Wiscasset Middle High School has its new soccer scoreboard, but is still in need of a varsity boys’ soccer coach for next season. The scoreboard was installed recently and would soon be fully operational, said Cam Bishop, athletic director and vice principal.

“Mark Lincoln of Lincoln Enterprises, Woolwich will be returning soon with his crew to finish up the electrical work, after which we’ll be ready to try it out,” Bishop told Wiscasset Newspaper Monday, July 24. “We were delayed a few weeks because of the wet weather but it won’t be long now.”

The purchase and installation of new scoreboard came less than a year after the fundraising effort began in October. “It’s a super addition to our soccer field and really looks nice painted red and white (the school’s colors) with the Wolverine mascot on it,” continued Bishop. “It would have never happened without the support of our Boosters Club, and a very generous and much appreciated donation from Wiscasset Ford on Route 1.”

On behalf of the WMHS administration and the student body, Bishop personally wanted to thank the ownership of Wiscasset Ford, John Sawyer and Chris Sawyer. “They donated enough money to buy the scoreboard, which was manufactured for us by Nevco based in Greenville, Illinois. Initially, it was the two Colleens; Coleen Gilliam of the Boosters Club and Coleen Bennett, Wiscasset Ford’s office manager, who worked together to secure funding for the project. Charlie Bassett, Booster Club president, was instrumental in the effort too, along with John Merry, Wiscasset School Department’s facilities director and Dan Lincoln, facilities director here at WMHS.” Neokraft Signs of Lewiston assembled and installed the scoreboard with Annette Bourque serving as the liaison, Bishop added.

The new LED scoreboard is 13 feet by 18 feet and is located behind the track on the school’s upper athletic field. It replaces one installed  in the early 1990s. When the old scoreboard was actived around this time last year about a third of its bulbs failed to light. Due to its age, replacement parts were no longer available. During last year’s soccer season, a temporary portable scoreboard was used. In past years the Boosters have bought athletic uniforms, warmup suits for the teams, sweatshirts for athletes, new track and field equipment and EZ Up tents for outdoor events. The group has also bought items for the school’s Drama Club, flowers for Senior Night and provides two scholarships for college-bound graduates.

Bishop said WMHS is still in need of a varsity boys soccer coach. “As was recently announced, this fall our boys and girls will be playing eight-player soccer instead of the traditional 11-player games. It’s a new statewide league approved by the Maine Principals Association and started for high schools like ours experiencing declining enrollment. There are about 13 high schools that have signed on for the inaugural season.”

The immediate need is to get a coach hired, continued Bishop, who can be reached at WMHS at 882-7722, or at cbishop@wiscassetschools.org