Longtime Katahdin physical education teacher, athletic director and girls soccer coach Bob Dyer knew he was to be roasted at a retirement party in his honor Saturday afternoon.

But one element of the day’s activities was a surprise.

The school announced that it has named the soccer field after Dyer, who led the Cougars of Stacyville to a Class C state title in 1994, a Class D crown in 1990, and three additional Eastern Maine titles.

Katahdin athletic director Phil Faulkner said Dyer knew about the party, which was held at the school, but the field naming was talked about in the past week or so and was kept quiet.

Faulkner had previous plans to be out of town, but he got caught up on the party news – and Dyer’s reaction to the field’s new name – when he returned.

“Someone said he was speechless, which is rare for Bob,” Faulkner joked.

Dyer taught at Katahdin for more than 30 years. He became the athletic director in 1995 when Faulkner left that position.

“He’s been a fixture here,” Faulkner said.

Freeman heading to MMA

The success that the Maine Maritime Academy women’s basketball team has had over the past few years continues to attract more Eastern Maine stars to the program.

That was a big reason Brewer standout Amy Freeman plans to attend the Castine school next year. She wants to study international business – and play basketball for the Mariners.

“I’ve gone down twice to stay and I love everybody on the team,” she said recently. “I think I’m going to fit in really well there. It’s going to be an easy transition.”

Freeman, one of the Witches’ most athletic players and consistent scorers, was named to the Class A Big East first team and all-defense team.

Freeman will join a team that includes former Bangor High players Ashley Hayden and Amanda Johnson, MDI’s Shelley Gott, Madawaska’s Meghan Marshall, Central of Corinth’s Crystal Parker and Woodland’s Julia Knights.

The Mariners went 9-9 and lost in the first round of the North Atlantic Conference playoffs.

“They got their new coach [Craig Dagan] and that really boosted the program,” Freeman said. “I’m looking forward to a winning season.”

Freeman was also one of Brewer’s top soccer and softball players in her four years. She is the starting shortstop for the softball team, which gained the No. 1 seed for the Eastern Maine Class A quarterfinals Thursday.

Knights’ Noyes resigns

Narraguagus High joined a group of schools looking for a girls basketball coach with word that Steven Noyes has resigned earlier this year.

Noyes, who said in a release he resigned for personal reasons, coached the Knights of Harrington to a 51-26 record in his four years. Noyes was the Downeast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003.

The team made three straight appearances in the Eastern Maine Class C quarterfinals. Narraguagus lost to No. 1 Calais 50-44 earlier this year.

Noyes, who has coached for 16 years in SAD 37, is still coaching at the junior high level and teaches at Harrington Elementary.

He also served as an assistant softball coach to his father, Elliott Noyes, when the Knights won a Class C state title in 2002.

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