County champion Beavers preparing for regional meet
WASHBURN, Maine — The Beavers’ cross country team — this year’s Aroostook League small school champion in both the girls’ and boys’ divisions — will try to continue the success Saturday when it participates in the Eastern Maine Class C Championships in Belfast.
Under second-year coach Andy Churchill, Washburn is led by Emilia Churchill and Kassie Farley on the girls’ side and Derek Baker and Devon Maynard for the boys.
Emilia Churchill has led the Beavers across the finish line in all but one race, with Farley taking top honors for the team at the Presque Isle Invitational in early September.
“[Emilia] helps formulate the team chemistry and acts as a great role model for the younger girls,” said the coach of his daughter.
“We have also be pleasantly surprised by the emergence of Kassie, who is a freshman,” he added.
Joining those two in the team’s top five are junior Kristen Sarmiento, freshman Molly Clark and either Sam Churchill and Sam White, who have switched off for the No. 5 position.
Other members of the girls’ team are seniors Mariah Campbell, Taylor Howe and Jessica Aube; sophomore Macey Barker and freshmen Lexie Carney, Bobbie Campbell and Rachel Thurston.
For the boys, Baker is known as one of the hardest-working runners in the County.
“He puts in time above and beyond practices and is tremendously focused and disciplined,” said Churchill, “and he has not yet hit his best times.”
Closely following Baker is Maynard, a sophomore “who leaves it all on the course every time,” according to the coach.
Noah Caron, a senior, has returned to competition this year and joins junior McCall Turner and senior Kevin Jordan as the normal point scorers for the team. Senior Parker Thompson is also back after not competing last fall. The rest of the roster includes sophomores Konnor Jordan and Ethan Butler, juniors Brennan Viola and Caleb Thompson, and freshmen Braedon Campbell and Edwin McLaughlin.
Churchill said the teams are peaking at the right time, as evidenced by their recent win at the Aroostook League Championships Oct. 7 during a meet held on the Beavers’ home course.
“Although harvest vacation presents a challenge for continuity of the season and throws a wrench in the consistency of training for those students working, we remain flexible and creative in allowing for practice time,” Churchill said, noting students returned to the classroom Oct. 14, 2015.
“With hard work and focus, our intent is to bear down and qualify both teams for the state championships (Oct. 31 in Cumberland),” he added.
