Editor’s Note: This is the second part of our look at the top sports stories from 2022 in the Caribou region. This week we look at July through December.
July
The Northern Region of Maine Sports Legends announced student athlete scholarship awards to recent Aroostook County high school graduates. Sam Roy, who graduated from Wisdom High School in St. Agatha, and Faith Sjoberg, who graduated from Presque Isle High School, received scholarships.
The Pleasant Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club held its fourth annual four-person mixed scramble golf tournament at the Limestone Country Club.
In a remarkable performance, 14-year-old Michael Bruce of Fort Fairfield shot an even par 72 at the Caribou Country Club Golf Course, and took the 38th Cary Classic Tournament championship on Saturday, July 9. The event benefited the Jefferson Cary Foundation.
August
Golfers from Aroostook County and beyond were gearing up to aid health care in the 33rd annual County Open charity golf tournament. The event is a major fundraiser for the Houlton Regional Health Services Foundation.
Five firefighting teams from northern and central Aroostook went head to head in the Aroostook County Firefighters Muster, hosted for the first time since 1991 by Caribou Fire and Ambulance. The Van Buren Fire Department scored the biggest points out of them all to emerge the winner.
The Northern Business Products coed softball team earned the 2022 Coed Softball championship, beating Columbia Forest Products 14-3 to claim the title. Team members were Vic Clark, Scott Olson, Chad Lavway, Brad Picard, Jordan Hansen, Kenzie Turner, Marcie Barbarula, Renee Fournier, Ethan Doody, Jesse Beaulieu, Jarrett Olson and Melissa Cantafio.
The Vikings golf team opened its regular season schedule Wednesday, Aug. 24, with a veteran roster that included seven seniors led by second-year coach Nick Blais.
HOULTON, Maine — August 30, 2022 — Griffin Duigan (right) of Limestone/MSSM makes a final push past Fort Kent’s Alden Reardon to win the first Aroostook League boys cross country event held in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
September
Cross Country runners from Fort Kent and the Limestone/ Maine School of Science and Mathematics joined the Houlton-Greater Houlton Christian Academy for an unseasonably warm race Tuesday, Aug. 30, with temperatures in the mid-80s.
Aroostook County cross country runners were challenged by squads from central Maine Sept. 9 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The race featured runners from Caribou, Houlton/ Greater Houlton Christian Academy, Fort Kent and Limestone/Maine School of Science and Mathematics facing off against runners from John Bapst, Ellsworth, Old Town and Hermon. The John Bapst boys and Houlton/GHCA girls were the big winners on the day.
The annual Aroostook Savings and Loan Viking Run was held at the Caribou High School track with a total of 120 youngsters taking part. Addison Rosser set a new record for the pre-K/kindergarten girls race.
The high school varsity golf season neared its close as golfers tried their best to qualify for the state championships. The visiting Caribou Vikings golf team notched a six-stroke victory over Houlton at the Houlton Community Golf Course.
Fort Kent took first place in the Aroostook County Golf Championship at the Mars Hill Country Club.
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — October 13, 2022 — Wildcat senior Gavin Tawfall (left) races for control of the soccer ball against Viking senior Henry Hebert during a boys soccer game played in Presque Isle. The Wildcats beat Caribou 2-1 in double overtime. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)
October
A large field of 116 high school runners competed in the 2022 Houlton High School Invitational cross country meet. The race also served as the Aroostook County Cross Country Championships for County squads. Runners from Houlton/Greater Houlton Christian Academy, Caribou, Presque Isle, Washburn, Limestone/Maine School of Science and Mathematics and Fort Kent were also joined by athletes from Mount Desert Island of Bar Harbor, Old Town and Hermon for Saturday’s race. The Houlton/GHCA girls and MDI boys were the top team finishers.
It was a close game for the Presque Isle Wildcats and the Caribou Vikings boys soccer team on Oct. 13, but the Wildcats managed to pull out a 2-1, double overtime victory.
The regular season for boys and girls soccer ended, with 21 squads out of a possible 31 Aroostook County teams having qualified for the playoffs this year. Several of those schools earned byes directly to the quarterfinal round.
The Maine School of Science and Mathematics played a good game in Madawaska but the Owls earned the right to compete in another round of Class D girls postseason soccer. Madawaska won the prelim against the Penguins 6-2.
November
Deer hunters noticed a drop in the coyote population in the wilderness areas of Aroostook County. The drop was due in part to the Aroostook County Conservation Association’s coyote control management program, which is in its 14th year.
The Aroostook League unveiled its 2022 fall All-Aroostook squads for boys and girls soccer, golf and cross country. Caribou area athletes included: Boys Class B/C Soccer – Caribou, Damarion Gagnon, Henry Hebert, Sam Hebert, Jude Shea. Boys Class D Soccer – Fort Fairfield, Cayden Ala, Joel Cormier, Micah Daigle, Graedon King; MSSM: Bao Bao, Quinn Smith, Anthony Jordan; Wisdom/Van Buren, Kaden Daigle, Noah Martin, Camden Pelletier. Girls Class B/C Soccer – Caribou, Brianna Levesque. Girls Class D Soccer – Fort Fairfield: Kassidy Gorneault, Jayde McKinney; Madawaska/Van Buren: Peyton Cyr, Taylor Pelletier, Payton Pelletier; MSSM: Aubrey Ainsworth, Rianna Mattox; Wisdom/Van Buren: Abbie Lerman, Olivia Ouellette, Lilly Roy. Boys Cross Country – Caribou: George Ferland, Scott Stubbs, Ephraim Willey; MSSM: Griffin Duigan, Morris McCall, Jack Tetrault. Girls Cross Country – Caribou: Kayley Bell, Maggie Bell. Golf – Caribou: Matt Pellietier; Fort Fairfield: Cayden Ala, Michael Bruce, Graedon King.
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — November 18, 2022 — Jiu-Jitsu instructor Rob Mockler (right) gives a demonstration on a jiu-jitsu technique for the class at the Gracie Fighter gym in Presque Isle. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)
December
Caribou’s Gracie Fighter Jiu-Jitsu opened a second gym in Aroostook County, offering training to kids and adults. Rob Mockler, blue belt instructor, contacted Economic and Development director Galen Wiebley to expand his gym to Presque Isle to offer beginner and adult classes at 497 Main St. Sean Cervany opened the first Gracie Fighter Jiu-Jitsu gym in Caribou in 2020, which offers Mixed Martial Arts for adults.
