GORHAM, Maine - Recognizing the outstanding achievements of our University of Southern Maine student-athletes is something we are proud to do. Since January of 2022, Huskies' Athletics and University Credit Union have partnered up to highlight the varied and vital contributions USM student-athletes make in competition, in the classroom and in the community. Whether its big-time performances for their team, or big steps in their academic and career goals, or our student-athletes commitment to Community Service, USM & UCU are ready to celebrate our Student-Athletes of the Month.
Chosen by members of the Athletic Department administration, recipients of this honor successfully embody the Five Pillars of USM Athletics: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
September 2022's UCU Student-Athlete of the Month honors the first of the 2022-23 academic year. Huskies' Athletics looks forward to continuing this recognition program throughout the year and its valuable partnership with University Credit Union.
Tanner McClure | Sports Management | Ice Hockey
A member of the Huskies' men's ice hockey leadership group, senior
Tanner McClure is a two-time New England Hockey Conference All-Academic Team member, William B. Wise Scholar Athlete, and a member of the Huskies' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A Sports Management major, Tanner recently completed an internship over the summer with the Portland Sea Dogs (MLB affiliate).
While it may seem like Tanner is busy enough managing academics, early morning practice times at the USM Ice Arena, and more, he has also found time to co-establish the University of Southern Maine's Best Buddies chapter, along with USM student Phoebe O'Rourke. An international organization that focuses on inclusion, Best Buddies goal is to pair individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with an individual without IDD to make a 1-on-1 friendship. Since joining Best Buddies himself, Tanner has established a friendship with Charlie – a young man who is a Special Olympics Athlete and is training to compete in swimming events in Portugal later this month.
About Best Buddies, Tanner says, "Since meeting Charlie he has had a huge impact on my life. I can always count on him to put a smile on my face…No matter what we are doing together (bowling, playing corn hole, or just talking sports) he's literally always laughing, smiling, and spreading his joy onto me. By starting a Best Buddies chapter at USM along with Phoebe, I hope more people will have the opportunity to connect with and support others. Friendship is so important and so is inclusion, in every aspect of life."
Recently named to the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) Watch List, sophomore
Sage Drinkwater has shown no signs of a sophomore slump during the 2022 Huskies' field hockey season. The 2021 Little East Conference Rookie of the Year, first team All-Conference forward, 2021 NFHCA All-Region and Synapse National All-Rookie Team selection picked up right where she left off and lead the Huskies in scoring through 11 games this season with nine goals and two assists for 20 points. Recently scoring a hat trick – the second in her career – in USM's 7-0 romp of Salem State, Sage has helped the Huskies off to a 5-0 start in Little East Conference play, in which USM is outscoring its LEC opponents 22-2. With 20 goals and seven assists in her career (32 games) for 47 points, Sage is 22
nd in career points at USM.
A Linguistics major, Sage has also excelled academically and was named to the NFHCA's National Academic Squad. Earning a GPA of 3.9 or higher in her first year at Southern Maine, Sage was also named an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction. Sage's achievements, along with several of her teammates, helped the Huskies earn the title of NFHCA Division III National Academic Team.
WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY CREDIT UNION/ATHLETIC DIRECTOR STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH?
Throughout each academic year as Huskies' Athletics moves from fall to winter to the spring competition, Southern Maine student-athletes are consistently recognized at the state, conference, regional and national level for their outstanding and noteworthy performances on the field of competition.
Academically, Huskies are also known for their superior performances earning All-Academic team honors from a variety of awards bureaus as well as the University. During the 2021-22 academic year, USM student-athletes combined for a department grade point average of 3.2. Each year, Husky student-athletes receive recognition for their athletic, academic and community service activities. Last spring, USM's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was named the University's Student Group of the Year for the fourth time in six years. And later this fall, Southern Maine Athletics is looking forward to honoring its hundreds of William B. Wise Scholar Athletes.
Proudly supporting and emphasizing the Division III student-athlete model, Huskies' Athletics focuses its goals on five key areas for each of its nearly 450 student-athletes: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
Many of USM student-athletes play big roles not only on their teams, but also in life - as student employees, mentors, student organization leaders, civic rights activists, residence life assistants, and more. With that in mind, Director of Athletics
Al Bean and University Credit Union are coming together to create a new way to honor and amplify the remarkable contributions of our student-athletes that go far beyond the stat sheet with the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month recognition.
"As a department, Huskies Athletics believes in the development of the overall student-athlete. As soon as they become a Husky, we are investing in their future. The goal for a USM student-athlete is for each and every one to realize their full potential academically, athletically, personally, professional and civically. Our student-athletes are leaders on and off of the field and in the community. With the creation of the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month honor, we are seeking to establish a tangible way to congratulate and encourage the work of student-athletes both inside and outside of the competitive arena."
The UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month (one male, one female) will be chosen based upon Huskies' Five Key Pillars: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community. Members of the Huskies' Athletic Administration will nominate and choose those student-athletes to be recognized.
"We're excited for this new initiative and for the increased opportunities to recognize our tremendous student-athletes," said Bean. "UCU's partnership further demonstrates their commitment to the overall growth and development of our programs."
