SALEM TOWNSHIP — Mt. Abram High School varsity soccer player Evan Allen of Avon was named the boys Class C Player of the Year at the 45th annual Maine Soccer Coaches Awards in Bangor on Monday, Dec. 3. This is only the second time a Mt. Abram athlete has earned the distinction. In 1985, Bill Acretelli was named Player of the Year. At that time Mt. Abram was a Class B school.

“Evan is a gifted player who is unselfish and works hard,” said Roadrunner coach Darren Allen. “He is the ultimate team player and makes everyone around him better. He is the leader on the field in the way he plays and communicates.”

Darren is not only Evan’s coach, he is also Evan’s father. Evan, a junior, has played soccer for as long as he can remember. Darren, who has coached soccer for 23 years, has coached Evan for the last 8 years.

Determining the boys and girls Player of the Year is a multi-step process that starts with high school coaches nominating players. Coaches from all over the state then vote for the athlete they feel is most deserving of the award. The Allen family learned Evan was the recipient of the honor at the awards banquet.

“Our family was surprised and happy,” said Darren. “ As a family it is gratifying to see Evan recognized for all the work he has put in. Evan spends long hours training and then at games throughout New England on some weekends.”

Evan plays soccer year round. In the fall he plays for Mt. Abram. In the off-season, he drives to Topsham twice a week to train with his club, Seacoast United Maine South in the National Premier League. In the spring, Evan is a member of the Roadrunner track team, which he says helps him stay fit.

“I also weight train after school in the winter months,” Evan said. “I stick to a weekly routine of weight lifting and cardio.”

Mt. Abram finished the regular season with 12 wins and 2 losses and earned the Mountain Valley Conference Championship. The Roadrunners fell to Waynflete in the Class C semifinal. Evan, a center midfielder, tallied eight goals and had nine assists during the season.

“The most rewarding part of this last season was sharing the moment of winning Championship with my little brother and teammate, Ian, and my father,” said Evan.

After high school, Evan plans to go to college to study either engineering or biology. He would like to play soccer at the college level while continuing to play for a National Premier Soccer League team.

“Winning Class C Player of the Year is a huge accomplishment for me,” Evan added. “To be recognized at the state level for something I simply love doing feels really good. One of my personal goals is to pave the way for future Mt. Abram soccer players. I want to show the younger players in our feeder programs that it is possible to win championships at Mt. Abram. By winning this award I hope it inspires kids to set higher goals than what they already have set for themselves.”

dmenear@thefranklinjournal.com