There’s plenty that motivated Ryker Paradis to be great at Lewiston High School. One factor, though, has always stood out from the rest.

Since his freshman year, Paradis has admired the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year Award banners on the school’s gymnasium wall. There’s soccer legends, such as Bilal Hersi and Abdi Shariff Hassan, football’s Jared Turcotte and fellow track and field standout Isaiah Harris, just to name a few.

“You see all those athletes up there, and that’s something I was reaching for,” said Paradis, who graduated from Lewiston last month. “It took me a while to get up there, but I finally got it this year, which I’m so happy about. I would say that’s my greatest accomplishment.”

Yes, Paradis did get there, when he was named Maine Gatorade Boys Track Athlete of the Year last month after a fantastic senior season. That season has also earned Paradis, one of the state’s all-time great throwers, the title of 2025 Varsity Maine Boys Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Paradis was primed for a big spring before practices began in late March. He entered the season as the reigning Class A state outdoor champ in both the shot put and discus, and he was fresh off a winter campaign in which he had won the Class A shot put crown.

He didn’t disappoint. Paradis placed first in the shot put and discus in all eight Maine meets he competed in, claiming state titles in both events (shot put: 63 feet, 10 inches; discus: 168-8). He set personal records in the shot put at states and with a 183-10 in the discus at a May 17 meet at St. Joseph’s College.

“The progress (over the course of the season) was awesome,” Paradis said. “I’m always striving to do a little bit better every single meet, and I think that was a huge part of it. … I’m content with how I did this year and happy with where I’ve gotten.”

He’s especially so after what happened June 14 at the New England championships in New Britain, Connecticut. After struggling on his early throws in the shot put, Paradis launched one 63-2 to become the first Mainer since 2018 to win a New England title in a throwing event.

“It was just his mind; he told himself he was going to pull himself together and do it, and he did,” said Lewiston coach Craig John. “He had a couple of kind crummy throws, but with his wealth of experience, he knows what it’s like to have his back against the wall and not to let two bad throws ruin a third one.”

Paradis’ success at New Englands also included a third-place finish in the discus (181-1), the fourth time this season the senior topped the 180-foot mark. He also excelled throughout the year in the javelin, winning the KVAC Large title with a throw of 163-8 and placing third at states with a 167-7.

That success all came with Lewiston undergoing a change in throwing coaches prior to the 2024-25 indoor track season. The loss of the previous coach, Jane Jawor, was tough for Paradis at first, but the senior ultimately continued his upward trajectory under new coach Vantiel Gordon.

“Vantiel has a very certain way of doing things, and it took Ryker a little time to adjust, but once he was able to adjust to that, he just took off,” John said. “She was able to really work with him and help him build upon what he had already learned and what he was already doing.”

Paradis was one of many Maine track and field standouts this spring. Windham’s Carter Engelman (pole vault) and Lake Region’s Sam Laverdiere (1,600-meter run) also won New England titles, while Marshwood sprinter Andrew Clark won three state titles, two in record time.

Being part of such a special season for Maine high school track and field, Paradis said, was a rewarding experience. He hopes to continue to put athletes from the Pine Tree State on the map next year as he continues his track career at the University of Maine.

“Maine has always kind of been overlooked, but it’s been great to see everybody showing out like they have this year,” Paradis said. “I’m really excited for it. … Maine sports is definitely on the way up.”