2010-11 Winter Male Athlete of the Year:

JOE VERONEAU, Senior-Basketball

* WMC All-Star, Class C first team

* WMC All-Academic team

* WMC Senior All-Star

The latest product of a storied basketball family led the Waynflete boys’ basketball program to its greatest heights in a decade this winter.

Joe Veroneau completed his evolution into one of the finest all-around players in the Western Maine Conference by leading the Flyers to Augusta, then dazzled with an epic performance in a scintillating regional quarterfinal round victory over Wiscasset in double overtime.

If Waynflete needed a basket, Veroneau tickled the twine. If the Flyers needed a rebound, he pounded the glass, using his size and length. Defensively, he was a stalwart and he emerged as a leader who was greatly respected by his peers.

In light of those attributes, Joe Veroneau is The Forecaster’s choice for Waynflete’s 2010-11 Winter Male Athlete of the Year.

Joe (along with younger sister, Martha, keep reading for more on her) is the latest product of the Veroneau hoops dynasty. His mother, Nancy, played at McAuley. His older brother, Andrew, played for the Flyers and older sister Margaret was a three-time Waynflete Winter Female Athlete of the Year.

Joe Veroneau came to the varsity team as a freshman and was a solid complementary player prior to this winter. This season, he took over and did great things from the get-go. Highlights included 14 points in a win over Fryeburg, 12 versus Sacopee, 17 versus Gould Academy, 16 in a win over Old Orchard Beach, 16 in a rematch with Sacopee, 23 in a close loss to eventual Western B champion Cape Elizabeth, 12 against NYA, 17 in an OT win over A.R. Gould and 15 in a regular season-ending triumph over Gould Academy, which allowed the Flyers to finish 11-5 and earn the No. 4 seed in Western Class C.

That sent Waynflete to Augusta to meet No. 5 Wiscasset in the quarterfinals. The teams would embark on an classic. Veroneau proved to be the difference. He had a season-high 26 points, including the winning basket in the second overtime. The Flyers’ run ended with a semifinal round loss to Dirigo.

Veroneau also runs cross country and plays defense on the lacrosse team in the spring. He volunteers at Maine Med and participates in the Buddy Lunch program at Reiche School. He plans to follow in the family’s footsteps and attend Boston College next year, where he’ll study business.

His business this winter was to amaze with his skill, effort and leadership. Joe Veroneau, Waynflete’s 2010-11 Winter Male Athlete of the Year, capped his career with an inspirational run.

Coach Rich Henry’s comment: “Joe’s been a four-year varsity player and it’s been great to see his development as a player and leader. This past season, Joe was an unquestioned leader of the team, in every aspect that matters. Joe has always been someone who I could count on to play good defense and to rebound. Joe’s scoring ability opened things up for other players on the team to have open shots or lanes to the basket, because of the attention he was getting from the opposing team. He is very bright, has a great sense of humor, was always, always helping out other teammates. Joe has been an absolute joy to coach, and he certainly made his mark on the Waynflete basketball program.”

2009-10 winner: Nate Niles (Nordic skiing)

2008-09 winner: Hassan Jeylani (Basketball)

2007-08 winner: Tom Reagan (Nordic skiing)

2006-07 winner: Lucas Milliken (Nordic skiing)

2005-06 winner: Lucas Milliken (Nordic skiing)

2004-05 winner: David Wells (Swimming)

2003-04 winner: Jeff Bates (Nordic skiing)

2010-11 Winter Female Athlete of the Year:

MARTHA VERONEAU, Sophomore-Basketball

* WMC All-Star, Class C first team

Martha Veroneau is a prolific scorer.

She’s also a lot more.

Just a sophomore, Veroneau became a household name in February when she set a new record for made 3-pointers in the Western C tournament during a quarterfinal round win over St. Dom’s.

While she appears primed to join older sister Margaret as a 1,000-point scorer for Waynflete, her influence goes beyond draining long-distance jumpers.

After her twin sister Catherine went down with a midseason injury, Martha took on the leadership role and, in addition to scoring on a prolific basis, helped her teammates make the most of their abilities as the Flyers enjoyed another deep tournament run.

For her on-court brilliance and in expectation of more greatness to come, Martha Veroneau is The Forecaster’s selection for Waynflete’s 2010-11 Winter Female Athlete of the Year.

Veroneau grew up in a basketball family and is driven in part by the accomplishment’s of Margaret (Waynflete’s 2006, 2007 and 2008 Winter Female Athlete of the Year).

Martha made an immediate splash as a freshman and really dazzled this season. She opened the year with 26 points in a win at North Yarmouth Academy and never looked back. Veroneau led the Western Maine Conference with 16.6 points per game. Top performances included 20 points versus Fryeburg, 25 against Calais, 22 at Traip, 32 versus Hebron, 24 against Greater Portland Christian School and 27 in a rematch with NYA.

Waynflete, which lost in the Western C Final in both 2009 and 2010, once again was a high seed for the tournament and drew St. Dom’s in the quarterfinals. There, Veroneau was close to unconscious, draining a record seven 3s, while finishing with a career high 38 points. The Flyers’ run ended in the semifinals with a loss to Livermore Falls.

While the scoring was impressive, consider that Veroneau was also third in the conference in steals and sixth in assists.

Veroneau is also an elite cross country runner and will look to help lead the storied girls’ lacrosse program to the pinnacle this spring. She’s playing with the New England Crusaders AAU team, volunteers with younger players and also volunteers at Reiche School and at Maine Medical Center. She wants to play in college.

First, she has two years to elevate her legend. Martha Veroneau, Waynflete’s 2010-11 Winter Female Athlete of the Year, figures to keep setting the bar higher and higher and higher.

Coach Brandon Salway’s comment: “Martha was vital to the success of this year’s team. Teams don’t really even try to press us anymore because Martha breaks most pressure pretty easily. She does it all on the floor. We saw many junk defenses and Martha still usually managed to score and keep her composure. She always plays hard. Most were surprised to learn that she was only a sophomore. What I like most about Martha is that she is very competitive. She wants to win. She leads by example. She is always trying to get better and challenging teammates to get better, before, during and after practice. Martha is a great person. Easy to coach. She has a good sense of humor to go along with the drive and aggression. Those are great attributes. She has improved a lot the last two years. I’m looking forward to working with her and her teammates the next two.

2009-10 winner: Morgan Woodhouse (Basketball)

2008-09 winner: Annie Cutler (Basketball)

2007-08 winner: Margaret Veroneau (Basketball)

2006-07 winner: Margaret Veroneau (Basketball)

2005-06 winner: Margaret Veroneau (Basketball)

2004-05 winner: Holly Whitney (Nordic skiing)

2003-04 winner: Betsy Critchfield (Nordic skiing)

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Joe Veroneau

Martha Veroneau