Windham graduate doesn’t let hardship stop her from achieving dream

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School 2021 graduate Bria Campobasso graduated during a rough time. Campobasso was a multi-sport athlete cheering and playing lacrosse. COVID-19 had ended the previous year’s spring season, and schools and athletes were still dealing with its ramifications. COVID-19 completely reshaped Campobasso’s plans. She had planned to attend college, but with circumstances as they were, realized it wasn’t the right environment for her. She did not let this stop her; she used this setback as a chance to focus on her health, discipline and long-term goals.

Windham High graduate Bria Campobasso
flexes during a photo shoot in Portsmouth,
New Hampshire in 2024, After high school
she began to compete in bodybuilding and
last year she won the OCB Bikini Pro title.
PHOTO BY PEDRO BLANCO 
PHOTOGRAPHY 
  

This led her to develop a real passion for bodybuilding and competing where she’s been able to excel professionally. She graduated online with her degree in personal training and nutrition from the International Sports Sciences Association.

“After high school, I discovered my love for the gym and weightlifting and found it was a great outlet from transitioning (from) a multi-sport athlete to no sports,” said Campobasso. “I fell in love with the gym and wanted to take it to the next level.”

As a Windham senior, Campobasso was asked by former Windham Athletic Director Rich Drummond along with a small group of athletes to speak on behalf of athletes and classmates in a ZOOM Windham Town Hall meeting about the importance of athletics, during the initial years of the pandemic. She spoke about how important it was to participate in a physical activity and a feeling of normalcy during a detrimental time. Campobasso was honored to have been chosen for this.

High school athletes were eventually given more freedom and sports and practices were able to resume.

After discovering her passion for bodybuilding, Campobasso got involved with the Organization of Competition Bodies and entering competitive bodybuilding events.

“As I trained and learned more about the sport, my coaches and I came to the decision that the OCB would be a great Federation for me to start my journey,” said Campobasso. “After two years of being in ‘prep’, I entered my first show in New Hampshire in 2022, and that experience really solidified my interest in competing at a higher level.”

During that first competition, Campobasso placed first in two out of her three categories and placed second in her third category.

Campobasso said the off-season is about building muscle. Some of the preparation for competition includes lifting heavy, eating enough to grow, and improving weak areas that the judges give feedback on. Once preparation begins, training becomes more targeted. She lifts six to seven days a week, but with more emphasis on shaping, symmetry, and conditioning. As it gets closer to a competition, cardio increases, nutrition becomes more precise, and everything is done with the goal of bringing your best physique to the stage. Campobasso said it’s one of the most disciplined things anyone could ever go through.

In March 2024 Campobasso won her OCB Bikini Pro title.

“I won my OCB Bikini Pro title by outworking everyone,” said Campobasso. “I showed up every day, stayed disciplined, and brought a physique to the stage that proved it. It wasn’t luck — it was years of grind, sacrifice, and refusing to quit.”

Her advice to athletes who encounter adversity is your journey isn’t over, it just means it’s changing. Setbacks can feel huge in the moment, but they can also push you toward opportunities you never expected. Stay disciplined, stay open-minded, and trust a new direction can still lead to success.

She’s taking a lengthy offseason to give her body more time to build muscle and get ready for the stage. Campobasso plans on having a pro debut in late 2027 at the Yorton Cup, the most prestigious event in the Organization of Competition Bodies; considered the premier professional title in natural bodybuilding. <

WHS girls’ lacrosse state champions receive championship rings during ceremony

By Matt Pascarella

The 2025 Windham varsity girls’ lacrosse team made program history when they defeated top-ranked Kennebunk 12-9 in the Class A State Championship to capture the program’s first state title at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland on June 21. They were honored with celebratory plaques and championship rings at Windham High School on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Windham High's varsity 2025 girls' lacrosse state
championship team show off their state championship
rings during a recognition ceremony at Windham 
High School on Wednesday,  Nov. 26.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

The 2025 WHS girls’ lacrosse team consisted of graduates Sophie Allen, Grace Joly, Lauren Jordan; seniors Abby Trainor, Neve Ledbetter, Demetria Nicholas, Elizabeth Baker, Mady Donnelly, Brianna Duarte, Alyssa Cooper, Olivia McPherson; juniors Morgan McLain, Grayson Cornish, Gracie McPherson, Charlie Scanlon, Libby Hartwell, Avery Adams, manager Allegresse Kawaya; sophomores Brooklyn Roy, Anna Bowie, Morgan Clark, Maria Rose, Madison Buzulchuck and Lauren Valle.

