Courtesy: Robby MacDonald
Jay Morissette, a member of the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame, has received “The Mainsail Award”, awarded by the Morse High Liaison Community Council. Morse High is located in Bath, Maine.
According to a release posted on the Morse High website, “The Mainsail Award recognizes people who made outstanding contributions to benefit the youth of the greater Bath community. In addition, nominees should exemplify the ideals of citizenship such as respect, honesty, justice, individual freedom, and equal opportunity.”
“It felt strange to be presented with the award. Usually in my role as coach, I am the one presenting the awards,” Morissette commented.
“I am very humbled to receive the award. It is hard to believe that anyone would see me as deserving when I consider the past recipients of the award and their contributions. I am just a coach who has fun coaching.”
Morissette, coach of the Bath YMCA swim team since 1985, has coached 35 of his teams to Maine Y championships including 33 consecutive titles. At least one of his swimmers has qualified for the YMCA nationals every year since 1985. Four swimmers have won national championships and seven swimmers have
qualified for U. S. A. Senior Nationals. Eight Bath Y swimmers have competed in the United States Olympic Trials either when training under Morissette or after having trained with him.
The former University of Maine swimmer, who held Black Bear records in the 50 free and 100 free for 30 years, is one of a select group of USA YMCA coaches with a level 5 certification from the American Swim Coaches Association.