The Conway Daily Sun Winter Sports Preview
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The Conway Daily Sun Winter Sports Preview Kennett High senior Justin Olson goes to the hoop for two points. Olson should be one of the top players in Division II this winter. (JAMIE GEMMITI PHOTO) Page 2 — THE CONWAY DAILY SUN, SPORTS - Friday, December 20, 2019 Peter Ames was all smiles after the gymnasium at Kennett High School was named in his honor on Friday, Dec. 13. Here, he thanks community members for their support over the years. Ames, who is the win- ningest coach in school history, had his wife, Joan, their daughter Brittany and his parents, Helen and Phil, on hand for the dedication. (JAMIE GEMMITI PHOTOS) Peter Ames Gymnasium dedication was a success BY LLOYD JONES ankles to his upper thigh. I’m going, ‘Wow,’ these ‘Hey, throw the ball,’ is motivation than yes he was THE CONWAY DAILY SUN things were probably this long (spreading his arms a really good motivator. And believe it or not for the CONWAY — The gym at Kennett High School two feet). He wasn’t very tall, but we knew right younger generations, he has kept alive his snarky now has a name — the Peter Ames Gymnasium away height would have nothing to do with Peter’s personality and sarcasm all these years. — which was offi cially unveiled last Friday with a competitiveness.” “You won’t fi nd another person as dedicated to dedication ceremony honoring the man who coached Haynes coached football and softball with Ames Kennett athletics as Peter Ames. He has dedicated Kennett teams for four decades. and had two of his children coached by him. a large part of his life to Kennett so it is only right Ames and his wife, Joan, were on hand for the “The Conway community has been very fortunate to something right that the gym be dedicated to him. ceremony. Their daughter, Brittany Banda, fl ew up have Peter spend his lifetime working with kids and Congrats Pete.” from North Carolina for the event, and Peter’s par- also it didn’t matter what sports, he did all sports,” he Richard has been in the district 30 years. ents, Helen and Phil Ames of Tamworth, also were said. “He was an athlete, he was a teacher. He would “Coach Peter Ames has given his life to the stu- able to attend, along with countless former players. learn if he was doing something he didn’t know. He dents and athletes in this community. Whether on “It was nice night,” Ames said. “There were a lot of wasn’t going to walk in there and not be prepared. I the football or softball fi eld on the gym fl oor, Coach people I hadn’t seen in quite awhile. I want to thank can’t tell you how happy I am as an alumni, as a friend Ames got the best out of his students and his players everyone for making this so special.” and as a former coach with Peter that he has been and has tremendous success bringing many wins Ames, 65, of Conway and a 1972 Kennett gradu- selected to represent this gymnasium.” and state championships to Conway. ate, coached multiple sports and is career win leader Shaw got really nervous when asked to speak, but “If the legacy of a coach is left in such a manner for the Eagles. He also taught social studies at Ken- the more she thought about it and her “relationship that it should be recognized, the community needs nett Middle School from 1978-2011. with Peter Ames over the years I was honored” and to feel a core or facility after that coach. Tonight, The Conway School Board voted unanimously “I thought, ‘great, here’s my chance for payback.’ Coach Ames will have the Kennett High School June 24 to name the gym, which has simply been “I’ve know Peter Ames in various capacities for Gymnasium forever named after him. He’ll be rec- referred to as the Nest since it opened in 2006, after over 30 years,” she said. “I fi rst met him in 1998 as ognized with the likes of the Seidenstuecker Gym- Ames. an eighth-grader in a social studies class at Ken- nasium, McKean Memorial Field, the George T. Kennett Athletic Director Neal Weaver served as nett Junior High. Soon I moved on to high school, Davison Baseball Field, Gary Miller Stadium, the master of ceremonies for the evening, while former whee I played three years of varsity softball for Pete. Bernie Livingston Oval, the Donald Trimble Field coach Phil Haynes, current Kennett Middle School And one of those being the year we won his softball and Event Facility and the Bob Burns Baseball Athletic Coordinator Gredel Shaw and Superinten- championship in 1994. Years later, I became a coach, Field. Tonight