PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The three recent inductees into the University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls’ Athletic Hall of Fame were from the same era, and all made a tremendous impact on their specialty sport.
Cross country runner Sara Richard, soccer player Steve Babineau and basketball coach Karl Henrikson were honored at a banquet held Sept. 19, 2015, at the Campus Center, as part of UMPI’s Homecoming Weekend.
Richard attended the university from 1994-98 and Babineau from 1994-99, while Henrikson served as the Owl men’s coach from 1989-98.
Richard was presented by Rene Cloukey, the sports director of WAGM-TV and a friend of the Richard family.
She is one of the most accomplished runners in UMPI history, having been named to the NAIA All-New England Region Team all four years, and taking first place in the New England meet as a sophomore. She won the Dirigo Series title that season and finished as runner-up her junior year.
Competing in the NAIA National Championships four times, Richard’s best finish came as a freshman when she placed 38th. She twice led the Owls to NAIA New England Regional team titles.
Richard, a graduate of Presque Isle High School, was known as the consummate teammate who was constantly cheering on her fellow Owl runners, looking to give advice to help others improve and taking freshmen under her wing.
During her induction speech, Richard took the time to thank many who were part of her journey, and dedicated the evening to her parents, Steve and Lucy Richard, and sister Samantha.
“They always supported and cheered for me,” Richard said, “and represent honor, integrity and true unconditional love.”
Babineau was presented by former UMPI teammate Shawn Breton.
A native of Windham, Babineau played during a very successful stretch for the Owl soccer team, as the team collected 37 victories during his four seasons and enjoyed a 12-3-1 mark in 1996, which was the year his team qualified for the NAIA Northeast Regional playoffs. Although he played defense his freshman season, he went on to finish 11th on the Owls’ all-time scoring list by scoring 29 goals and collecting 11 assists.
Babineau was named All-Maine Athletic Conference first team on three occasions and one year was named NAIA All-New England Region first team. His successful playing career earned him a professional tryout with the Connecticut Wolves in the A-League.
He said attending UMPI was a “last minute decision” after coming close to commit to Green Mountain College and USM the summer after his high school graduation, but after a meeting with coach Alan Gordon, had “a good vibe” about UMPI.
Gaining the confidence to play at the collegiate level stemmed from a specific incident during a training session early his freshman year involving teammate Darren Clukey, a senior at the time who would also later be inducted into the Owls’ Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I knew I could play a little bit, but I wanted to be accepted,” Babineau said. “I was playing defense and there was a corner kick and I went as high as I could to try to head it away, but Darren was there and jumped above me and knocked it in the goal.
“He could have easily have brushed me off afterwards, but instead he turns around and says ‘okay freshman, what are you doing?’” Babineau added. “I told him I jumped as high as I could and he said, ‘No, you don’t do that. When I come in, you step on my foot, give me a little nudge and you don’t let me win the ball.’ Next time there was a corner kick, I hit him pretty hard and he said to me, ‘That’s how you play the game.’
“He took me under his wing, and that meant a lot to me,” he added.
Babineau went on to experience more success as a coach, first as assistants at the University of New England and the University of Southern Maine and then as a head coach at St. Joseph’s College. His Monks amassed a 52-40-6 record during his tenure, the most coaching victories in school history. He led his team to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2011 and retired after the 2014 season.
Henrikson’s presenters were two men who coached alongside him during his decade-long stint at UMPI — cross country coach Christopher Smith and men’s soccer coach Gordon.
Henrikson took over a struggling men’s basketball program in 1989, but it didn’t take long for him to turn things around. By 1993, the Owls were Northeast College Conference champions and he was named NCC Coach of the Year following that season. The Owls reached the Maine Athletic Conference finals twice and climbed into the top 25 in the NAIA national rankings. His winning percentage was over .580 and he coached three NAIA All-Americans.
“This university gave me an opportunity to be successful,” Henrikson said. “In my 37 years of coaching, it was the most rewarding job I ever had because I got to build a program and the university was totally behind me.”
Henrikson has been a featured speaker at several camps and is credited for creating the Aroostook County High School All-Star Game and Northstar Basketball Camp. He went on to coach a season in Lahti, Finland before returning to Maine to coach three years at Maine Central Institute Prep School in Pittsfield. He is currently the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Southern Maine, a position he has held since 2003.
