Washburn District High School has announced the inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m. in the Washburn District High School Camille “Doc” Albert Gymnasium.
The inductees are as follows.
The 1985 girls basketball team, coached by Ron Ericson, won the first state championship in school history. The team finished with a 20-1 record and beat Dirigo 47-27 for the Class C State Championship.
The Beavers were led by All State selections Dawn Oldmixon at center and Kim Richardson as point guard. Wendy Maynard, Kim Donovan and Debbie Dobson rounded out the starting five with Shari Wilson being the first player off the bench.
Ron Ericson dedicated 48 years to MSAD 45 as a middle school teacher, high school principal, district assistant principal, and athletic director. He led both middle school and high school basketball teams to unparalleled success. His teams secured over 200 victories, clinched four state championships, and were regional runners-up twice.
His squads achieved a flawless season twice, and in 1989, he led successful fundraising for the girls’ educational sports trip to Europe. Ericson earned prestigious honors, including Coach of the Year titles in 1985 (IABOO) and 1989 (MABC).
At the middle school level, he established and coached the inaugural girls’ basketball team, embodying his commitment to developing young talent. He was the first coach to achieve 200 wins in basketball and 100 wins in soccer at Washburn, a testament to his enduring impact on the athletic program.
Camille “Doc” Albert, a revered figure at Washburn District High School, dedicated his career to education. The school’s gymnasium bears his name in honor of his exceptional tenure as an athletic director. Albert held various roles, including assistant principal, principal and athletic director.
Under his guidance, the school witnessed upgrades to its athletic fields and facilities. The 1980s marked a golden era for Washburn, as both the girls and boys basketball teams clinched six gold balls. A breathtaking streak of six consecutive years saw both teams competing in the finals, with one emerging as champions. Washburn excelled in baseball, reaching the regional finals, and secured the state runner-up title in softball.
Albert was named Maine Athletic Director of the Year in 1991, an accolade achieved by only a select few from The County. His legacy continues to inspire generations of students and athletes.
Carsyn Koch, a 2014 graduate, achieved unprecedented athletic success throughout her high school years. Dominating the track and field events for all four years and clinching the state champion title each year in cross country, she exemplified excellence.
Not only did she lead her cross country team to both state and regional victories, but she also showcased her skills on the 2013 state championship soccer team.
Her prowess extended to basketball, contributing to four consecutive state championship wins. Her accomplishments continued into college, where she excelled as a top-tier national-level runner.
Mackenzie Worcester, a 2015 graduate, was a key figure in an extraordinary era of success in girls’ sports. She achieved 2,000 points, achieving the milestone during the state championship game her senior year. Her basketball teams clinched four consecutive state championships.
She played a crucial role in the soccer team’s state runner-up and championship victories and also excelled in cross country, earning accolades on both regional and state championship teams, while also making her mark in track and softball.
In college she played on the Husson women’s basketball team, delivering outstanding performances throughout her four years. Her leadership propelled the team to postseason triumphs, and she garnered recognition through numerous all-conference, all-state, and all-regional all-star team selections.
Joan Overman, a 2015 graduate, was a gifted athlete. She was a key player on four consecutive state championship teams. Not only was she a state runner-up in girls’ soccer, but she also played a pivotal role in her team winning the state championship.
She displayed exceptional talent as a cross-country runner. Throughout her time on the track team, Joan clinched several individual championships.
Her success continued into her college years at Husson, where she defied the odds by participating in multiple sports.
Dawn Oldmixon, a 1986 graduate, excelled in basketball, scoring 1,000 points and grabbing 1,000 rebounds throughout her career. A four-year starter, she played a pivotal role in Washburn’s consecutive state championships in 1985 and 1986.
Additionally, she showcased her talent in softball as the pitcher for the 1986 State runner-up team. She made history as Washburn’s first female All-Eastern Maine soccer player and earned recognition as a two-time Bangor Daily News All-State Basketball team member.
Together with teammate Kim Richardson, they were the first female athletes to represent Washburn in the McDonald’s All-Star game, marking another significant achievement.
Kim Richardson, a 1986 graduate, was a four-year basketball starter and achieved 1,000 points. Her exceptional talent shone through as she played pivotal roles in the 1985 and 1986 state championship teams. She earned recognition as a Bangor Daily News All State Basketball player in 1986.
She showcased other skills as the shortstop of the 1986 state runner-up softball team and was a standout soccer player. She was selected to participate in the prestigious McDonald’s Senior All-Star Game.
She currently serves as a dedicated teacher at Washburn District Elementary School, where she has contributed her expertise by coaching the middle school team.
Meredith Hews, a 1990 graduate, excelled in soccer, basketball and softball. She earned the title of All Eastern Maine in soccer in 1988.
A pivotal player on the Washburn girls’ basketball team for three years, she made her mark during the 1988 championship and was the starting guard in the victorious 1989 championship team, leading a remarkable second-half rally with 6 for 6 from the foul line. Her leadership in 1990 guided the Lady Beavers to thee Eastern Maine runner-up finish.
She pursued her passion for soccer at the University of Maine at Farmington, where she was an All-Conference player. She embarked on a coaching career with Camden Rockport, steering teams to multiple state championships. She has earned local, regional and national recognition in coaching.
Jason Thompson, a 2005 graduate, was a phenomenal all-around athlete. He was recognized for exceptional performance as a goal keeper in soccer, marked by numerous wins and shutouts.
In baseball, he excelled as a hitter, pitcher and outfielder, earning multiple regional accolades. He was a top basketball performer all four years, clinching a 1,000-point milestone. He held the school scoring record until it was surpassed years later.
His outstanding achievements led to regional acclaim and inclusion as a McDonald’s All Star.
Trent Cunningham, a 1997 graduate, was an all-around athlete. Over his four years at the school, he was a starter in soccer, baseball and boys’ basketball.
His exceptional skills not only led the boys’ basketball team to a regional runner-up finish in 1997, but also secured him the school’s scoring record at that time.
These achievements earned him regional recognition and a spot on the McDonald’s All-Star team.
Mitchell Worcester, a 2013 graduate, excelled as a four-year starter in soccer and basketball. A prolific scorer, his performance set an individual three-point scoring record, which also contributed to the team holding the record for the same. In his career he scored more than 2,000 points.
He earned recognition as a Bangor Daily News All-State basketball player along with earning a spot as a McDonald’s All-Star.
He continued his basketball career at the University of Maine at Orono before transferring and completing his career at Husson College.
Greg Sponberg, a 1987 graduate, excelled in baseball and soccer. He also shone as a remarkable basketball player, becoming the top scorer of the boys’ 1987 state championship team.
His outstanding career culminated in surpassing the 1,000 point milestone.
After completing college, he found success as an assistant boys’ basketball coach at Bangor High School under Roger Reed.
Carmen Bragg, a 2014 graduate, was an excellent all around athlete, earning recognition in five sports: cross country, soccer, basketball, softball and track. She played on the state runner-up soccer team in 2013 and the state championship soccer team in 2014.
She was a leading cross country runner, helping to lead Washburn to regional and state championship finishes. She was a 1,000 point scorer and a starter for four years on the basketball team, which were state champions every year she played.
She studied at the University of Maine at Augusta and capped off her outstanding college accomplishments by being named to that school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
