Maine Maritime Academy men’s soccer player Christopher Gilman of Old Town has been selected as the North Atlantic Conference Man of the Year, the league announced Tuesday.
A two-year captain of the Mariner soccer team in Castine, Gilman will be presented the award at a to-be-determined date during the 2016-17 academic year.
“Christopher truly represents the Division III Student-Athlete,” NAC Commissioner Marcella Zalot said in a news release. “He has distinguished himself throughout his work on the soccer pitch and in his field of study, as he embodies what it means to be a scholar, a leader and a teammate. He is an admirable choice for the NAC Man of the Year Award.”
Gilman, the second-consecutive NAC Man of the Year recipient for Maine Maritime, was a three-time NAC All-Academic honoree and a 2015 NAC Men’s Soccer Sportsmanship Team selection. He posted 11 points in his career and never tallied a red card or a yellow card throughout 55 games in a Mariner uniform.
“I’ve only known Chris Gilman for a short time, but since meeting him I’ve been unbelievably impressed with his athletic, academic and civic contributions to Maine Maritime Academy,” said MMA men’s soccer coach Billy Shannon.
Gilman, who graduated in May, studied Marine Systems Engineering, while minoring in mathematics, naval architecture and technical science.
Colby names women’s basketball coach
Brittany Gaetano, head coach at Drew University since 2010 and a former assistant at Amherst College, has been named the new head coach of the Colby College women’s basketball program.
A four-year starter during her playing days at St. Lawrence University, Gaetano starts at Colby on August 1.
“We are thrilled to have Brittany joining us to lead our women’s basketball program. We were all very impressed with her as a person and as a coach,” said Tim Wheaton, Colby’s Harold Alfond Director of Athletics, in a news release. “Her personality and character coupled with her experience as a top NESCAC assistant and as a Division III head coach have her well prepared to lead the program forward.”
Colby of Waterville finished 15-11 last year and made the New England Small College Athletic Conference semifinals. The Mules return 11 players, but lost three starters to graduation.
“I knew Colby was a special place as soon as I got on campus,” said Gaetano, a 2007 St. Lawrence graduate. “There is a great sense of community, and I felt an energy and excitement from everyone that was really contagious.”
Gaetano replaces former Cony of Augusta and University of Maine women’s basketball player Julie Veilleux, who stepped down in May after five seasons as Colby’s head coach to pursue a career in the private sector.