Family and friends peppered the bleachers at the Boothbay Region High School gymnasium to celebrate the Seahawks indoor track team March 10. And they had a lot to celebrate.   

“The indoor season was fantastic,” said coach Nick Scott. “We have had a really robust and varied level of competition throughout the entire season.”  

Scott said this year’s team was the program’s largest, with around 25 athletes at each meet. Overall, 12 athletes qualified for the Class B State Championships in 17 events, eight of which were automatic. More athletes qualified this year than in any previous season since 2018.   

At the championships, Karen Higgins took second place in the two-mile run and Rose Campbell took fifth and sixth in the 55m and 200m dash, respectively. Higgins went on to place 19th in the two-mile run at the New England Championships in Boston.   

However, perhaps the most impressive progress happened throughout the season. Scott said the team included some of the fastest girls in school history. Overall, the girls team broke eight out of 14 records this year. For the boys, Ben Gapski from Wiscasset set a program record for the triple jump.   

Scott also commended the team on its positive attitude, dedication and spirit. He said athletes would still participate in long meets to support their team, often returning late on Friday nights, even if they only had one short event. He gave special recognition to AJ Crocker who, five seasons into his high school athletic career, has not missed a practice.  “We had fantastic team energy. This team really does a good job of supporting each other,” Scott said.

Besides handing out varsity letters and pins, Scott presented several special awards. Crocker and Campbell won the Most Valuable Player Awards for earning the most points over the season; Karen Higgins and Neal Baldwin won Most Improved Awards; and Cleyton Splaine and Abbie Clark won the Coach’s Award.   

Scott recognized this year’s roster, made up of seniors Baldwin, Abbie Clark, Bailey Lewis, Chase Mansfield and Splaine; juniors Logan Bourne, Campbell, Ross Gaffney, Kora Mckenney and Nathan Percival; sophomores Jacob Charlton, Crocker, Higgins, Lexi Hughes, Sophia Mansfield and Casey Phelps; and freshmen Caleb Bates, Colby Doucette, Isaac Fanslau, Ben Gapski (Wiscasset), Aron Geddes, Daegen Marshall, Jess Raburn, Moriah Smith and Zuri Smith. Scott, Josiah Winchenbach, Caitlin Shepherd and Josh Higgins coached the team.