FRYEBURG — New inductees into the Hall of Excellence will be honored this weekend as part of Fryeburg Academy’s Homecoming.

This Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14, Fryeburg Academy welcomes alumni, family, and friends to celebrate Homecoming and induct new members into FA’s Hall of Excellence.

On Friday, Oct. 13, alumni are invited to a pre-game reception from 4 to 6 p.m. at Saco River Brewing to enjoy a complimentary beverage. At 7 p.m., head over to Atwood Stadium to watch the mighty Raiders take on the Poland Knights under the lights. During halftime, the Fryeburg Academy Alumni Association will provide treats for Raider fans.

On Saturday morning, 2023 Hall of Excellence inductees and guests will attend a celebratory brunch followed by the induction ceremony held in the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center. This year’s inductees are: Kit Foster ’65, Wayne Farrington ’72, Mark True ’82, Jennifer Stacy Bartlett ’93, Charlie Berg ’95, Heather Masse ’00, and Fred Apt (Significant Supporter, Coach). The team being inducted this year is the 2008/2009 back-to-back Softball State Class B Champions. The ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public.

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.

Stick around following the ceremony and check out the boys’ soccer team as they take on Wells at noon. The Academy looks forward to a festive fall weekend!

Hall Inductees

Kermit “Kit” Foster, Class of 1965, was a standout athlete during his time at FA. He earned six varsity letters in football, basketball, and track and was part of the 1963 State Class C Championship football team. He received All-Conference Honors in 1963 and 1964. In his senior year, Kit served as team captain for both the basketball and track teams.

After graduating from the University of Southern Maine in 1971, Kit returned to Fryeburg Academy to teach biology and other science classes from 1971 to 1975. During this period, he also coached junior varsity football and freshmen basketball and led the track team to the 1974 Class C State Championship along with multiple prep titles.

In 1978, Kit began a 50-year career as a realtor, founding Foster Associates in Bridgton. His accomplishments include being named Realtor of the Year in 1974 and becoming co-owner of ERA of Maine in 1988. In this role, he served as vice president of training and franchise sales, overseeing 48 ERA offices statewide. From 1992 to 1997, Kit was a national instructor for ERA’s Top Gun Academy and later taught at the Maine Real Estate Training Academy, guiding 3000 students to become licensed real estate agents.

Kit played a pivotal role in the revitalization of downtown Bridgton and was involved in developing major subdivisions in the Lake Region. He contributed to his community by serving on the Bridgton Planning Board, Comprehensive Plan Committee, and Budget Committee. Kit also served as a trustee for the Congregational Church of Bridgton, coached a 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade boys basketball league, and worked as a ski instructor for the junior ski program.

Kit and his wife, Colleen, reside in Naples, and have raised three children — Jason, Cory, and Jessica.

Wayne Farrington, Class of ’72, was an active athlete throughout high school, earning seven varsity letters. In his freshman year, Coach Heikkinen convinced Wayne to join the wrestling team, which went on to win the Class C State Championship that year. Wayne himself became the state prep champion in the 110-pound weight category. His successful high school sports career continued, with Fryeburg Academy securing first place in the Class B State and State Prep in 1971, winning the New England Prep Class C Championship in 1972 and finishing as the runners-up in State Class B.

Apart from wrestling, Wayne was also passionate about golf and baseball. During the spring sports season, he chose to play baseball, holding the position of second base and serving as the leadoff batter for all four years. In 1971, the team achieved an impressive record of 15-0 and secured the State Prep title. That same summer, Wayne set a course record while playing golf with Terry Adam ’65 at Lake Kezar Country Club in Lovell, where he had previously worked as a caddy many years ago.

In 1974, Wayne enlisted in the U.S. Army and underwent basic training at Fort Polk, La. He was subsequently assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, HI, where he served with a combat support Company 4.2 mortar platoon. During his time in the Army, he also competed on the Army golf team, facing off against the Marines, Air Force, and Navy. After four years of active duty, Wayne continued his military service in the Army Reserves and became a senior instructor with the 76th Division Training Group based in Lewiston. In 1984, he completed the Instructor Training Course as an honors graduate, an achievement he is particularly proud of.