Windham varsity girls’ lacrosse coach Matt Perkins said after that season ended he received messages from referees complimenting how professional a team Windham had been during the season. The way the team carried themselves and their character is second to none.

A slideshow of season highlights was shown during the ceremony.

“The goal they’ve had season after season is to create one big group with no cliques, but with people coming together,” said Perkins. “The one phrase or one word that (describes) this group is ‘team.’ When you look at this group, every little fragment that is part of the ‘team’ definition, is this group to a tee. We (as coaches) have never been around a group that hits so many aspects of the word team.

The definition of ‘team’ is a group of individuals working together to achieve a common goal, where members are mutually accountable and rely on each other’s strengths. What is your goal and what are you going to do to impact us are two questions Perkins and his coaches put on the players last year. The team was all about that. As coaches they feel very, very fortunate to have had that year. It feels so good to look back at what this team did and how they did it.

“We didn’t really get to process it,” said Joly. “To come back together and relive it, my heart is so warm and full from being here with everyone again. This ceremony is everything I thought it would be and more. These rings are pretty snazzy, and we have a lot of supporters here who supported us all year, so it’s really nice.”

Ledbetter said it definitely felt amazing for the team to be recognized for how hard they’ve worked. it takes a team that has hard work and plays together, but she also thinks it takes the support. In the stands during the championship was everyone who had ever cared about the team and that was really important to the players and the team as a whole.

“It’s honestly surreal,” said Trainor. “Going back on my camera roll and seeing those photos, I still can’t believe that’s what we’ve achieved. Watching the slideshows, it shows how far we’ve come. We didn’t have to rely on one person or two people, we had our whole team play a part in certain things. Everyone’s dream of winning states ... actually came true.” <

Lacrosse a major contributor to Windham graduate Yale’s life

By Matt Pascarella

During Emma Yale’s time playing varsity lacrosse at Windham High School, she scored 100 career goals, played in national tournaments and won national awards as well as succeeding academically and graduating in 2021.

Windham High School alumnus and Tufts University graduate
Emma Yale looks to pass during a women's college lacrosse
game at Tufts University in Massachusetts in April. Yale is
working to become a licensed architect and aims to obtain a
master's degree. PHOTO BY BRANDO PHOTOGRAPHY  

She is now a 2025 graduate of Tufts University in Massachusetts with a major in architecture and a double minor in architectural engineering and entrepreneurship. She is currently working with a local architect as well as Optimum Construction and plans to start work on obtaining a master’s degree in architecture next fall.

“I value the connections the sport brought me,” said Yale. “From my best friends and mentors to the young athletes and families I now get to coach. It’s really special to work with young girls and see their excitement for the sport. My favorite part is the relationships is being able to help them grow not only as athletes, but as people.”

While playing for Tufts University, Yale helped her team win two New England Small College Athletic Conference championships and participate in two national championship tournaments.

“Consistently being a national championship contending team, I got to practice amongst and against some of the best players in the country as a result I grew so much as a player,” said Yale. The experience of going to a Final Four is really special, you get to celebrate the months of work you've put in while also preparing to play your best lacrosse. That environment pushed me to grow tremendously as a player and is something I’ll always be grateful for.”

During the summers, Yale stayed involved with lacrosse through coaching for the Maineiax Lacrosse Club. She coaches travel teams, skill sessions and is in the Top Flight program, a next-level training regimen for the state’s most dedicated players. She also coaches individual lessons a few evenings a week.

The perspective Yale has gained over the years helps her understand how to support her players and guide their energy toward what will make them better and more able to succeed. She makes it a priority to do the same and help them believe in themselves.

While at Tufts University, Yale made the Dean’s List each year and was on the 2024 and 2025 Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association academic honor roll.

According to Yale, film is a big part of college lacrosse and when she played for varsity girls’ lacrosse coach Matt Perkins, that early exposure to film prior to playing at Tufts University was helpful.

Her advice to high school athletes who want to play collegiately is to be a sponge. She says that there’s a lot to learn and the experience goes far beyond the field.

Yale’s biggest piece of advice is to celebrate everything, from small wins to your teammate’s successes as that fun kind of energy becomes contagious. She says that when you buy into shared success and take pride in your role, no matter what it is, you make yourself and your team better; you help create something much bigger than you.

