PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Sarah Beasley, Glenn Sharp, Gerald Hutchinson, Jr. and Adam Smith are the newest inductees into the University of Maine at Presque Isle Athletic Hall of Fame.
They will be honored during a banquet on Saturday, Sept. 29, as part of the university’s homecoming weekend.
Sarah Beasley (Class of 2006)
Beasley, originally from Houlton, is one of the most talented multiple sport athletes in UMPI history. Beasley started for the women’s basketball, volleyball, and cross country teams during her time at the university, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in fitness and wellness.
Beasley received multiple basketball honors, being named to the NCAA Division III All Independent First Team in both 2005 and 2006. In 2005, Beasley also earned the All Independent Rookie of the Year. In both years of competition for the women’s basketball team, Beasley led the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association in rebounding. During her senior season, she led the Owls to a Northeast Independent Tournament appearance as UMPI finished the season with a 17-7 record. That year, she averaged 11.2 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.
For both basketball and volleyball, Beasley earned multiple player of the week honors and was named most valuable player for both teams in 2005 and 2006. Beasley also earned the prestigious honor of being named UMPI Female Athlete of the Year in both 2005 and 2006.
Beasley now resides in New Hampshire, where she is currently a registered nurse working in the Neurology-Trauma Unit at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, while also attending school to become a family nurse practitioner. In her free time, Sarah enjoys photography, stand up paddle boarding, running races, hiking and volunteering for the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Group to help fight against the opioid addiction crisis.
Glenn Sharp (Class of 1997)
Sharp was a key member of one of best four-year stretches in UMPI men’s basketball history. His consistent play over all four years helped him earn the No. 6 spot in UMPI’s all-time scoring list with a total of 1,186 career points. Sharp also grabbed 604 rebounds over his playing career with the Owls.
The 6-8 forward from Greelong, Australia, had the rare ability to play inside and outside, and was regularly amongst the conference leaders in points, rebounds, blocks and free throw percentage.
“Glenn was an extremely skilled and tough presence. He had the abilities to influence the game in a variety of ways at both ends of the floor as he made the right play for his teams in every situation,” said his coach, Karl Henrikson. “His consistent contributions were integral to the Owls evolving into a top 25 NAIA program.”
Sharp always seemed to come up big when his team needed him the most and during the Maine Athletic Conference Tournament, he recorded multiple double doubles in playoff games throughout his career. During his freshman year in 1993-94, he recorded a 22-point, 13-rebound performance in an 87-86 loss to Husson in the MAC championship. In his junior season, he helped lead the Owls to another conference championship appearance. From 1993 to 1997, the Owls won nearly 70 percent of their games with a 70-33 overall record.
After college, Sharp played semi-professional basketball before turning his passion for basketball into coaching. He was the assistant coach for the Geelong Supercats team that celebrated a national championship in 2017.
Sharp resides in Victoria, Australia, with his wife of 21 years, Tania, who also was in the UMPI graduating class of 1997. In their spare time they enjoy the outdoors and catching up with friends and family. Sharp now works for the Victorian State Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning as an operations manager in the investigations (wildlife) sector, where he oversees and leads major crime investigations related to the illegal possession and trade of wildlife in Victoria.
Gerald Hutchinson, Jr. (Class of 1971)
Gerald Hutchinson has had one of the longest and most successful careers in athletics among any UMPI graduate. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education, Hutchinson spent time contributing to multiple areas of the UMPI athletic department. During his time at UMPI, Gerald was a three-year varsity athlete in soccer as well as a three-year manager for both the wrestling and basketball teams. As a student, he also served as the university’s first-ever sports information director.
“Hutch was a dedicated manager to the basketball team at UMPI and an individual who, through hard work, became a fearless soccer goalkeeper,” said Richard Durost, a college classmate who serves as the executive director of the Maine Principals’ Association. “He showed great attention to detail, a trait that would serve him well as a high school athletic administrator and wrestling coach. He has shown tremendous loyalty to the athletic programs and students at PVHS for more than 47 years.”
Although Hutchinson had a great impact on UMPI athletics, he made a name for himself as one of the best wrestling coaches the state. He led Penobscot Valley High School of Howland to an overall 514-140-7 wrestling record during his tenure. The team won five consecutive Class C State Championships and more than 90 consecutive dual meet victories from 1991 through 1995.
In 1992, he was named MPA Wrestling Coach of the Year and was selected as the MPA “Larry Labrie Award” winner in 1995. Hutchinson also has previously been inducted into two other halls of fame — the New England Secondary School Principal’s Association’s Wrestling Hall of Fame, as only the 4th Mainer in 52 years, and the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame in 2015.
Hutchinson went on to earn his master’s degree in Administration from the University of Maine in 1986 and has dedicated most of his adult life to education as a teacher, coach and athletic administrator. He is currently the athletic director at PVHS and serves on the MPA wrestling and cheerleading committees.
Adam Smith (Class of 1985)
Smith was a standout three-sport athlete for the Owl soccer, basketball, and baseball teams from 1981 to 1985. During his career at UMPI, he captained both the soccer and basketball teams his senior year. Smith was named Most Valuable Player on the baseball team during his senior year and also earned the Male Athlete of the Year award.
“His intensity and passion on the playing field inspired his teammates to reach their full potential,” said Alan Gordon, a teammate of Smith’s and currently the UMPI men’s soccer coach. “Throughout all my years at UMPI, Adam is one of the best defensive players I have ever seen and on the basketball court he always guarded the other team’s best player.”
After graduating in 1985, Smith went on to excel in a different fashion as the Yarmouth varsity boys’ basketball coach for 14 years. During this span, he led the Clippers to the 2012 state championship. He holds school records at Yamouth High School boys’ basketball for most wins, tournament appearances and tournament wins.
Smith was named Maine Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year three times, Forecaster Coach of the Year three times, and Portland Press Herald Coach of the Year once.
The Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on Sept. 29 will commence with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m., in the Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room. To be part of this evening, RSVP no later than Friday, Sept. 14. The cost is $20 per person. Contact Sandy McDougal at Sandra.mcdougal@maine.edu or 207-768-9506.