Wayne furthered his education, earning a BS degree in business, and embarked on a career spanning over 29 years at Hannaford’s. In 1978, he married Susan Brown ’77, an alumna of Fryeburg Academy. Wayne and Susan have a son, Scott ’98, who also dedicated 24 years to military service and currently holds the position of senior resource Non-Commissioned Officer and Supervisor in the Joint Forces Headquarters Resource Office for the Pennsylvania National Guard.

While Wayne and Susan spend their winters in Florida, they enjoy their time at their home and camp in Sweden. Wayne has been deeply involved with the Fryeburg Fair for over four decades and presently serves as an Assistant General Superintendent and trustee.

Mark True, Class of ’82. Mark spent most of his childhood on the Fryeburg Academy campus, the son of long-time faculty member and later headmaster, Harry True. Mark excelled in the classroom and on the athletic fields and courts.

Mark entered FA during his sophomore year when his father returned to be headmaster.  He was a standout soccer, basketball, and baseball team member. He was co-captain of the soccer team his senior year and a member of the Western Maine Conference All-Star team his junior and senior years; he earned SYC honorable mention his junior year, and first-team all-tourney Class B. Mark was a member of the 1982 State Championship Class C Baseball team. He was selected to the National Honor Society, Boys State, and was elected vice-president of his class as a senior.

Following FA graduation, Mark graduated and was commissioned from the United States Coast Guard Academy. Mark continued to shine on the basketball court and football field, creating lifelong friendships there. In 2007, he retired as a Commander (Captain Select) after 21 years of dedicated and honorable active-duty service; then, he continued to serve his country as a Federal employee, serving as a Port Security Specialist at the First Coast Guard District. His personal military honors include two Meritorious Service Medals, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, one Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and one Coast Guard Letter of Commendation Ribbon. He also received the Department of Transportation Secretary Award for Partnering Excellence for his outstanding teamwork with the Port Security Grants Team post-Sept. 11, 2001.

Always willing to volunteer, Mark had a passion to coach and mentor on and off the field, even if his children were not involved. Known as “Coach” by many, his advice and lessons were valued and appreciated. Mark treasured time with family and friends, whether it be at the beach, over the grill, or walking the dog.

Mark passed away at age 56, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family – his wife, Laureen of 28 years, his children, Keegan, Braeden, and Kylene, and his siblings, Kathy True Ela ’78, Sherry True Ingalls ’76, and Paul True ’88.

Jennifer Stacy Bartlett, Class of ’93. Jen has a deep love for Fryeburg Academy that goes beyond words and has been a loyal and hardworking member of the FA community since her student days.

In high school, Jen was a dedicated three-sport athlete. She played field hockey for four years and was not only a team captain but also received All-Conference honors during her senior season. During the winter, she excelled on the basketball court, earning the Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award and All-Conference honors in her senior year. In the spring, she played softball for three years before switching to track and field in her senior year, where she achieved runner-up honors in the 200 meters at the Western Maine Conference meet.

Jen didn’t limit her involvement to sports; she was actively engaged in various school activities, participating in the Latin Club, Student Council, Key Club, Yearbook, Judicial Board, SADD, as well as the Photo, Spanish, and Varsity Clubs. In her senior year, she joined the school play cast and was selected to the National Honor Society.

Jen received her BA in education at the University of Maine/Farmington, where she played three years of field hockey before missing her senior season due to injury. Upon graduating in 1997, she accepted a position on the Fryeburg Academy faculty, earned a master’s degree from the University of New England, and has taught biology and photography – while also serving as a field hockey assistant coach, as well as the advisor for the yearbook, photo, and cross-stitching club, and a unified team coach.

Jen has also been actively involved in the school community. She has served as the president and officer of the Fryeburg Academy Teacher’s Association and is a member and past president of the FA Alumni Association. Beyond her teaching duties, Jen has coached field hockey, basketball, and softball for Fryeburg Recreation.

Today, Jen is in her 27th year of teaching, and her passion for her school and students remains as strong as it was when she first started. She lives in Denmark with her husband, Juston ’94, and they have raised two children who are also FA graduates — Brayden ’19 and Alegra, who graduated in 2023.

