PRESQUE ISLE – The University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls’Athletic Hall of Fame will induct three new members on Saturday, Sept.19 in a ceremony during homecoming weekend. The reception is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., with dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by the induction ceremonies. The event will take place at the UMPI Campus Center, and all are welcome at attend. This year’s inductees include Timothy Mark Olore (Class of 1983); David Hamel (Class of 1998); and Stephanie T. (Gagnon) Brewer.
A brief history on each of the recipients follows.
Timothy Mark Olore
Timothy Mark Olore is recognized as an inductee into the University of Maine at Presque Isle Hall of Fame for his achievements both as an athlete and coach. During his time at UMPI, Olore was an ace on the baseball diamond, seeing action from the mound, at first base and in centerfield. Olore co-captained his Owls’ squad in 1982 and was also given the NAIA first team All-New England First Baseman award that same year.
Prior to UMPI, Olore was a two-sport athlete at Presque Isle High School. He excelled as a four-year member (and three-year starter) on the Wildcat varsity baseball team, serving as captain during his senior season. Olore was awarded the team’s Most Valuable Player award his junior and senior years; received the All-Aroostook Pitcher award for three consecutive years and the All-Aroostook Most Valuable Player award for two years. He also played two years on the varsity basketball team. Olore was awarded the PIHS “Mr. Athlete” award during his senior year.
Shortly after leaving UMPI, having earned a bachelor of arts degree in behavioral science with an emphasis on social science, Olore played semi-pro baseball from 1982-84 as a starter for the Woodstock Shiretowners. The team was out of Woodstock, New Brunswick. Due to his love of athletics, combined with a desire to teach, Olore returned to UMPI to obtain his teacher’s certification. For the past 23 years, he has been employed by SAD 1 as an eighth grade social studies teacher. During that time, he has also served as the Presque Isle varsity baseball coach, earning the most wins in PIHS baseball history with 362 en route to developing and maintaining a top notch baseball program in Aroostook County and northern Maine.
Because of his motto, “Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat,” Olore has worked to give back to the school that gave so much to him. Olore has been the Skyway Middle School/PIMS eighth grade boys basketball coach from 1991 to present, and has also been the school’s intramural coordinator from 1994 to present. His love for coaching baseball led him to give back to his community by becoming the Presque Isle Recreation Department baseball summer program director from 1981 to 1985 and from 1989 to the present.
He resides in Presque Isle with his wife, Carole, of 18 years, an RN at TAMC. His interests include traveling throughout the world, cruising, photography, and participating and watching many sports, most specifically the Presque Isle Wildcats, Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics. He is a true Wildcat through and through.
David Hamel
David Hamel was a standout two-sport athlete during his time at the University of Maine at Presque Isle; he excelled as a four-year starter on both the soccer field and baseball diamond. Hamel was a three-year leading scorer of his Owls soccer squad: serving as a captain during his junior and senior season. He was an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore and an All-Conference first team member as a junior. In that same season, he earned All-New England second-team honors.
Hamel’s senior year was marked by accolades; he was an All-Conference first team honoree, the All-State first team, selected to the All-New England first team, and the Northeast Region first team, while leading all Division III colleges within the state with 19 goals. Hamel was also chosen his team’s Most Valuable Player as a senior.
Hamel was a three-year captain of the UMPI baseball team and again had a phenomenal senior season leading his team in home runs, hits, and stolen bases. He batted .497, which helped him earn an All-Conference 1st team selection. He also received the MVP award his final two seasons as an Owl. Finally, Hamel’s athletic career was honored and recognized as he was named 1998 UMPI Male Athlete of the Year.
Following graduation from UMPI, having earned a bachelor of science degree in social sciences, Hamel was invited to three different amateur open tryouts; one with the Atlanta Braves for baseball, and two for soccer with the Connecticut Wolves and New Hampshire Phantoms. Hamel began his teaching career at Bangor High School, where he also served as the junior soccer coach and assistant indoor track coach. He then moved on to Hermon High School, where he taught social studies for five years. During that time, Hamel coached the boys varsity soccer team, bringing them to an Eastern Class B semifinal during one of those seasons. He was also the boys junior varsity baseball coach.
Hamel is employed at the Bangor YMCA as the Sports and Recreation Director and Summer Camp Director. He resides in the Bangor area and is a single father to his 7-year-old daughter, Grace.
Stephanie T. (Gagnon) Brewer
Stephanie T. (Gagnon) Brewer was a two-sport athlete throughout her years at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, excelling in soccer and softball. She was a four-year starter on the Owls soccer team, and was also a four-year member of the UMPI softball team, earning a starting spot her junior and senior seasons. For both sports, she was a two-year captain. In addition to her busy schedule, she played a year of basketball. Brewer earned many awards throughout her time as an athlete, especially on the soccer field. As a senior, she was named to the second team NAIA All-Conference (SAC) and the NAIA All-Region soccer teams. She was named her softball team’s Most Inspirational Player as a junior and senior, and also received the “Al Arman Make a Difference” award her junior year. She made the All-Conference softball team (MAC) in 2000. Brewer was named the 2003 UMPI Female Athlete of the Year.
Academically, Stephanie was an example of a student-athlete, excelling in both the classroom and on the playing field; she made the UMPI Dean’s list in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fitness and wellness, Brewer worked as an UMPI aerobics and fitness instructor for two years. She also coached a variety of sports at various levels; she served as the varsity soccer and basketball coach at Easton High School from 2004-2005, and at the middle school level as a softball coach at Fort Fairfield for three years.
Stephanie attended East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, Pa. and obtained a master’s degree in clinical exercise physiology in 2006. During that time, she worked as a graduate assistant with the Associate Athletic Director. Brewer is attending the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, pursuing a masters degree in physician assistant studies with the expectation of graduating in the spring of 2010. Brewer has worked at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass. from 2007 to 2009 in the cardiac rehabilitation department as an exercise physiologist.
In May of 2006, she completed her first marathon at the Pocono Mountain American Red Cross Marathon. She and her husband, Jamie (2005 alumni) were married on Aug. 30, 2008 and reside in Portsmouth, N.H.
The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and dinner is open to the public. Reservations for the dinner and induction ceremonies are being accepted through the University’s Department of Athletics at 768-9506.
