Nokomis of Newport center Tatum Welch considered following in her sister’s footsteps and playing basketball next year at the University of Southern Maine.

But in the end, Welch decided to make her own way. She’s decided to attend Maine Maritime Academy and play basketball for coach Craig Dagan next year.

The 5-foot-11 Welch is the younger sister of former Nokomis standout and current USM senior Lindsey Welch.

Tatum Welch, who was a KVAC North second-team all-star last year, plans to study business at the Castine school. She’s also excited to play for Dagan, whose Mariners are 11-0 this year and have made two straight trips to the NCAA Division III tourney.

“I knew him from when he was trying to get Lindsey to go [to MMA],” Tatum Welch said. “I knew he was such a great coach. He’s done wonders for that program.”

Welch will join a host of former Maine schoolgirl standouts, including Kaitlyn Leeman and Michelle Ferry of Woodland High and Brewer High’s Katie Quimby, against whom Welch has played in high school. The two are friends now, however.

“It’s kind of hard at first because you know how it is when you’re playing against each other, but once you get to know them they’re awesome,” Welch said.

Swanberg earns academic honor

Caribou boys soccer midfielder Caleb Swanberg has been named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas High School Boys Scholar in the East region.

Swanberg, a senior, is the only Maine player named to the 25-player team and one of just four players from New England. He is ranked first in his class with a 99.17 grade point average and serves as the student council president.

Swanberg was also one of 10 Butch Shaw Award winners and was named to the Maine Soccer Coaches’ Eastern Maine Class B all-star team and the PVC Class B second team.

He was also a PVC track and field all-star last spring and was All-Aroostook in skiing.

NSCAA academic award winners must be graduating this school year with at least a 3.75 grade point average throughout his or her career. Only coaches who are NSCAA members can nominate players.

Broncs gain 4th straight award

Like Swanberg, the Hampden Academy girls soccer program was also recently recognized for its academic prowess.

The Broncos’ 2005 varsity squad was named a recipient of the NSCAA 2006 High School Team Academic Award for a 3.53 team GPA.

It is the fourth straight year and sixth overall the Hampden girls have received the academic honor. Hampden was the only Maine team of 342 boys and girls squads to earn the award.

The 2005 team members were Ashley Blake, Annaliese Lafayette, Marina Fodnaess, Jenna Shue, Nori Francis-Mezger, Hannah Growe, Liz Kiser, Isabel Cravens, Lindsay Spencer, Abby Tarbell-Reynolds, Sophie Kelmenson, Kathleen Macone, Lauren Maltz, Abbey Seitel, Courtney Reeves, Michelle Manning, Lindsay Martin, Mikki Libbey, Lauren Jadallah, Siobhan Grogan, Rylee Rawcliffe and Michelle Wells.

Teams must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average for the entire school year.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.