Charlie Berg, Class of ’95. While a student at FA, he was already preparing himself for a career in photojournalism and could often be found documenting the happenings around campus. In addition to his artistic and communication skills, Charlie was a cross-country ski team member and a prize-speaking finalist in 1994 and 1995.

After graduation, he attended Lyndon State College, earning a BS in Communication/TV News and Journalism in 1999. He then spent 15 years as a TV photojournalist, reporter, and producer at WMUR Channel 9 in New Hampshire and WCSH Channel 6 in Portland. Charlie then co-founded a successful production company, Black Fly Media. He now works as a videographer, editor, and producer at MaineHealth in the marketing and communications department.

Charlie has earned many accolades throughout his career — he was hired by the FBI to produce a TV commercial to help capture the Boston mob boss, James “Whitey” Bulger, which led to his arrest 24 hours after airing on CNN; he was twice named the National Press Photographers Association Regional “Photographer of the Year” during his career in Maine TV news; and in 2022 he won a regional Emmy Award for his video documenting the chaos Maine Med COVID ICU nurses faced during the height of the pandemic. Charlie has interviewed United States presidents, vice presidents, celebrities, professional athletes, and incredible everyday people.

If you check out his Facebook profile photo, you will see a photo of an elderly man in a thong standing behind him — the photo was picked up by AwkwardFAmilyPhotos.com and widely distributed in wall and desk calendars, birthday cards, board games, coloring books, and was used to help promote Warner Brother’s “Family Vacation” movie in 2015 starring Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, and Chevy Chase.

Charlie and his wife, Erin, live in Saco with their two kids, Sara and Nolan.

Heather Masse, Class of 2000. As a student musician, she was a standout from the start, one of the most talented singers/artists to graduate from FA. Heather was a four-year member of the Academy’s award-winning vocal jazz ensemble, a soloist in chorus, held leads in the school musicals, was selected to the All-State Chorus, and received the best vocalist award winner at the 2000 Berklee High School Jazz Festival in Boston, Mass. She also earned varsity letters in soccer and track and was a member of the National Honor Society.

She studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Mass., earning her bachelor’s degree and continuing her musical journey, becoming well-versed in a variety of American song traditions, which influenced her more prevalent work in folk, pop, and bluegrass.

She joined the Billboard-charting folk group The Wailin’ Jennys and has performed at hundreds of venues across the world. She was a frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, both as a solo performer and as a member of The Jennys. She collaborated with artists such as Elvis Costello, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, and Emmylou Harris on the show. In 2008, Heather released Many Moons, an EP of jazz-inspired folk duets with pianist Jed Wilson. She followed that up with her first full-length solo album, Bird Song. Her solo debut on Red House Records showcased her incredible alto voice and her superb songwriting. The title track, “Bird Song,” won her 1st prize at the International Acoustic Music Awards, and in 2012, she also won a prestigious Juno Award for the album Bright Morning Stars, with The Wailin’ Jennys.

Heather returned to her jazz roots in 2013 with Lock My Heart, an album of standards she recorded with piano legend Dick Hyman that had a long run on the jazz charts, and again in February 2016, with her album, August Love Song, released with the renown trombonist Roswell Rudd.

Heather continues to perform with The Wailin’ Jennys, who are now on tour, supporting their Album, “Fifteen,” released on Red House Records, in October 2017. Their next album is in the works. Heather can often be heard singing duets with Garrison Keillor or performing at venues across the country with pianist Jed Wilson.

Heather currently lives in New Mexico with her husband, Ian, son August, and daughter Ida Rose.

Frederick C. Apt, Coach and Significant Supporter. Coach Fred Apt navigated his role from a sports-loving Fryeburg Academy Raider fan to a Fryeburg Academy Coach in 1998. Having been an athlete throughout his childhood on the baseball field and in hockey rinks and continuing his passion for playing competitive softball in his younger adult life, it was only a natural fit that he took on the coaching role. During Coach Apt’s 23 coaching career years at FA, he had an impressive overall record of 248-40 combined on the softball field and the ice rink. He made 12 appearances in the Western Maine Conference league championships, six Western Maine regional championships, and four Maine State championships.

