Lisbon High School standout athlete and student Sean Moore stands Thursday by the entrance to the school. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LISBON — Even as an underclassman, Lisbon High School senior Sean Moore’s natural leadership skills were evident.

Although it’s uncommon for students to be named captain before their senior year, Moore’s teammates looked up to him even as an underclassman, Mt. Ararat/Lisbon/Morse hockey coach AJ Kavanaugh said.

“So when we named him a team captain for his junior year, it wasn’t a surprise, even though it should have been,” Kavanaugh said. “As a junior, it was more like ‘it’s about time,'” because he was already considered a leader on the team, even going back to those early years.”

Moore wasn’t only chosen to be a captain for the hockey team as a junior, but also Lisbon boys soccer. He reprised both roles this year.

As a four-year starting goalie for Lisbon’s soccer and hockey teams and a defender for lacrosse, Moore has numerous athletic accomplishments to his name. In January, he stopped 38 of 40 shots fired by St. Dominic Academy, helping to defeat the Saints for the first time in program history.

His classmates voted him “Most Athletic,” along with one other student for the yearbook’s senior superlatives, according to his English teacher, Christina Morse.

Mt. Ararat/Lisbon/Morse goalie Sean Moore keeps an eye on the puck during a game Jan. 12 in Lewiston against Saint Dominic Academy. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal file photo

And this weekend, Moore will also be recognized with other exceptional Maine athletes by the Maine Class A Hockey Coaches Association.

Still, teachers and coaches say it’s his character that stands out most.

Last week, Moore was chosen to receive the Maine Principals’ Association Award for Lisbon High School in recognition of his academic excellence, outstanding citizenship and leadership. Established in 1984, the award is given to one student at each of MPA’s more than 100 member schools.

“I try to strive to be a good student and a good person,” Moore said. By receiving the MPA Award, “it felt like the administration agreed with everything I was trying to go for.”

Outside of sports, Moore is also an excellent student who also coaches younger athletes and works for the family business, MAC’s Kettle Corn.

He enjoys camping and other outdoor adventures, saying that spending time with his family is important to him.

Moore is kind, unfailingly polite, reliable and a problem-solver, Morse said. While he has natural aptitudes, he doesn’t expect things to come easily, nor does he complain about hard work, she added.

Kavanaugh said he’s got some quirky habits, too. It was only this year he took note of Moore’s pregame routine.

“He drank, I think, the same number of sips off his water bottle before the game started, and then he would spray the water up in the air, kind of just as almost like Lebron James … (throwing) the chalk up in the sky before a basketball game.”

“I just always get a kick out of (it) because it was identical every game,” Kavanaugh added. “Probably what makes him so successful is he gets himself in the right mind-set.”

Mt. Abram’s Morgan Thibodeau reacts after missing a golden scoring opportunity as Lisbon goalie Sean Moore covers up the ball during a 2021 soccer game in Lisbon. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

While not the loudest voice in the room, people listen when he speaks.

Moore recalled a particularly difficult game last fall when Lisbon went up against Mt. Abram for the Mountain Valley Conference championship.

“We were down and the guys were getting a little frustrated because time was winding down and people were getting mad,” he said. “I kind of had to step up a little bit and get our heads back in the game.”

While Lisbon ultimately lost the game, Moore said he was proud to have helped push the team to fight for the championship title all the way to the end.

“He’s obviously going to go very far in life, and it just starts with the amount of respect he has for his peers, his teachers, his coaches, everyone around him,” Kavanaugh said.

Moore’s post-graduation plans aren’t set, but he hopes to study business and ideally play for a varsity hockey team in college.

Recipients of the MPA Award will attend a virtual event April 1, when 10 students will be chosen to receive a $1,000 scholarship by draw.