Class of 2023

Tim Boetsch

Boetsch graduated from Camden-Rockport High School in 1999 where he was a four-time state wrestling champion in his weight class. He was named an All-American wrestler during his junior year and placed third in the National All-American Tournament. He compiled a high school record of 147 wins and only seven losses. Boetsch went on to Lock Haven University, in Lock Haven, Pa. on a wrestling scholarship where he competed for four years. A college roommate and teammate got him interested in Mixed Martial Arts, where he competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, under the name of “The Barbarian.” Boetsch competed for 11 years at that level, which is a long career, accumulating a record of 21 wins and 13 losses. He was ranked as high as No. 5 in the World Middleweight category. One of Boetsch’s most memorable bouts was at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor in August of 2014 where, as an underdog, he scored a second-round Technical Knock Out over Brad Tavares before a full house home state crowd. Boetsch retired from UFC in 2019 and in 2021 became the wrestling coach at Shikellamy High School in Sunbury, Pa., where in 2023 he was voted the district coach of the year. Congratulations to Tim Boetsch, a 2023 Inductee into the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame.

Megan Cressler

Cressler is a 2000 graduate of Camden-Rockport High School, where she was a four-year starter for the Windjammers girls basketball team. During her senior year she led the team to a state Class B championship, earned tournament most valuable player honors and first-team All-State recognition. She was also a 1,000-point scorer for the Windjammers. Cressler went on to the University of Southern Maine where she was a starter for the Huskies, as she helped lead them to multiple Little East Conference titles and four straight appearances in the Division III National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. Cressler was a 1,000 point scorer for the Huskies, received the Paula D. Hodgdon Leadership Award and was inducted into the USM Husky Hall of Fame in 2014. After graduation from college, she embarked on a coaching career, starting at Lincolnville Central School, then moving to Belfast to coach the Lion girls, leading them to two consecutive Eastern tournament appearances. In 2009, she became an assistant at Camden Hills Regional High School, then became the Windjammers’ head coach in 2014.

David Gaw

Gaw was a standout athlete at Boothbay Region High School, excelling in football, basketball, baseball and golf. Baseball was his strongest sport, where he started all four years as a pitcher and first baseman. The Seahawks won the league title four years he played. In football, during the 1958 season his team won the state championship, going undefeated, allowing only six points the entire season. Gaw also played golf in 1959, where the team won the schoolboy state championship. In 1957 and 1958 Gaw played American Legion Baseball for the Smith-Tobey Team of Bath. The team won two state championships while Gaw played and he was voted the all-star first baseman. Gaw went on to the University of Maine where he played baseball for four years. During his senior year he was voted captain of the team and was selected All-State in 1962 and 1963. Coach Jack Butterfield said Gaw was one of the most powerful and best hitters that he had coached. After graduation from UMaine, Gaw went on to teach and coach basketball and baseball at Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford while also serving as the athletic director. He coached baseball for 23 years, compiling a record of 319 wins and 119 losses, winning the Penquis League Championship three times. In 1984, March 16th was noted as Dave Gaw Day by the town of Guilford. In 2016, the baseball field was named after him. He was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Matt Mackenzie

MacKenzie is a 2006 graduate of Medomak Valley High School where he lettered in basketball, becoming one of the top five scorers in school history and selected first-team all-Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and getting all-Maine recognition. MacKenzie went on to Husson University in Bangor where he lettered in basketball for four years, from 2007-2010. He finished his college career with 1,300 points, 465 rebounds, 51 assists, 73 steals and 38 blocked shots in a 105-game career. He captained the Eagles during his senior year, and, in 2009, he led the team to their first North Atlantic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III national championship tournament. He was voted most valuable player of the 2009 NAC tournament. He earned National Association of Basketball Coaches Honor Court in 2009 and 2010. He also ranks among Husson University’s all-time career leaders in free-throws attempted (446), field-goal percentage (.572), field goals made (539) and blocked shots. After graduation from Husson, MacKenzie received his master’s degree from the University of Arkansas. While working as an assistant basketball coach for the Husson women’s team, he started Results Basketball in 2011. This organization teaches and develops basketball players from all levels in Maine and houses a beautiful facility in Veazie.

