Washburn hires new girls hoop coach
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
WASHBURN — Diana Trams has been hired as the new girls basketball coach for the two-time defending state champion Washburn Beavers.
Diana Trams 
replaces Mike Carlos, who was not rehired after three years at the post.
Trams is an Aroostook County native and the daughter of longtime Ashland soccer coach Peter Belskis.
As a player for the Hornets, she helped lead the team to a state championship in basketball in 1991. She was selected to the Eastern Maine all-tourney team on two occasions and was a McDonald’s senior all-star in 1993.
She went on to play at the University of Maine at Presque Isle for two years before transferring to Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md., where she played one season. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and went on to receive a master’s of education in guidance from University of Maryland-Eastern Shore in 2006.
While in Maryland, she coached junior varsity basketball at Cambridge South Dorchester for two years.
She was also the director of Talbot Mentors, a program similar to Big Brothers/Big Sisters that matches adult volunteers with at-risk children, for four years. She worked with a board of 20 members and supervised more than 70 adult volunteers
She moved back to Ashland this past summer and currently volunteers one day a week in the guidance department at Washburn District High School.
“Diana has a great work ethic and a passion for basketball,” said SAD 45 Superintendent Ed Buckley, who officially announced Trams’ appointment Tuesday morning. “She has a positive personality and a background in guidance dealing with a variety of students. She certainly impressed us during the interview.”
Trams did not consider the coaching vacancy when she first arrived back in the area, but slowly became intrigued with the possibility after being part of the school community this fall.
“I’ve always loved basketball and loved playing and knew I wanted to get into coaching at some point,” she said. “I’m hoping it will be a positive experience because I really enjoy the sport.”
“The Washburn community has a long legacy of great coaches and players, so it’s a good opportunity for me to be able to coach there. I’m very team-centered and look forward to working with this group.”
The Beavers are coming off a 21-1 season in which it defeated Deer Isle-Stonington, Van Buren and Hodgdon in the Eastern Maine Tournament before besting Richmond for its second consecutive state title.
