By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

FRYEBURG — As a young girl, Abigail Hewes was a dancer. She took lessons and competed.

When she reached the eighth grade, Abigail was ready for a “change.”

Many of her best friends in school played field hockey, and urged her to give the sport a try.

Then, her neighbor put an old wooden stick in her hands on a “freezing cold” day in her yard and began teaching Abigail the fundamentals of the game.

The neighbor is Maine Hall of Fame field hockey coach Linda Whitney, who developed a consistent contending high school program at Lake Region.

Five years later, the pupil landed the Linda Whitney Outstanding Player Award, presented to the top Class A/B field hockey player in the Western Maine Conference as voted upon by league coaches at their post-season meeting. The award recognizes the most consistently skilled and hardworking player, who still demonstrates that same level of sportsmanship Coach Whitney valued.

“She was definitely a big part of my success,” Abigail said. “It was really awesome. I’ve worked really hard. The team worked really hard. So, it was nice to get some recognition for that. It was nice to have her (Coach Whitney) there and give her some recognition for starting my field hockey career.”

That career will continue in the fall of 2020 as the Raider captain will take her talents to Waltham, Mass., as a member of the Bentley University field hockey team.

Last Wednesday, Abigail formally signed to play field hockey at Division II Bentley in a ceremony held in the Graustein Conference Room. She will receive a scholarship for merit and athletics. Abigail’s brother, Ryan, is a sophomore at Bentley.

The Raider senior posed for photos with her parents, Kirsten and Harry Hewes of Denmark, along with Head of School Erin Mayo and Athletic Director Sue Thurston, her coach Dede Frost, family, friends and FA teammates.

“Abigail is passionate about the game. She is a true competitor and does not know the meaning of the words ‘give up.’ She gives 110% at all times and inspires her teammates to do the same. She has a tremendous knowledge of the game and that, combined with her high level of skill, makes her a standout on the field,” Fryeburg Academy varsity field hockey head coach Dede Frost said. “Abigail is also an invaluable leader both on and off the field. She is intense and yet compassionate, and treats her teammates with respect while leading by example. She excels and yet remains incredibly humble. Off the athletic field, she is a scholar (Academic All-State) and class officer, involving herself in both the school and local communities.”

Abigail finished her high school career in amazing fashion, helping to lead the Raiders to the Class B South Finals while compiling an overall record of 11-4-1 — the third straight year FA notched double-digit wins. Over Abigail’s four-year career at the Academy, the Raiders went 39-18-5. This season, she had seven goals and six assists. Over her career, Abigail scored 12 goals and dished out 15 assists.

As a “link,” Abigail was just the second Raider in Coach Frost’s tenure to receive the conference’s Player of the Year honor.

“I have only nominated one other player, Nicole Thurston, who received the award three years ago. There are some amazing athletes out there from all around the conference. It’s not a nomination I make lightly,” Coach Frost said. “Abigail is a natural playmaker. She inserts herself into key situations on the field and makes things happen. Her intensity and higher-level stick skills speak for themselves. She does not go unnoticed by opposing coaches, players and officials etc. She anticipates the flow of the game and the strategies of her opponents. The playing field is a different place without her.”

Coach Frost said the “link” is a solo position that she doesn’t utilize every year.

“She supports the offense, playing just behind the forward line and helps prevent midfield balls from reaching the defense. It’s a unique position and requires extreme conditioning and endurance,” the coach pointed out.

When asked how Abigail improved over the past few seasons, Coach Frost said, “Abigail has always had talent. But talent alone did not make her the athlete she is today. Abigail strives to be better at each practice, conditioning session and competition. She does not settle for being anything less than her best. She has fine-tuned her skill, taking it to the next level with every passing season. With a congenial but reserved demeanor, she has had to learn how to lead and inspire her teammates as their captain.”

Coach Frost said watching Abigail play each day, be it in practice or in a game, was special.

“I love the game of field hockey. It’s my passion. As her passion for the game grew, so did our connection. The way she gives her whole heart and soul to every game makes me so proud of her,” the coach said. “She reads my mind sometimes with only a look. I don’t need to tell her what to do or change, she hears it in the tone of my voice or sees it on my face. I can’t put much past her. She is such a joy to coach and she is not just an amazing athlete, she is an amazing young lady in every way!”

Good choice

Like many middle schoolers, Abigail Hewes was open to trying something different after being a dancer for many years.

“Honestly, I did it because my friends played. I thought it might be fun. I fell in love with it instantly,” she said. “I love the competition. As crazy as it sounds, I love the running. I love being around the ball and always in the play. The coaches were incredible, always showing their love for the game.”

While very quick, determined and aggressive, Abigail says learning the importance of teamwork was critical to her development both as a player and leader.

“I’ve been out with a couple of injuries (concussion), and my teammates were there for me. I learned it can’t be a one-man show. I have people all around me willing to support me,” she said.

She also cited her time spent on “travel” field hockey squads, which exposed her to different practice drills that improved her skill set, formations and ways to interact with teammates — all these experiences she brought back to her high school program in hopes that her Raider teammates could also improve as they chased the ultimate prize — playoff wins.

