Matt Powell of Leavitt, Colin Richards of Mt. Blue and Luke Washburn of Oak Hill are among the semifinalists for the Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Offensive and Defensive Lineman Awards announced on Monday.
The awards, established in 2010, are presented annually to the top senior offensive and defensive linemen in the state. Winners will be announced on Saturday, January 25 at a luncheon at the Augusta Civic Center. Each winner will receive a trophy and a $5,000 scholarship. Four runners-up will receive $1,000 scholarships.
Powell is one of eight semifinalists for the offensive lineman award. The other semifinalists are Brandon Moore (Bangor), Isaiah Reynolds (Bonny Eagle), Joshua Thibeault (Brunswick), Greg Grinnell (Cheverus), Jedidiah Thomas Scott (Sanford) Ethan Liberty (Skowhegan) and Ethan Petty (Windham).
Richards and Washburn are among seven semifinalists for the defensive lineman award. The others are Caelan Houle (Cape Elizabeth), Dylan Rasch (Greely), Russell Wilson (Nokomis), Jacob Fogel (Portland) and Michael Pino (Scarborough).
The awards are presented to “players who epitomize the character, leadership, and perseverance of Gaziano. The selection committee chooses award winners based on their strong leadership on the field, in the classroom, and in the community,” according to a press release. Gaziano was founder of National Distributors in South Portland and a former college All-American and professional football player with a passion for sports.
The semifinalists were chosen from a group of 25 nominees by a selection committee consisting mostly of current and former coaches.
The 6-foot-8, 260-pound Powell was a three-year starter at tackle for the Hornets. He was a Campbell Conference all-star and helped lead Leavitt to an 11-0 record and the Class C state championship.
Richards was a 6-foot-2, 215-pound defensive tackle for the Cougars and a two-time all-Pine Tree Conference lineman. He finished tied for second in the conference in sacks and fourth in tackles. He was a star on the Cougars’ 2012 Class B state championship team and led them to a 5-4 record in 2013.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Washburn earned all-Campbell Conference honors while leading the Raiders to a 10-2 record and their first Class D state championship since 1982. As a defensive end, he led the conference with 13 sacks, recovered four fumbles and collected over 90 tackles.
For more information on the awards, scholarship program and luncheon, visit the awards’ official website at www.gazianolinemanawards.org.
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