The Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame announces its Induction Class for 2026. Eight individuals will be honored at the 19th annual Induction Banquet on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Rockland Elks Lodge. Those being inducted this year are: Chase Brown, Nick Scott, Alice Bishop, Barbara Crabtree Dyer (posthumous), Alex MacKenzie, Mark Smith, Neil Willey and Andrea York Williamson.

Chase Brown – Chase was a 2012 graduate of Boothbay Region High School. Chase was an exceptional runner for Boothbay from 2008 to 2012. Highlights of his high school running career include a Mountain Valley Conference Championship, Mountain Valley Conference Runner of the Year, and a member of the All New England Team. He holds numerous running records in Cross Country and Track & Field at Boothbay Regional High School. Chase went on to compete in Cross Country and Track at Colby College from 2012 to 2016, where he competed very successfully in the 800 meter, 5000 meter, 8000 meter and 5 mile runs.

Nick Scott -  Nick was a 2002 graduate of Monmouth Academy in Maine. He went on to attend the University of Maine at Farmington, where he competed in cross country and track & field. After graduation from college Nick was hired to teach in Boothbay and was awarded the Head Cross Country Coach position and Assistant Track & Field Coach. Since the start of his career at Boothbay Nick has become one of the most noted cross country coaches in the State. His teams have won 10 Mountain Valley Conference Championships, which is the most of any school. He has been chosen Coach of the Year at the Conference, Regional and State levels, with his runners receiving many individual accolades and some going on to run at the college level. Nick has been recognized at the National Level for most inspiring coach. He has coached 23 Individual Conference Champions and 4 Individual Class C State Champions. 

Alice Bishop -  Alice graduated from Medomak Valley High School in 1997. She was a 4 year starter in soccer, basketball and softball. She was the leading scorer in soccer and basketball all four years and was a 3 time All State Softball Pitcher. Her softball team won the State Class A Championship in 1995 and were the Eastern A Runner-ups in 1996 & 97. Alice received a scholarship to Division 1 University of Maine, where she was a softball pitcher with a career 7-6 record, recording 45 strikeouts. In 1998 she had an ERA of 3.42. 

Barbara Ann Crabtree Dyer (posthumous) -  Barbara attended Camden High School from 1950 – 1954 where she was an outstanding basketball player on the team that set a State Record of 88 consecutive wins without a loss. Barbara consistently was the high scorer for these teams, playing as an offensive forward, when players could only go half court as an offensive or defensive player. Barb scored 1185 points in her career, probably being the first 1,000 point scorer in Camden history, before the inception of the three point goal. Barbara scored 61 points in a game versus Thomaston in 1953. Some say she was the best female basketball player in the State of Maine, long before women’s sports were duly recognized. 

Alex MacKenzie -  Alex attended Medomak Valley High School from 2006 to 2010 where he was Captain of the basketball team and was selected all KVAC 1st Team. Alex went on to Husson College from 2010 – 2014 where he played basketball for the Eagles. After graduation from Husson Alex took an internship with the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. After competition of the internship he was hired by the Charlotte Hornets as Senior Manager of the Arena & Event Operations. He also oversees the Hornets practice facility. 

Mark Scott – Mark is a 1979 graduate of Rockland District High School where he was a standout 3 sport athlete in cross country, skiing and track. Mark set several course records running cross country, winning 75% of his races during his junior & senior years. In skiing, he competed in the slalom, giant slalom, cross country and jumping. In track he competed  on the mile relay team that set a school record and set a school record in the 330 yd hurdles. During the summer Mark showed horses, winning over 30 State titles. After graduation from Rockland Mark attended the University of Maine, graduating in 1983. He then went on to Findlay University in Ohio, majoring in their Equestrian program. Mark then  become a full time horse trainer in Pennsylvania, winning several National and World titles. For the past 20 years Mark has been on the faculty at the University of Findlay, teaching students how to work with and train horses. He has raised numerous World Champions. 

Neil Willey – Neil was an outstanding athlete at Medomak Valley High School, holding the school high jump record of 6’6”. He went on to the University of Maine where he held the high jump record for a long time at 6’8”. He still holds the Decathalon record at UM. He was also captain of the Track Team. Neil then went on to the Univ of Arizona, receiving an MA in Sports Administration. Neil went on to become a strength & conditioning coach, where he held the head position at Div. 1 University of Arizona. The baseball pitching staff at U of A have not experienced any arm problems for the past 3 years, this being attributed to the strength & conditioning program overseen by Willey. He has worked with 6 National Title Teams in softball, baseball, women’s golf, men’s & women’s swimming.  In 2008 Willey was voted JF “Pop” McKale Coach of the Year by the U of A student/athletes. In 2013 Willey was hired as the Strength & Conditioning Coach at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Neil has also competed in the World Mountain Bike Championships as a1993 & 94,  n athlete. 