Tyler McFarland

McFarland graduated from Camden Hills Regional High School in 2011 and is one of the all-time best basketball players to come from Maine. He is the all-time leading scorer in Camden Hills history, with 1,403 points. McFarland led his Camden Hills teams to two straight state Class B championship undefeated seasons, received tournament most valuable player status three consecutive years (which was the first time that had been achieved by any player), and was voted Mr. Maine Basketball in 2011. McFarland played college basketball at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass, where he became the all-time leading scorer in school history with 2,118 points. He also ranks No. 1 in field goals and minutes played per game. He ranks second in scoring average with 18.9 ppg, free-throw percentage, blocked shots and third in total minutes. He was voted an NABC Coaches Division 2 All-American in 2016.

Fay Morrill

Morrill is a 1970 graduate of Rockland District High School where he excelled in basketball and baseball. He went on to college at the University of Southern Maine where he lettered four years and served as team captain his junior and senior years. During his tenure at USM he became only the second player in school history to collect 1,000 rebounds while also scoring 1,000 points. In 1970, he was selected as an NAIA Division III Small College All-American, and in 1989 he was inducted into the Husky Basketball Hall of Fame. Morrill passed away at the age of 53.

His high school head coach, Bob Brown, had this to say about Fay:

“In my fifty two years of coaching, Fay Morrill sits at the top of the list of those I have respect for.  Despite his disability of being the last person in the State of Maine that contracted Polio, he never gave less than 100%. He never asked for special treatment.  He played with one leg and one foot shorter than the other. He led us his senior year to the Eastern Maine Tournament.  Without him we would never have qualified.  Going into his senior year, during the summer, he worked at the hospital until two o’clock every day and then ran to the gym to participate in the Summer Basketball program.  He wore his basketball gear under his hospital attire so he could quickly take that gear off and he wouldn’t have to waste time changing into his basketball gear. He was ready to play. He then came back and played for the Tigers in our night league.

My best memory of Fay was that he was a great example for all the youngsters of Rockland to look up to.  I don’t remember if he was captain his senior year but I sure would bet a lot of money on it- he always showed great effort, was a completely unselfish teammate, and had an immense amount or character. After Rockland , Fay went to the University of Southern Maine where he played on their team and if memory serves me right, he was an All-Conference player his Senior Year. 

It is really difficult for me to adequately express my feelings for this young man. There is no one I have ever coached that I would respect more.”

John Shaw

Shaw is a 1960 graduate of Camden High School where he was a member of the varsity basketball team. He went on to college at Gorham State Teachers College and received an advanced degree from Ohio State University. After college, Shaw taught and coached basketball at Rumford High School. Shaw’s teams at Rumford, in the mid 1970s, were considered some of the best to play in Maine. His teams never had a losing record and were seeded No. 1 in Western Maine five straight years, winning the Western Maine title four consecutive years. They were state champions in 1974, 1976 and 1977, winning the New England championship in 1976. His teams recorded 127 wins versus 37 losses during his tenure. Shaw was recognized as a Maine Basketball Legend by the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. Shaw became the principal at Camden-Rockport High School and volunteered as an assistant coach there before his retirement.

Melissa “Missy” Williams

Williams was an outstanding athlete at Boothbay Region High School, as she graduated in 1989. She was known for her skills in golfing, where she was the top player on her team, besting most of the male players she competed against. Williams won the Maine schoolgirl golf title as a freshman in 1985. She was the Boothbay women’s club champion in 1984 and 1987. She was the Southern Maine Women’s runner-up in 1988 and 1989 and Southern Maine Women’s champion in 1991. She went on to earn her Class A PGA Professional status in 2006 in Florida and is the Head PGA Golf Professional at Tara Golf & Country Club in Bradenton, Florida. She has served in that position for 22 years. Williams has been recognized for numerous awards in Florida, Best of Bradenton Golf Instruction in 2015, Top 100 Alumni at Golf Academy of America in 2017, the Player Development Award in 2021 & 2022.