SPENCER LABRECQUE, Senior – Football
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• Eight-man all-star, first-team
• Captain
LaBrecque was an unstoppable force, on both sides of the ball, and he played an integral role on a storied, championship-winning drive to cap his career in the ultimate style.
LaBrecque played as a freshman, missed his sophomore campaign due to COVID, then stood out as a junior, but the injury-ravaged Clippers managed to win just one game.
Yarmouth was a completely different team this fall, losing just once, while dominating most foes en route to its first eight-man title. LaBrecque spent much of his time on offense blocking for dynamic junior Michael McGonagle, but he still managed to rush 102 times for 767 yards (7.5 per carry) and 20 touchdowns. He caught 10 passes for 154 yards and two scores and wound up scoring 23 total TDs and tallying 148 points. With LaBrecque leading the way, the Clippers wound up rushing for a whopping 3,850 yards and 49 touchdowns.
He was just as superb on the defensive end, making 68 tackles and registering seven sacks, four fumble recoveries and an interception and for good measure, he blocked three punts.
Regular season highlights included two touchdown runs and a TD reception in a season opening victory over Lake Region, two scoring runs in a win at Camden Hills, a touchdown run in a win over Gray-New Gloucester, three TDs in a narrow victory over Mt. Desert Island, three touchdown runs in a win over Morse, two TD runs in a victory over Greely and four touchdown runs in a win over Ellsworth.
In the playoffs, LaBrecque returned an interception for a score, recovered a fumble, had five tackles and blocked two punts, once that was returned for a TD, in a semifinal round win over Spruce Mountain, he then had nine tackles and recovered a fumble in a win at Mt. Ararat in the regional final which avenged Yarmouth’s lone loss and in the state game against Waterville, LaBrecque had 10 tackles, five sacks and recovered a fumble on defense, while gaining 93 yards and scoring twice on 18 carries on offense. With the Clippers trailing late, they embarked on a 16-play drive to glory, with LaBrecque running four times, including a fourth down conversion, and his blocking allowed McGonagle room to score the winning TD from 2-yards out with just 32 seconds remaining for a 30-26 victory.
“Winning this means everything,” said LaBrecque. “We all played for each other. We never lost focus.”
“As the team grew this year, Spencer put the team on his back, he elevated his play and the performance of the whole team,” said Yarmouth coach Jim Hartman. “Spencer was certainly good enough to be the lead back this year, but he was such an extraordinarily great blocking back that we used him in that role. Spencer also excelled as a defensive end. Teams rarely ran his way and when they did very seldom did anything positive happen for the other team.”
Spencer LaBrecque, Yarmouth’s Fall Athlete of the Year, has returned the Clippers to the pinnacle, redefining the phrase all-around standout along the way.
Coach Jim Hartman’s comment: “Spencer was a once-in-a-lifetime coach’s dream. I cannot use enough superlatives to describe Spencer and what he meant to the program. Spencer is a humble and very unselfish young man, who led the team this year. Spencer always put the team and others first. It was as captain that Spencer made his biggest contribution to the team. His humbleness and desire to make those around him better allowed him to be the great leader he was. He led by example, embracing the grind of football and by doing all the little things that needed to be done without complaining, the team began to gel behind him. It did not take his teammates long to realize that Spencer’s way was the right way to do things and they followed him all the way to the Gold Ball. In the playoffs, Spencer really stood out both in practice and in the games, pushing himself and his team harder to the Gold Ball.”
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Prior winners:
• 2021 Steve Fulton (soccer)
* 2020 Evan Van Lonkhuyzen (soccer)
• 2019 Liam Ireland (soccer)
• 2018 Eric LaBrie (soccer)
• 2017 Luke Groothoff (soccer)
• 2016 Luke Laverdiere (cross country)
• 2015 Jack Snyder (football)
• 2014 Adam LaBrie (soccer)
• 2013 Chandler Smith (soccer)
• 2012 Red DeSmith (golf)
• 2011 Chris Knaub (soccer)
• 2010 Luke Pierce (soccer)
• 2009 Eric Estabrook (football)
• 2008 Johnny Murphy (soccer)
• 2007 Johnny Murphy (soccer)
• 2006 Cody Lapointe (soccer)
• 2005 Tim Murphy (soccer)
• 2004 Justin Morrill (soccer)
• 2003 Pat Gildart (soccer)
• 2002 Greg Abbot (soccer)
• 2001 Eoin Lynch (soccer)
AVA FEELEY, Senior – Soccer
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• All-American
* All-New England
* All-State
* United Soccer Coaches Maine Player of the Year
* Class B Player of the Year
* Class B South regional all-star
* Senior All-Star
* Senior Bowl MVP
* High School All-American Game selection
* WMC all-star, first-team
• WMC All-Academic
* YHS Offensive Player of the Year
* Hagstrom Leadership Award winner
• Captain
Feeley was the player that every opposing team knew it had to stop, but was unable to do so. She scored big goals in big games, in every way imaginable and with the season on the line, Feeley came through in the clutch leading the Clippers to a most memorable state championship, capping a season and career that won’t soon be forgotten, a career that is, in fact, far from over.
