T he end of the Jack Cosgrove coaching era with the University of Maine football program and the naming of 29-year-old Joe Harasymiak as the new coach was one of the top stories for Bangor Daily News readers in 2015.
Cosgrove had been the face of University of Maine football for nearly a quarter century.
During that time, he developed a reputation of placing as much of an emphasis on a student-athlete’s commitment to academics, family and teammates as on his football pursuits.
On Nov. 24, he announced that he was stepping down after 23 seasons to assume the position of senior associate director of athletics. He hopes to use his experience as a coach, leader, fundraiser and motivator for the benefit of the entire UMaine athletic program.
“Football has been the most important thing in my life outside of my faith and my family,” Cosgrove said.
“This position [UMaine athletics director] Karlton [Creech] offered was flattering because it’s an opportunity to work with the coaches and student-athletes on campus and to work in a leadership capacity. I’m excited about it.”
“I’m extremely honored, humbled [and] excited to be given the opportunity,” said the native of Ridgewood, New Jersey. “I’m blessed to be able to be in this position.”
Harasymiak, who recently has been serving as the interim head coach, was selected from among four finalists — each of whom either played or coached at UMaine — to succeed Cosgrove.
His appointment made him the youngest Division I head coach in the country, overtaking Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck, who turned 34 in November.
Other top stories that resonated with BDN readers were the Hampden Academy boys and Washburn High School girls basketball teams adding to their basketball dynasties, the Lewiston High School boys soccer team capturing the Class A state title, the start of the five-class format for high school basketball, Bangor native Jesse Speirs earning a full-time card on the Web.com tour, Lake Region High School track star Katie Hall overcoming diabetes to set a national long jump record, a teen student-athlete without arms finding a home on the Houlton High football team and the Skowhegan High School field hockey team capturing its 13th Class A state title in 15 years.
A gold-ball collection
On Feb. 28, the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Washburn High School senior guard Mackenzie Worcester scored 37 points to lead the Beavers to their fifth straight state championship. Worcester reached the 2,000-point career plateau to help Washburn beat Rangeley 60-54.
At the Augusta Civic Center on the same day, a fast start and dominant finish sparked Hampden Academy to its second Class A boys basketball state championship in three years as the Broncos pulled away from Portland 70-50.
The win was the 14th straight over four years at the ACC for Hampden, which was paced by Brendan McIntyre’s 22 points and 12 rebounds.
A promise fulfilled
The Lewiston boys soccer team made good on coach Mike McGraw’s promise to return to the state final a year after losing and went on to beat Scarborough 1-0 on Nov. 7 at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
A group of talented boys with globe-spanning heritages showed what’s possible when labels are jettisoned and the team comes first.
Return to the top
The UMaine women’s basketball team, after several years of battling to stay out of the cellar of America East, emerged with a rebuilt program by coach Richard Barron to capture the conference’s regular-season title with its 61-41 win over University of Maryland, Baltimore County on Feb. 26 at the Cross Insurance Center. Maine compiled a 14-1 AE record and 22-6 overall mark before losing in the semifinal round of the conference playoffs.
A new look for high school basketball
The Maine Principals’ Association membership overwhelmingly voted on April 30 to approve a five-class format for high school basketball. It was developed largely to address changing demographics throughout Maine, including a shrinking student base and a southward population migration.
Next stop PGA Tour
Bangor native and golfer Speirs completed a long-time goal by qualifying for the Web.com Tour, which is just one step below the prestigious PGA Tour.
He finished in a seven-way tie for 14th in the tour’s final qualifying event on Dec. 13 at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Speirs carded rounds of 68, 71, 68 and 74 for a 5-under par 281 in rounds split over the Champion and Fazio courses.
Best in the nation
Diabetes didn’t deter an outstanding high school track and field career for Hall of Casco, who completed a remarkable indoor track season by soaring to a meet record in the long jump while winning the national high school championship in that event at the New Balance Nationals in March in New York City.
Her winning effort of 20 feet, 11¼ inches was the fourth-longest ever by an American high school girl in competition.
A football home
Isaac Lufkin, a 16-year-old junior on the Houlton football team, earned a spot with the Shiretowners as a place kicker and defensive nose tackle despite being born with no arms. He showed his love of the sport and its camaraderie.
Dominance on the diamond
Less than two months later, many of the same Bangor players teamed up to lead Coffee News of Bangor to a 12-9 victory over Morrill Post 35 of South Portland, giving Bangor its second straight American Legion baseball state title. Bangor erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth en route to the win.
Perennial champs
The Skowhegan field hockey team rebounded from two regular-season losses to rival Messalonskee of Oakland to beat the Eagles in the Class A North final and then went to roll by Thornton Academy of Saco in the state final 3-1 on Oct. 31, sparked by two first-half goals from senior forward Brooke Michonski.