Freeport Falcons Winter Athletes of the Year

HENRY HORNE, Senior – Indoor track/Nordic skiing

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• Class B indoor track state champion, mile
• WMC indoor track first-team, 800
* Finish Line Award winner

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Horne was a state champion in indoor track and nearly duplicated the feat in Nordic skiing this winter. Excelling in one of those sports would have been enough to earn this selection, but his ability to dominate in two very difficult endeavors was simply breathtaking.

Horne, who was named Freeport’s Fall Athlete of the Year after a superb cross country campaign and who also competes in outdoor track, finished fourth in the mile indoors as a junior.

This season, he posted a lot of firsts on the track and was a top-10 talent on the ski trails.

Horne won the 800 at the USM relays and at the Western Maine Conference championship meet. He was first in the mile at the WMC meet as well. At the Class B state meet, where the Falcons came in third as a team, Horne won the mile in 4 minutes, 28.86 seconds and took second in the 800 (2:04.14).

Horne also helped the boys’ Nordic ski team to a Class B state title, coming in third in the freestyle (15:12.6) and eighth in the classic (17:41.1).

Horne now turns his attention to one final outdoor track season.

Then, the sky’s the limit. Henry Horne, Freeport’s Winter Athlete of the Year, has shown he’s capable of accomplishing anything.

Indoor track Coach Ginger Ivanov’s comment: “Henry’s main goal was to train hard, run fast times early for indoors and then split his time between Nordic and track to try and help both teams win states. Competing at a high level in Nordic and track is difficult, since different muscles are utilized anaerobically. Henry managed to do both by winning a state mile title in track and placing high in Nordic, which is quite selfless. Henry compromised personal best times for the sake of helping both teams compete for a state title, which is a testament to his character and team-first mentality. He did all of this with a broken collarbone. If he hadn’t sustained this injury, he was in a good position to podium in the high jump at WMC championships as well as states.”

Nordic ski Coach Jess Marion’s comment: “Henry is an incredibly naturally gifted athlete. He is really motivated to do well, but tempers that with a general optimism and goofiness that preclude him from taking any event too seriously. This means he doesn’t really get rattled or stressed under pressure. I’m sure he has internal pressures, but outwardly he just does his thing. This means that when it’s time to execute – when results really matter – he can throw down and perform well without being encumbered by too high of expectations. Henry adds a lot of fun and silliness and ski jumping escapades to our team.”

Previous winners:

• 2021-22 Brian Brogan (swimming)
* 2020-21 Colby Arsenault (basketball)
* 2019-20 Caleb Hunter (skiing)
• 2018-19 Toby Holt (basketball)
• 2017-18 Toby Holt (basketball)
• 2016-17 Yacob Olins (skiing)
• 2015-16 Henry Jaques (track)
• 2014-15 Blake Enrico (skiing)
• 2013-14 Harrison Stivers (track)
• 2012-13 Ryder Bennell (skiing)
• 2011-12 Taylor Saucier (track)
• 2010-11 Ryan Collet (skiing)
• 2009-10 Ryan Collet (skiing)
• 2008-09 Jon Klages (basketball)
• 2007-08 Reid Christian (basketball)
• 2006-07 Danny Mehler (basketball)
• 2005-06 Nate Fuller (skiing)
• 2004-05 Dan Sandberg (skiing)
• 2003-04 Kegan Pettit (hockey)
• 2002-03 Frank Roy (skiing)
• 2001-02 Griff Leach (skiing)

ANGEL PILLSBURY, Senior – Basketball

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• WMC all-star, second-team
• WMC All-Academic team
* WMC Senior All-Star
* Achievement Award winner
* Captain

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Pillsbury proved to be an invaluable leader for a young Freeport girls’ basketball team this winter and if that’s all she did, she still would have been worthy of this selection.

But when you add in what Pillsbury accomplished on the floor, hitting key shot after shot and leading the Falcons deeper into the tournament than anyone could have dreamed, you can see why she’ll long be mentioned alongside some of the greatest players and leaders the program has ever produced.

Pillsbury didn’t have to play a lead role early in her high school career, but proved adept as a point guard and defender. Entering the 2022-23 season, however, Pillsbury found herself as the team’s lone senior, stepped into a captain’s role and helped develop a young but promising group of teammates.

On the court, Pillsbury averaged 13.8 points per game and made 2.8 3-pointers per contest, good for second-best in the conference.

Highlights included 16 points in a win over Morse, 15 points and three steals in a victory over Fryeburg Academy, a career-high 27 points in a win over Poland, 23 points in a victory over Yarmouth, 19 points in a win over York, eight points in Freeport’s first victory over Greely this century and 26 points in a regular season-ending win at Fryeburg Academy.

The Falcons ended up 10-8, surprising many, then shocked much of the basketball world in the Class A South quarterfinals, upsetting Mt. Ararat, 58-53, as Pillsbury went off for 26 points. Freeport was beaten by Gray-New Gloucester in the semifinals, but it was a season to remember and with the younger players learning from Pillsbury, the stage is set for even more success moving forward.

Angel Pillsbury, Freeport’s Winter Athlete of the Year, let her game do the talking this season and did it ever spoke volumes. What a terrific campaign she had.

Coach Seth Farrington’s comment: “Angel went from a quiet freshman, sophomore and junior into the leader of the program. The girls really look up to her and respect her opinion. She set the example. She’s tough, she’s gritty, she’s stuck with the program. She’s a tough kid and I’m just so proud of her. She’s been one of the best leaders this program’s ever had. My best decision of the year was making Angel a captain. She sets the example. She’s our top scorer and our best leader. She’ll be in same category from a leadership perspective as (former standouts) Caroline Smith. Rachel Wall, those types of kids. I’m super proud of her.”

Previous winners:

• 2021-22 Mason Baker-Schlendering (basketball)
* 2020-21 Rachel Wall (basketball)
• 2019-20 Caroline Smith (basketball)
• 2018-19 Caroline Smith (basketball)
• 2017-18 Allie Goodman (basketball)
• 2016-17 Lily Horne (skiing)
• 2015-16 Lily Johnston (skiing)
• 2014-15 Emily Johnson (hockey)
• 2013-14 Nina Davenport (basketball)
• 2012-13 Nina Davenport (basketball)
• 2011-12 Elly Bengtsson (skiing)
• 2010-11 Elly Bengtsson (skiing)
• 2009-10 Adrian Baker (track)
• 2008-09 Molly Susla (skiing)
• 2007-08 Adrian Baker (track)
• 2006-07 Abby Fuller (swimming)
• 2005-06 Lucy Garrec (skiing)
• 2004-05 Logan Crane (track)
• 2003-04 Logan Crane (track)
• 2002-03 Jessica Harold (skiing)
• 2001-02 Molly Pierce (skiing)