When Yale was a freshman at Tufts University, a junior on the team named Scooter tragically passed away. From her, Yale learned that even the smallest acts – listening, encouraging, celebrating or just showing up authentically can make a big difference on an individual’s confidence. Yale says she strives to carry her spirit of fostering a connection forward in her own life.“One of the major assets Emma brought to the team was the constant reminder of the spirit of the game,” said former Tufts teammate and current Stanford graduate student Kate Mastrobuono. “It’s easy in college athletics to lose a bit of perspective, but Emma always provided a lighthearted outlook and played with ease every day. Emma was an incredible lacrosse player, but even more importantly, she was a supportive, charismatic, and loyal teammate. I always valued going to her to ask questions about attacking dynamics. She was a selfless leader, always setting others up for success and putting the team first.” <

Open gym volleyball a hit for Windham Parks and Recreation

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Parks and Recreation’s open gym Sunday volleyball program has been running since 2015 and while there’s plenty of competition, the overall environment is one of fun, meeting new people and enjoying playing the game.

Windham  resident Scott McPherson returns a serve during 
an open gym volleyball game sponsored by Windham
Parks and Recreation at Windham High School on
Sunday, Nov. 23. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA     

There are individuals of all ages and skill levels from all over southern Maine, and all are very welcoming. The games get pretty intense from time to time, but the atmosphere is always fun.

“I’ve been playing here at Windham for years,” said Standish resident Karen Macleod. “It’s one of my favorite places to play. It’s a great place to play, great people to play with; people are relaxed and allow you to play your own game. Everybody here loves to play volleyball so everybody here is looking for people to play with ... you don’t have to be here with a team; you can come here by yourself. The idea is to keep it even, keep it fun, let everybody play.”

Session one of open gym Sunday volleyball runs until Feb. 1. If you would like to get involved, you can purchase a season pass through Windham Parks and Recreation, register on their website or pay a $9 drop-in fee for non-residents, $8 for Windham residents. Participants must be age 21 or older.

Windham Parks and Recreation’s Deputy Director Kelsey Crowe said this program used to be held at the Windham Town Hall gym, but demand grew so much that the program expanded and needed to be moved to the larger high school gym. 

“These people are friendly,” said Westbrook resident Dave Peterson. “It’s fun, I get to see all these people; if you want to ... have fun, you play in a place like this. There are more competitive places to play, but I just like playing with my buddies.”

Scarborough resident Duncan Foster fell in love with the game a long time ago and has been playing since he was 19. Now, close to retirement, he plays in leagues at least three nights a week. He said these open gym Sunday games feature good players, and it’s a pretty good level. There are role models of setters, hitters and defense; you learn a lot every time you play.

“My husband and I are part of a league in Portland and there was someone there saying (Windham Parks and recreation’s volleyball program) was a really fun one,” said Brunswick resident Annie Turnbull who has been coming since January of this year. “I’ve been playing for three years now; we picked it up when we moved to Maine.”

Turnbull said she likes the format of getting to play volleyball for three hours. This gives you more space and the opportunity to play with a lot of different people and practice different positions on the court.

“The people really get into it,” said co-supervisor of the event and Windham Parks and Recreation per diem employee Jacob Chouinard. “It’s fun to see the competitiveness come out, a lot are former athletes who played in high school and college, you can see that fun, competitive spirit brought back to them ... I think it’s great to stay active, that’s a huge piece of it. It’s a lot of fun for everyone; it’s a great thing for the community.”

If interested, call Windham Parks and Recreation at 207-892-1905 or visit https://www.windhammaine.us/155/Parks-Recreation.com. <

WHS seniors Ledbetter, Trainor sign letters of intent

By Matt Pascarella 

 

(L to R) Windham senior Neve Ledbetter, center seated, with parents Nikki, Don, brother Will, back right, and grandmother June Williams after Neve Ledbetter signs her letter of intent at Windham High School on Friday, Nov. 14. Neve Ledbetter will attend Southern New Hampshire University to major in neuroscience and play lacrosse. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA Windham senior Abby Trainor, center, with parents Shannon and Jeremy and sister Addison after Abby Trainor signs her letter of intent at Windham High School on Friday, Nov. 14. Abby Trainor will attend Fairfield University in Connecticut to major in business and play lacrosse. PHOTO BY MARLEY JARVAIS

Windham seniors Neve Ledbetter and Abby Trainor have been inspiring each other on and off the lacrosse field their entire athletic careers. They became friends in eighth grade and have been succeeding ever since. They each signed their letters of intent at Windham High School on Friday, Nov. 14. Ledbetter will be attending Southern New Hampshire University to major in neuroscience and Trainor will be attending Fairfield University in Connecticut to major in business; both will play lacrosse.

