UMM Clippers Sign Maryland Student to First Athletic Scholarship
A new era has begun in the University of Maine at Machias’ Clippers athletic program – the era of athletic scholarships. Andrew Mascia, a high school basketball player from Havre de Grace, Maryland, last week became the first incoming first-year player to sign a letter of intent to play with the Clippers.
Mascia will join UMM’s men’s basketball team after graduating next month from Harford Christian School in Darlington, Maryland.
A 6-foot-4 forward, Mascia led Harford Christian last season in statistics with 23 points and 13 rebounds per game. He gained post-season honors with selection as 1st team all-conference, and 1st team all-tournament, member of the Maryland Association of Christian Schools Athletic Conference.
UMM became eligible to provide athletic scholarships for both men and women last fall, after the NAIA’s Sunrise Conference passed a proposal for the conference affiliates to give out athletic scholarships for up to 20 percent of the NAIA-allowable maximum.
“The administration here at UMM is in full support of the new rule,” UMM athletic director Brac Brady said. “The administration has given our athletic department the go-ahead to start giving out scholarship money.
“Having this athletic scholarship money to give was a big factor in helping us draw a quality student-athlete such as Andrew Mascia.”
Brady, who doubles as the coach for men’s basketball, has high praise for Mascia.
“Andrew is exactly the kind of student-athlete we want in the UMM program,” Brady said. “He is a good student who has displayed leadership skills at his school. He is also a tremendous athlete who is willing to work hard and improve. I can’t wait to get him here in the fall.”