Feeley burst on to the scene as a freshman, scoring seven goals while earning the program’s Rookie of the Year award, helping Yarmouth reach the Class B South Final. Feeley’s sophomore campaign was first delayed, then abbreviated by the pandemic, but she continued to cement her status as a dangerous goal scorer in limited action, scoring seven more goals and adding three assists. As a junior, Feeley scored some memorable goals as the Clippers returned to the regional final and she was honored at the conference, region and state levels after producing 23 goals and six assists.
If it ended there, it would have been a memorable career, but Feeley’s senior season was one for the record book and the memory bank.
Feeley scored a program-record 34 goals this fall and assisted on two others. She missed a season opening loss at nemesis Cape Elizabeth, then returned with a vengeance, scoring twice in a win over Freeport. Other highlights included two goals in a win over York, three goals, including the decisive tally, in a victory over Greely, four more in a win over Poland, four goals in a shutout victory over Fryeburg Academy, two goals in a win at Lake Region, two more in a victory over Gray-New Gloucester, the only goal, on a penalty kick, in a win over York and three goals in a regular season-ending victory over Wells.
Feeley was even more prolific in the postseason, scoring eight of her team’s 10 goals, including three game-winners.
In the quarterfinals against Freeport, Feeley scored both goals in a 2-0 victory. In a 2-0 win over Gray-New Gloucester in the semifinals, Feeley scored once. Yarmouth didn’t get a chance to earn a measure of revenge against Cape Elizabeth in the regional final, as the Capers were upset by York in the semifinals, but the Clippers got pushed to the brink by the Wildcats, only to have Feeley score her second goal with just 2:29 remaining to produce a 3-2 victory. Yarmouth then dug a two-goal hole against Hermon in the state final, but Feeley came to the rescue, scoring twice before halftime, then finishing a corner kick serve from Macy Gilroy in the second overtime to give the Clippers another 3-2 win and their first Gold Ball in five seasons.
“Our goal was to win a Gold Ball,” said Feeley. “Everyone really stepped up and I’m so proud. It’s just the best way to to go out. Playing for Yarmouth has meant the world to me.”
“Ava’s impact on our team and program goes well beyond some of the most memorable goals and moments in program history,” said Yarmouth coach Andy Higgins. “In addition to the time, effort and energy she has dedicated to making herself a truly special player, she has also continued to grow as a leader, teammate and high-character person.”
Feeley will graduate as Yarmouth’s all-time leading scorer with 71 goals. She also had a dozen assists and went 49-11-2 in her four seasons. She went on to score three goals in the Senior All-Star Game and will also have the honor of playing in the High School All-American Game this month in Panama City, Florida. Feeley will attend and play soccer at Boston College next year.
What a season and what a career it was for Ava Feeley, Yarmouth’s Fall Athlete of the Year. Her heroics will long be the stuff of legend.
Coach Andy Higgins’ comment: “I am very proud of Ava and all she has accomplished on the field throughout her career, but I am equally if not more proud of how she has emerged and continued to grow as a leader and teammate. She is clearly a very skilled, talented, and clutch soccer player but I think she is a better person and leader. She is not afraid to speak up for the benefit of the team, she is a strong advocate for her teammates and is the first to celebrate a teammate’s success. One of the most memorable Ava moments I will take with me came from her (National Letter of Intent) signing day. This was a moment where the spotlight was to be on her and deservedly so, but in speaking to the media, she talked about how proud she was of all her teammates for the season they just completed. Ava, along with many others, worked very hard to help create a positive and team-first mindset and attitude within our program. In a season in which she experienced individual success and recognition, Ava never let that impact her and continued to put her focus and energy toward the team, team growth and team success. If you asked Ava about what she is most proud of this season, her individual accomplishments would be a distant second to winning the state title with her teammates. Ava does a lot of things well for us, one of which is scoring goals. However, she never views a goal as hers, she always views them as ours. Her selfless attitude will have a long-lasting impact on our program. Ava is part of a special senior class whose impact on our program overall is immeasurable. She and her class will be missed next fall, but they have left strong traditions and standards which will guide and impact all we do moving forward for years to come. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to work with Ava for the last four seasons and can’t wait to follow her path as she navigates her next chapter. Boston College is going to love her, she is a special player and a special person. They’re getting a great one.”
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Prior winners:
• 2021 Sophie Dickson (volleyball)
* 2020 Parker Harnett (soccer)
• 2019 Maggie Murray (volleyball)
• 2018 Dominique Moran (volleyball)
• 2017 Sara D’Appolonia (soccer)
• 2016 Cory Langenbach (soccer)
• 2015 Tori Messina (field hockey)
• 2014 Kallie Hutchinson (field hockey)
• 2013 Grace Mallett (volleyball)
• 2012 Monica Austin (golf)
• 2011 Suzanne Driscoll (volleyball)
• 2010 Natalie Salmon (soccer)
• 2009 Kate Darrell (volleyball)
• 2008 Mariah Martin (field hockey)
• 2007 Anna Makaretz (cross country)
• 2006 Nicole Simmonds (soccer)
• 2005 Shannon Gildart (soccer)
• 2004 Melissa Moylan (soccer)
• 2003 Stephanie Whittaker (soccer)
• 2002 Karen Thorp (cross country)
• 2001 Danielle McGee (field hockey)
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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