“We knew right off the bat (as freshmen) with their work ethic what we had coming,” said Windham varsity girls’ lacrosse coach Matt Perkins about Ledbetter and Trainor. “What we didn’t know is in their sophomore years, we had some leaders who kind of struggled with (leading) and these two started to spearhead that leadership and their peers jumped onboard and helped them. They proved to us and each other anything is possible if you want to work your tail off. Last year, they elevated the program, they elevated the team, and the team really took care of each other and every kid felt like they were important. We’ve got one more season to go and I am very honored to be a part of it.”

Neve Ledbetter
Ledbetter started playing lacrosse in eighth grade and found it was a really good fit for her. This is when she met Trainor. The two played club lacrosse all through high school and Ledbetter continued playing because of Trainor’s encouragement.

When Ledbetter stepped on to Southern New Hampshire University she felt a real ‘at home’ vibe. The campus made her feel welcome and wanted. 

It felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders to finally sign her letter of intent. It made her think of all her past accomplishments and felt really good to sign alongside Trainor.

“Abby has been my ‘ride or die’ since middle school,” said Ledbetter. “She’s been someone I look up to and has been a huge leader to me throughout my lacrosse seasons. (Windham varsity lacrosse) paved a huge path ... they taught me how to be the person and player I am today. I wouldn’t be here without them, and my teammates especially have been super helpful.”

Ledbetter received the All-Academic Team award for maintaining a GPA of at least 3.5 for six semesters. She’s received the Dr. Richard Costello Memorial Award, based on leadership skills and captain characteristics.

She would like to thank Trainor, Perkins, Vanessa Ludka, Rusty Babb and Lauren Kane from Maineiax Lacrosse as well as her friends, family and varsity girls’ soccer coach Deb Lebel.

Abby Trainor
As soon as Trainor stepped onto the Fairfield University campus, it felt very welcoming. She thought the campus was full of life and very innovative. 

She’s been committed to Fairfield University for a while, so finally signing felt awesome. For her to get to sign with Ledbetter was an even better feeling because of their friendship. 

According to Trainor, it was important the two sign together to show each other that each of them had to rely on each other to get to this spot.

Trainor started playing lacrosse around kindergarten or first grade through Windham Youth Lacrosse. She played from third grade to the eighth grade in the youth program. She’s always loved the sport.

“All my teammates really push me every time I come into a new season,” said Trainor. “I became so much better (in high school) because of the coaches bringing me new plays and with the team being so heavy on offense and defense it helped me play at a higher level.”

Off the field, Trainor is part of the Spanish Honor Society and has participated in food drive donations and has given her time to reading to primary school students.

She would like to thank Coach Perkins, Babb and Ludka, as well as Ledbetter, Kane and her family. <

Windham’s Card leads team to All-Star Flag Football win

Windham junior Kiley Card showing off her ring
and team trophy after her All-Star team
won the Maine Girls Flag Football All-Star game.
PHOTO BY CINDY RUSSELL PHOTOGRAPHY

By Matt Pascarella 

 Windham junior Kiley Card has been playing flag football for six years. She originally wanted to play tackle football, but a girls’ team wasn’t available, so she joined the Maine Girls Flag Football league. She was selected to play on the All-Star team, and her team won the All-Star game at Deering High School in Portland on Saturday, Nov. 1, with a score of 27-21.

“I love the adrenaline rush from flag football,” said Card. “There’s constant pressure on you as a quarterback. I also like playing safety on defense and hearing the crowd get so excited when I intercept the ball. The friends that I’ve made from playing in this league is the best part of it all. It feels good to win altogether, as a team. They are a big part of what keeps me coming back. They make it fun.”

In 2020 the Maine Girls Flag Football league was formed. In the fall of 2022, they had 14 teams. They currently have over 160 girls spread over three divisions: elementary, middle and high school. 

The All-Star teams are a combination of girls selected from various teams from the regular season. 

Coaches vote to nominate players; two teams are created per division. The All-Stars play a championship game putting the best of the league head-to-head. 

“I drafted Kiley the year she became a freshman as I am a high school division coach,” said Card’s regular season Maine Girls Flag Football coach Ryan Campbell. “I got very lucky in the draft because the year prior, Kiley was the MVP of the middle school division. Kiley is one of the best players on the field as she can play all positions and at the highest caliber. She is a wonderful teammate and really bonds and connects with everyone around her. Kiley is the field general. She not only has to perform the play that I call into her but has to ensure her teammates are in their spots and ready and has to pull off the play successfully. Her natural athletic skills mixed with tenacity to win is the perfect combination.”

Card’s team was down at the half but fought their way back and tied the game with three minutes left. Card executed a flawless drive to put her team ahead and get the ‘W.’

