Chris Gennaro of Saco, a former standout at Thornton Academy, has joined the University of Maine football team as a walk-on place-kicker, Black Bears head coach Jack Cosgrove announced Friday.

Gennaro was an all-state first-team selection last fall, helped lead the Trojans to a 7-1 record and a Western Maine Class A semifinal berth.

UMaine opens spring practice next week and will have 15 sessions leading up to the 4th Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Scrimmage scheduled for April 26 at 10 a.m. at Alfond Stadium in Orono.