After winning back-to-back Class B state titles in 2019 and 2020 and then an Aroostook League title during the 2020-21 season, which was abbreviated due to COVID-19, the Viking boys went into rebuild mode last year.
Mike Hartford has what he calls “an interesting mix” of players on his roster as he enters his seventh season as the Beavers’ head coach.
Crystal Hobbs takes over as head coach for Ron Ericson and inherits a Washburn girls basketball squad that has four sophomores and a freshman in the mix for starting roles.
Last year was not a typical one for the Central Aroostook boys basketball program.
A perennial playoff contender, which competed in the Class C North regional final as recently as 2020, the Panthers struggled to a 6-11 regular season record to place 16th in the 19-team division.
Bryan Shaw enjoyed his two years as athletic director at Easton, but the opportunity to coach again proved too tough to pass up.
Coming off a 6-11 season, the Bears are motivated to turn things around under second-year head coach Danny Warren.
Mark Shea brings plenty of prior coaching experience to his new role in leading the Washburn boys varsity soccer team, and his main priority is sharpening a defense that allowed an average of 6.5 goals per game a season ago.
Development of team chemistry will be a key factor in turning things around after last year’s 4-9-1 season, according to Molly Kingsbury, who takes over as coach of the Central Aroostook Panthers.
Six sophomores and two freshmen will be part of the starting lineup when the Beaver girls open their soccer season Monday, Aug. 15, in St. Agatha against the defending Class D North champion Wisdom Pioneers.
The Vikings have done nothing but stockpile championships during Kyle Corrigan’s first three years as the team’s head coach.