Andrea York Williamson – Andrea was a 1996 graduate of Lincoln Academy where she was a starter all 4 years in soccer, basketball and softball. In soccer she was on the Western Maine Quarter Final Team in 1993 & 94, a Mid Maine Conference All Star in 92, 93, 94 & 95. Was on the Western Maine Semi – Final Team in 1995 plus Absolute Soccer Senior Bowl selection and Soccer MVP in 1995. In basketball, she was Courier Gazette Midcoast All Star 1993, 1994, 1995 & 1996. She was a member of the Class B Quarter Final Team in 1995 Western Maine Class B Champions in 1996 going 22-1. She was voted LA MVP in   1993-94, 1994-95 & 1995-96. In softball Andrea batted .500 during her freshman year, .350 her sophomore year and .534 her junior year. She was voted an MMC All Star in 1995 & 1996 and softball MVP in 1995 7 1996 . After graduation she went on to St Joseph’s College in Standish, ME playing soccer in 1996 & 1997. She was on an undefeated conference team that went 8-0-2 in 1996 and Maine Athletic Conference Finalists in 1997. Andrea then transferred to Unity College where she competed in soccer, being selected to the National Women’s Small College Athletic Association All American Team. She started a women’s softball club at Unity and at graduation was presented an award for excellence and dedication to women’s athletics at Unity College. Andrea has continued to coach at various levels, including coaching the women’s basketball team at Unity plus Pee Wee and middle & high school in the Waldoboro area.

In 2023 the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame initiated a new category of individuals to be recognized, a Legends group. These individuals are honored for what they have done in the Midcoast area to promote youth sports. In 2026 four individuals will be honored as Legends. 

Steve Ames -  Steve graduated from Vinalhaven High School in 1976. Since that time, “Coach Nip”, as he is affectionately known, has dedicated an inordinate amount of time to organizing, fundraising and coaching youth sports on the Island. He initiated the first Little League program on the Island, the Vinalhaven Ravens, that have competed in the Rockland Little League program. He also assisted in starting the Little League softball program for girls. Steve has also coached numerous teams at the high school level in basketball. The Ravens Little League Team has won the Rockland Little league title for 4 consecutive years now, a feat that has not been accomplished by any other team. Island living creates some challenges for teams to compete on the mainland, but Coach Nip has faced them head on and created a great situation for Vinalhaven youth. 

Cheryl Beveridge – Cheryl is a 1971 graduate of Camden-Rockport High School, where she played for 4 years on the girls’ basketball team. Since 1972, at age 19, she has been a driving force in promoting girls’ basketball in Camden. She helped start the first middle school girls’ basketball program, giving hundreds of girls the opportunity to play basketball that had not previously existed. She coached at the YMCA level and has coached the middle school girls’ basketball team for 35 years. She also served as the middle school athletic director. Through leadership, dedication and a deep commitment to the community, Cheryl has helped build the foundation for girls’ basketball as it is known today in Camden. Cheryl is also known as a Super Fan and can be seen at many Camden games leading the cheers in the crowd. 

James Brannan – Attorney James Brannan was a 1969 graduate of Rockland District High School. After graduation from Rockland he was drafted into the Army, where he served 4 years. He obtained degrees from UMaine and Suffolk University in 1974 & 1979. In 1980 Jim returned to Rockland where he has been a staunch supporter of youth sports in the community ever since. His office displays numerous pictures of local student/athletes. He has been a loyal supporter of youth sports programs through sponsorships and donations. He has been a Gold Level member of the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame and has volunteered numerous hours as the legal attorney for the Rockland Golf Club. Jim has always been there for youth sports in the Rockland area. 

Doug Curtis Jr. – Doug was a 1973 graduate of Rockland District High School where he excelled as an athlete in football and baseball. He went on to college at UMaine and the University of Southern California from 1973 to 1980. Doug played in the Sacramento Baseball League while attending USC. Upon his return to Rockland, Doug has been a staunch supporter of youth sports in the area. In 1992, when the Rockland School Board was on the brink of eliminating football, Doug and several other former Rockland players formed the Tiger Football Committee. In 3 months, the Committee raised $30,000 to fund the program at the high school and middle school levels, plus initiate a Pee Wee program and install lights at South Field and install new goal posts. Working with community organizers, Doug as President of the Committee, brought football to any kid in Knox County from Waldoboro to Lincolnville. Doug also served as a volunteer statistician from 1997-2017 for the Rockland and Oceanside Football teams. In 1993 Doug was awarded the Golden Arrow Award by the Maine Public Relations Council for his work in revitalizing the Rockland Football program. 

Tickets for the 19th annual Induction Banquet can be secured through any MSHF Director or by contacting Dave Ames, secretary/treasurer, at damesref@tidewater.net.