HAMPDEN – At the urging of a couple of friends in the local soccer community, Kiaran McCormick decided to apply for the boys varsity coaching vacancy at Hampden Academy.

“It was something I did for the experience of the interview,” said the 24-year-old McCormack, a recent graduate of the University of Maine where he captained the Black Bears men’s soccer team last fall. “I had no idea that they’d offer me the job.”

Indeed, when the Broncos begin preseason practices Monday, McCormack will be making his coaching debut after a solid playing career in the collegiate ranks.

A native of Dundalk, Ireland, McCormack played back at Maine for the last two seasons after transferring to the Orono campus from the University of Vermont. He was selected last fall to participate in the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League All-Star Game.

McCormack also was a University of Maine Scholar-Athlete, selected to the America East Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll each of the last two years, and this spring was named the university’s international student of the year.

At Hampden, McCormack replaces Ryan Shaw, who resigned after five seasons.

“His knowledge of the game is outstanding, but what impressed me most was his understanding of what it means to be a high school soccer player,” said Hampden athletics administrator David Shapiro. “He’s a good role model for the kids.”

Shaw led the Broncos to a 62-19-3 overall record and the 2004 Eastern Maine Class A championship. Hampden has reached the Eastern A semifinals each of the last three seasons.

Shaw stressed physical conditioning with his teams, a trait returning players wanted to continue under McCormack’s guidance.

“He’s well versed in training techniques, and in talking with the kids about what they wanted in their next coach they said they wanted someone who will maintain their fitness level,” said Shapiro.

McCormack, whose educational background is kinesiology and health fitness, hopes to complement fitness with heightened soccer play.

“I spoke to some of the players, and one thing that seems to be constant is that all of them said conditioning has been a big factor in their success,” said McCormack. “I also want us to play soccer and maintain possession of the ball and make other teams chase us and call into question their fitness.”

McCormack, who has coached previously in recreational leagues in his native country, was already familiar with several recent graduates of the Hampden program as well as some of the returning players from serving as a clinician at various summer camps in the area.

“We want to get past the point of being competitive and get to the next level, which for us would be a state championship,” he said.

6 earn Baseball Hall scholarships

Two players from Dexter Regional High School are among six recipients of scholarships to be presented by the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame during its annual induction ceremony Sunday at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

Gavin Cote of Dexter, Demitrios Gatzogiannis of Wells and David Longley of Brunswick will receive Edward J. “Packy” McFarland Baseball Scholarships, while Michelle Chapman of Dexter, Kristen Goupille of Washburn and Brooke Harris of Lee Academy will receive Marie W. Noel Softball Scholarships.

The $600 scholarships are presented to recently graduated seniors based on athletic accomplishments and leadership, excellence in the classroom and community involvement. Baseball and softball coaches from around the state nominate candidates.

Cote earned the coaches’ award in baseball, basketball and golf at Dexter while also participating in Key Club, school musicals, as a Maine delegate to the Seeds of Peace camp, as a volunteer coach and in community food drives. He also was named to the Maine McDonald’s Academic All-State Team, and received the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award for Academic, Athletic and Community Service excellence. Cote will attend Ithaca College this fall.

Gatzogiannis was a Mr. Baseball finalist at Wells High School this spring, batting .585 while compiling a 5-2 pitching record with a 1.04 earned run average. The Western Maine Conference player of the year also was has served as head counselor at the Wells Youth Baseball camp. He will attend Bates College.

Longley compiled a 16-4 pitching record over three years at Brunswick. He was a two-year captain for the Dragons and was a first-team All-Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference South selection this spring. Longley will attend Wheaton College in Massachusetts.

Chapman was a three-time Penobscot Valley Conference all-star and amassed 422 career strikeouts as a pitcher. She earned Dexter’s Miss Softball and coaches’ awards, and was named the school’s female athlete of the year. Bound for Manhattanville College, Chapman was a member of Student Council and a delegate to the Seeds of Peace camp. She graduated third in her class.

Goupille captained teams in four sports as a senior at Washburn. In softball, she batted .365 while playing center field and catcher. Goupille also was a member of National Honor Society, band and Kids Kare, and she spearheaded a variety of fundraising events. The senior class valedictorian, Goupille will pursue a nursing degree at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Harris was part of seven state championship teams in four sports at Lee. She was a four-year Penobscot Valley Conference all-star in softball, and was the Pandas’ starting pitcher for every game of her final three seasons, totaling more than 350 strikeouts with an ERA of less than 1.50. Harris participated in Student Council, student musicals, National Honor Society and Peer Counselors, and she graduated fifth in her class. She will pursue a nursing degree at the University of Maine and plans to continue her athletic career on the Black Bears’ cheering squad.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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