Sports in Brief…

Triathlon coming soon

    The REDY Youth Triathlon returns after a year off and is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016.

     The youth triathlon will consist of swimming, biking and running. Triathletes between the ages of 7 and 9 will swim 50 yards, bike two miles, and run one-half mile. Participants between the ages of 10 and 12 will swim 50 yards, bike 2.5 miles, and run one mile. And those participants who are 13 or 14 will swim 100 yards, bike 2.5 miles and run one mile.

     Popular local mascot REDY will be on hand to encourage triathletes to stay active, eat a healthy diet and avoid spending too much time in front of the television. Event organizers named the triathlon after the well-known mascot because he embodies what the triathlon is all about, which is providing kids with an opportunity to get active in a fun, safe, and supportive environment.

     The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host the event. Participants will have an opportunity to swim in the Gentile Hall pool and run and bike through much of the scenic campus. Check-in for parents and athletes will be at 9 a.m. and the race begins at 10 a.m. at UMPI’s Gentile Hall. The fee is $10 per child. For more information about the triathlon or to register, please go to www.redyyouthtriathlon.org.

PI man takes UMPI golf post

     Jon Humphrey has taken over as golf coach at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

     The 26-year-old Presque Isle native replaces Dan Hotham, who stepped down at the end of last season.

     Humphrey has never coached, but he has plenty of experience around the game. He serves as the director of golf at Mars Hill Country Club and prior to that, was the assistant golf pro at Presque Isle Country Club.

     He is a 2009 graduate of Presque Isle High School and served as captain of the Wildcat golf team his senior year.

     Mike Holmes, athletic director at UMPI, said Humphrey’s name “came up several times” after he approached some “trusted people in the area” and asked them for some recommendations in filling the vacancy.

     “I like the fact that he has local connections and seemed hungry to get out and find players to help move our golf program forward,” Holmes said.

Bowman hired to coach Owls volleyball team

     The University of Maine at Presque Isle has named Jonathon Bowman as its new head volleyball coach for the 2016-17 season.

     He replaces Mark Kornachuk, who was the team’s coach for the past four seasons. The team went 4-22 last fall.

     Bowman comes to the Owls with vast experience in volleyball, most recently with the United States Youth Volleyball League in Long Beach, Calif. Prior to that, he was affiliated with Junior Olympic volleyball in Newport Beach, Calif. for 10 years.

     Bowman also has extensive experience in collegiate volleyball. He has been on the coaching staffs at the University of Wyoming, University of Maryland-Baltimore County and Holy Cross. He was the head coach at Daemen College in Amherst, N.Y. in 2005.

     “We need two things to get our program moving forward,” said Athletic Director Mike Holmes said, “someone with intricate knowledge of the game and the energy to get out and recruit players to be here. Jonathon will give us a tremendous coach in both of those areas.”