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Coach Ingalls cares, teaches life lessons

I have been following with interest the recent matters regarding coach Jeff Ingalls’ contract renewal. I would like to add my voice to the long list of current and former athletes voicing their support for his continuation as the Bangor High girls soccer coach.

I had the opportunity to play for coach Ingalls the first year he coached the Bangor High School girls varsity soccer team in 1993. Though I was only a freshman, he gave me the opportunity to play varsity straightaway. The fact that he was willing to give such a young athlete the chance to prove herself told me immediately that coach Ingalls was not an ordinary high school coach stuck on seniority or favoritism.

Over the next four years, I learned about winning with pride and losing with grace. I learned that hard work and team efforts were the only way to succeed regardless of talent. I learned about reaching a helping hand to people who try, and I learned the importance of respecting people of different backgrounds and abilities. I learned that it was OK to fail, but far better to win next time. Most importantly, I learned that sharing your abilities with a community of like-minded people was the most powerful gift you could give.

The lessons I learned from coach Ingalls have carried me through a Division I soccer career at Yale, and even now, where I am a four-year letter winner for Cambridge University women’s varsity “football” (i.e., soccer team) and incidentally the high scorer for the team.

I have traveled all over the world, met and worked with both billionaires and people who don’t even own the shirt on their backs. I have dined with prime ministers and presidents, worked with world leaders in a variety of fields, met lords, ladies, sirs, and dames. There are few people who have made as deep an impression on me as Jeff Ingalls. Now that I have been away from home for over eight years, I have learned that Bangor, Maine, is a very small place … but very important. It gave me a grounding I will carry with me for the rest of my life. What I learned from Jeff on the soccer field has helped me through so much, and I can only imagine what countless other people have learned from him both on the pitch and off.

I’ll close by saying one thing: It is rare in life to meet someone who truly cares about you, and even rarer to meet someone who wants to make you a better person. Jeff had both those qualities. It would simply be a great loss for Bangor High if he were let go, and an even greater loss for the young women who are on his wonderful soccer team.

Sarah Parcak

Cambridge, England

Tourney memories

The article titled “50 Years of A Boys Tourney (BDN, March 17)” was excellent. As a displaced Orono native who has “seen” these 50 years, this article brought back many fond memories – great names and great teamwork! Thanks to Ernie Clark and the BDN for clearing out some of the old cobwebs from my memory banks.

Matt McNeary

Simpsonville, S.C.

Bangor’s Averill deserves recognition

The March 18 edition of the Bangor Daily News profiled some of the elite Class A female basketball players who led their teams to tournament success. The BDN article failed to include Bangor’s Shirley Averill, who in 1977 led her team to an Eastern Maine Championship title and a berth in the state final against South Portland.

In their 1977 tournament run, Bangor, coached by Joan Sawyer, established the present-day tournament record of 81 points in a semifinal win over Hampden. Averill, who received All-State first-team honors in 1977, contributed 22 points in the semifinal victory. Bangor had advanced to the semifinal after defeating Lawrence in the quarterfinal where Averill scored 28 points.

In 1977, the Maine Sports Hall of Fame recognized Averill for her achievements. Averill continued her playing career at Bates College where she gained state, New England, and regional honors for her outstanding play.

Averill is a member of the Bangor Auditorium Class A basketball history who deserved mention.

Kim Dickson

Bangor

Paralympics featured sincere athletes

The latest flap about steroids only confirms my suspicions that some of these Major League Baseball “fame and fortune” players have taken too many beanball hits. America’s permeated addiction for sports has weakened its ability to recognize that sports’ heroes are nothing more than ordinary people who must take daily choices … as did Oedipus, Everyman, Macbeth, Richard III, and even Bart Simpson!

“If a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do” to achieve baseball fame by injecting his body with steroids, then by all means, let’s legitimatize the steroids – yup, even if early death is the result of choice. Prohibitory and dangerous though current steroid usage may be, at least its availability could be regulated by equity laws. Furthermore, leaving steroid testing of its players in the hands of the NFL is nothing more than promoting the fox to captain of the chicken coop.

However, for those athletes who can’t live without a daily shootup of steroids: why not create another baseball league? Think of the possibility! The birth of a new league with players competing against juiced-up athletes! They could even have their own Cooperstown where the public could honor these greats! Imagine the sports media eating this up. At the very least, we could all agree that the competition was fair!

The BDN story on March 18, “Competitors send message about abilities” by John Holyoke and photo by Beurmond Banville on the Fort Kent Paralympics should be mandatory reading for athletes. Seeing Chinese coach Tiau Baoyu carrying his teammate Jun Li off the course in Fort Kent restored my faith in humanity.

Among the many Casey Stengel gems, this one comes to mind: “I had many years that I was not so successful as a ballplayer, as it is a game of skill.” Somewhere in Casey’s utterance is heard a great personal humility and an astute respect for the game of baseball. Let’s save our praises for real heroes.

Elizabeth Jalbert

Pecoraro

Fort Kent

Pickering epitomizes ‘Sports Done Right’

This is in response to the letter by Bill Elliott entitled “Not Sports Done Right” (BDN, March 22). Sometimes we get caught up in the criticisms of other people because it’s so much easier to do than compliment, or ask why, or try to understand. The Lee coach whom you were criticizing is not at all deserving of your comment.

His “star player” about whom you speak was a star on a team of stars who were selfless and extremely team oriented. To the last player on the bench, the opposition would have found a spirited, enthusiastic sportswoman.

