To the editor:
What I experienced on Saturday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland was nothing less than amazing. I’ve followed Caribou Basketball my entire life, since I was an 8-year old boy, living near the high school and going to watch my heroes practice on a daily basis.
Trips to the tournament have always been a staple of County culture as the caravan down Route 1 and I-95 occurred year after year, especially in the early 80s. Unfortunately, many of those trips ended in disappointment, though the 1983 championship teams were something special.
Thirty-six years later, the Vikings were back and making the trek from Vermont to Portland for me was not even a question. Arriving at the arena with fellow CHS alumni on Saturday, was better than walking into a game at the CHS gym, only because generations of Vikings had gathered for a couple hours on this one day, at this one one place, for this one game. Reuniting with many of my former teachers, friends and Caribou residents generated so many emotions in me that hadn’t been stirred in years.
Standing and clapping along as the band played the school song and gazing around at the sea of maroon that had taken over more than half of the seats in the arena was extraordinary. But when I think about it, it’s exactly what many of us expected to happen. Because this is who we are and this is what we do. “We’re from Caribou, couldn’t be prouder, and if you can’t hear us, we’ll yell a little louder!” (as the old cheer used to go).
There is something special about being from Caribou, something many people will never have the honor of understanding. I couldn’t be more proud of the team and the way the community has continued to support them year after year, culminating with the 2019 state championship.
To Principal Barnes, Athletic Director Wakana and Coach Corrigan, I say thank you. Thank you for continuing to instill the values of community, sportsmanship, hard work and pride into the students of today. I am so proud to be a Caribou Viking.
Brad Nadeau
CHS Class of 1990
Middlebury, Vermont
