Yarmouth Clippers Spring Athletes of the Year (2024)

COLTER OLSON, Senior – Lacrosse

• All-American
* WMC Class A/B first-team
* Senior All-Star
* Captain

Olson’s final shot made him immortal, but he had etched his name into program lore long before the heroics of June 15th. His performance that day, in the Class B state final, gave him the only thing missing on his resume.

An unforgettable state title.

Olson came to Yarmouth for his sophom*ore year, after spending his freshman year at a boarding school in New Hampshire. He quickly made his presence felt both with his play (39 goals, 38 assists in just 11 games) as well as with his lacrosse IQ and boisterous personality. The Clippers lost to Brunswick by a goal in the state final, however, and Olson’s junior season would end in disappointment as well, with a semifinal round loss to York, after he tallied 56 goals and 40 assists and was named an All-American.

After playing a key reserve role on the basketball team this past winter, Olson came into his final high school lacrosse season a marked man, but no one could stop him, as he scored a whopping 82 goals and set up his young, up-and-coming teammates for 63 goals, giving him 145 total points.

Highlights were plentiful and included five goals and six assists in a season-opening win over Gray-New Gloucester/Poland, five goals and five assists in a victory over Freeport, six goals and four assists in a win over Brunswick, five goals and two assists in a victory over Greely, three goals and six assists in a win at reigning Class C champion Waynflete, six goals and three assists in a near-miss, one-goal home loss to reigning Class A champion Cape Elizabeth, which was riding a 28-game win streak, eight goals (as well as three assists) in a victory over Messalonskee, six goals and three assists in a win over Greely, seven goals and two assists in a victory at Class A contender Scarborough,four goals in a loss to eventual Class A champion Falmouth. six goals and four assists in a win over Fryeburg Academy and a season-high nine goals in a victory over crosstown rival North Yarmouth Academy.

Olson was at his best in the postseason, scoring twice, adding seven assists (including the 300th point of his career) in a decisive win over Gray-New Gloucester/Poland in the state quarterfinals, tallying three goals in a semifinal round victory over Messalonskee in the semifinals, then finishing with a flourish against York in the state game. Olson had two goals and four assists in a back-and-forth first half, then scored again in the third quarter to help the Clippers open up a three-goal lead. Another assist with just over nine minutes to go put Yarmouth up, 11-8, but the Wildcats scored four straight goals to seemingly end the Clippers’ dream. But with just 2.4 seconds showing, Olson picked up the biggest assist of his career, even if it came on a far from perfect pass, as he set up Hakon Yeo for the tying tally. Then, a minute into overtime, to the surprise of no one, Olson capped his brilliant day and transcendent career with an unassisted goal to give Yarmouth a breathtaking 13-12 victory and the Class B state title.

“The Yarmouth uniform means everything to me,” said Olson, who finished his 41-game career with the staggering numbers of 177 goals and 141 assists, good for 318 points. “I was lucky enough to get (the school’s Male) Athlete of the Year, but the one I really care about is ‘Clipper Pride.’ I’m the most prideful person. It means so much to me. I grew up here. I love this group so much. I’m on cloud nine.”

Olson isn’t finished making memories on the lacrosse field. He’ll play next year at Rutgers University and we can only imagine what kind of heroics he has in store.

Coach Jon Miller’s comment: “I’ve called Colter a once-in-a-decade type player for us. We’re lucky to have him. He’s just such a beast. So effective on the ride, scoring and feeding. He dictates the offense. We rely on him more than the average player. He’s done a good job of being selfless at the right time. I think he’s the best player in the state. He’s unbelievable. It couldn’t have ended any better for him or the team.”

