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. The finalists are invited to attend the annual MCSHOF awards banquet on Saturday, Oct. 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.

Boothbay Harbor and Edgecomb athletes

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 two 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 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.

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 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.