For the 19th year, the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame has selected 10 Finalists for the organization’s 2026 student-athlete-of-the-year awards. The Finalists are chosen from nominations — two boys and two girls from each school — from athletic directors at following Midcoast high schools: Camden Hills in Rockport, Oceanside of Rockland, Medomak Valley of Waldoboro, Islesboro, North Haven, Vinalhaven, Lincoln Academy of Newcastle, Boothbay Region and Wiscasset. The athletes must have had an outstanding year of accomplishments in their sport(s) and also shown the attributes of a person of high integrity, who demonstrates leadership and respected by their peers as well as their coaches and fans.

The nominees are requested to send in additional information to the committee about their athletic accomplishments, involvement in communities, and reflections on the importance of sports in their lives, according to the Hall of Fame, in a news release.

The finalists are invited to attend the annual MCSHOF awards banquet on Saturday, October 17, at the Rockland Elks Lodge, at which time, along with the adult inductees, they will receive their recognition and the two winners will be announced. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance from Dave Ames, 22 Atlantic Hwy, Northport, ME 04849.

The 2026 five Male Finalists are, in alphabetical order: Camden Hills’ Nolan Ames, Lincoln Academy’s Jakobi Hagar, Medomak Valley’s Grady Pease, Medomak Valley’s Shamus Pease, and Oceanside’s Aiden Wills.

The five Female Finalists are Lincoln Academy’s Charley Carleton, Medomak Valley’s Ava Collamore, Lincoln Academy’s Karen Higgins, Oceanside’s Renee Ripley, and Camden Hills’ Maya Stone.

Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame provides the following athlete credentials:

Nolan Ames of Hope is a 2026 graduate of Camden Hills Regional High School who garnered accolades during all four years for his prowess in basketball, culminating his senior year with awards and recognitions from his school, his league, and state. Nolan was named Mr. Maine Basketball, Maine Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year, Max Preps Maine Player of the Year, Class A 2026 scoring leader, Windjammer Male Athlete of the Year setting a new all-time school scoring record (1587 points), Windjammer single season scoring record (580 points), and Windjammer Athlete of the Year. Nolan is attending Bentley College for a career in Financing and will be playing Division II basketball.

Jakobi Hagar is from Newcastle is entering his senior year at Lincoln Academy where he has been the first wrestler in Lincoln Academy history to win three individual Maine State Championships. In addition to training for wrestling, during his junior Jakobi competed in an out-of-state OCB Body Building and won first place in the teen competition. Jakobi runs his own auto detailing business and co-owns a clearing and site work business with his father. In his senior year, Jakobi will be working towards another Individual Wrestling State Championship and more excellence on Body Building.

Grady Pease from Jefferson is a 2026 graduate of Medomak Valley where he was a 3 year varsity player (wide receiver and defensive back) in football and wrestling (190 lb) and he also enjoyed participating in Unified Basketball. In football, Grady was Big 11 Conference 2nd Team All Conference. In wresting, Grady finished his career as a Panther with 210 wins, becoming the top wrester in Medomak Valley history. With a long list of accomplishments, Grady finished his career as a 2 time Regional and State Champion, as well as a  2 time New Englands Qualifier. Grady has been involved in his school and community by participating in Unified Basketball and helping host the Maine /Nebraska (wrestling) Exchange this past summer. This fall Grady will be attending Castleton University.

Shamus Pease from Jefferson is a 2026 graduate of Medomak Valley where he was a 3 year varsity player (running back, safety, and linebacker in football and wrestling (215 lb) and he also enjoyed participating in Unified Basketball. In football, Shamus was Big 11 Conference first team Defensive Utility Player. In wresting, Shamus finished his career as a Panther with 206 wins, becoming # 5 on the Medomak Valley Top Wrestler list. With a long list of accomplishments, Shamus finished his career as a 2 time Regional and State Champion, as well as a  2 time New Englands Qualifier, where he finish 3rd - the highest any Medomak wrestler has achieved. Shamus has been involved in his school and community by participating in Unified Basketball and helping host the Maine /Nebraska (wrestling) Exchange this past summer. This fall Grady is at boot camp with the US Army.

Aden Willis from Owls Head is a 2026 graduate of Oceanside High School where he excelled in soccer (striker), golf (1st seed) and baseball (centerfield, lead batter). Aiden was able to compete during his senior year in both soccer and golf in the fall. In soccer, he was leader on the Mariners team that won the Oceanside’s first Class B North Soccer Championship, leading the team in scoring in post season play. Aiden also qualified as an individual for the Class B State Championship in Golf. In varsity baseball, Aiden was named to the KVAC Second Team All Star. In his school and community, Aiden was in Trekkers for 3 years with numerous volunteering activities, as well as helping out with youth athletics and umpiring Little League baseball. This fall, Aiden will be playing with a private soccer club in Bournemouth, UK. He hopes to eventually obtain his MBA and continue playing soccer in college.

