NICK LAUGHLIN, Senior – Football
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• Class C South all-star, first-team offense
* Class C South all-star, first-team defense
* Class C South all-star, first-team special teams
• Campbell Conference Class C Player of the Year
If something dynamic could be accomplished on the gridiron, Laughlin managed to achieve it throughout his high school career and especially during a senior campaign that was second to none.
Laughlin followed in his older brother Matt’s footsteps and started playing football in the fourth grade (his father was quite a player back in the day as well). Laughlin quickly emerged as a player who was unstoppable with the ball in his hands and his quickness and hard-hitting ways made an impact on defense as well. After losing out on his sophomore season due to the pandemic, Laughlin played an integral role in the Capers’ run to their first state title as a junior in 2021, scoring 28 touchdowns and leading the team in tackles.
This fall, Laughlin was clearly Cape Elizabeth’s most dangerous weapon and he put up monster stats, rushing for 1,087 yards and 17 touchdowns on 103 carries (a 10.6 yard per carry average), catching 57 passes for 852 yards and 10 scores and returning two kickoffs for touchdowns (in truth, he rarely got to make a punt or a kickoff return). Defensively, Laughlin had 84.5 tackles (38 of them solo) and had four interceptions. When all was said and done, Laughlin had a total of 2,165 all-purpose yards and 29 TDs.
Laughlin started by producing a whopping 400 all-purpose yards in a season-opening win at Gorham, gaining 173 yards and scoring twice on the ground, picking up 180 yards with two more TDs through the air and 47 yards on returns. Other highlights included touchdowns on a run, a reception and a return in a loss at Wells, 151 rushing yards and a touchdown in a win over Falmouth, five TDs, including one on the opening kickoff, and over 300 all-purpose yards in a decisive victory at South Portland, 10 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and fumble recovery in a win over Westbrook, two touchdown runs in a narrow loss at Leavitt, three touchdowns and over 100 receiving yards in a win at York, 177 rushing yards and three TDs, as well as four receptions for 53 yards, in a quarterfinal round win over Fryeburg Academy and a touchdown run and two TD receptions in a semifinal round victory at Wells. Cape Elizabeth was blanked by eventual champion Leavitt in the Class C South Final.
“We made the most of what we had,” said Laughlin. “Playing high school football made me fall in love with the game even more. It was great to win a state championship and be a part of a team that was that close.”
For his career, Laughlin gained 1,828 rushing yards and scored 27 touchdowns, caught 108 passes for 1,945 yards and 30 scores, had 34 punt and kickoff returns for 1,195 yards and eight TDs and on defense, registered 221.5 tackles and nine interceptions. In his three seasons, Laughlin had 5,118 all-purpose yards and found paydirt on 65 occasions.
Laughlin, a true three-sport standout, who also makes a mark hockey and lacrosse, hopes to play football in college and is weighing his many options.
He’ll be remembered as one of the finest players in program history. Nick Laughlin, Cape Elizabeth’s Fall Athlete of the Year, literally did it all and dazzled fans with his brilliance.
Coach Sean Green’s comment: “Nick is the best football player I have ever coached. I have never coached anyone that was as dynamic as him. He is a true three-phase player. He is an even better young man. I am excited for his future endeavors in college and cannot wait to watch him play at the next level.”
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Prior winners:
• 2021 Caden McDuffie (football)
* 2020 Nick Clifford (soccer)
• 2019 Jack Bassett (cross country)
• 2018 John O’Connor (soccer)
• 2017 Austin Legge (golf)
• 2016 Ben Ekedahl (football)
• 2015 Jack O’Rourke (football)
• 2014 Jack Drinan (football)
• 2013 Liam Simpson (cross country)
• 2012 Reese McFarlane (golf)
• 2011 Tim Lavallee (soccer)
• 2010 Jack Queeney (soccer)
• 2009 Ezra Wolfinger (football)
• 2008 Nate Lavallee (football)
• 2007 Jim Bump (football)
• 2006 Graham Egan (cross country)
• 2005 Mike Kertes (football)
• 2004 Ron Kelton (golf)
• 2003 Elliot Cohen (football)
• 2002 David Croft (soccer)
• 2001 Jeff Hodge (soccer)
GRACE GRAY, Senior – Field hockey
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• All-State
* WMC Class B Player of the Year
• WMC Class B all-star, first-team
• WMC All-Academic
* MFHA All-Academic
* Linda Whitney Outstanding Player award
* Terese Gordon Libby award
* Team MVP
Gray will be remembered as an all-time program great, a player who elevated the Capers from anonymity into one of the top contenders in Class B South and she was just as content setting up teammates and she was rattling the cage herself.
Gray started playing field hockey in the second grade and quickly fell in love with it.
“Field hockey has always been my top sport,” Gray said.
Gray joined the varsity team as a freshman and took her inspiration from an older teammate.
“I looked up to Isabel Berman (Class of 2020),” said Gray. “Playing field hockey made me more confident. I really liked the team dynamic.”
Gray quickly emerged as a top scorer, but Cape Elizabeth lost in the quarterfinals her freshman year, then had its season cut short by COVID her sophomore campaign. Gray and the Capers then burst into the public’s consciousness in 2021, as Cape Elizabeth won 13 games and made it to the regional final for the first time since 2000, with Gray, an all-state selection, leading the way.
This fall, Gray scored 29 goals and added 17 assists as Cape Elizabeth enjoyed another memorable campaign.
Highlights included four goals in a win at Wells, two goals in a victory over Greely, three assists in a win over Lake Region, five goals in a victory over Yarmouth, a goal and an assist in a win over Fryeburg Academy, six goals in a victory over Poland, four goals in a win over Gray-New Gloucester/North Yarmouth Academy and a goal and an assist in a second victory over Lake Region.
In the playoffs, Gray had a goal in a quarterfinal round win over Fryeburg Academy, then scored her final goal in a semifinal round loss to Freeport.
Gray finished her career with 69 goals and 46 assists.
Gray, who has also played basketball and taken part in swimming and track during her high school career, is weighing her college options. Whether or not field hockey is part of her plans remains to be seen.
If so, college field hockey fans will be in for a treat. Regardless, Grace Gray, Cape Elizabeth’s Fall Athlete of the Year, left an indelible mark on the Capers’ program and helped turn them into one of the finest teams around.
Coach Maura Bisogni’s comment: “Grace was force for us, for sure. Since her freshman year, Grace has made an impact on our program. Her goal stats are impressive, but in addition to that, she is a great teammate, leader and a playmaker all over the field. We will miss her on and off the field next year, but know she has inspired a whole new group of Cape Elizabeth field hockey players.”
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Prior winners:
• 2021 Emily Supple (soccer)
* 2020 Maggie Cochran (soccer)
• 2019 Maggie Cochran (soccer)
• 2018 Prezli Piscopo (soccer)
• 2017 Maggie Dadmun (volleyball)
• 2016 Mariah Deschino (soccer)
• 2015 Maddie Bowe (volleyball)
• 2014 Tess Haller (volleyball)
• 2013 Kate Breed (soccer)
• 2012 Kathryn Clark (soccer)
• 2011 Melanie Vangel (soccer)
• 2010 Karyn Barrett (soccer)
• 2009 Karyn Barrett (soccer)
• 2008 Emily Attwood (cross country)
• 2007 Emily Attwood (cross country)
• 2006 Marla Houghton (soccer)
• 2005 Dana Riker (soccer)
• 2004 Elise Moody-Roberts (cross country)
• 2003 Elise Moody-Roberts (cross country)
• 2002 Clare Egan (cross country)
• 2001 Addie Rintel (field hockey)
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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