From making varsity to earning playing time to dreaming of competing in college, young athletes can face tremendous expectations, both from themselves and those around them. The Biddeford School Department is bringing students, families, and athletics professionals together for an open conversation about how to keep sports in perspective while helping young people thrive both on and off the field. “Beyond the Scoreboard: Helping Student-Athletes Succeed in Sports & Life” will be held Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Biddeford High School Little Theater. The event is free and open to the public, with student-athletes and their families especially encouraged to attend.
Headlining the evening will be Maine native and WNBA Seattle Storm player Mackenzie Holmes, who will share lessons from an extraordinary basketball journey that began in Gorham, Maine. Holmes became Indiana University’s all-time leading scorer with 2,530 career points, earned multiple All-America honors, helped lead Indiana to four NCAA Tournament appearances, and was selected 26th overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Holmes will focus not simply on athletic achievement, but on what it means to be a good teammate, the work and mindset required to compete at increasingly demanding levels, and lessons young athletes can carry with them regardless of where their athletic journey ultimately leads.
“We want our students to dream big, work hard, and pursue the opportunities that excite them, but we also want them to understand that their value and their future are about so much more than a scoreboard, a starting position, or where they play after high school,” said Jeremy Ray, Superintendent of Schools. “Athletics can be an incredible extension of education. Students learn perseverance, discipline, teamwork, leadership, and how to respond to adversity. This evening is an opportunity for families to talk openly about those benefits while also acknowledging the very real pressures young athletes can experience.”
The evening will bring together several perspectives on the student-athlete experience. Biddeford School Department’s Athletic Director Dennis Walton will discuss high school athletics, expectations for student-athletes, and the relationship between academics and athletic participation. University of New England’s Head Basketball Coach Ed Silva will offer insight into collegiate athletics, including the realities and expectations students and families should understand when considering opportunities to compete after high school. South Portland Parent Michele Whitmore will represent the parent perspective, addressing how families can support young athletes while managing expectations and the pressures surrounding performance, playing time, competition, and future opportunities.
The conversation is intended to help families look beyond the common question of “How far can my child go in sports?” and consider an equally important one: “What can my child gain from the experience?”
“Only a small percentage of high school athletes will ultimately compete at the highest levels of college athletics, but every student-athlete can benefit from what sports teach them,” said Dennis Walton, Athletic Director for Biddeford School Department. “Success may look different for every student. Our goal is to help them make the most of the experience, develop confidence and character, and understand that being a great teammate and a successful student matters just as much as what happens during competition.”
The program will conclude with an interactive question-and-answer session, giving students and families an opportunity to ask questions of Holmes and the other panelists. Although the evening is designed with student-athletes and their families in mind, the event is free and open to everyone.
