Wednesday, April 28, 2004

                    Greg Dolbec Receives Wirths Memorial Award

     GORHAM, Maine  --  University of Southern Maine senior Greg Dolbec (Newfield, 
Maine/ Massabesic HS) has been selected by the Athletics Department coaching staff 
and administrative personnel as the 2003-2004 recipient of the Roland Wirths 
Memorial Award.  The award was presented by USM Assistant Director of Athletics, 
Kimberly Turner, at the Athletics Department's recent Senior Awards Night banquet.
     The award, presented annually since 1980, is given in honor of the former 
Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram  sportswriter who was a strong 
supporter of USM athletics.  It is given to the deserving student-athlete who best 
exemplifies the characteristics of Wirths and his writing.
     Wirths often wrote about the overachiever, the person small in stature who 
made a big difference.  He was interested in stories of the heart, people who made 
a real difference, or the true leader or inspirational-type player.
     The captain of the cross country team last fall, Dolbec was twice selected as 
the Little East Conference Runner of the Week.  He was among the region's elite 
runners until a leg injury in mid-October knocked him out of competition the final 
three races, including the NCAA Regional Championship.
     Dolbec has overcome a variety of injuries during his career to earn All-
Little East Conference citations on three occasions for indoor track (2000, 2001 
and 2003) and three more in outdoor track (2000, 2001 and 2002).  A versatile 
performer, he ran middle distance and distance events (400 through 1,000 meters 
indoors, 400 through 5000 meters outdoors) and competed in the pole vault.  He 
earned a combined five All-LEC citations in the pole vault.
     USM men's cross country and track and field head coach Bruce Bickford, who 
was unable to attend the awards banquet because he was traveling to the Little 
East Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships meet, relayed his thoughts 
about Dolbec.  He wrote of Dolbec as "one of the toughest, most focused 
individuals I've ever had the pleasure to work with.  His dedication parallels 
none.  His decision making in races is flawless.  He is one of two athletes that I 
have coached in my 20 years of coaching that know how to race.  You cannot teach 
this.  Learning how to race is instinctive, and Greg's got it.  There is no 
individual or person I respect more for what he has made of himself than Greg."
     Dolbec is majoring in business at USM and is expected to graduate in May.


                     Roland Wirths Memorial Award Winners

               Year     Recipient, Sport(s)
               1980     Steve DeBree, Soccer/Men's Basketball
               1981     John Jordan, Men's Basketball
               1982     Mike Stockwell, Physician
               1983     Joe Doane, Men's Basketball
               1984     Greg Jordan, Statistician
               1985     Maureen Burchill, Women's Basketball
               1986     Brad Wise, Soccer/Baseball
               1987     Peter Story, Men's Basketball
               1988     Doug Ouellette, Baseball
               1989     Jeff Bowers, Men's Basketball
               1990     Pat Moody, Men's Basketball
               1991     Bonny Brown, Field Hockey/Softball
               1992     Jim Broughton, Baseball
               1993     Richard York, Baseball
               1994     Robert LaPrise, Men's Basketball
               1995     Jeff Ireland, Soccer
               1996     Jamie Wood, Women's Basketball
               1997     Ken Reed, Baseball
               1998     Mandy King, Women's Basketball
               1999     Michael Ellerbrook, Men's Basketball
               2000     Penny Osborne, Women's Cross Country
               2001     Andy Higgins, Men's Soccer
                        Kevin Faria, Men's Track and Field
               2002     Niki Dominiczak, Women's Basketball
               2003     Jason Tuck, Men's Cross Country and Track
               2004     Greg Dolbec, Men's Cross Country and Track