Previous winners:

• 2023 Liam Hickey (baseball)
* 2022 Frazier Dougherty (track)
* 2021 Colin Senger (lacrosse)
• 2020 No season
• 2019 Jake Rogers (lacrosse)
• 2018 Luke Waeldner (baseball)
• 2017 Gibson Harnett (baseball)
• 2016 Matthew Beatty (lacrosse)
• 2015 Joe Oliva (lacrosse)
• 2014 Braden Becker (tennis)
• 2013 Ben Decker (tennis)
• 2012 Bryce Snyder (baseball)
• 2011 Campbell Belisle-Haley (baseball)
• 2010 Nick Whittaker (baseball)
• 2009 Rob Highland (lacrosse)
• 2008 Robb Arndt (baseball)
• 2007 Jon Poole (lacrosse)
• 2006 Hans Tobiason (lacrosse)
• 2005 Chris Hichborn (lacrosse)
• 2004 Jon Miller (lacrosse)
• 2003 Jared Harriman (lacrosse)
• 2002 Tim Kjeldgaard (lacrosse)

SOFIA MAVOR, Senior – Tennis

• State singles champion
* WMC all-star, singles first-team

Mavor returned to high school tennis with a flair and a vengeance this spring and rolled through the opposition, staking her claim as the state’s finest individual while leading the Clippers within a point of an elusive team championship.

Mavor won the singles state title as a freshman, but spent the past two seasons competing around the country in United States Tennis Association tournaments.

This year, Mavor again put on a Clippers uniform and was simply unstoppable. She won every match, capturing every regular season competition by 6-0, 6-0 scores. On two occasions, Mavor had a “golden set,” winning all 24 points.

In the singles tournament in May, Mavor shut out two unseeded players, then dispatched No. 9 Kira Gregor of Cony, No. 4 Sofia Kirtchev of Falmouth and defending champion Coco Meserve, the No. 2 seed from Brunswick, while dropping only a single game against each opponent.

In Yarmouth’s run to the Class B South title, Mavor won 6-1, 6-0, in the quarterfinals against Gardiner, defeated Greely’s Isobel Wright, 6-0, 6-0, in the semifinals, then downed Cape Elizabeth’s Maddie Hansen, 6-1, 6-0, in the regional final despite playing on virtually no sleep due to Yarmouth’s Project Graduation being held the night before.

Mavor then defeated Caribou’s Madelynn Deprey, 6-2, 6-0, in the state match, but the Clippers dropped a close 3-2 decision to fall just short of the crown.

“It’s been a long season, but it’s been good,” Mavor said. “I think I learned to balance my schedule with the high school tennis and my own practice as well. It is a time commitment, but it’s been fun.”

Mavor will play tennis next year at the Air Force Academy. She certainly made a huge impact in her short time in a Yarmouth uniform.

Coach Chris Hill’s comment: “As a coach, and for the team, knowing you have one point secured for every match was obviously a nice asset. My younger singles players also learned a lot from Sofia by watching and practicing with her. Sofia’s personality is also unmatched, and it is not surprising to anyone that she was accepted to a military academy. Even with her success, she never showed any signs of being co*cky or any drama that you sometimes see from big-time tennis players. She is a quiet leader, which shows both on the court and in the classroom. Sofia is really a one-of-a-kind type of player and I’m not sure I will ever see another Yarmouth player playing at her level and intensity. I am excited for the new opportunities she will find in the Air Force and I believe she will have the drive and stamina for success.”

Previous winners:

• 2023 Abby Noble (track)
* 2022 Katelyn D’Appolonia (lacrosse)
* 2021 Annie Lowenstein (lacrosse)
• 2020 No season
• 2019 Abi Thornton (lacrosse)
• 2018 Eva Then (lacrosse)
• 2017 Gretchen Barbera (lacrosse)
• 2016 Mary Kate Gunville (lacrosse)
• 2015 Mari Cooper (softball)
• 2014 Grace O’Donnell (lacrosse)
• 2013 Grace O’Donnell (lacrosse)
• 2012 Hannah Potter (tennis)
• 2011 Danielle Torres (lacrosse)
• 2010 Danielle Torres (lacrosse)
• 2009 Haley Knaub (track)
• 2008 Nicole Grover (lacrosse)
• 2007 Laurie Baker (lacrosse)
• 2006 Emily Johnson (lacrosse)
• 2005 Chrissie Attura (lacrosse)
• 2004 Louise Taylor (tennis)
• 2003 Louise Taylor (tennis)
• 2002 Christine Clancy (tennis)

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached atmhoffer@theforecaster.net.

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