FRYEBURG — Seven individuals and two Raider baseball teams will be inducted into the Fryeburg Academy Hall of Excellence during Homecoming festivities, Oct. 15-16.

Fryeburg Academy welcomes alumni, family, and friends back to campus for a full slate of activities and a chance to meet up with old friends. 

On Friday at 4 p.m., the Raider girls’ varsity soccer takes on Wells at home, followed by the JV game. The Homecoming bonfire begins at 6:30 p.m. with entertainment by FA’s Rock Band.

Events start early on Saturday, Oct. 16, with the 11th Annual Hall of Excellence Brunch for inductees and their guests followed by the induction ceremony held in the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center. 

Hall of Excellence inductees include: John McSherry ’63, Bruce Smith ’67, Kevin Turner ’76, Ileana Casellas-Katz ’04, Coreen Hennessy Eccleston ’08, Brylie Walker Young ’10, and Daniel G. Lee (significant supporter), as well as the 1982 and 83 Class C State Championship baseball teams. The ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public. Masks will be required inside the Performing Arts Center during the ceremony. 

The Hall of Excellence was created in 2010 to further recognize the outstanding achievement and contributions in the area of extra-curricular activities by the school’s many gifted and dedicated students and friends while maintaining the integrity of the institution. 

Other events include a varsity boys’ soccer contest against Wells at 10:15 a.m., followed by the JV game at 12 p.m., and the football team takes on Nokomis at 1:30 p.m. 

As is the tradition, the Fryeburg Academy Alumni Association will provide complimentary cider and donuts during halftime for those in attendance. The new Hall of Excellence inductees will be introduced to the crowd at halftime. 

Meet The Inductees

John McSherry ’63 — John McSherry graduated from FA in 1963. He was a varsity member of the football, baseball, and ski teams (captain 1962-63). He won the gold medal at the State meet in ski jumping and participated in Student Council, one-act plays, the senior drama, as well as the Latin and French clubs. He is a graduate of Nasson College and served as captain of the ski team while winning the NCAA Division 2 Championship.

After college, John volunteered for active duty and began a very exciting and distinguished naval career during the Vietnam War from 1966-1971. He was a naval aviator flying the F8 Crusader, the most challenging carrier-based interceptor of its era, often under very difficult conditions in part because F-8s flew on the Navy’s oldest (renovated WW2 vintage) and smallest aircraft carriers as they were light enough to fly from ships of this size. After he received his wings, he went on to the Naval Justice School in Newport and became a JAG (Judge Advocate General) lawyer/judge under the uniform code of military justice

John participated in a (then) classified program to evaluate the Mig 21 using an aircraft secured by Israel though an Iraqi defector. A handful of pilots with reputations as “the best in the fleet” were selected to participate in this program which then convinced the Navy to establish their “Top Gun” school for fighter pilots. John became one of the original “Top Gun” instructors. By all accounts, he was one of the best Navy pilots flying the most challenging and dangerous aircraft of that time. His experiences as a pilot fighter included a NATO mission, where he intercepted a Russian-crewed TU-16 bomber near his carrier in the Mediterranean in May of 1969. 

Following his Naval career, John established a marine search and salvage operation based in the Florida Keys searching Florida and Bahamian waters. He is well known and respected within the ocean marine archeological survey and recovery community and always had a government-approved marine archaeologist on board when artifacts were moved for recovery.

John made several major finds of historic significance, including a very early site with hundreds of gold and silver bars that were confirmed to belong to Cortez, due to their assayer’s mark, documenting Cortez’s savage behavior. John donated two Cortez silver bars to Mexico’s National Museum, along with Aztec religious figurines from the find, documenting that Cortez had looted and melted down such native religious artifacts. Another of his significant finds was an early, 12-foot long brass cannon that is now displayed in a London museum. Recovery of this cannon was documented in a NOVA episode.

John returned to the Fryeburg area to run McSherry’s Orchard in Sweden from 1989 to 2010. He is retired and now lives in Florida.

Bruce Smith ’67 — Bruce Smith graduated with the class of 1967 and was a standout on the ski slopes. He skied in four events throughout his Academy years including slalom, downhill, cross-country, and ski jumping. He served as captain his senior year and is particularly proud of the group as they captured the Class A State Championship. Bruce was the individual runner-up in the state meet that year, as well. He was awarded the VFW Citizenship Award, was elected to Boys’ State and won the Kiwanis Citizenship Award.                   

Bruce enrolled at the University of Maine/Orono before joining the U.S. Army, where he served as a non-commissioned officer, working as a medic in emergency rescue and a lab technician. In 1971, he returned to Maine and re-entered college through the GI Bill.

