Monday, March 26, 2007
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Staff photo by Jeff PoulandCorrespondent
It is no coincidence that Mt. Blue High School senior Rebecca Schoen made a clean sweep of the individual Nordic titles this winter at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and Class A championships.
During her high school career, she has grown and developed into one of the most respected athletes at Mt. Blue where Schoen is the captain of the soccer, ski and tennis teams. Schoen has earned the respect of her peers in many ways.
She is involved in many school activities from the National Honor Society to the recently created community service group Interact.
"Rebecca is a leader by example," Mt. Blue Nordic coach Buzz Davis said. "She is looked up to by her peers and gets respect from the boys and girls teams."
Schoen's dedication to Nordic skiing culminated this winter when she won individual titles by overwhelming margins in each of the championship events in freestyle and classical races. In the state meet, she won the freestyle race by 36 seconds and the classical by 54 seconds. She topped those wins with a 40-second victory in the KVAC freestyle and 39-second margin in the classical.
For her efforts, Schoen has been named the Morning Sentinel Girls Nordic Skier of the Year. Meredith Allen of Mt. Blue, Hannah James of Mt. Abram and Lindsay Mathes of Messalonskee were also considered.
"This year was different from past years, I peaked at the right time," Schoen said. "The training we did as a team this season was really important."
Added to Schoen's intense workout ethic is a strong support base that includes her friends, teammates and family. Friends often travel to courses, following Schoen and offering encouragement at her races.
Her parents, Patty and John, are also heavily involved in the ski program and very supportive of everyone who skis for the Cougars.
"It is really important to me that my friends and family are so supportive," Schoen said. "I really love sports because there are so many people who are so nice."
Schoen admits she peaked too soon last season because of her desire to excel at every race.
Skiing took up a large amount of her time, so this season she decided to pace herself until the end of the campaign when championships were on the line.
"Skiing was really stressing me out and I had little time to see my friends because I was so intense," she said. "This season, thanks to everyone, I am more relaxed and had more adrenaline for the KVAC and state meets."
"She saved her best for last," Davis said. "Rebecca was really focused in the KVACs and state meet."
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