“My greatest strength? Keeping up the energy level during a game,” she said. And when things didn’t go well or as planned, Abigail looked to bring something positive to the moment in hopes of righty the ship.

“Failure is definitely a fear. I usually like to think that every play is a new play. I might have messed up the play before, but it doesn’t matter what just happened, I can turn it around. Take a deep breath. Let it go. Figure it out. Set some goals for myself what I want to do the next couple of plays. That usually gets my mind in a better place and I’m ready to turn things around,” she said.

Abigail and the Raiders put together an incredible run this fall, shaking off some tough overtime losses early in the season to gain some redemption in the end by beating Freeport in the semifinals — which was definitely sweet since the Falcons knocked FA out of the playoffs a year ago — and advancing to the Class B South Finals, only to lose to defending champ, York.

“It was nice to reach the Regionals this year, something that hadn’t been done here in 17 or more years. It was really exciting, especially this being my senior year. It was fun to do it with all my best friends by my side. Last year, we lost to Freeport in the semifinals, which was a bummer. But this year, we played Freeport again in the semifinals and we turned it around. It was awesome to show everyone what Fryeburg field hockey really was — the legacy we live by,” Abigail said. “Coach Frost had a big part of that. She is always there for us. She doesn’t let us get down on ourselves. Freeport scored in the first three minutes, and she told us, ‘It’s fine. You can get it back.’ It was nice to be a competitive program, and be able to continue our season after other sports were done. It was nice to be in the spotlight for a little bit. It was stressful, because losing to them (Freeport) twice would have been devastating, but it was exciting to beat them and show them we really are competitive. Last year, we lost in overtime. This year, we won in double overtime. They were very competitive games, and it was nice to be on the winning side.”

A coach is often a difference maker for successful programs, and Abigail believes Coach Frost has pushed the FA program to consistent contender status.

“Coach Frost taught us about a love for the sport. She is so dedicated and always has fun practices, but we knew when it was time to get down to business, get down to perfect our plays and our corners. It was nice to have a coach so willing to put in all that time. It showed on the field. I learned that even if things don’t go right, I just need to keep pushing,” she said.

Falling one game short of reaching the state finals was disappointing, but Abigail was proud of the season the Raiders pieced together.

“It was awesome to make it that far. There were eight seniors, so eight of my best friends were on that field at the same time. We all shared the love and the tears. It was awesome to finish that season with my friends. As much as I wish we could have gone to States, it was still an awesome run and great to be part of it,” she said.

With her high school career in the books, Abigail took the next step in her field hockey odyssey by selecting to play at Bentley.

“I wanted to stay close to home. I didn’t want to go too far away (she considered Ithaca and Roger Williams, but felt they were too far away). My brother goes to Bentley, as well. It’s how I got the name in my mind. I helped him move in and went on a couple of tours. I fell in love with the campus. I noticed that the (Bentley) coach was at some of my travel tournaments, so I reached out to her. Fortunately, she answered and we started talking,” Abigail said.

Bentley competes in the Northeast-10 Conference, and went 7-7 under Coach Jessica Spencer, who was in her 12th year at the helm and is a 1997 Bentley grad. The Falcons lost 2-1 in double overtime in the conference quarterfinals against Southern New Hampshire.

“They have a real positive outlook. I went to a practice, and it was fun to watch them. They have good drills, good coaches. It was exciting to see a coach like Coach Frost. She’s super nice. She was great in the recruiting process,” Abigail added. “Going in as a freshman again is a little scary — remembering what it was like in high school — confidence is one thing I need to work on. I need to remember they wanted me here. I know I am capable, and I need to keep telling myself that.”

 How will Abigail’s game translate to the collegiate level?  Her coach expects nothing but big things from her senior captain.

“Abigail’s field hockey IQ is already superior to most high school players and she can do anything she puts her mind to,” Coach Frost said. “Her work ethic and love of the game are a winning combination. Add the fact that she is extremely coachable and versatile, and any college team is lucky to have her. She is ready!”

Having a familiar face and shoulder to lean on — her brother, Ryan — will also help in the transition.

“When we were younger, we bickered. But we got that out of the way when we were younger. Now, we’re really good friends. He encouraged me to look at Bentley and look at the field hockey program. He loves the school. He wants me to love it as much as he does. We’re similar in that way, so I think he feels it’s going to be a perfect match,” she said.

Right now, Abigail is leaning toward a major in business management and a minor in public policy or nonprofit.

Looking back, if there was a piece of advice she could pass on to underclassmen, Abigail said it would be, “Never giving up, and knowing that anything is possible. In eighth grade, if you had told me that I was going to sign to play at a DII field hockey school, I would have told you were crazy and that I was a dancer. I worked hard. I had great teammates, coaches, teachers and mentors, which helped me realize my potential and pushed me for what I wanted. I wanted to play field hockey in college.”

Abigail Hewes proved that setting a goal and working hard to achieve it, anything is indeed possible.

“Dance is kind of a memory, but I did meet some great friends at Tina Titzer’s studio, where I danced competitively. I loved it, but I was ready to move on and try something new,” she said. “All my best friends played field hockey, so I decided to give it a try.”

It worked out pretty well.