Old Town High principal Terry Kenniston believes the school’s new athletic director will bring a new perspective and fresh ideas to the school.

That’s a big reason Old Town’s AD search committee recommended that the school system hire Matt Haney, a University of Maine graduate who has spent the last four years as a Black Bear assistant baseball coach.

The school board approved the committee’s pick Nov. 2. Haney started in his new position Monday.

“Matt is young and he has the kind of energy that the job requires,” Kenniston said. “He’s just out of college, and we’re hoping that he can bring in some new ideas that we haven’t been exposed to.”

Haney is a 1998 UMaine graduate and saw limited time as a Black Bear catcher-outfielder from 1994-97. As an assistant to Maine coach Paul Kostacopoulos Haney was responsible for working with the hitters and the administration of Maine’s baseball camps.

The Orland native and George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill graduate played American Legion baseball and was a player-coach for Worcester Peat of the Portland Twilight League.

That mix of experiences excited the search committee.

“We were looking for someone with organizational skills, someone who is a clear and articulate communicator, who relates well with the kids,” Kenniston said.

The school had about 12 applicants for the post.

Haney, who will also teach physical education classes, replaces Garry Spencer.

Spencer had served as the Old Town athletic director for seven years. He accepted a vice principal position at Central High in Corinth this fall.

Tigers return plenty of talent

There will likely be little relief for the rest of Class C field hockey when Dexter begins its state title defense next fall.

Sure, Dexter will miss its seniors: Left inner Kristy Veazie, who scored 34 goals this year; top offensive players right wing Erika Haiko (20 goals) and left wing Melissa Doody; and right mid Karen Nelson. All were named Penobscot Valley Conference Class C all-stars and had plenty of leadership and experience – the four seniors won three state titles in four years.

But the Tigers will only reload. Seven of the starters from Saturday’s 3-1 state championship win over Hall-Dale of Hallowell are set to return for the 2002 season.

“We have a lot of good players coming back,” said sophomore center mid Brittany Veazie, Kristy’s sister. “We should be strong again next year.”

All seven of those veterans joined the seniors on the PVC all-star list. The Tigers will welcome back three juniors – Amanda Pullen, Michia McKusick and Courtney McCormick – all of wohom started Saturday. Sophomores Veazie, Keriann Patterson, Cindy Koscielny and Courtney St. Germain also started in the state game.

Dexter also had some gems on its bench this year, including freshman Meagan Fogarty, who scored the eventual game-winning goal Saturday.

“We’re losing most of our front line, but we have Meagan Fogarty, and she’ll be good up front,” Brittany Veazie said.

Ponies out of water

The Foxcroft Academy swim team will have to get creative about its workouts this winter. The Ponies will be without their home pool for all of December.

“We’re a team without water,” said coach Ric Hoffman.

Winter practices begin Nov. 19.

FA uses the pool at the Piscataquis County YMCA in Dover-Foxcroft, but the facility is under repair this winter and will be unavailable for the month.

Pool time in Bangor and Orono is already tight, with high schools, YMCA teams and the University of Maine squad all in their competitive seasons at that time.

The members of Foxcroft team who also swim for the Piscataquis YMCA team can continue to swim with the Y. The YMCA team has made arrangements to swim at the Old Town High pool.

“I can encourage them [to swim with the YMCA team] but I can’t force them to,” said Hoffman, who has been coaching YMCA or varsity teams for 15 years.

The team’s only home meet, against Old Town, will now be held at Old Town.

“I feel for my senior kids,” he said. “This is going to be the way they’ll go out, and there’s nothing I can do. But we’re going to do OK, and we’ll have a good time.”

Ellsworth tourney field tough

There are plenty of preseason basketball tournaments in which fans can watch teams get ready for the winter, but the field at the Ellsworth Pre-season Invitational Tournament will be something special.

Three of the four 2001 girls basketball state champions will fine-tune their game at the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 tournament, which will be held at Ellsworth High School.

Class B champ Mount Desert Island, Class C’s Calais and Woodland of Class D are all scheduled to attend the tournament. The Ellsworth girls will also participate.

Teams from Woodland, MDI, Ellsworth and Washington Academy of East Machias will play in the boys tournament.

Jessica Bloch’s High School Report is published each Tuesday. She can be reached at 990-8193 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net