MAINE MCDONALD'S® NAMES THREE FOR SPIRIT OF THE GAME AWARD
Bonny Eagle's Sarah Assante, Mount Desert Island's Kyle McKim and Hampden Academy's Graham Safford honored with third annual award.
Bangor, Maine (March 11, 2011) - The Maine McDonald's® Owner/Operator Association presented its third annual Maine McDonald's Spirit of the Game Award to Sarah Assante of Bonny Eagle H.S., Kyle McKim of Mount Desert Island H.S. and Graham Safford of Hampden Academy. The three student-athletes received their awards at the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches Awards Banquet on March 11 at Husson University in Bangor. In addition, the recipients each received a $500 Spirit Scholarship to assist with their higher education needs.
2009 Spirit of the Game Award recipients Josh Titus and Patrick Thibodeau and 2010 recipient Carlos Baeza assisted in presenting the awards. Last year the awards were renamed to honor Titus and Thibodeau. The East Division Award is now the Joshua Titus Spirit of the Game Award and the West Division Award is the Patrick Thibodeau Spirit of the Game Award.
Sarah Assante is a 4-year starting varsity point guard at Bonny Eagle who has never missed a varsity game. For two years she worked and coached the middle school travel team and has consistently been active in teaching and coaching them. Throughout her high school career, Sarah has earned Bonny Eagle's MVP, Most Improved and Most Dedicated awards. According to Assante's coach, Sue Picard Rondeau, "Sarah is one of the toughest players ... At the end of the game, I watch as opposing players and coaches single her out for her efforts."
Kyle McKim of Mount Desert Island H.S. has played basketball most of his life, always pushing himself to the limit. For his teammates, Kyle is an example of never giving up and playing hard no matter what. He reminds them not to take anything for granted and to play hard every game and practice. In the words of a teammate who nominated him for the Award, "Kyle inspires me to be a better teammate on and off the field. I have never met a person who shows so much spirit, defines the meaning of sportsmanship, inspires teammates and friends, while overcoming the obstacle of having a prosthetic leg."
Graham Safford has been a leader both on and off the basketball court at Hampden Academy. Off the court, he counsels teammates whose grades might be affecting their eligibility. On the court even though he may have been able to create his own shot, Graham made sure that his teammates touched the ball. Graham is one of six seniors at Hampden Academy. Before the start of the Senior Night game, Graham requested that the other five seniors start, as he has had many opportunities to do so. Said a teammate, "Graham inspires us all with his unselfishness and his intensity."
Founded in 2009, the Spirit of the Game Award honors two high school seniors who embody the spirit of the sport, exemplify sportsmanship, support and inspire their teammates and coaching staff, and who show an ability to overcome obstacles and boundaries. 2009 recipients Josh Titus and Patrick Thibodeau were high school varsity basketball team managers who made headlines when their coaches put them in to play in the last home game of the season. They made national news as the subject of a CBS Sports documentary broadcast during the NCAA Final Four® pre-game show. The 2011 Spirit of the Game Awards are presented by Newman's Own® Organics.
All-Star Game Day takes place March 12 at Husson University. Tickets are available at the door and are good for all four Games. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. Net proceeds from the Games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) of Maine. More information is available at www.mainemcdonaldsbasketball.org and www.rmhcmaine.org
