Name: Rebekah Hunnewell-Dunphe
School: South Portland High school
What was your most memorable race/meet?
2019 Outdoor Southwesterns meet - getting a personal best, school record, and winning shot put all in one meet along with the stiffest competition I've ever been in.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
Jaigan Boudreuau of Thornton Academy.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
Winning a state title in the 2019 indoor season.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your xc/track&field career in high school?
Not play Field Hockey the fall before indoor! Haha. But no, probably not getting into the weight room enough freshmen and sophomore year. I was kind of scared of the idea of lifting heavy weights above my head and stuff - but thankfully, that's different now.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
The most difficult obstacle that I had to overcome was during this past Indoor season coming off my ACL surgery. I remember trying to throw the day after they let me stop using crutches ( 1 month after surgery). But thankfully I listened and didn't throw, but waiting till I was healed enough was hands down the worst. Another difficult obstacle that I had to face was watching practices and meets, and not being able to participate. Mentally that took me for a rollercoaster ride, but my friends, teammates, and coaches were there to get me through those rocky 3 months of waiting.
What will you miss the most?
I'll miss my underclassman teammates, coaches, opponents, and even the officials. But mostly competing/practicing with my fellow seniors, they weren't just my teammates, they were my second family.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
Push your limits. You never know what might happen.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coaches encouraged me every day to achieve my goals. Wether is was spending hours upon hours in the circle with me after practice, or telling me that one bad day isn't going to be the worst thing and that I need to get back at it the next day. But most importantly when I had a bad meet or bad practice Coach Reardon would point out the positives knowing that it would lift my spirits.
How do you feel about missing your senior season due to the coronavirus?
I'm devastated. Coming off my injury - this outdoor season was going to be MY season. All those hours of physical therapy, and working out in the gym and pushing my self to start regaining my strength again, I wanted to make this season my best, despite my injury. This season was the season to kind of prove that even though my injury was huge, nothing is going to get in my way of throwing to the best of my ability.
What are your college plans?
I am going to attend the University of Maine in the fall to continue my throwing career, and to be in their athletic training program.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I would like to start by thanking my parents for always supporting me and cheering me on at the endless track meets, and to all the coaches that I've had these last four years, as well as my teammates and friends. But especially Coach Reardon, Coach Brian Woodbury, and Tanya Wilkes. Coach Reardon, you were my teacher, my coach, and one of my biggest supporters, thank you for believing in me. And to Coach Brian Woodbury, and Tanya Wilkes... although I was silent, and scared of you both for months, I'm grateful that I sucked it up and continued to work with you both these last four years. I don't have a clue where I'd be without you. Thank you for the support, and help with everything in and out of the circle, and in the weight room - but no thank you to sally squats.
