PORTLAND — The Maine Sports Hall of Fame will induct five men and four women in its 45th induction ceremony Sept. 20 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, including a graduate of Oakland’s Messalonskee High School, a Rumford native and a Skowhegan resident.
By percentage, it’s the largest class of women inducted by the organization, which was established in 1972. Five women were among the 12 inductees in 2016. “I’m thinking this is one of the most diverse groups we’ve had in terms of a variety of sports,” said President Brian Corcoran, CEO and founder of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment. “I’m really pleased with the number of women.”
Central and western Maine inductees are:
AMY (CORBETT) BERNATCHEZ was a three-sport star at Messalonskee High School in Oakland, playing on teams that won state championships in field hockey and basketball. Bernatchez played two seasons of field hockey at Springfield College before transferring to the University of Maine, where she was a Regional All-American. The Hall of Fame Black Bear who made the 1990 U.S. National Team went on to coach at Messalonskee and Cony High School in Augusta, winning three state championships. She also coached seven seasons at Colby College. With husband Brian, Bernatchez founded the Maine Majestix Field Hockey Club, its teams competed in numerous regional and national competitions. She has coached more than 100 college players, including more than 30 Division I student-athletes.
Rumford’s MARTY MILLIGAN won both the Fitzpatrick Trophy as the state’s top high school football player and the Vinal Trophy as the MVP of the Western Maine High School Basketball Tournament. The two-way starter at Rumford played quarterback and linebacker and was top 10 in his class. He turned down 30 full scholarships at schools such as Syracuse and Wake Forest and was a three-year starter at defensive end at Dartmouth College. He later earned his MBA at the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), before beginning a successful business career. Milligan was a founder of Carrabassett Spring Water and president of Global Sports Connection, which identifies athletes worldwide who want to continue their careers at U.S. colleges.
Master Maine Guide CARROLL WARE, of Skowhegan, is perhaps Maine’s preeminent fly fisherman, having set 52 world fishing records, according to the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. His catches include several species, on various weight lines and tippets. He and his wife, Lila, also a Master Guide, have run Fins and Furs Adventures for 32 years. They lead trips in Maine, Quebec and Chile, looking for world-class fishing experiences. The great promoters of the state run several Maine Guide Training Schools each year which prepare students for careers in the outdoors.
The rest of the inductees are:
CATHY (NARSIFF) CARON competed in cross-country, track and field, and ice hockey at Biddeford High School, and was the starting goalie on the boys’ ice hockey team. She also was the state champion in the discus. At Berwick Academy, she started in goal and was MVP on the men’s hockey team, as well as captain and MVP of the soccer team, and goalie and MVP of the lacrosse team. Caron was a four-year starting goalie on the University of New Hampshire, setting records for shutouts and fewest goals against. She was CMM Player of the Year, given to the nation’s best female player. She also was a three-time All-America goalie in lacrosse. Caron was a member of the USA Women’s Lacrosse Team which competed at the 1989 World Cup. She is in the UNH Hall of Fame.
Karate champion TONY FOURNIER, of Portland, won several national karate championships fighting, in forms, and on teams. His first national championship came in 1980 when he won the heavyweight title. Fournier also won forms. A year later, he was on the national championship team in forms and qualified for the U.S. National Team. Fournier was on that team for seven years and earned silver medals in national and European championships.
MERLE HALLETT, of Yarmouth, is a champion sailor who has raced and won all over the world, including the Ensign Nationals. Hallett also founded the Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing Association and co-founded the MS Regatta, which has raised more than $3 million for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
LISA KURONYA COOMBS, of Portland, has a world championship and five national titles, as well as numerous regional and state crowns. In 2007, she and the Portland Boxing Club filed suit against USA Boxing, alleging discrimination against women at the national level. USA Boxing settled the suit and agreed to provide expenses and accommodations for women that are equal to men at national events.
DON RICHARDS amassed a dual-meet record of 903-88-5 in his 41 seasons as a head swim coach at Cape Elizabeth High School andTampa Preparatory School. In 1990, Richards was featured in Sports Illustrated and in 1991 the Cape Elizabeth swimming pool was named the Donald L. Richards Community Pool in his honor.
LINDSAY WHIPPLE KALLAS, of Falmouth, is one of the greatest tennis players Maine has ever produced. She lost a match in a state semifinal her first year at Falmouth High School and won her other 80 matches. She captured three straight state singles championships and led Falmouth to its first team title in 1983. Kallas was MVP three times, All-State and All America. At Bowdoin College, she was an All-American, playing No. 1 and earning the state singles and doubles championships as a first-year. She led the Polar Bears to a state title as well. Kallas became the first Bowdoin student-athlete to compete in the NCAA National Tournament. She transferred to the College of William & Mary, where she again was No. 1 and led the squad to No. 1 in the East and into the top 25 nationally. Kallas won two conference titles and was twice an All-Colonial Athletic Association selection. After college, she played professionally. She’s currently rated at a high level, 5.0 in Women’s Singles.
