Potato Blossom Festival featured sporting events for all ages

A variety of sporting events were on display during last week’s Maine Potato Blossom Festival.     The junior girls softball tournament was held last Tuesday and Wednesday. Ten teams were registered, with Caribou coming out victorious with a 10-3 win over Fort Fairfield in the championship. Ashland and Madawaska tied for third, while Presque Isle, Washburn, Limestone, Mars Hill, Houlton and Oakfield were the other teams competing.
Tuesday night featured the annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Only five teams registered for this year’s event, with the team of Aaron Wasson, Jerry Parady, Brandon LeVasseur and Aaron Ireland coming out of the loser’s bracket to defeat the team of Austin Dufour, Ryan Noyes, Doug Sharpe and John Ala twice to grab top honors.
The annual Potato Blossom swim meet took place at the Presque Isle Indoor Pool this year due to construction taking place at the Fort Fairfield pool.
Presque Isle claimed the meet victory with 822 points, with Caribou taking second with 401. Fort Kent (317), Mapleton (214) and Fort Fairfield (107) followed.
Individual point winners were: 8 and under girls, Katie Goulet of Presque Isle; 8 and under boys, Grant Stewart of Presque Isle; 9-10 girls, Sophie Ouellette of Fort Kent; 9-10 boys, Parker Lambert of Presque Isle; 11-12 girls, Laura Lusardi of Caribou; 11-12 boys, Dylan Elliot of Mapleton; 13-14 girls, Erica Hemphill of Presque Isle; 13-14 boys, Michael Lasure of Fort Kent; 15-18 girls, Karrie Brawn of Presque Isle; 15-18 boys, Andrew Rioux of Fort Kent.
In the golf tournament, held Saturday and Sunday at Aroostook Valley Country Club, low gross went to Brad Young of Presque Isle, who shot a 36-hole total of 144, one stroke better than runner-up Ralph Michaud, also of Presque Isle.
The top four gross scores in Division 1 were: first, Young; second, Steve Clark, 147; third, Phil Pelletier, 148; fourth, Wilf Pilgrim, 152. For net, first, Michaud, 137; second, Rick Collins, 140; third, Mike Hersey, 141; fourth, Kevin Ferris, 145.
Division 2 gross: first, Larry Girvan, 155; second, Brent Hatchard, 159; third, Curt Anderson, 160; fourth, Randy Harris, 160. Net: first, Darcy Lennon, 139; second, Steve Gallant, 140; third, Sam Townsend, 142; fourth, Jim Greer, 143.
Division 3 gross: first, Jim Spurrel, 160; second,  J.P. Bernard, 161; third, Peter Lennon, 164; fourth, Himie Towle III, 165. Net: first, Mark Sotomayor, 125; second, Andrew Lynch, 133; third, Jake DeMerchant, 134; fourth, Jeff Perley, 136.
The Blossom 5-Mile Road Race took place Saturday morning, with Judson Cake picking up a seven-second victory over Evan Graves to take the overall title. Cake’s time was 25:49, with Graves coming in at 25:56.
The women’s winner was Courtney Martin with a time of 33:38. The second-fastest female was Susan Plissey, whose time was 34:29.
Taking first in the walker’s division was Bill Flannery with a 1:00:52 clocking. Amanda Doherty was the first female walker in 1:09:28. Twenty one walkers participated in this year’s race.
Age division winners were: 14 and under female, Emily Bourgoin; 15-18 female, Hilary McNamee; 19-29 female, Plissey; 30-39 female, Sarah Dominick; 40-49 female, Linda Mountain; 50-59 female, Linda Self; 60 and over female, Claire Davidshofer; 14 and under male, Alex Bourgoin; 15-18 male, Sheehan; 19-29 male, Graves; 30-39 male, Will Sweetser; 40-49 male, Jeff Ashby; 50-59 male, Steve Emery; 60 and over male, Philip Olmstead.
The first Regatta on the Aroostook took place Saturday afternoon. Fred Ludwig, in a kayak, seized the overall title by finishing the race in 44 minutes and 35 seconds. Beth Ludwig, also in a kayak, was the female champ in 1:01:42. A total of 96 people participated in the inaugural event.
Following Fred Ludwig, the remainder of the top-five included: second, Will Sweetser and Sarah Dominick (canoe), 50:30; third, Jim Park and Corey Park (canoe), 51:20; fourth, John Farra (kayak), 52:07; fifth, Clint Cushman and Crystal Cushman (kayak), 52:37.