Fred’s boys’ hockey team earned the first and only ice hockey championship in 2004. The team won three straight one-goal playoff games and claimed its first Western Maine Class B title. In post-season play, they first defeated Marancook 3-2 in double overtime, then defending champions Cape Elizabeth 2-1. Traveling to Lewiston to play in the Class B state championship game, the Raiders defeated Orono 7-4.

Fred’s softball teams from 1998-2013 went 166-56. In the final seven years of that span, his teams posted a 130-10 record, winning five straight Western Maine Class B titles from 2008-2012 and State Championships in 2008, 2009, and 2011. In 2014, Fred retired, but his passion and love for coaching called him back. He returned after only a year away from the program and remained at the helm from 2015 to 2021. Fred captured his 200th win in 2017 with a 4-1 victory against Sacopee Valley. The Conway Daily Sun quoted, “My first win ever as a coach was Gray-New Gloucester, and my last was Gray-New Gloucester; that’s pretty wild. I wish it hadn’t been the last win” (in the regional finals).

When announcing his final retirement in 2021, Coach Apt shared how he would like to be remembered by his players” “I hope I’m remembered as someone who cared about them, was fair to them, and helped them in any way I could in softball and in life. Many kids will always say on social media and I’ll get emails — ‘You helped us. You taught us life lessons.’ And like I said before, a lot of the stuff that we do, it's about life lessons, not about softball, but it’ll play into it; they all play into each other.”

Fred leaves a legacy as one of the all-time winningest coaches and state title holders in the school’s rich sporting history. Upon retiring from coaching, Fred and his wife, Ruthie, enjoy their free time on their boat in Saco, traveling the coast of New England and teaching his two young grandsons, Chase and Wesley, the love of sports and having fun together!

2008 & 2009 Maine Class B Softball State Champs. In 2008 and 2009, the Fryeburg Academy Raiders softball teams etched their names in history by clinching back-to-back Maine Class B softball state championships. These remarkable seasons boasted an impressive combined record of 38 wins and only 2 losses. Notably, the 2008 squad marked a significant milestone as the first-ever state softball championship for Fryeburg Academy. Following in their footsteps, the 2009 team secured another championship, solidifying their place as the only softball teams in FA history to consecutively win state championship titles. Both the 2008 and 2009 teams triumphed over Medomak Valley for the state title, with the 2008 Raiders winning 6-2 and the 2009 Raiders triumphing 2-1. At that time, the Raiders became the fourth team in Class B history to repeat as state champions.

During the 2008 postseason, the Raiders exhibited unwavering dominance, winning all their playoff games. They conquered Wells with a score of 7-1, shut out Gray New-Gloucester 5-0, narrowly defeated Cape Elizabeth 1-0, and ultimately claimed victory against Medomak Valley.

The 2009 softball team continued their success by defending their Western Maine title at St. Joseph’s College, securing a 6-2 victory over Gray New-Gloucester. This victory propelled the Raiders to the state title game for the second consecutive year.

Both of these exceptional teams were consistently recognized and celebrated by the softball and school community for their teamwork, unwavering determination, and support for one another, both on and off the field. These players were more than a team; they were a family. They exhibited remarkable synergy on the field, with each member contributing effectively to secure the team's first two state championships, and as they say, the rest is history.

Members of the 2008 and 2009 teams included Coach Fred Apt, Assistant Coaches Chris Dutton, Kristina Stevens, and Wayne Rivet, tri-captains Cerise Humphrey ’08, Hannah Hill ’09, and Jacqui Bell ’08, along with Candace Thompson ’08, Ellen Head ’09, Charlotte Lewis ’11, Ariel McConkey Clark ’10, Kaela Mitchell ’10, co-captain Desiree Ramsey Sawyer ’09, Tanya Randall ’09, Kelsey Sheehan Giangreco ’11, Heather Tripp Negri ’09, co-captain Brylie Walker Young ’10, Nicole Watkins ’09, Anna Tupaj ’11, Maggie McConkey ’12, Brianna Pelkie Day ’12, Karissa Watkins McLellan ’11, and Michelle Rascoe ’11.