Editor’s Note: The following is the second of two articles highlighting some of the top sports stories from 2020. This article highlights events from July to December.
July
Faith Sjoberg of the Presque Isle High School girls basketball team began offering one-on-one basketball training to young people in Presque Isle. The COVID-19 pandemic had halted the vast majority of summer leagues and sports clinics held throughout Maine, giving the young Sjoberg an opening to make a difference in young players’ games.
The Mapleton Summer Recreation Program’s Little League program began on July 6 with games scheduled until Aug. 15. As the COVID-19 pandemic affected many conventional aspects of recreational sports, several parents watched the games from their cars parked around the field.
August
Ralph Michaud of Presque Isle earned the MH Open title at the Alton McQuade Mars Hill Open, held on Aug. 15 and 16, at the Mars Hill Country Club. Michaud beat more than 100 other players who came out for the event, which was sponsored by the Mars Hill Rotary Club.
Mars Hill Rotary President Ed Wright, right, presents the trophy for the 2020 Alton McQuade Mars Hill Open golf championship to Ralph Michaud of Presque Isle.
(contributed photo)
The Presque Isle Junior Golf League completed its sixth season at the Presque Isle Country Club on Aug. 30. A total of 26 golfers aged between 8-14 attended the sessions, held over 11 weeks beginning on June 7.
September
The Mapleton fall youth soccer program started, with nine teams competing in the recreational soccer league. The league played games from Sept. 7 to Oct. 14, with practices starting earlier.
Mapleton youth are enjoying team sports, including this soccer game between the gold and maroon teams, featuring grades 1-3 at Mapleton Elementary School. Chasing the ball are, from left, Hayden Perreault (gold team), Austin Himes (maroon team), Logan Greaves (gold team), Azalea Pierce (maroon team) with Derek Perry (maroon team) behind Logan and Azalea. (Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
At a school board meeting, SAD 1 Superintendent Ben Greenlaw said that the board would allow its soccer teams to begin practicing and play matchups with other County schools. The district chose not to send students to out-of-County games, a move that was also made by several other Aroostook County school districts.
Several Aroostook County athletic directors met on Aug. 15, during which they further developed the Aroostook League — a soccer league consisting of schools from the Aroostook County region. During the meeting, the directors worked out a schedule and playoff format.
Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery, known as C-A-N-C-E-R, helds its 21st annual golf tournament fundraiser on Aug. 22, at the Presque Isle Country Club. All proceeds went to assisting those from Aroostook County who were undergoing cancer treatment, as well as their families
The Caribou High School girls soccer team defeated Presque Isle 1-0 in the opening game of the season.
October
Caribou defeated Presque Isle in the Aroostook Class B Golf Championship, with Caribou High School scoring 357 to Presque Isle’s 397. Five players from each school participated in the regional tournament, which was held at the Presque Isle Country Club.
Presque Isle player Owen MacKinnon putts in a match at the Presque Isle Country Club. (David Marino Jr. | The Star-Herald)
The Caribou girls soccer team defeated Fort Fairfield 3-1 in the Aroostook County Division I semifinal game.
The Ashland girls soccer team defeated Katahdin 6-0 in the Aroostook League Division II semifinal game at Ashland District School, with Katahdin unable to stop a big offense by
Ashland.
The Presque Isle boys soccer team upset the top-ranked Hodgdon 3-0 in the boys Aroostook League Division I soccer semifinal.
The Easton Bears boys soccer team beat the Wisdom Pioneers 3-0 in the Aroostook League Division II semifinal matchup on Oct. 30.
November
The Presque Isle boys soccer team defeated Madawaska 1-0 on the road in the Aroostook League Division I boys championship game. Presque Isle Coach Tim McCue attributed the team’s success to its powerful defensive capabilities.
The Van Buren boys soccer team defeated Easton 7-0 in the Aroostook League Division II boys championship game on Nov. 6, capping off a shortened season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Wisdom girls soccer team defeated Ashland 2-1 in the Aroostook League Division II girls championship game in a match decided by penalty kicks.
December
Longtime Washburn District High School Athletic Director Ron Ericson was appointed to be the coach of the Washburn girls basketball team. Ericson brought decades of coaching experience — including championships — to the job, expected to be a difficult one during a season that will be heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northern Maine Community College’s Falcons esports team hosted a live streaming event — Gaming for a Cause — that raised funds for local organizations, including the Wintergreen Arts Center, Anah Shriners and the St. Apollonia Dental Clinic.
