PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – The University of Maine at Presque Isle Owl Athletic Hall of Fame will induct three new members on Saturday, Sept. 22, in ceremonies during Homecoming festivities. The reception will begin at 5 p.m., with dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by induction ceremonies at the Campus Center. The 2007 inductees are Keli (Daigle) Marston, Class of 1998; Robert Karcher, (1992); and John Dakin, (1962).
This year’s Athletic Hall of Fame is the 19th elected since the University’s Hall was founded in 1989 and six inaugural members were inducted. This year’s group will bring the total to 67 members.
Keli A. (Daigle) Marston, played four sports during her career at UM-Presque Isle between 1994-98. A standout soccer goalie, Daigle earned four letters and was a three-year starter for the Owls, twice gaining all-conference goalie honors and leading her team to the MAC Championship in 1995.
Also excelling at basketball, Daigle played three years (a stress fracture kept her from a fourth year) earning several MAC conference honors, including Player of the Week twice, Rookie of the Week twice, all-conference second team twice and many team awards, including Most Inspirational Player and Most Valuable Player. Additionally, Daigle set team records in free throw percentage at 91 percent and field goal percentage at 59.9 percent during her career. She scored 831 points in her three seasons with the Lady Owls.
An all-around athlete, Daigle played one year of softball and ran cross country her senior year, during which the team placed third in the NAIA Regional in 1998. Highlighting her career, Daigle was twice presented with the Al Arman “Make a Difference” Award by the UMPI coaching staff in recognition of her hard work and exemplary behavior on and off the field.
Graduating with a degree in Athletic Training and a minor in Fitness and Wellness, Keli and her husband, Aaron Marston (class of 1997) moved to West Virgini,a where she completed her master’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Marshall University and CSCS license. Currently, they reside in Florida with their two children and operate the highly successful High Intensity Training Center (HIT) in Jacksonville.
Robert Karcher and his wife Kristy (class of 1994) continue to live in Maine with their two children where Bob has completed 14 years of teaching and coaching. The last 11 seasons have been at Dirigo High School. Karcher has coached a variety of sports at many levels while earning Downeast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1996 for softball.
During his soccer days, Karcher quickly became UMPI’s scoring machine. In four years, he scored 37 goals for the Owls (sixth most all-time) and had 18 assists (eighth most) including a senior year of 17 goals and six assists in leading the team to a conference championship. Karcher also played three years of baseball, batting leadoff and playing centerfield.
Karcher’s accolades were many. He was named District 5 All-Star in baseball as a junior and in soccer earned NAIA All-District V, All-Northeast College Conference two times, All-New England, All-Maine, and Conference MVP. Karcher was also selected as UMPI Male Athlete of the Year as a senior.
John Dakin lettered in both men’s basketball and baseball at UMPI (or Aroostook State Teachers College) between 1958-62 and was co-captain his senior year.
Displaying true student-athlete form, Dakin was class treasurer, vice president, and class president as well as president of the PE Majors Club.
He was part of the first ASTC class to graduate with a degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Dakin was also selected for Kappa Delta Phi for three years.
Following graduation, Dakin taught and coached at Westbrook High School for three years before beginning a long career at Southern Maine Community College, where he was hired in 1967 as the Director of Athletics and Head Baseball/Basketball Coach until his retirement in 2002. Coach Dakin still stands as the all-time leader in basketball coaching victories at SMCC with a record of 199-56, including a 30-3 mark in 1972. In 10 years as the basketball coach, Dakin teams won eight conference titles.
As the baseball coach, Dakin led his teams to seven titles and a 113-85 overall record. Additionally, Dakin served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs as well as Interim Dean for a short time and was the recipient of the Outstanding Student Services Award in 1994.
Respected in his profession, Dakin was named president of the Maine State Technical College Conference, president of the Maine Small College Conference, and president of the Northern New England Small College Conference. John Dakin was also very instrumental in the Western Maine basketball play-offs for many years.
In the fall of 2006 John Dakin was inducted into the Southern Maine Community College Hall of Fame.
