Male:

ISAAC SALAS, Senior-Tennis

• Boys’ state singles champion

• WMC all-star, first-team, singles

Salas, last year’s Waynflete Spring Male Athlete of the Year, came into the season knowing the bar was raised high, but he produced a dazzling punctuation mark to his high school career, leading his team to yet another state championship and in even more impressive fashion, capturing the state singles crown for himself.

Salas played a lot of baseball, hockey and soccer growing up, but when he came to Waynflete as a freshman, tennis had won him over and he demonstrated great ability. Salas played second singles as a freshman and again as a sophomore, then moved into the top singles spot as a junior, where he led the Flyers to a Class C title and made it to the final four of the state singles tournament, losing to eventual champion Brendan McCarthy of Falmouth. 

This season, there was no one better. For the second year in a row, Salas went undefeated in the regular season, besting some of the finest players in not only the Western Maine Conference, but the state.

It was at the singles tournament that Salas sparkled the brightest, however. Seeded second, Salas got past the final four with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Luka Stevic of Lee Academy, then knocked off top-ranked Nick Mathieu of Mt. Ararat in the final match, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Salas then turned his attention to helping Waynflete capture an eighth consecutive team crown and he lost just three games in eight straight set victories to help make that goal a reality.

Salas will continue playing tennis at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

It’s likely we haven’t heard the last of his excellence, but it’s at the high school level that Isaac Salas, Waynflete’s Spring Male Athlete of the Year, will live on in legend.

Coach Jeff Madore’s comment: “Having Isaac as our number one player was a luxury as we started off figuring we were up a match before the cans of balls were even opened. He possesses the traits of the other state champs I’ve been fortunate enough to coach. They all had a great passion for tennis, strong athleticism, excellent skills and a competitive spirit, however, Isaac’s work ethic and competitive drive were unmatched.”

Previous winners:

2014 Isaac Salas (tennis)

2013 Andrew Butler (baseball)

2012 Chris Burke (lacrosse)

2011 Charlie Laprade (baseball)

2010 Brandon Thompson (tennis)

2009 Brandon Thompson (tennis)

2008 Brandon Thompson (tennis)

2007 David Cutler (lacrosse)

2006 Ben Whipple (tennis)

2005 Reid McMullan (lacrosse)

2004 Matt Lacasse (track)

Female:

HELEN GRAY-BAUER, Senior-Lacrosse

• WMC All-Conference, first-team, singles

• Captain

Gray-Bauer broke on to the high school sports scene as an undersized, feisty freshman with the ability to dazzle with her athleticism while wielding a pretty mean viola as well. This spring, Gray-Bauer’s high school career came to a close as she emerged as the state’s most tenacious defender, one who helped her young team enjoy another successful season.

Gray-Bauer grew up in Cape Elizabeth and has spent almost her whole life at Waynflete. She began playing lacrosse in middle school and while she didn’t play much her freshman year, she exploded on to the scene that year in the playoffs when she won some key draws to help the Flyers win the state title. Waynflete won Class B again her sophomore year, as Gray-Bauer’s innate ability to play defense, steal passes and force turnovers helped stymie the opposition. Gray-Bauer earned all-conference first-team honors as a junior due to her defense and work in the draw circle. This spring, the Flyers had few experienced players, so Gray-Bauer had to lead the way and she did so in many ways.

Gray-Bauer, who was also part of state championship teams in soccer and basketball in high school, started the 2015 campaign with a splash, scoring a goal, adding an assist, winning 8 of 9 draws and collecting a game-high seven ground balls in a win at North Yarmouth Academy. Gray-Bauer had another goal, won 9 of 13 draws and had seven ground balls in a win over defending Eastern A champion Cheverus, scored twice against Greely, three times in a win over Gould Academy and three times in a loss to Falmouth. She had two goals and won 10 of 15 draws in a victory over Cape Elizabeth and had two goals, won 8 of 12 draws and collected seven ground balls in a season-ending win at Freeport.

In the playoffs, Gray-Bauer Gray-Bauer won 8 of 12 draws and had six ground balls as the Flyers avenged last year’s ouster with a quarterfinal round win over Cape Elizabeth. Falmouth beat Waynflete in the semifinals, but Gray-Bauer won more than half her draw opportunities in her swan song.

Speaking of music, Gray-Bauer, as mentioned, has played the viola for most of her life and has played with the Portland Symphony for many years. She’ll continue to pursue music at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.

We won’t see anyone quite like her again. Helen Gray-Bauer, Waynflete’s Spring Female Athlete of the Year, could segue from musical maestro to pesky defender at the snap of a finger. She was a student-athlete to emulate.

Coach Cathie Connors’ comment: “Helen did so many things for us.  She led the team in interceptions and ground balls and was incredible on the draw. She was a wonderful team leader and captain. She is an incredible athlete. We could count on her from end to end, but as a low defender is where she really excelled. We will really miss her.“

Previous winners:

2014 Emily White (tennis)

2013 Sadie Cole (lacrosse)

2012 Martha Veroneau (lacrosse)

2011 Scout Haffenreffer (lacrosse)

2010 Morgan Woodhouse (lacrosse)

2009 Christine Ordway (tennis)

2008 Laura Armstrong (lacrosse)

2007 Christine Ordway (tennis)

2006 Christine Ordway (tennis)

2005 Gretchen Koch (lacrosse)

2004 Lily Hoffman (lacrosse)

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

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