Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Spring 2014

Planting seeds, growing teams AT H L ET IC S Beginning in 2006, Thornton Academy added middle school students to its roster of competitive athletes who are working hard and working out on campus. Soon after Thornton Academy Middle School (TAMS) opened its doors, middle school coaches and their students were granted access to high school facilities. Athletic Director Gary Stevens, who joined TA in 2007, said that welcoming the younger athletes on campus has ensured there is “constant activity and maximum usage” of Linnell Gym and surrounding fields. Stevens said the younger athletes “feel like they’ve found a home” and pointed to the number of alumni who foster talent at the middle school level, providing a feeder program for high school teams. In the last decade Kirk Agreste ’99, Bob LePauloue ’93, George Mendros ’76, and Kaitlin Hall ’11 (below) have offered their expertise as TAMS coaches. TAMS currently supports twelve teams, including: boys & girls soccer, basketball, indoor & outdoor track & field, X-country, baseball, and softball. Join TA Alumni & Friends for a fun scramble Where: Biddeford-Saco Country Club, 101 Old Orchard Rd., Saco When: Thursday, June 26, 2014, 1:00 PM shotgun start TAMS is a member of the Southern Maine Middle School Athletic Conference. Basketball player Mackenzie Labbe ‘13 points out a play during TAMS’ first, 2006-2007 athletic season. “I loved my experience as a student-athlete at Thornton Academy and wanted to bring my enthusiasm to the middle school program at TAMS.” - Kaitlyn Hall ’11, a junior soccer player at the University of New England, majoring in medical biology, who also serves as an assistant outdoor track coach at TAMS. VOLLEYBALL SERVES UP A HIGH DEMAND It had been over a decade since a female sports team had been added when, in 2011, a group of parents approached Headmaster Rene Menard and Athletic Director Gary Stevens with the idea of establishing a volleyball program at the high school. Mr. Stevens surveyed incoming students, found interest, and started a team. Now over 70 girls compete, enough for three full teams. Stevens explained, “The goal of Title IX has been to maximize opportunities for female athletes...by adding a girls-only sport we increased the ratio of females participating in athletics.” Although males still participate in athletics at a slighter higher rate, the addition of volleyball increased the percentage of roster slots filled by females in Fall 2013 to 54.12%. This increase is necessary to balance out the winter and spring seasons, which regularly have slightly higher percentages of male participants. “Many girls were interested in playing another competitive sport. I joined the team because I wanted to experience something new.” - Sophomore volleyball player Ashley Howe 12 POSTSCRIPTS Entry: Includes: Round of golf, cart, prizes, and hors d’oeuvres $280 per team/ $70 per person Space is limited; first come, first served. Teams: Teams must have four members. Contact TA if you do not have a foursome and would like us to connect you with other players. Golf tradition supports the annual fund Golfers of all levels and abilities are invited to tee off this summer for some friendly competition at the 3rd Annual TA Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament, held at the BiddefordSaco Country Club. This event provides a fun way to support a good cause, catch up with friends, and dust off those irons. By supporting the Annual Fund, you can truly make a difference for this generation of TA students who are following in your footsteps. So grab a pair of your best-looking khakis, call up some buddies, and meet us on the green this June! Last year the tournament raised $2,000 for TA’s Annual Fund, which distributes money to a variety of programs and areas such as: facility renovations and upgrades, staff support, library resources, PSAT exam fees, theater costumes, and set construction. Donations made to the Annual Fund allow TA to continue to offer some of the best academics, arts, music, sports, and extracurricular activities in the state. Volleyball, TA’s newest athletic offering, has brought 70+ girls into the program Donations also help provide basic needs for students requiring financial assistance for meals. TA’s free lunch program feeds over 200 students at an annual cost to the school of $122,000. J.D. Hadiaris, Josh Ellis, Mike Dente, and Pat Hazlett, all members of the class of 1998, strike a pose at the 2013 TA golf tournament. POSTSCRIPTS 13 AT H L ET IC S 3rd Annual TA Golf Tournament COACHING THE NEXT GENERATION

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