He followed his passion, establishing himself in the ski industry. Locally, he worked at Pleasant Mountain and Attitash, and then later for John T. Mathieson Snowmaking Systems of Connecticut, and Doppelmayr USA Inc. in Golden, Colo. (manufacturer of high-speed detachable ski lifts). Throughout his life, he has remained an avid skier and passionate advocate of the sport.

In 2012, Bruce was honored by the Fryeburg Academy Alumni Association when they presented him with the Distinguished Alumni Award for his continued and ongoing support of Fryeburg Academy. 

In 2020, Bruce received the Howard Ross Service Award given out by the Academy’s ski team to a person who provides exceptional contributions to FA’s ski program. At the presentation, Bruce was recognized as, “a most thoughtful and generous donor and responsible for many details and traditions of the team.” He created the team logo of crossed skis over the FA seal, has donated many local ski artifacts to the ski room, donates sticker decals for team members to have, and is responsible for the team vests.

Bruce spent many years serving on the Hall of Excellence Committee and all members are incredibly thankful for his contributions. Bruce has been an inspiration to many in celebrating the rich history of FA skiing and the importance of continuing to build on that history by sharing the information with others.

Kevin Turner ’76 — Kevin Turner graduated from FA in 1976 and was a member of the legendary Class C Championship basketball and track teams.

Kevin was an honor roll student who excelled on the athletic courts and fields. He earned three varsity letters in football, playing his freshman, sophomore, and junior years. On the basketball court, he was a four-year varsity standout, culminating a stellar career with Fryeburg’s first (and still only) basketball state title. The team, led by co-captains Kevin and classmate Zeke Wofford, and coached by Harry True, went 21-1 in the regular season capturing the Class C title. 

In 1974, as a sophomore member of the track and field team, Kevin and his teammates captured the Maine State Class C and Prep School Championships. Kevin ran the third leg of the heralded, undefeated relay team, was the Maine State Prep school triple jump champion and finished second in the Maine State Class C championship in the long jump. 

Following graduation, Kevin continued his education at Berkshire Community College and then Talladega College. He went on to find his passion working with at-risk youth, moving his way up to Senior Youth Worker Supervisor for the N.J. Juvenile Justice Commission. Kevin also served as an AmeriCorp volunteer for three years and as vice president of Capitol History & Culture — a historical, cultural, community development non-profit organization. He retired on Dec. 1, 2019, after a long and rewarding career.

Kevin’s dedication to at-risk youth earned him many accolades including the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission’s Staff Member of the Year, Edison Prep’s Staff Member of the Year; and the N.J. Legislature passed a resolution recognizing Kevin for 11 years of conducting Mock Senate for adjudicated youth in juvenile justice facilities.  He also received Certificates of Appreciation from N.J.’s Attorney General, Gurbir S. Grewal, as well as NJ’s Governor Phil Murphy.

Ileana Casellas-Katz ’04 — Ileana graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 2004. During commencement ceremonies, she was awarded the Gibson Memorial Medal given to a member of the senior class who is deemed the best all-around student by the faculty. Ileana excelled both in the classroom and on the athletic fields as a four-year member of the varsity field hockey team (captain, senior year) and softball team. She was named to the Maine All-State team her senior season as well as the Western Maine Conference All-Star team twice (junior and senior years). She also played on the Maine Event Field Hockey team, a competitive, state-wide summer league during her junior and senior years.

Ileana was a member of the National Honor Society, served as class vice-president all four years, and was a member of the Interact Club (serving as vice president and president during her junior and senior years).

She went on to study at Tufts University, graduating with a BA in American Studies. While at Tufts, she continued to play field hockey, earning NESCAC All-Conference Team status in 2005, ’06, and ’07 and was selected captain her senior year.  She is fourth on the all-time scoring lists for most career points, most goals in a season, and most points in a season. 

Ileana worked for eight years for the Posse Foundation, a national college access and leadership development organization that supports students from historically underrepresented backgrounds and works to get them to, and through, selective colleges and universities and into leadership positions in the workforce following graduation. During her tenure, she worked with students from Boston public high schools, and then later, moved to New York City and lead the foundation’s STEM initiative; eventually helping launch the newest program for post 9/11 U.S. military veterans.

She continued her education as a post-graduate at Harvard University pursuing a fellowship (the Administrative Fellowship Program) which recruits and trains mid-career professionals for leadership positions in higher education. While there, she worked with Harvard undergrads in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and completed her master’s degree in Higher Education in 2018.

For the last three years, Ileana has been back in NYC working at Columbia University where she oversees the advising, advocacy, and programming for undergraduates who are first-generation and/or low-income. She also runs several other programs focused on equity, inclusion, and mentorship for historically marginalized student populations. On top of all this, she is pursuing a doctoral degree (part-time) at NYU focused on higher education administration.

