Tristen Chaine

It can really be hard being the son of a coach.

It can also be really hard being a dad coaching a son at most athletes’ highest level of play — on the high school varsity squad.

“As a father and a coach, there is always a concern when your child plays a sport for you. I have always tried my best to make sure my son, as well as my team players, know that when it’s time to put on their cleats and hit the field, that they are all my players, and I play no favorites,” Lake Region varsity boys’ soccer coach Michael Chaine said. “Tristen Chaine has made that part of my job extremely easy.  As a walk-on freshman starter, Tristen’s skills, aggressiveness and intensity earned him the respect of his fellow teammates, all of whom were upperclassmen, and he has never looked back.”

As his father, Coach Chaine enjoys each time he watches Tristen play and remembers all the times dad and son put into practicing together when Tristen was younger.

“As a coach, I am honored to have a player that through all the ups and downs of his four years playing Laker Soccer that he never gave up on the sport, even after many of his friends and fellow classmates did,” Coach Chaine said. “Tristen became a leader of his team last year even while only able to play a JV schedule, due to low player count. This year, he has strived to make it his best that he has played.”

Tristen rarely comes off the field and is “furious if taken out,” Coach Chaine said, even if the team is being beaten badly, showing his intensity.

“He wants to be in the action,” the coach added.

Tristen leads the Lakers in scoring this season and scored two “great” goals against Poland last week during the team’s Homecoming win. He is focused on adding more to his total, with only three games left, hoping to notch at least one more win which would give the Lakers their best record in his four years.

In recognition of his strong work ethic, determination, commitment and good sportsmanship, Tristen is this week’s Boosters and Hancock Lumber “Player of the Week.” Each week, a Lake Region athlete is recognized for his/her dedication (does more than what is asked), work ethic, coachability and academic good standing. Recipients receive a specially-designed T-shirt, sponsored by Hancock Lumber.

The Chaine File

Name: Tristen Chaine

Year in School: Senior

Hometown: Bridgton

Parents: Michael Chaine and Kelly Scammon

Sports you play: Basketball, baseball and soccer

School organizations: Varsity Club, Astra

Why did you choose to play soccer? My dad has always loved it and I’ve loved it from a young age.

What is the most difficult part of the game? Running constantly at full speed the entire game.

What do you enjoy the most about the sport? I love scoring. It is a great feeling to watch the ball go in the back of the net.

What do you feel you need to work on and why? I need to work on getting over the ball when I shoot. If I don’t do that, the ball will always go over the goal.

Why is teamwork important? Teamwork is important because without it you can’t win. You can’t win with 11 individuals on the field. You all have to work as one to actually succeed.

What is the biggest impact your coach(es) have had on you? My coach has had one of the greatest impacts on my life. My dad has coached me all four years and he has shown me how to be mature all four years.

How do you want people to view you as an athlete? I want to be viewed as a good athlete, but a better person.

Ten years from now, when you look back on your high school sports career, what do you think you will remember most? I think I will remember playing for my dad for four years, and our last game, where we won our Homecoming game.