Pony boys receive sportsmanship honor
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Foxcroft Academy boys’ soccer team finished a remarkable 2015 season by receiving the Class B Sportsmanship Award. This award is voted on by coaches and referees.
Contributed photo
SPORTSMANSHIP RECOGNITION — The Foxcroft Academy boys’ soccer team is the recipient of the 2015 Class B North Sportsmanship Award. The Ponies were presented with the honor at the half during the Class B state championship on Nov. 7 at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
“This is a great honor to receive this award,” said head coach Luis Ayala. “It’s always great when you are recognized by your peers.” The Ponies traveled to Portland this past weekend to receive the award. The team was honored at halftime of the Class B boys state championship game at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
Ayala was voted as the Penobscot Valley Conference (PVC) Coach of the Year, for the second year in row. “I have been very fortunate to have a great bunch of kids that played their hearts out for FA,” Ayala said.
He said,. “It’s great to see your players get recognized because they have put in the time and have worked hard for it. This is the most players, six, that have been on the PVC All-Academic Team. They have worked hard not only on the field, but in the classroom. It makes me really proud.”
Academic honorees are Tino Ayala, Nate Church, Cooper Nelson, Dylan Harmon-Weeks, Toan Bui and Harry Gong.
Ayala and Tobias Hogfeldt were selected for the PVC First Team, and Nathaniel Church was selected for the Second Team. Regional all-stars are Ayala, Church, Hogfeldt and Logan Butera. Ayala and Church have been invited to represent Foxcroft Academy at the Senior Bowl at Husson University in Bangor. They will play on Sunday, Nov. 15.
“We had a great season this year!,” coach Ayala said, with his team finishing with a record of 11-4-1 and reaching the Class B North quarterfinals. “I am very proud of the team how they came together to become a family. This 2015 season will be a season that I will remember forever. These seniors have been a very special group of kids that have been part of my life for a long time. I have coached most of them since they were in first grade. Next year it will definitely be different, but they leave a great legacy behind.”