Auburn, ME - The CM Education Foundation hosted it's 10th Annual Dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn on Wednesday night, where it recognized students, faculty, staff, and community members for their triumphs throughout the 2016-17 academic year.  Brooke Reynolds (Poland, ME) was named the Female Student-Athlete of the Year, while Pietro Badalassi (Canberra, Australia) was named the Male Student-Athlete of the Year.

This past season, Brooke Led the Lady Mustangs to a 33-1 overall record, their fourth Yankee conference Tournament Championship in six years, and the USCAA DII National Championship, becoming the first women’s basketball team in the state of Maine to ever win a national title.

In 31 games this year, Brooke averaged 15 points and just over eight rebounds per game. In the Yankee Conference, she was fourth in points and blocks per game, first in steals per game, and first in field-goal percentage. In recognition of her outstanding performance in conference play, she was named a Yankee Conference First-Team All-Star and the Yankee Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player. 

And on the national level, she led the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) in steals per game and field-goal percentage. She was named a USCAA First Team All-American and the National Tournament Most Valuable Player.

According to Head Women's Basketball Coach, Andrew Morong, “Brooke is an incredibly talented and intelligent young woman who was able to shine this year on and off the basketball court.  She is a tireless worker, who is willing to do whatever is necessary, and beyond, to help her team win.  The team always comes first, and her selflessness and stick-to-it-iveness make her a role model for all of the young female athletes in our community.  We are extremely lucky to have Brooke as a member of our basketball program, our college, and our community, and it’s been an absolute honor coaching her.”

Pietro being named the Male Student-Athlete of the Year is the first time a student has won this award more than once. Given Pietro’s success in the classroom, on the court, and in the campus community, this is a well-deserved honor! 

Originally, from Canberra, Australia, Pietro is the first Australian student recruited to play sports at CM.  With his help, we have since recruited two other Australian athletes, and we may get two more for next year! 

With a cumulative GPA of 3.8, Pietro has really distinguished himself as a student in the Business Administration and Management program.  He has earned both high honors and President’s Honors, and this year he was named a USCAA Academic All-American.  

As for his performance on the basketball team, well, one could rave about his stats but they simply do not tell the whole story.  A real leader on the court, Pietro was voted the runner-up Yankee Conference Player-of-the-Year and a USCAA First-Team All-American.

The University of St Francis in Joliet, Illinois has offered Pietro academic and athletic scholarships to attend there next year. According to Dave Gonyea, the St. Francis coach flew in from Chicago on a Wednesday afternoon to watch Pietro play that night, and offered him $35,000 in scholarships the very next day!