“In my brief time, one-week period with her, she’s a strong competitor. Selfless teammate and has all of the tools to be a very good quarterback; very polished footwork and throwing mechanics,” said All-Star coach Andrew Fischer.

Card is also a star softball and basketball player and has been throwing a ball her entire life. Flag football gave her the confidence to go out and become a quarterback. 

“I can read where the football is headed and intercept the play because I have experience tracking pop flies,” said Card. “In basketball, which I’ve been playing since the age of 5, I read the offense’s body language and watch their eyes so that I’m able to steal the ball, in the same way that I watch a quarterback when I’m on defense playing football.”

Card would like to play flag football next year and continuing playing in college.

“I was proud of myself,” said Card. “Getting a championship ring is something that I’ve wanted for years.” <

Windham varsity boys’ basketball gear up for another high-energy, championship season

Senior Tyrie James slam dunks the ball.
The regular season begins Friday, Dec. 5.
PHOTOs BY MATT PASCARELLA

By Matt Pascarella

A lot of the players trying out for the Windham varsity boys’ basketball team began preparing for the 2025-2026 season since before the fall season began. Windham has made themselves well-known as they’ve won back-to-back state champions in 2024 and 2025, and this naturally makes them a bit of a target with the regular season approaching. However, Windham is well aware of the hard work it takes to accomplish what they have previously and are more than up to the challenge. The team you see step onto the court during the regular season is different from the team that won the gold ball in March. Some of the same players are returning, but this new team is here to carve their own path, not defend an existing one.
“Every year is a brand new group, a brand new identity, and a brand new climb,” said Windham varsity boys’ basketball coach Chad Pulkkinen. “What we did before doesn’t guarantee anything now. “It just reminds us to stay humble, stay hungry, and focus on the day in front of us. We’re attacking this season the same way we always have with work ethic, togetherness, and a growth mindset.”

Expectations will always be there when a team has had a lot of success, but that credit goes to the players who came before this team. The goal for this team is to try to be the best version of themselves they can possibly be. 

This year’s motto is ‘entitled to nothing.’ It’s a clean slate for every team at the start of this new season. Success comes from daily habits, not banners on the wall. Tough competition is not new in Class A South; it forces Windham to stay sharp and continue to grow.

In the offseason, the coaches of Windham varsity boys’ basketball challenge themselves just as much as they challenge their players. Pulkkinen and his assistant coaches George McCrillis, Geoff Grigsby, Noah Estey and Chris Sargent reflect as a staff on what worked and what didn’t last season. They provide honest feedback, and each try to improve individually before they start building a plan for the group they have coming in.

As coaches, they believe they have to model the expectations they ask of their players; they can’t just talk about growth and improvement, they need to work toward it. Every coach on this team wants to be better than they were a year ago.

“Our job is to be ready to give this team the best coaching we’ve ever given,” said Pulkkinen.
The team graduated eight seniors last year, so there are some spots to fill in the upcoming season. Seven high-quality players will return and, in that returns a group with a lot of experience and character.
While the roster will be different, the strength of the team is their mindset, maturity and the standards these returning players bring. They understand the work and the culture and are ready to prove themselves. Juniors Landon Wyman and Luke Drottar, and sophomores Sean Lebel and Boston Krainis are all returning; they have been in the varsity environment, learned what it takes and are ready for their turn. The time is now for them to make their impact.

Seniors AJ Moody and Tyrie James will be leaders on the court once again, just like they have been in previous seasons, along with junior Colin Janvrin, who played a major role in the success of last year. 
“We just want to be together and as close as we can because we can be nothing without the (underclassmen),” said Moody. “The guys under us bring us up ... we’re relying on them how they’re relying on us. We just want to become a family and build our chemistry as soon as we can. No easy games in our league. Taking it one-day-at-a-time, trying to better ourselves; every day we’re going to get better and better; every team will not be taken lightly.”

James said as seniors and captains their job is to motivate underclassmen and have them give their all. The team has been bonding and spending time together on and off the court to strengthen that bond.
Janvrin said there are going to be some tough games ahead, but they’ve got to battle through that adversity.

While they’d like to earn a third consecutive state championship win, it’s more important to prepare themselves to improve as the season progresses.

“Every program wants to win championships, but we don’t start the season talking about trophies, we talk about habits,” said Pulkkinen. “If our habits are championship-level, the results will take care of themselves.”

The regular season begins on Friday, Dec. 5 at Thornton Academy in Saco at 7:30 p.m. The first home game will be ‘Pat Moody Night’ and is on Tuesday, Dec. 9 against Sanford at 7 p.m. <