BIDDEFORD — The term “Tiger Pride” is something you will hear a lot in Biddeford — and three student-athletes certainly made members of the BHS community proud on Tuesday afternoon.
Biddeford seniors Gracie Martin, Hailey Allen and Paige Laverriere all made their college choices official in front of their coaches, family, friends and teammates during a signing ceremony held inside Little Theatre.
“I love the support from the community … everybody is there for each other,” said Allen, who is heading to Division I Merrimack to play field hockey.

Martin, who will take her talents to Harvard to play Division I basketball for the Crimson, was thrilled to celebrate with members of the Biddeford community.
“I think it’s just a great day for the community,” said Martin. “I love all these people here. Like I said in my speech, I wish I could have thanked them all.”
One thing that made the signing event really special for the three Biddeford standouts was the fact that they got to share the stage with their friends.
“This is going to sound cliché, but it’s kind of like a dream come true,” said Laverriere, who will play field hockey and lacrosse at Division II Assumption. “As a freshman, I saw seniors sign (National Letters of Intent) with their friends and I was like ‘oh man, I hope that will be me someday,’ and it is today. This was just great.”
“To be signing with Hailey and Paige, it’s a special day for us to thank our parents, our family, our coaches and the whole community,” added Martin.

The BHS seniors will certainly cherish the memories made on Tuesday, but they are also happy to have the college recruiting process behind them.
“It was definitely a good feeling because ever since freshman year we’ve been talking about where we want to go and what we want to do,” said Allen. “It’s changed throughout that timeframe, but it’s good to know that we finally figured it out, it’s done and we did it.”
Martin echoed that sentiment.
“It’s great (to get it done) before basketball season because it’s just a busy time and it’s kind of a great kickoff to basketball season,” Martin said.
It has been an incredible first few months of their senior year for Allen and Laverriere, who were key members of Biddeford’s state championship field hockey team. Both standouts gave credit to head coach Caitlin Albert for helping them get to this point.
“I’m so lucky to have her as a coach. In my (speech), I didn’t really go in-depth (about Albert) because I could go on forever,” said Laverriere.
“Coach Albert has taught me a lot … and the same with Coastal, my club team,” Allen added.

Martin also praised her coaches — both high school and club — for helping her earn this opportunity.
“I wouldn’t be here without (their help). Firecrackers has pushed me so much … and just having a coach like coach (Katie) Herbine for my high school team — she’s been a great mentor and a leader for me to look up to,” said Martin.
Allen will be counting on Rick Sirois and his staff at the Sports Performance Center to help her get ready for the Division I level after she tore her ACL back in the regional semifinals.
“SPC with Rick and all of them are going to help me get stronger for Merrimack and be prepared for that college intensity,” said Allen.
When Laverriere heads to the next level, she will be taking on a challenge that most people wouldn’t even think about trying — playing two college sports.
“It’s been a dream of mine to play both since I was little,” said Laverriere. “Everyone has told me I couldn’t and I was like, ‘you know what? I’m going to do it and just prove you wrong.’”
That determination and never-give-up attitude is something these three Tigers have in common — and they are hoping to serve as role models for future generations of Biddeford athletes.
“I hope people follow in my footsteps. I don’t want to be the only (Biddeford) kid that plays basketball (at Harvard), so I think it’s a great thing for the community and for younger kids to look up to me and hopefully have the same goals and aspirations as I did,” said Martin.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 780-9017. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.