Editor’s Note: The following is the first of two articles highlighting some of the top sports stories from 2019. This article highlights events from January to June. The second installment will appear in the Jan. 1 issue.
January
Reaching 100 career varsity victories is no easy task for a coach in any sport. Hodgdon varsity boys coach Rob Smith reached the coveted milestone as the Hawks defeated Katahdin, 46-36, in a hard-fought game played in Stacyville. Coach Smith said he has kept track of each year’s statistics since he first got into coaching back in 2007 when he was hired as the junior varsity girls basketball coach working with head coach Olin Quint.
Houlton captured the Middle School cheering championship Jan. 10, at Central Aroostook High School in Mars Hill. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
Houlton’s Middle School cheering squad was crowned 2019 Aroostook League champions. Houlton bested squads from Presque Isle, Caribou and host-Central Aroostook for the league trophy. Houlton also collected trophies for best team motions, best team dance and best team jumps. The team, coached by Maggie Russell, featured Hillary Peabody, Hailey Quint, Madalyn Quirk, Kenzie Hodgkins, Mariah Peterson, Maggie Crowley, Kiara Smith, Olivia Hallett, Riley Sylvain, Cadence Kinney, Kayleigh McNinch, Olivia Cyr, Emma McCarthy, Cindy Hannigan, Olivia Drake and Sophia Lorom.
In other cheering competitions, Houlton’s high school squad placed second at the Aroostook County Cheering Championships at Caribou High School. Southern Aroostook, competing for the first time in the cheering event, won the Spirit Award. The Houlton cheering squad went on to place third in the Class C North regional cheering championships, earning a spot at the state meet. The roster for the squad featured Taylor Cowan, Brittany Fitzpatrick, Makenzie Fitzpatrick, Hannah Pierce, Kate Smith, Tessa Solomon, Isabelle Cosby, Lexi Crouse, Paige Ford, Emily Shaw, Emmalyne Drake, Hannah Foster, Morgan Harris, Kalle Neureuther, Sidney Peabody, Eden Davis and Hailey Hipsley.
Three Aroostook County natives were announced as among those to be honored as Maine Sports Legends. The Northern Region of the Maine Sports Legends selected Pete Webb, Kevin Sjoberg and G. Caroline Morris. Webb, a native of Houlton who played basketball for the Shires and also at Ricker College, has been the state’s commissioner of basketball for the last quarter-century and involved in basketball for almost 60 years. Sjoberg was the longtime sports writer and editor of the Aroostook Republican and The Star-Herald. Morris, a native of Ashland, was honored posthumously.
February
Greater Houlton Christian Academy’s Isaac Potter drives to the baseline while guarded by Southern Aroostook’s Garrett Siltz during Saturday night’s Class D quarterfinal on Feb. 16. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
“Have ball, will travel” was the mantra for the Greater Houlton Christian Academy boys basketball team. The school had one of the few basketball programs in the state that did not have a gymnasium to call home, but it did not stop the squad from stringing together a remarkable 16-2 regular season record. The Eagles earned a spot in the tournament as the No. 3 seed and earned the team’s first tourney victory in Bangor with a 54-44 victory over Southern Aroostook.
A small group of hearty runners and walkers turned out for the annual Wild Katahdin Trust Snow Run 5K road race. With temperatures in the single digits to start the day, many runners and walkers were bundled up prior to the start of the race, which serves as the first race of the Aroostook Musterds Running Club series. Thomas Beckum of Caribou was the overall race winner as he completed the course in 19 minutes, 17 seconds.
The Houlton cheering squad turned in yet another solid performance at the Class C state championships at the Augusta Civic Center. The Shires placed sixth out of 12 squads with a score of 65.6, up from Houlton’s 65.4 in the regional competition.
The Houlton boys and Southern Aroostook girls won the regional basketball championship at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The Shire boys won the Class C North title with a 54-34 win over George Stevens Academy, while Southern Aroostook beat Deer Isle-Stonington 62-49 for the girls Class D North title.
March
Southern Aroostook captured its second straight Class D girls basketball gold ball as the Warriors beat Greenville 55-30 at the Cross Insurance Center. Junior guard Sydney Brewer scored 14 points, including the 1,000th of her career, and grabbed five rebounds. Makaelyn Porter notched 13 points and two assists for the 20-2 Warriors.
Southern Aroostook’s Kassidy Mathers, Sydney Brewer, and Katelyn Slauenwhite (left to right) celebrate after the Warriors 55-30 victory over the Greenville Lakers in the girls Class D state championship at the Cross Insurance Center on Saturday.
(Linda Coan O’Kresik | BDN)
The Houlton boys finished as state runners-up with a 61-49 loss to Winthrop. Keegan Gentle was the catalyst for Houlton with a game-high 19 points and seven rebounds. Senior Nick Brewer tallied 14 points and seven rebounds and freshman Caleb Solomon came off the bench to provide 10 points. Houlton finished its season 17-5 while playing in its first state title game since 2014.
