WELLS — Wells senior Nolan Potter had a long list of potential colleges when he started his search last year. One school not on that list was Bates College in Lewiston.
At least not at the start.
“The funny thing is my junior year, during April break, I went on a big college tour … through the whole week I went to 11 different schools like UNE, UNH, I went to Stonehill, Endicott, a bunch of different schools and I didn’t go to Bates,” said Potter.
The Wells linebacker would decide to give Bates a look during his senior year — and he quickly realized it was the right place for him.
“Right after football season I emailed Bates. Coach (Skip) Capone emailed me back right away and he’s a really nice guy,” Potter recalled. “I went up to campus after a football game and visited with him and met some of the senior guys on the team who are going to be captains next year. I really enjoyed going up there and spending some time up there. I think that was when I got a really good feeling about Bates … it was one of the last schools I looked at, and it was like I finally got that feeling that it was the one I wanted.”
Potter, who helped lead Wells to back-to-back state championships as a junior and senior, had plenty of support during the recruiting process — especially from his parents, Adam and Tasha Potter.
“They were very supportive, of course. They drove me to all these places, I mean I cannot thank them enough. They would get up early in the morning after a late Friday night football game to go visit a school two hours away,” said Potter, who had more than 100 tackles and forced four fumbles during his senior campaign.
“They could tell what schools I was happier at and which ones I felt more comfortable in. They gave me encouragement … and after we got in the car they would help me make a pros and cons (list) of each school we visited,” Potter added. “What did you like about this? What did you like about that? And it really helped me come to a decision because by myself my thoughts are kind of cluttered and it helped me organize what I was thinking a little bit.”
Potter would also turn to Wells football coach Tim Roche for help as he was trying to decide where he would spend the next four years.
“I talked to him a lot. He’s so knowledgebale about college football. He’s had so many players go play at the next level, so I got a lot of advice from him on what I wanted and what to look for in college coaches and college teams,” Potter said.
The future Bates linebacker was happy he had the support from his family and the entire Wells football family as he made this tough choice.
“It was definitely (a decision) I could not come to by myself. It was all the people around me that I could tell really cared about me and wanted me to make the right decision and what would be the happiest for me. I’m really thankful for that,” said Potter.
Potter, who ran for 1,390 yards and 28 touchdowns during his senior season, believes his time at Wells has prepared him for the college game.
“I think it helped me tremendously. The program they have us on with summer lifting, the schedule they have us on during the week, the way they go about things — all those things will go to help on the next level,” Potter said. “I feel like they are very experienced coaches. They are the best coaches I’ve ever had and I know I’m going to have amazing coaches going forward, but they made me so much better as a football player and a person … I feel like I’m ready to play at the next level.”
Potter will leave Wells as a two-time state champion and a Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist, but the memories he will cherish the most will be the moments with his teammates and coaches.
“Obviously, I love the state championships and the games we won together and the success we’ve had, but I think what my best memories are going to be are those times at practices where we’ve been working hard but at the same time it’s fun,” Potter said. “It’s a family atmosphere. The team is very close. I’m close with the coaches. Those are guys I’m going to be in contact with for the rest of my life, and those moments at practice that you share a laugh, those are the moments I’m going to miss the most.”
Potter will head to Bates as a linebacker, but the Wells standout is ready to help the Bobcats in any way he can.
“That’s what they have me listed at, but wherever they put me I will play there because I just want to contribute to the team,” said Potter, who chose Bates over the University of New England, Colby and Stonehill.
The 2017 Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist is hoping he can get on the field early on in his college career.
“I’d love to see the field as soon as possible, that’s obviously the mindset you’ve got to have,” said Potter. “If we can get a winning record at Bates that would be awesome, but also continuing their success winning the (Colby-Bates-Bowdoin championship). They’ve won that the past four years I think and we just want to continue that obviously.”
Before Potter starts his collegiate career, he will have one more chance to represent the Warriors in the 2018 Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic on Saturday, July 21 at Thornton Academy.
“It’s great. I mean I’m so excited to play in that game. I went up a couple weeks ago to Lewiston, actually where Bates is, to go to the (Lobster Bowl) meeting and it’s for a great cause,” said Potter. “The Maine Shriners, they’ve done so many great things with the hospitals they have. It’s played for a great cause and it’s a great way to end my high school football career. To play in that game with all those excellent players it’s quite an honor.”
NOTE: Potter will be raising money through July 15. To help out Potter or any of the other Lobster Bowl participants raise money go to korashriners.org/lobster-bowl/.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.