we celebrate the naming of the Peter dent Kevin Richard spoke about Ames. at Kennett Junior High and he helped guide me Ames Gymnasium an hope for many more years of Haynes fi rst met Ames 57 years ago while playing along the way.” athletic success on this court. Congratulations to basketball. Shaw reached out to a bunch of people to get their Coach Ames, job well done.” “I was going to Kennett Middle School and Peter thoughts on Ames. Ames has a resume like no other coach at Kennett was down in Tamworth and as a fi fth-grader was “I heard over and over that he’s an old school High. He coached varsity softball for 33 years, com- playing for the junior high (at the K.A. Brett School). coach. He is tough but fair, dedicated and commit- piling a 456-222 record, while winning four state He came out onto the fl oor and he had these knee ted and motivated. And if by being a motivator, it’s pads, and I swear to God they covered him from his him yelling at you over and over, ‘Hey, catch the ball,’ see AMES page 5 THE CONWAY DAILY SUN, SPORTS - Friday, December 20, 2019— Page 3 Raiders are ready to soar to new heights this season BY JOHN SKELTON THE CONWAY DAILY SUN FRYEBURG — The Fryeburg Academy boys’ bas- ketball team, currently in a run of three consecutive tournament appearances, will hope to extend that streak to four, but with a style in marked contrast to recent perimeter-oriented teams. The Raiders boast seven players 6’2” and taller, and a strong interna- tional contingent, including players from Africa, Europe, the Bahamas and local towns of MSAD 32. Veteran Coach Sedge Saunders knows that it may take time for the group to gel as a team, gain experi- ences to win together and to fi nd player roles. For certain, the Raiders will look to get the ball inside on offense more than any of the shorter Saunders teams of the past three years. Topping the contingent of big men, 6’8” senior center Janik Glave joins FA from Germany. While new to the game, Saunders notes that Janik is “a quick learner. He has a soft touch around the hoop and a good nose for the ball. With continued develop- ment, he will be a solid contributor.” Then there is 6’4” junior center Eli Mahan, fresh off a fi ne football season, who will anchor the paint for the Raiders. Mahan “will be counted on to get the tough rebounds and provide some interior offense for us (as) he continues to improve and gain confi - The 2019-20 Fryeburg Academy boys’ basketball team fi gures to give opponents fi ts with its size and quickness. (JULIAN ZHU PHOTO) dence,” according to Saunders. Coach will also look to 6’8” freshman center Will for smaller opponents. Senior Calvin Southwick, Several of the younger players and new interna- Hallam, who has “incredible potential — wants to in his third year on the FA varsity, provides tough- tionals are adjusting to new teammates and Saun- be a great player in this league, works as hard as ness, defensive tenacity and the ability to get to the ders likes their willingness to learn and get better. any player on the team, and with size and very good basket. Coach Saunders will look to Southwick for With a whole new system, it will be a big adjustment hands, the sky is the limit for ‘big Will.’” leadership and running the team, fi lling roles left by for everyone. Forward positions will be manned by several play- 2019 graduate Oscar Saunders, a four-year player The annual pre-season overnight trip to Mount ers who stand 6’ 2”. Senior forward Jack Watson who was among the Top 20 players in Maine last Desert Island built a lot of camaraderie and confi - returns to the varsity after being a swing player as season. dence entering the regular season. a junior. Watson is lauded by Saunders as having a Senior Ethan Bain, at 6’2”, lettered as a junior. In the fi rst three regular-season games, the Raid- nice touch from the perimeter, great basketball intel- According to Coach Saunders, Bain “has elevated ers (1-2), posted a solid opening night win over Gray- ligence and for being a consummate team player. his game after spending fi ve weeks at a basketball New Gloucester (1-2) by 12 points (55-43) on Dec. Junior Eloi Telebracas earned valuable varsity academy this summer.” 6, before dropping two close low-scoring games to playing time as a sophomore. Saunders appreciates Junior Armel Maloji, also 6’2” tall, has serious Leavitt (3-0), by 46-38, and Greely (2-1), by 45-38, this “heady player who can play inside and out and explosiveness offensively and the ability to play last week.