November 26, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

All-star players, coaches take a bow

Sharon Rines of Levant, who spearheaded St. Joseph’s College of Standish to the Maine Athletic Conference women’s basketball title and a spot in the NAIA Division II National Tournament, has been named the Fleet Bank-MAC Player of the Year.

Rines, a 6-foot senior center, has been instrumental in leading Coach Mike McDevitt’s Monks to four straight appearances in the national tourney. She also was named most valuable player of the now-defunct NAIA District 5 last year.

Rines also has been selected an NAIA Division II second-team All-American for the second consecutive year. The former Hermon High School star averaged a league-high 20.6 points and 8.8 rebounds, shooting 55 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the foul line.

This season Rines broke her own school single-season scoring record, netting 588 points while sparking the Monks to a 23-5 record.

Sara Cashman of Harrington, a freshman at the University of New England in Biddeford, was chosen the MAC Rookie of the Year while Alan Gordon of the University of Maine-Presque Isle was tabbed MAC Coach of the Year.

Joining Rines on the All-MAC first team are Tara Leavitt of Husson College in Bangor, Dawn Ann Higgins and Ann Betts, UM-Farmington; and Stacy Fondak, UNE.

The All-MAC second team includes Steph Shaw, Husson; Heather Brewer, Michelle Davis and Kelly Picard, UMPI; and Danielle Bouchard, St. Joseph’s. – – –

Roger Wing, Eleanor Wood and Gwilym Roberts recently became the first inductees into the University of Maine-Farmington’s new Athletic Hall of Fame. The trio was honored during ceremonies March 13.

Wing retired recently after 32 years as an educator, coach and athletic director at UMF. He arrived there in 1962 as a physical education teacher and coach of the men’s basketball and baseball teams.

He later coached golf and men’s soccer before becoming AD in 1966. Wing continues to coach the golf team and teaches therapeutic recreation.

Wood, a UMF professor of English emeritae, taught at UMF from 1947-75. She is described as one of the most loyal fans of UMF athletics. The Eleanor A. Wood Certificate of Award for proficiency in scholarship and athletics is given annually to the senior female student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA.

Roberts is a professor of history emeritus, having been on the school’s faculty from 1940-83. He coached the Beavers men’s basketball teams in 1942-43 and 1945-46. He is the official campus historian.

UMF’s Hall of Fame inductees will have their names listed on the “wall of honor,” in Dearborn Gymnasium. The induction of former UMF athletes will begin in 1995.

The first class of inductees was chosen by members of the athletic department. In the future, plans call for the formation of a committee and specific criteria for selection. – – –

Senior Paul Peterson, whose dominant play carried Westbrook College of Portland to the Mayflower Conference crown and a trip to the NAIA Division II national basketball tournament, has been chosen as the Maine Basketball Coaches and Writers Association Player of the Year.

Kevin Moore of Husson and Matt Garvey of Bates shared Rookie-of-the-Year recognition, while Westbrook’s Jim Graffam was named Coach of the Year.

The association’s first team includes Raymond Alley of Husson, Nick Browning of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Sean O’Shea of UNE, and St. Joseph’s standouts Steve Schuler and John Wassenbergh.

Second-team selections are Michael Adams, Thomas College of Waterville; Matt Gaudet, Colby College of Waterville; Michael Gillespie, Thomas; Dan LeGage, UM-Farmington; and Chris Sutton, UM-Fort Kent. – – –

Richard “Doc” Costello has been named recipient of the 1994 Maine Association of Basketball Coaches Contributor Award.

Costello, a former longtime coach and athletic director at the former University of Maine-Portland-Gorham, now the University of Southern Maine, will receive the award Friday during the McDonald’s-MABC Basketball Awards Dinner at Newman Gym in Bangor. The honor is presented each year to someone who has provided outstanding service to Maine basketball.

Costello, who directed the UMPG men’s basketball team to more than 200 victories from 1955-71, went on to lead the USM women’s program to more than 200 wins during the 1977-90 seasons.

He was named the NAIA Coach of the Year three times and the New England Coach of the Year once before being inducted into the NAIA and USM halls of fame.


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