Citing a desire to watch his daughter play basketball, a long-time coach of the Hodgdon boys program called it quits. Rob Smith presented his resignation from the post of boys varsity basketball coach to the SAD 70 school board during a March 11 meeting.
Dazzling dunks, trick shots and belly laughs were plentiful as the Harlem Superstars comedy basketball team visited southern Aroostook County for three shows. The Harlem Superstars are a group of talented basketball players whose main mission is to entertain children and their families through “show time” basketball. The shows are filled with fan participation and plenty of laughs. Each year, the Superstars also make a point to visit local schools to speak to area children on a variety of topics, such as peer pressure, bullying and the dangers of drugs.
Shawn Grass of Dyer Brook gets a hand with his uniform from his “father” Donnie “Razzmatazz” Seale during the Friday, March 22, Harlem Superstars event at Houlton Middle-High School. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
Nolan Porter, a senior at Houlton Middle-High School, was honored March 8 at the 2019 Maine McDonalds/Maine Association of Basketball Coaches banquet at the Anah Shrine Hall in Bangor. Porter was one of 14 senior boys from around the state named to the 2019 Maine High School Boys All-State Academic team.
April
Despite a brief morning snow shower, a large group turned out for the Spc. Dustin J. Harris Memorial Mile walk/ run in downtown Patten. In total, 202 participants, both in person and through “virtual walks elsewhere,” raised more than $3,500 for the Dustin J. Harris Memorial Scholarship and the Patten Main Street Flags project.
The Hodgdon softball squad received a much-needed boost to its team from a pair of East Grand Vikings this spring. Thanks to an agreement between the two schools, East Grand’s Mallory Gilman and Jordyn Cowger joined the Hawks when East Grand was unable to field a full softball team of its own.
May
A smaller than normal group of boaters traversed down the Meduxnekeag River as part of the annual canoe and kayak race. A chilly morning did not deter many from gathering on local bridges and river banks to cheer on the racers. A total of 42 boats and 68 paddlers participated in the race this year. That number was down dramatically from the 2017 race when a total of 126 paddlers manned 80 vessels. In 2018, the race was canceled on the morning of the event due to dangerous water conditions.
Ben Randall was the top finisher in the Meduxnekeag River Canoe, Kayak Race in Houlton. He completed the course in 1 hour, 8.24 minutes. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
The Southern Aroostook softball squad saw its fair share of changes in the offseason, with a new head coach and a bundle of new players. But one thing that did not change was the Warriors winning ways. Southern Aroostook jumped to a 5-0 record to start the softball season with MacKenzie York as the team’s new coach. She took over the program from veteran coach Rob Betschner, who guided the Warriors for 13 seasons and during that time, his teams appeared in four regional championship games, including 2017 and 2018.
Houlton girls varsity soccer coach Tim Tweedie decided the time was right for him to hang up his coaching whistle — at least for now. The veteran coach announced his decision to his team on May 15 on the group’s Facebook page.
It was a wet spring for tennis matches for the Houlton boys and girls squads this season. Under the direction of coach Nancy Mooers, both teams have made the most of the challenges and were headed to the postseason again this year.
Southern Aroostook pitcher Kylie Vining delivers a pitch to the plate during a May 7 game against Ashland. The Warriors won 10-2. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
June
Hodgdon finished as runners-up to the Class D North baseball crown falling 9-8 to Central Aroostook in extra innings at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor. Team members were Kameryn Matheson, Garrett Estabrook, Lucas Matheson, Kyle Carver, Josh Foster, Andrew Tuttle, Nathan Tuttle, Samuel Adams, TJ Fitzpatrick, Damien Harris, Josh McGillicuddy, Troy Hipsley, Trevor Schools, Braden Dow, Brandyn Matheson, Brock Thompson, Michael Sanders, Silas Graham, Elijah Matheson, Austin Winslow, managers Lauren McGillicuddy and Aidynn Woods, head coach Seth Dorr and assistant coach Rob Smith.
Houlton Middle School finished undefeated this spring with a 12-0 record. Team members are Amelia Callnan, Gabby Gentle, Calli Sylvia, Kansas Chase, Savannah Soucy, Launa Jay, Lilli Fitzpatrick, Cindy Hannigan, Brooke Chase, Drew Warman, Emma Swallow, Carissa Michaud, Grace Brewer, Maddie Marino, Lily Brewer, Mariah Peterson and coaches Bryan Swallow and Tiffiny Chase.
Hodgdon senior Andrew Tuttle, center, holds up the Class D North baseball runner up trophy the championship against Central Aroostook. Hodgdon fell 9-8 in extra innings. See story and additional photos in Sports. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
Houlton turned to one of its own to fill the varsity girls soccer coaching vacancy created when long-time coach Tim Tweedie stepped down in May. Marina Cameron, a 2013 graduate of Houlton Middle-High School and former player for coach Tweedie, was named the new varsity girls soccer coach.