Why was Shelby put in at the end of the game when there was no need? It had nothing at all to do with driving up a score, but everything to do with showing honor for this single senior on the team. We are blessed to have such a young lady in our town, on our team.

Those of you who do not know her personally know only of the accolades bestowed upon her through the media, but you could not even surmise the wonderful human being she is. Time after time she could have driven to the basket and scored, but that’s not Shelby Pickering.

This girl who has won state recognition in a variety of sports had not managed to achieve one personal elusive goal. In her four years at Lee Academy, she had not made a 3- point basket and time to achieve that goal was running out. The crowd was yelling for her to be put back in. As the only senior, she deserved to be on the floor at the end, she deserved the chance to take that shot. She took the shot and it hit the rim and bounced away. It was not to be. That was why she was in and that’s called, “Sports Done Right,” Mr. Elliott!

One comment during awards night which epitomized Shelby’s leadership in the sports field was, “In her four years at Lee Academy, never one time did Shelby ever question or get angry at a ref’s bad call.” That’s some accomplishment in this day and age when outspokenness often comes before knowledge, isn’t that right, Mr. Elliott?

Donna W. Welch

Lee

Bangor Youth Hockey excels as tourney host

I am writing this letter in response to the letter written by Carl N. Ripley of Stetson (BDN, March 22). I have been involved with youth sports in the Bangor area for over 15 years. I have had direct involvement with youth hockey since 1992. I have been the skate shop manager at Sawyer Arena for the last six hockey seasons.

As Mr. Ripley states, it would be wonderful if all youth hockey games could be officiated by qualified adult referees. I hope that means I will see him at the training session for referees next season. Until then, youth hockey is fortunate to have high school age students willing to become certified as officials and available for youth hockey games. All officials start at some point.

As to his claims concerning the game between Auburn and Maranacook played on March 13, 2005, of which I was in attendance and on duty, he should ensure his facts are accurate before mailing in a letter. The Auburn coach did not pull his team from the ice and take them home. What actually occurred is that both Auburn coaches were given game disqualifications and therefore the team was forced to forfeit the game as there was no other coach to continue on the bench.

His charges against the officials doing the game have no basis. Peewees are the first level in youth hockey where checking can take place. Some teams adapt to checking quicker than other teams. The game was not out of hand, other than the Auburn coaches continued harassment of the officials, and the play was no rougher than countless other Peewee games I have watched over the last 14 years. The game was well officiated and the officials called penalties as they saw them.

Bangor Youth Hockey has sponsored the Friendship Tournament for the past 15 years. Bangor Youth Hockey does an excellent job in sponsoring this tournament and never has a problem getting teams who wish to play.

Mr. Ripley should also know that several Auburn parents and fans apologized to arena staff and tournament personnel for the actions of their coaches as they left the arena.

In summation, Mr. Ripley, please check your facts and perhaps secure the opinions of others with a bit more knowledge of the situation before firing off a letter criticizing anyone.

Mike Brooker

Bangor

Do not prejudge young hockey refs

In response to Mr. Ripley’s letter concerning high school youth hockey referees (BDN, March 22), don’t be so quick to judge. I’m not sure how many youth hockey games you have attended, but I have been a hockey mom for 13 years as well as a referee’s mom.

I have seen all kinds of behavior at youth hockey games. My observation has been that nine times out of 10, the coaches and fans could learn a thing or two from these young referees. The behavior I have witnessed from adults in front of their young players has been less than admirable.

Trying to intimidate referees because of their age, screaming, swearing, and throwing temper tantrums is not my definition of adult behavior.

My son loves this game, it is his passion, but he has learned some valuable life lessons on how not to behave from the very adults you feel should be in control of the game. Don’t be so quick to judge an entire group of very qualified young adults because of one bad experience. My son doesn’t judge coaches and fans because of many bad experiences from your qualified adults.

Let’s see, who is the mature one here?

Tricia Soucy

Hampden

More coverage needed on Maineiacs hockey

I am a Lewiston native who lived in Hampden for several months at the end of 2004. Originally when I moved to Hampden I would pick up the Bangor Daily News to see how the Lewiston Maineiacs were doing and I soon discovered that the BDN did not cover the Maineiacs at all. Ironically, the local cable station did show tape delayed broadcasts of the Maineiacs on Channel 9.

For those of you who are wondering who the Maineiacs are, they are the only American team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The very talented Maineiacs boast the talents of several NHL drafts picks including first-round pick Alexandre Picard. The Junior League is also the home of the best 17-year-old hockey player in the world, a young man from Halifax, Nova Scotia, by the name of Sydney Crosby.

So I guess I was surprised on Friday, March 25, when I read the story in the BDN about the city of Lewiston being late on its payment to the former owner of the Colisee. Why does the BDN choose to shed absolutely no light or give any ink to the Maineiacs but when the city makes a mistake the BDN is all over it?

I can guarantee you that in the sports section of the Sun Journal there will be coverage of both the Maineiacs win over Shawinigan and of the unfortunate loss the Black Bears suffered to Minnesota.

Hopefully the BDN will give the Maineiacs some coverage and the hockey savvy folks of Bangor will learn to appreciate the brand of hockey played by the Maineiacs as much as we enjoy watching the Black Bears play college hockey.

Dan Marquis

Lewiston

Note to readers: The NEWS reserves the right to edit submissions for libel, taste, clarity, and to fit available space. Letters should include a signature, full name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters may be mailed to: P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402, or e-mailed: bdnsports@bangordailynews.net