Renegades call outs, minicamp

HODGDON, Maine — The County Renegades football team has announced that their spring call outs and first minicamp have been set for Saturday, May 17 at the Airport Field in Houlton.
“We are very pleased to have managed a 3-4 record as a brand new team last year in a very tough league,” Head Coach Steve Martin of Amity said. “Visiting referees have told our coaches that the better teams in our league would be competitive in (MPA) Class B, and we aspire to reach that level soon.”
The Renegades are a club team that plays its home games at the McIntyre Field in Hodgdon. All students entering eighth grade or high school from the following area schools are eligible: Hodgdon, Katahdin, GHCA, East Grand, Southern Aroostook, Woodstock, Carleton North, Hartland and Florenceville.  Homeschoolers are also welcome.
Only students from SAD 29 (Houlton district) are ineligible due to the fact they already offer varsity high school football.
“The international makeup of the team has been really good for the kids” said Assistant Head Coach Chris Bond of Smyrna. “The kids really do bond with each other very well.”
Last year there were eight Canadians and 15 Americans on the roster with Hodgdon (10) providing the largest percentage of athletes in the program of any single school.
“We are really hoping to break through down at Southern Aroostook this year,” added coach Martin.  “We have four real good contributors from Katahdin, which is a lot further away, but can’t seem to find the right buttons to push to get those Southern Aroostook guys interested.”
There is a one-time $250 fee, which covers all the player’s gear (except cup, mouth guard and cleats) and league insurance, but it drops to $150 for returning players.
“We were real proud of the fact we ended in the black last year, with all our equipment purchased and owned, and our fees paid,” added Martin. “We need a lot less gear this go ‘round, but we do need to purchase a blocking sled and blocking shields at some point.”
The team repeatedly emphasizes that lack of money should never stop a player from signing up though, as there is hardship money available for players who can’t afford the fee.
The team practices twice a week during the regular season (September-October) each Tuesday and Thursday at the Airport Field and plays all of their home games in Hodgdon on Saturday afternoons.
“It looks like we will have just one long road trip this year out of the county” added Bond, “and that is good news with the price of gas being what it is.”
For more information, simply show up for the first Minicamp at 1 p.m. on Saturday May 17 at the Airport Field, or email coach Martin at mepatriot@juno.com, or call him at 207-532-3635.