Editor’s Note: The following is an article highlighting some of The Star City and Crown of Maine’s top sports stories from 2023 compiled by Paul Bagnall.
January
The Fort Fairfield Tigers beat Washburn in two games on Friday, Jan. 6, with the boys wrapping up a 74-46 win and the girls claiming a 51-20 victory.
Both Central Aroostook and Fort Fairfield traded wins on Dec. 27. The Central Aroostook girls varsity won 54-35 over the Tigers, and the Fort Fairfield boys topped the Panthers 58-42.
Aroostook County now has two opportunities for players with intellectual disabilities to play basketball. Presque Isle launched a Unified Basketball team in January, joining Maine’s growing trend to involve students with learning and developmental disabilities in the game. Houlton started a unified team last year.
February
Presque Isle High School now has a place to recognize its most victorious coaches. The school created the 300 Win Club to honor different generations of coaches for their contributions, Athletic Director Mark White said.
The Ellsworth High School, Dexter High School and Central Aroostook High School of Mars Hill cheerleading teams walked away with regional crowns at the North regional cheerleading competition at Ellsworth High School.
Houlton and Caribou may be rivals in most sporting events, but when it comes to cheering, the Shires and Vikings have formed a kinship like no other. The two teams shared a bus to the regional cheering competition in Ellsworth as a way to save on expenses.
March
The Presque Isle Unified Basketball team held its first home game and won against Houlton with a final score of 78-55. The Presque Isle Wildcats Unified players couldn’t contain their excitement to play their first match, Presque Isle Coach Carl Michaud said.
Boys and girls All-Star basketball teams played overtime games on March 9, with the boys Team Orange winning 81-69 and the girls Team Yellow winning 73-57. All the senior players from teams around Aroostook County played in the All-Star games at the Caribou High School gym.
April
The tiny town of St. Agatha learned one of its own planned to shine her talents on the soccer pitch at Thomas College come fall. Wisdom High School senior Abbie Lerman committed to play for the Thomas College Terriers women’s soccer team.
May
The Fort Kent Warrior boys were a hit during their first home baseball game of the season, with a 16-5 win against the Wisdom/Van Buren Pioneers on Wednesday, May 3.
It was a stellar day for the Presque Isle Wildcats with May 18 wins for the boys varsity baseball team of 11-1 and girls softball 3-1 over the Houlton Shires. The two Class B games took place simultaneously with fans cheering for their teams.
After four years of a pandemic lockdown and a cancellation due to bad weather, the Special Olympics surged back Friday, May 19 with a large turnout of athletes, volunteers and supporters at the Gehrig Johnson Athletic Complex in Presque Isle.
June
Law enforcement officers carried the Maine Special Olympics torch through Aroostook County leading up to the weekend’s summer games in Orono. The torch made its way from the U.S.-Canada border in Fort Kent to Van Buren, and the next day runners traveled from Caribou to Mars Hill.
On Friday, June 9, the Fort Fairfield boys varsity baseball team won their preliminary game against Jonesport-Beals 12-2, but lost against Woodland 8-2 the following day. Due to cold and rainy weather, the Class D playoff games were condensed into three days.
July
The Cary Classic Benefit Golf Tournament celebrated its 39th year in style, drawing the most players in more than a decade. One hundred and six golfers, including several past champions from throughout northern Maine and western New Brunswick turned out for the one-day, play your own ball tournament at Caribou Country Club.
August
A recent award of a small grant to Big Rock Mountain will help the nonprofit expand its growing Ski4Life program. More school districts will be able to sign up for the 10-week Ski4Life that begins the first week in January, said Aaron Damon, assistant general manager for Big Rock Mountain.
It was a rambunctious evening Saturday, Aug. 19 at the Mars Hill Community Center as independent pro wrestlers fought for the hardcore championship title.
Ron Ericson officially retired this year after serving the Washburn School District for 48 years. Ericson performed many different jobs during his tenure as educator, administrator, and sports coach and some days got rather long.
Despite a couple of delays, the Ashland Big Woods Grass Drag drew many racers to the track at 133 Masardis Road. Racers from Maine and out-of-state revved up their stock and modified snowmobiles while waiting for the track to dry out on Saturday after the mini racers had finished with their races.
September
Approximately 36 pictures of people who have lost their lives to overdose lined the paved trail around Mantle Lake Park. A total of 56 runners participated in the Trevor Graves Memorial 5K and 30 virtual runners who posted pictures online of themselves running.
Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash received the President’s Award for Legislative Service from the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine at the organization’s annual banquet in Waterville on Sept. 9.
James “Chico” Hernandez of Washburn traveled to Arkansas and was one of more than 100 athletes from nine states who competed at the Arkansas State Senior Games Track and Field Championships, held Sept. 30 on the campus of University Central Arkansas.
October
The Presque Isle High School boys golf team won its first ever state championship by shooting a 323 to edge Freeport by five strokes in the Class B competition at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.
The Easton Bears soundly defeated the Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) in a Class D boys soccer quarterfinal match on Wednesday, Oct. 25 by a final score of 9-0.
November
The Aroostook League announced its fall All-Aroostook teams in soccer, cross-country, and golf.
December
Ashland will not have a girls varsity high school basketball team competing in the 2023-2024 season because there are not enough players. Four years ago, the boys varsity basketball team ran into similar issues with low player counts but were able to rebound, according to Ashland School Athletic Director Dan Hodgins.
In collaboration with one of the leading artificial turf companies in the country, the University of Maine at Presque Isle will soon be home to Aroostook County’s very first indoor portable turf field. Installation of the 120-foot-long by 103-foot-wide turf field took place Dec. 11-13 in Gentile Hall multipurpose gymnasium and will provide several new and unique opportunities for campus and community members.
