-team all-star. This winter, she was one of the state’s elite players.

Highlights included 12 points in a season-opening win over Noble, 17 in a victory over Westbrook, 15 in a loss at Thornton Academy, 17 points, six steals and five rebounds in a win at Portland, 16 points in a win over Bonny Eagle, 13 points and 10 rebounds in an overtime loss at Deering, 15 points to help beat Scarborough, 19 in a win at Biddeford, 14 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Cheverus, 22 points and nine boards in a win over Marshwood, a season-high 38 points in a victory over Windham, 22 points in an overtime loss to Gorham and 22 points in a second win over Cheverus.

South Portland then made an impressive playoff run, holding off Westbrook in the preliminary round (Hasson had 15 points) before upsetting Deering in the quarterfinals (behind Hasson’s 22 points and seven rebounds). The Red Riots were ousted by McAuley in the semifinals, but Hasson had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four steals.

“I’m glad we made it to the semis,” said Hasson. “I want to win. That’s always my goal. I hate losing.”

Hasson finished with a 16.8 points per game average, averaged 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.8 steals and had a free throw percentage of 75.

Hasson is more than just a basketball player. She’s a three-sport athlete, also playing field hockey and lacrosse. She’s part of Interact, Spanish Club and History Club. She hopes to play in college and figures to have many suitors.

First, she could be in line for a triumphant senior season. Maddie Hasson, South Portland’s Winter Female Athlete of the Year, is always the focal point of the opposition, but consistently exceeds expectations.

Coach Lynne Hasson’s comment: “Maddie is one of the girls I needed to have on the floor most of the game. She did it all for us this year. I could play her at any position. She’s great in the open court handling the ball. She has an uncanny ability to get through people and to the rim. She’s a solid perimeter shooter and was also able to create and pull up off the dribble. At 5-11, with very long arms, she’s a very good offensive rebounder. She got a lot of steals and deflections on defense. She could defend the best perimeter or best post player on the other team. She’s extremely hardworking, competitive, unselfish, is extremely coachable and is a good leader. She did all the little things in practice and games to make us successful.”

Previous winners:

2013-14: Brianne Maloney (basketball)

2012-13: Danica Gleason (basketball)

2011-12: Nyajock Pan (track)

2010-11: Abby Hasson (basketball)

2009-10: Danielle DiBiase (basketball)

2008-09: Brianna Hawkins (basketball)

2007-08: Curry Girr (diving)

2006-07: Kelsey Flaherty (basketball)

2005-06: Christina Aceto (basketball)

2004-05: Whitney Morrow (basketball)

2003-04: Courtney Albin (track)

2002-03: Abby Lesneski (basketball)

2001-02: Abby Lesneski (basketball)

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

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