All-star Dylan Tisor accepts the prestigious Bruce Howard Award from his head coach, Mark Lopez, at the fall sports award night held at Mt. Abram High School last Thursday. (David Hart photo) SALEM –- Mt Abram sports officials held their annual fall sports award banquet last Thursday, Nov. 12.

Coaches, parents, the athletic trainer, the boosters club, clock officials, fans and the players themselves were recognized among many others.

This year’s specific athletes were honored along with hearing some recognition of last year’s sports programs.

One of the greatest awards of an evening had to do with an announcement from Athletic Director Jeff Pillsbury who said that Mt. Abram received the Mountain Valley Conference overall sportsmanship award for all sports throughout the 2008 season.

This award is determined by a rating pool from the conference coaches of all high school sports. “I’d like to commend all of you folks. That’s quite an honor,” Pillsbury said. “This is something that you need to credit your coaches, your athletes, your fans and the parents… This is a great honor for Mt. Abram High School.”

This award along with recognition of the 2008 boys’ soccer team which also received the Dave Cox Sportsmanship Award after the season was over, was applauded by the fans and parents in the room. The 2008 boys’ soccer team was recognized by the south central Maine board of officials as exemplifying outstanding sportsmanship.

The gathering in the school cafeteria was separated by the boys’ and girls’ squads to announce team participation awards.

In local award recognition senior Ian Daly was honored and accepted the Art Porter Award. This award is given to those who possess the character of loving and show a true dedication to the game.

Art Potter was MTA’s first soccer coach and a long term team leader for nearly 30 years. “This award is for the love of the game and those who really enjoy the sport and played hard throughout every game and practice,” MTA coach Mark Lopez said.

Jim Barker was announced as the team Offensive Most Valuable Player of the year. Barker scored seven goals and recorded seven assists during the regular season and was a strong force up front and in the middle.

Joey Lampron won the Coaches Award for his hard work, good attitude and positive contributions to the team, Lopez said.

On the girls’ end, head coach Marc Keller announced that Emma Twitchell was deserving of the Most Underrated Player Award.

Katie Buschmann was the team high scorer with 17 goals on the season and was deserving of the Best Offensive Player Award.

There was no question at all that the Field General Award needed to go to defenseman Kylie Rolbiecki, Keller said.

Jillian Withee was named by Keller that evening as deserving the Most Versatile Player Award.

The final team award went out to Emily Luce, who Keller said was deserving of the Coaches Award.

Earlier in the event, Pillsbury announced the Mountain Valley Conference Academic All-stars. These are varsity sports participants who also possessed a grade point average of 90 or better.

From the boys’ soccer program, Ian Daly was announced as the only representative from the boys’ team. For the girls, Jillian Withee, Emma Twitchell, Cree Rousseau, Kylie Rolbiecki, Amanda Richards, Emily Luce and Nichole Eisenhaur were honored.

This year MVC all-star Honorable Mention went out to Amanda Richards and Katie Buschmann.

MTA had many first team all-stars this year which speaks well of the coaches, Pillsbury explained. First Team All-stars were announced and Kylie Rolbiecki and Emily Eames accepted the honor.

MVC Honorable Mention for the boys’ northern division went out to Joey Lampron and Josh Beedy.

For the first team selection of MVC all-stars, Jim Barker, Ian Daly and Dylan Tisor were honored by a round of applause.

The final and most prestigious award announcement concluded the evening when both soccer squads were gathered.

The Bruce Howard Award which was started in 1983 was offered in memory of Corporal Bruce Howard.

Howard played for Art Potter in the early beginnings of MTA soccer, before he joined the U.S. Marines.

“Bruce was a vocal leader on the soccer field and undoubtedly continued this leadership as a U.S. Marine,” Pillsbury said.

“The description of those deserving this award,” Coach Lopez said after the event, is a hardnosed, tough, gritty player and nobody fits that better then who was selected this year.”

The 2009 Bruce Howard Award went out to MVC First Team Selection All-star and Western Senior Team All-star Dylan Tisor.