Some of
the state’s best and brightest athletes gathered at the University of Southern
Maine’s Portland Campus to be honored in the third annual Varsity Maine Awards.
Senior Mike Gilman was nominated as a finalist in early June, by his basketball
coach, Chad Pulkkinen, for ‘Play of the Year.’ This was for a shot Gilman made
during the Class AA North tournament game against Portland.
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| Mike Gilman |
Windham
had been trailing Portland for a majority of the Class AA North semifinals game
until Gilman sunk a three-point shot with the clock winding down. Windham was
then able to hold off Portland leading to a very celebrated victory as excited
fans rushed the stage after Windham shut down number one seeded Portland,
55-53.
Gilman
remembers that game and that moment. “It all went by pretty quick; I wasn’t
expecting to be that open. It was just what we needed.”
“A lot
of the best athletes in the state are here, so just to be a part of that, I
feel pretty good,” remarked Gilman. He said it felt good to be nominated and
recognized for the shot, but it was a team goal. He has Coach Pulkkinen to
thank for calling the play and his teammates to thank for helping to execute it
well.
“Such a monumental shot, not only for Mike,
but for the entire team and what they’ve been able to do together over the last
three years with me,” commented coach Chad Pulkkinen on why he nominated Mike
for the Varsity Award.
Pulkkinen
continues, “Without Mike, teammate Nick Curtis as well as some of the seniors,
we wouldn’t be in this situation to have recognition of a shot like that.”
Although
Gilman was not selected from one of the five finalists, the hard work put forth
by him and his teammates have made this town very proud.
Gilman
will attend Thomas College in the fall.
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