GORHAM, Maine — University of Southern Maine senior Peyton Dostie of Standish became the first athlete in the history of the Little East Conference women’s track and field awards program to sweep the Track Athlete and Field Athlete of the Year Awards.
Dostie capped her indoor campaign last weekend when she earned NCAA Division III All-America honors in the pentathlon by scoring 3,391 points to finish eighth and ran the anchor leg in the 4×400 relay at the national championships.
At the LEC Championships, she won the 60-meter hurdles (9.08 seconds), the 600 meters (1:39.53) and the long jump (17 feet, 7½ inches). She shared the high jump title (4-9¾) and finished second in the 200 meters (26.10).
During the 2014-15 season, Dostie eclipsed the 60-meter hurdles record four times, including 8.86 seconds set in the pentathlon at the NCAA championships.
The USM women’s coaching staff, led by head coach George Towle, was voted the Coaching Staff of the Year. Other staff members are Mike Drummey, Jim Giroux and Becky O’Brien.
The group guided the Huskies to a sweep of the LEC and New England Alliance titles for the 15th consecutive year and a program best third-place finish at the New England Division III Championships.
Men’s Track & Field
Helderman wins LEC Rookie honor
USM freshman Ron Helderman of Madison was named the LEC Rookie Field Athlete of the Year.
Helderman won three competitions in the pole vault and finished second three times. He was second at the LEC championships at 14 feet, 5¼ inches and scored in the high jump and 60-meter hurdles.
The Huskies’ coaching staff, led by first-year head coach Ryan Harkleroad, was picked as the LEC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year. Assistants were Sarah Burkhardt (jumps), Mike Drummey (pole vault), Charlie Ewers (sprints and hurdles) and O’Brien (throws).
The staff guided the Huskies to their fifth LEC title in the last seven years and a second-place finish in the New England Alliance Championships.
Field Hockey
Div. III scholars honored
Twelve players from Maine colleges have been recognized as Gladiator by SGI/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III Scholars of Distinction.
These student-athletes have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the 2014-15 academic year.
Among Maine’s winners include Olivia Plaisted and Kerianne Downing of Husson University in Bangor; Le-Anne Greenleaf, Emily Lewia, Patricia Smith and Chelsea Morley of the University of Maine at Farmington; and Rebecca Pratt, Bethany Rioux and Allison Ward of the University of Southern Maine.
Also recognized were Brooklyn Curry of Thomas College in Waterville, Danielle Smith and Erika Smith of Colby College in Waterville, Alyssa Alexander of Bates College in Lewiston, Desirae LaBlance of the University of New England in Biddeford and Autumn Zubricki of Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.
UMaine field hockey players honored
Six members of the UMaine field hockey team have been named to the 2014 Gladiator by SGI/National Field Hockey Coaches Association DI National Academic Squad.
Four Black Bears received the honor for the fourth year in a row, including seniors Zoe Berkey of Duncan, British Columbia, Hannah Keating of York, Rebecca Paradee of Gardiner, and Holly Stewart of North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Each had a grade point average of 3.30 or higher during the first semester of 2014-15.
Sophomore Sydney Veljacic of Coquitlam, British Columbia, and freshman Madison Cummings of Belfast also were named to the national academic squad.
Wrestling
USM athletes recognized
For the second consecutive season, University of Southern Maine wrestlers Daniel Del Gallo of Gardiner and Carl Luth of Milford, Connecticut, have been named to the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association NCAA Scholar All-American Team.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must carry a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 and meet one of three criteria: qualify for the NCAA Championships, place in the top six at the NCAA qualifier or win more than 66 percent of matches and wrestle in 50 percent of scheduled dates.