Editor’s Note: Here are some of the top sports stories from 2022 in the Caribou region. Part 1 highlights events from January through June.
January
The 2022 Aroostook League Cheering Championships took place at Caribou High School. The Presque Isle Middle and High School cheering squads both captured top honors. This year’s event featured both the middle and high school squads competing on the same night.
Students at Washburn District Elementary School recently took part in the Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Program. Age group winners were: Hunter Amero (boys 8-9); Adalynn Olcott (girls 8-9); Charlie Carmichael (boys 10-11); Ashlynn Henthorn (girls 10-11); Madison Hewitt (girls 12-13); and Grady Churchill (boys 12-13).
February
The 17th annual Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby came to a close with participants competing for awards worth more than $45,000. First-place winners included for youth 13 and under: Wyatt Cole, salmon; Camden Caron, brook trout; and Ezra Guimond, togue. Other winners: Wesley Paige, cusk; Emmie Caron, most perch; Scott Picard, largest perch; Travis Corriveau, adult, salmon; Joseph Petteruti, adult, brook trout; Cam Graf, adult, togue; and Colby Brown, muskie.
High school cheering squads competed in the regional competitions in Millinocket. The Vikings placed eighth.
The Maine Principals Association released its final Heal Point standings as basketball wrapped up the regular season and prepared for tourney time. In boys basketball Class B North, Houlton (10-6) was ranked sixth, followed by Presque Isle (9-8)at eighth; and Caribou (5-13)at 12th seed. In girls basketball, Presque Isle (12-6) was ranked fourth, Caribou (9-9) eighth and Houlton (8-7) ninth.
BANGOR, Maine — February 19, 2022 — Caribou’s Ainsley Caron (center) is swarmed by Old Town’s Makayla Emerson (left) and Sydney Loring during Saturday’s Class B North quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
In Class B North tournament action, the Viking girls knocked down Houlton in a preliminary game but lost to Old Town in the quarterfinal round.
On the boys side, the Vikings met the Mount View Mustangs at Thorndike in the preliminary round. The Mustangs defeated Caribou 89-70. Caribou ended its season
with a 5-14 record.
March
The boys basketball Class D North quarterfinals saw Schenk battle to top Van Buren by one point, as the game ended 41-40. The Van Buren Crusaders completed the season with an 11-7 record.
The Caribou sixth-grade boys basketball travel team was crowned champions of the Maine Hoops Town Team Championship in Waterville over the weekend of Feb. 26-27. The largest basketball tournament in the area, the Maine Hoops tourney featured 12 teams from Aroostook County to York County.
WATERVILLE, Maine — February 27, 2022 — The Caribou sixth grade boys basketball team won the Maine Hoops Town Team Championship in Waterville the weekend of Feb. 26-27. Team members are, front from left, Hayden Holabird, Tristen Merchant, Carter St.Pierre, Declan Miller and Kooper Bell; and back, bench coach Greg Miller, Camden Codrey, Brayden Amero, Chandler St.Peter, Assistant Coach Griffin St.Peter and Head Coach Josh Bell. (Photo courtesy of Josh Bell)
Caribou High School sophomore Kayley Bell left Black Mountain a champion after the Maine state ski championships, held Feb. 23 and 24 at Black Mountain in Rumford. Bell took first place in women’s 5K classical and women’s freestyle and was the overall winner in final pursuit scores.
April
The Caribou girls 5/6 Aroostook Youth Basketball League team ended its season undefeated following a series of victories at the Millinocket Hoop Classic. The Viking girls played a total of six games at the event and were crowned champions. Quinn Corrigan earned the top honor of MVP of the tournament.
Aroostook County was well-represented in the U.S. National Biathlon Championships in Lake Placid. Eleven athletes, including eight who live in Aroostook County, traveled with Fort Kent Outdoor Center coaches to the event. County athletes were Rowan Tanguay, Quinn Michaud, Alden Reardon, Fletcher Marquis, Dolcie Tanguay from Fort Kent, Kayley Bell from Caribou and Sarah Beaulieau from Fort Fairfield.
The Caribou Men’s Basketball League wrapped up its season Monday, April 11, by crowning a new league champion. RE/MAX North Realty captured the coveted basketball trophy by beating the Aroostook Dream Team, 59-40, in the championship.
A toddler in Aroostook County was selected to raise money in the Boston Marathon. Matthew Dolan, an 18-month-old from Van Buren, was selected as a Patient Partner for Boston Children’s Hospital’s team Miles for Miracles in the Boston Marathon on April 18. Matthew and his family traveled to Boston to meet Nicole Stata, the runner he had been paired with, and some of her family.
BOSTON, Massachusetts — April 18, 2022 — Nicole Stata (left) ran the Boston Marathon with her team Miles for Miracles to raise money for Boston Children’s Hospital with the help of her Patient Partner Matthew Dolan (right) of Van Buren on Apr. 18. (Courtesy of Christina Needham)
May
The Aroostook River Spring Runoff Canoe & Kayak Race drew 19 boats and 28 paddlers, launching from the Lower Lyndon Street boat landing. Winners were: Canoe open class (solo) – Jim Park, 50.02. Canoe open (two person) – Mark Jones and Tim Cushman, 47.55. Canoe recreation (two person)–Sue Fox and Jocelyn McDonald, 1:03.3. Canoe recreation male (solo) – Tom Towle, 1:00.06. Kayak recreation (two person) – Austin Belanger and Scott Stubbs, 1:11.20. Kayak recreation male (solo) – Patrick Cote, 58:09.
The powerhouse that is Caribou boys and girls tennis took on the undefeated Shires in a doubleheader at Houlton. The visiting Vikings were victorious in all four matches on the day as the Caribou boys beat Houlton 4-1 in both contests, while the Caribou girls defeated Houlton 4-1 and 3-1.
Serving up a shot is Caribou’s Joslyn Griffeth during a tennis match against Houlton May 11. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
More than 40 racers filled the river and roadways around Presque Isle on Saturday, thanks to the return of the Aroostook River Fun Run. Among the winners were Leo Rossignol of Washburn, Single Kayak Recreational 50+, and Fran Cyr of Caribou and Nicole Ward of Presque Isle, Double Canoe Experienced category.
June
For the eighth consecutive year, Katahdin Trust Company became the major corporate sponsor for the annual Cary Classic Benefit Golf Tournament, which was to be held July 9 at the Caribou Country Club. The event is organized by the Jefferson Cary Foundation. Bank officials presented a $5,000 sponsorship check to JCF Executive Director Tamra Kilcollins.
