Medomak Valley alumnus Joel Lufkin has come home to roost. The 1974 graduate has been hired to coach varsity girls’ soccer for the Lady Panthers this fall.
Lufkin was a three sport athlete for the Panthers, playing soccer, basketball and track. He is a familiar face around MSAD 40, having coached at AD Gray, DR Gaul and last year for the Busline League runner-up girls’ soccer team at Medomak Middle School. He has over 30 years coaching experience, and has coached girls’ or boys’ soccer for most of those 30 years.
Lufkin is looking forward to taking over the girls’ program. He said he has a “fair amount of girls coming up to play” at Medomak Valley this fall. He also looks forward to a strong contingent returning from the Lady Panthers squad that went 13-1 last year and were KVAC runner-ups and seeded third in East B. Medomak lost to Winslow in both the KVAC finals and East B tournament.
“Owen Campbell was a great coach. She did a wonderful job with these kids. I hope I can contribute to that,” Lufkin said. “I’m probably not going to change things too much. I’ll keep things pretty much the same.”
Lufkin will have to find someone to replace scoring threat Maia Snow and KVAC all-star Rachel Keefe in net, due to graduation. Lufkin expects to see most of the other players come back. The Lady Panthers were a fairly young team last season.
Lufkin will be holding double session practices starting Mon., Aug. 17. “That is so kids can come. A lot of them have jobs. I’m holding double sessions so they can make one of them. I’m trying to make the opportunity for them to play,” Lufkin said.
Practices will be held Monday through Friday from 8-9:30 a.m. and 6-8 p.m.