Ileana and her husband Tom live in Brooklyn. They enjoy traveling, hiking, and all things food (eating, cooking, and trying new restaurants). 

Coreen Hennessy Eccleston ’08 — Coreen Hennessy Eccleston, class of 2008, was a three-sport superstar while at Fryeburg Academy. She was a four-year varsity member of the soccer, basketball, and track teams and is one of four FA women to reach the 1000-point scoring mark. By the end of her senior season, Coreen had posted 1,200 points and was a Top 10 Miss Maine Basketball finalist and named to the Bangor Daily News’1st Team All-Maine Girls’ Basketball (first FA player to be awarded this honor). She was All-Conference as a junior and senior in all three of her sports, and in 2008 was a McDonald’s Basketball All-Star and received the Bob Butler Award. 

In track and field, Coreen was the State Champion in the long jump in 2006 as well as the triple jump in 2007 and 2008. She was also a New England competitor in the long and triple jump in 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the 4x100 relay in 2006. She held the FA school record both in the triple jump and the 4x100. In soccer, as a senior captain, Coreen led her team in scoring for the ’07 season and was named an ’07 Western Maine Class B All-Star.

Coreen was inducted into the National Honor Society as a sophomore and was a recipient of the Western Maine Good Citizenship award her junior year. She was also a member of F.A.C.E Club (Fryeburg Academy Community Endeavors) and the Buddy to Buddy Program and received the Harry G. True Basketball and the Bill Oliver Awards at graduation.

She continued her education at Saint Michael’s College on a four-year, full-ride basketball scholarship. Her college accolades are impressive: six-time selection to NE-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, team captain her senior season, 87.7% average from the free-throw line (leading the team, ranking fourth in the conference, and 15th in the division. Other college stats include second in team in scoring (12.5 ppg), three-pointers (32.9%), assists (57), and steals (41). She finished with 758 career points and in 2012 graduated magna cum laude with a BA in sociology and anthropology.

When not busy on the courts or studying, Coreen volunteered and raised money for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Sisters in Sports (supporting youth bball teams), Basketball Buddies (supporting kids and adults with special needs), as well as other community service and outreach endeavors supporting children and sports. 

In 2014, Coreen returned to FA as an ed-tech and girls’ JV and assistant varsity soccer and basketball coach. In 2017, she was named varsity basketball coach and remained in this position for three years before stepping down to spend time with her family and young son, Cian.

Brylie Walker Young ’10 — Brylie Walker Young graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 2010 and was a superb athlete and scholar, as well as an active volunteer in the community. 

Brylie played four years of varsity field hockey, basketball, and softball, earning 12 varsity letters. She was captain of the field hockey and softball teams her junior and senior years, and basketball her senior year. During these years, the softball team won the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Western Maine Conference Championships and captured the 2008 and 2009 state titles. 

She earned All-Conference honors in field hockey in 2008 and 2009, and All-Conference softball in 2007, 2009, and 2010. She was All-Academic her senior year in all three of her sports and was selected by the Portland Press Heraldas one of the top 25 players to watch in both field hockey and softball. She played on the Senior All-Star team for class A/B West and was also selected to the Maine State All-Star Team (softball) in 2010, played in the Maine vs. New Hampshire All-Star game, and was one of two players from Class B to be selected to the All-State Softball team by the Maine Sunday Telegram. 

Brylie was inducted into the National Honor Society her sophomore year and at graduation, she received the Headmaster’s Award, Fryeburg Lions Scholarship, Rotary Club Scholarship, Bretton Frost Memorial Award, Raiders Booster Club Award, Cal and Sally Harnden Award, Fryeburg Rec Dept Dick Cote Community Scholarship, Fryeburg Academy Alumni Scholarship, John F. Weston Award, and the Graustein Award.

She graduated from the University of Maine/Orono in 2014, with a BS in kinesiology and physical education and a minor in nutrition. She continued her community service while at UMaine, participating in UMaine Day, Take Pride in Acadia Day, and volunteered as a member of College Against Cancer. As a senior, she was one of four individuals selected for the internship program for strength and conditioning at Harvard University in the summer of 2014.

Brylie returned to Fryeburg and now works for Mountain Center Physical Therapy, through which she is contracted by Fryeburg Academy to run the strength and conditioning programs and co-instructs fitness classes. Brylie is a member of the Fryeburg Academy Alumni Association Board of Directors, is a longtime volunteer for the Fryeburg Rec Department, and serves as a volunteer coach with the FA softball team.

In 2019, Brylie married Alec Young. They reside in Fryeburg with their labrador retriever, Navy. 

Daniel G. Lee, Jr., Head of School 1993-2013, Significant Supporter — Dan earned his B.A. degree at Yale University, and his M.A. degree at Wesleyan.

