Kylie Rolbiecki, a senior of the Mt. Abram girls’ basketball team, was honored at the winter awards banquet last Tuesday, March 2. Here she stands with athletic director Jeff Pillsbury . (David Hart photo) SALEM –- Mt. Abram High School celebrated its winter sports awards last Tuesday, March 2 and there was much applause from those in the room.

Athletic Director Jeff Pillsbury thanked his coaching staff, the parents who support the programs and the many people involved behind the scenes such as score keepers, managers and many others. He also gave a special thanks to the boosters for all of their support this year and over the years.

Pillsbury gave a special thank you to his senior athletes who provide a leadership role to others.

In the first order of recognition, Pillsbury said the sports teams from last year and their fans and parents earned the Mountain Valley Conference Sportsmanship Award. This was determined by the MVC coaches who tallied points throughout the entire year through all sports programs.

“This is a very nice honor and a reflection of our coaches, kids and fans so thank you –-I’m really proud of this award,” Pillsbury explained.

The list of senior academic all-stars was then presented. “You need to be a senior and have a cumulative grade point average of 90 or above. An 89.9 does not make it,” Pillsbury said.

Seniors Devin Littlefield, Amanda Richards, Kylie Rolbiecki, Emily Luce, Jillian Withee, Lizzy Chenard and Nola Dixon were called to the front to receive the recognition.

In basketball, Joey Lampron received MVC honorable mention from the boys’ team and Miranda Smith and Tori Beane were recognized for the girls.

For girls’ basketball Rolbiecki was named to the MVC second team all-stars. Selected for the first team MVC all-stars was senior point guard Jim Barker.

“The ski teams did very well to say the least,” Pillsbury said. Emily Luce was named to the first team all-stars in slalom with Erin Luce who was also selected to the first team in both slalom and giant slalom.

In Nordic girls’ skiing, making it to the first team in classical and second team in freestyle were Annah Houston and Nola Dixon.

Freshman speedster Sadie James made the first team in both classical and freestyle. Holly Thomas made the second team in both disciplines and Lizzy Chenard made the first team in freestyle and the second team in classical.

For the boys, Jake Carlton made the first team all-stars in classical and freestyle. Littlefield made the second team in both events. Nick Carlton made the first team in freestyle and second team in classical. Freshman Jay Chenard made the second team in classical.

Pillsbury called the captains of the girls’ Nordic and Alpine teams to receive the MVC combined championship plaque. Pillsbury also congratulated the boys’ Nordic team for a great season and for the first time in 10 years the MVC champions.

Pillsbury acknowledged the girls’ alpine team for finishing the states championships as the class B runner-up and presented a plaque.

He highlighted the girls’ success by stating the Emily Luce was this year’s slalom and giant slalom state champion.

Pillsbury said that Emily and Erin Luce could qualify for the state team to compete in the Eastern High School Championships. If so this would be Emily’s second year on the state team.

The girls’ Nordic team won the MVC for the fourth year in a row. He mentioned his support for Sadie James who is heading to the J2 championships and made the state team for the EHSC’s. Pillsbury also mentioned that Holly Thomas qualified for the state team.

Pillsbury also said the Jake and Nick Carlton were first alternates for the state team and Trent Rosenberg was a first alternate for the J2s.

Pillsbury said that Rolbiecki was selected to play in the McDonald All-star game in an east west competition of class C and D schools.

The biggest award of the evening was the Richard E. Lovejoy award which recognizes sportsmanship and team leadership. “Richard was an outstanding athlete back in the 1950s at the Kingfield High School and won the Outstanding Sportsmanship Award in Kingfield for two yeas in a row,” Pillsbury explained. He never acted like he was any better than his teammates and was the first to congratulate a teammate or opponent for outstanding play in a game.

This year’s very special honor went out to Mt. Abram senior Kylie Rolbiecki.