Sanford High School Hosts SMAA Sportsmanship Summit for 5th Consecutive Year
- December 13th 2024
- Sports Notes
Student-athletes from SMAA schools gathered in Partners Bank Gymnasium at Sanford High School to participate in the annual Sportsmanship Summit
Photo: Sanford School Department
By Sam Bonsey, Sanford Schools Communications Coordinator
170 student-athletes gathered at Sanford High School on Tuesday, December 4th, for the Southern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) Sportsmanship Summit. The event, themed “Being the One,” brought together representatives from all 17 SMAA schools for the fifth consecutive year at SHS.
Luke Gendron, Jack Stimmell, Jack Van Gieson, Hailey Payeur, Mollie Puffer, Kaylee Lambert, Hazel Marcinkowski, Aiden Hill, Isabella McCall, and Gavin Hebler represented Sanford.
“The biggest takeaway is that discipline is key to having a winner’s mindset. It’s not about talent – it’s about strategy and work ethic,” Van Gieson said.
Featured speakers included Andrew Marotta, who shared personal stories exploring leadership development; Chandler Fenner, 2014 Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champion, who discussed “Leadership through the ranks, climbing to the top of success”; and Jason Fuller, Lewiston High School’s Athletic Director, who delivered a powerful message about community resilience.
Fuller’s presentation resonated deeply as he discussed the vital role athletes play in their communities. “What I want you to understand is the power you have to influence a community,” Fuller emphasized, sharing how Lewiston’s athletic community helped unite and heal their city through organized support systems and community-wide initiatives.
He highlighted how athletes can be powerful forces for positive change, whether on a large scale or through daily interactions with those around them.
Divided into breakout sessions, student-athletes rotated between the Performing Arts Center and Partners Bank gymnasium for interactive workshops. Special emphasis was placed on accountability, with leaders encouraged to take ownership of both problems and solutions within their teams.
“I went and asked coaches at the high school level, at the college level, at the professional level, at the NFL and CFL – every coach I talked to mentioned these qualities: selflessness, having a vision, inspiring others, and accountability,” Fenner told the students.
The summit represents part of SMAA’s ongoing commitment to developing student leadership skills beyond athletic competition and preparing participants for success both on and off the field.