Dan, along with his wife Susie and son, Daniel, arrived at FA in 1993 with 21 years of experience that included teaching, admissions, and development in a private school setting. He had most recently served with years at Head of School at Mill Hall’s in Pittsfield, Mass. Earlier in his career, Dan worked as the director of admission, ran a dormitory, and taught at the Trinity-Pawling School in New York, as well as the director of development, dean, and a member of the English faculty at the Traft School in Connecticut.

During Dan’s 20 years at FA, the campus’ physical plant was transformed with the addition of four new buildings, including the Eastman Science Center, the Bion Cram Library,  and the Ada Cram Wadsworth Gymnasium, and the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center.

When the original gym was destroyed by arson in 2005, Dan and FA’s trustees quickly mounted a fundraising campaign to harness the overwhelming support coming from all sides of the Academy’s base. Thanks to this, the current state-of-the-art athletic facility opened its doors in time to host the Class of 2007’s graduation ceremony. Dan’s leadership as well as the dedication of the academy staff and local community allowed student life to continue amazingly unaltered. 

In a later Conway Daily Sunarticle, Dan stated, “It (the old gym) was a major meeting center, stage, concert hall — it was all of those things. It burned to the ground and we had to raise the building replacement costs, which the way we decided to do it was $16 million, and $2.5 million was covered by insurance. We had a big gap to fill and the generosity came from all over. It came in $5 increments and it came in $3 million increments. People really came out of the woodwork.”

In addition, the Academy’s endowment grew substantially when it received a generous bequest from the estate of former scholarship student Bion R. Cram, a member of the Class of 1933, from Kennebunk. It was, and remains, the Academy’s largest gift.

Upon retiring from the Academy in 2013, Dan and Susie moved full-time to Kennebunkport, where Dan continued to be involved in the educational world, creating Dan Lee Associates, an educational consulting firm focusing on independent school leadership, faculty, and students. He now lives in Connecticut near his son, Daniel, and his family.

FA Baseball ’82 & ’83 Class C Champions — In 1982 and 1983, Fryeburg Academy’s baseball teams captured consecutive Western Maine Class C titles. The ’82 title was the first in the school’s history and the ’83 title has yet to be repeated. This “rags to riches” story created memories and friendships that still hold strong today.  

The Raiders’ surprise rise to the 1982 state championship was a great team effort, led by newcomer junior pitcher Chris DeCesare and the offensive strength of upperclassmen. Head coach Gary McClurg was in his first year at the helm after serving as JV and assistant varsity coach for several years.

Most did not consider the team a major threat during the regular season as they quietly racked up wins. Entering the championship game against Washington Academy, DeCesare already had three tournament wins and he didn’t let up, firing a four-hitter at the usually heavy-hitting WA group. The team backed his effort with an eight-hit attack and boosted their season record to 14-3, capturing the Class C title and providing a very exciting ending for the seniors who had received their diplomas in Fryeburg earlier that day.

The next year, having lost seven players to graduation, the Raiders looked again to the pitching strength of DeCesare, senior returners, and several talented underclassmen in their quest to repeat as state champions. Moving through the playoffs, they fought back from 4-0 and 5-0 deficits to return to the title game in Orono, this time to face Calais. It wasn’t an easy win, but the team pulled it off blowing by Calais with seven runs in the top of the sixth inning on their way to an 8-3 victory.  

During the playoff run, Coach McClurg would call the team into the “Horrible Huddle” late in the game (when they were often trailing) and give them a “talk” (“to put it nicely,” recalls Dana Charles ’83). After instituting the Horrible Huddle, the team outscored their opponents 28-0.

After the 1983 win, Coach McClurg described the thrill of back-to-back titles as “enough for a lifetime.” As years pass by, memories may fade a bit, but the accomplishments of this group will always be remembered.

Congratulations to the team and their coaches: Carlos Hernandez ’83, Nathan Goff ’82, Todd Gallagher’82, Mark True ’82, Tim Chandler ’82, Mike Cogswell ’82, Daryl Andrews ’82, Jeff Alanskas ’83, Fred Rogers ’83, Donal O’Callaghan ’84, Scott Cameron ’83, Kent Graustein ’84, Dave Michelini ’85, Chris DeCesare ’83, Jason LaMountain ’83, Steve Cote ’85, Vincent Manoriti ’85, Jeff Seavey ’84, Tim Pitman ’83, Dana Charles ’83, Brian Barbary ’83, Craig Watson ’83, Kevin Barkley ’83, John DeLeon ’83, Tom Riddle ’83; Coaches Gary McClurg, Larry Gallagher, and Ron Rollins.

FA respectfully remembers and are grateful for the memories of our team members who are no longer with us: Mark True ’82, Darryl Andrews ’82, Jeff Alanskas ’83, Kent Graustein ’82, and Vincent Manoriti ’85.