Caribou’s Hunter honored

Longtime Caribou athletic director Dwight Hunter has been awarded a citation by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Hunter, who has been Caribou’s AD since 1966, is one of six AD’s honored nationally by the NFHS this year. NFHS citations are presented annually to “outstanding AD’s in recognition of contributions to interscholastic athletics at the local, state, and national levels.”

“The award is something you certainly cherish and the highlight of my career,” said Hunter. “I feel very honored because there are a lot of great people around the country doing a great job with kids.”

Each state association can nominate one AD for a citation. After being screened and ranked by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), recipients are approved by the NFHS board of directors.

“That’s why I’m so honored to get it because you’re picked by your state membership first and then it goes through two more levels of review,” said Hunter. “Given the scrutiny and the process they go through to select winners, this has to be one of my most cherished awards.”

He is only the second person from Maine to receive the award. The first was Wells athletic director Marty Ryan.

Hunter just returned from the 28th national conference of high school directors of athletics in Nashville, Tenn. The six-day conference wrapped up with a Saturday award presentation/banquet.

Hunter is a founding member of the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) and has served on its board of directors twice and as president once.

He is also 10-time president of the Aroostook League, a charter member of the Aroostook Soccer Officials Board, and the director of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

The former U.S. history, health, and physical education, and biology teacher has been a coach or administrator at Caribou since 1961, when he was named basketball coach after graduating from the University of Maine. He also has coached soccer, cross country, track and field, and skiing.

A University of Maine-produced film about reducing and preventing women’s and girls sports injuries was named a finalist in the American Medical Association’s International Health and Medical Film Competition.

The video, called “The Female Athlete,” was made by the Maine Center for Coaching Education, which is a part of the College of Education and Human Development.

Bangor orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Gary Parker is the instructor in the video. Mattanawcook Academy’s Lynne Haynes, an 18-year physical education teacher at the school in Lincoln, narrates.

Parker and Haynes discuss myriad common sports injuries that can occur in high school-age girls, including the relationship between eating disorders and early bone loss, shoulder and knee injuries, and problems with the lower leg and foot.

“The focus was to bring new coaches up to speed because many of them don’t have the medical background,” Parker said. “And many of the trainers use methods meant for men. Much of the issues in the video are overlooked, especially the eating disorder stuff.”

John Zaccaro, the executive producer of the AMA’s competition, said there were 700 entries in 40 categories. Finalists were the top five to seven videos in each category.

“It’s really an honor to be a finalist,” Zaccaro said.

To purchase a copy of “The Female Athlete” or other MCCE videos about effective soccer and basketball coaching techniques or strength training, call the MCCE at 581-2443.

The Maine Association of Basketball Coaches’ annual free throw competition will be held Sunday, Jan. 4, from 1-4 p.m. at four regional sites.

In the south, participants should report to Gorham High School. The central region site is Waterville High School. Eastern participants will shoot at Eastern Maine Technical College in Bangor and the northern contest will be held at Washburn High School.