Charley Carleton from Edgecomb is a junior at Lincoln Academy where she has been excelling in swimming and has broken numerous Lincoln Academy school records in freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly  and individual medley. As as sophomore, Charley was Class B State Champion in the 100 Freestyle and 50 Freestyle, as well as being KVAC Class B Champion in 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle. She received the 2026 KVAC Outstanding Female Swimmer Award. In addition the the LA Swim Team, Charley is on the Long Reach Swim Club from the Bath YMCA. She is looking to further accomplishments during her junior year.

Ava Collamore from Waldoboro is a 2026 graduate of Medomak Valley who established a outstanding record in 4 years of running in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track and field, in which she participated in the one mile, two mile, and 4 X 400 relays and 4 X 800 relays. Ava was named to the KVAC first team in Class B Cross Country for 3 years and qualified for the New England Championship her senior year. She was named to the KVAC second team in indoor track and outdoor track and field, all while maintaining high academics. Ava is attending the University of Southern Maine this fall. 

Karen Higgins from Boothbay Harbor is a senior at Lincoln Academy where she excelled in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track & field, as well as playing the violin and viola. Karen ran her first 2 high school years at Boothbay Region, as a sophomore she became MVC Runner of the Year, Class C Runner Up in the Regional and State Meets, qualified for the New Englands, ran in the Footlocker Northeast Regionals, turning in the fastest time for the state of Maine. As a junior, Karen ran for Lincoln Academy becoming KVAC Class B Champion and Runner up in the Class B Regionals and State Meets, qualifying for the New Englands again. In Indoor Track at Lincoln Academy, Karen garnered a number of accomplishments and topped off her junior season at the State Meet with second place finishes in both the 1 mile and the 2 mile. In Outdoor Track as a sophomore at Boothbay, Karen was Class C Runner Up in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200 m and qualified for the New Englands. Running as a junior at Lincoln Academy, Karen was Class B State Champion the the 3200 m. This fall  as a senior at Lincoln Academy, Karen continues to challenge herself for further excellence in running, in academics, and in music.

Renee Ripley of Rockland is a 2026 graduate of Oceanside High School where she excelled in basketball, soccer, and was part of Oceanside’s Unified Activities Club. In basketball, Renee played varsity all 4 years, 2 years as team captain, received numerous KVAC awards was Team MVP her senior year. Renee was a major part of the consistent success of the Oceanside girls basketball team that all her 4 years were either Class B South Regional Runners-Up ( 2023), South B Regional Champions ( 2024 & 2025), State B Runners Up ( 2025 & 2026), and State Champions (2024). As a senior, Renee was a Miss Maine Basketball Semifinalist and a Maine McDonald’s All-Star. Renee is active in her school and community, is a member of NHS, Key Club, was a Model UN participant, senior Student Government Treasurer, and enjoys coaching a 4th grade AAU basketball team. She especially enjoyed working with students in the Unified Activities Club in sports, theater, and in art classes. This fall, Renee is attending Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania on an Athletic scholarship to play Division II basketball. She plans to major in biology and minor in sports medicine.

Maya Stone from Camden is a 2026 graduate of Camden Hills Regional High School where she excelled in soccer and softball and was named the Windjammer Female Athlete of the Year for the Class of 2026. Maya was a 4 year varsity player in soccer and softball and team captain in both teams for her junior and senior years. In soccer, Maya was a key player on the Windjammer team that was Class A North Runners up all 4 years. She also played for 2 years on the Dutch Soccer Academy travel team which won the Needham (MA) Memorial Day Tournament in 2023 & 2024. In softball, Maya was selected to the Maine State Softball Coaches Association All-Star Teams for 2023, 2024, and 2025, was CH Softball MVP, named to the Portland Press to “25 Softball Players to Watch” in 2025 & 2026, and named one of the top 3 pitchers in Class A by Athlete Media in 2025. From the age of 10, Maya has also played softball on the Maine Thunder team (Portland). She was the winning pitcher for the Thunders at the USSA National Championship for 14U & 18U ( at age 16). The Maine Thunder has won more than 15 state and national championships including 2 Junior Olympic Maine State Championship titles. During her time with the Maine Thunder, Maya has been named Player of the Game and Tournament MVP. In her school and community, Maya is in NHS, PEERS, assisted with Special Olympics events at CHRHS, and has volunteered for 5 years helping with the Five Towns Little League teams. Maya was recruited to play softball at Endicott College, where she plans to major in sports management and minor in business.