July:
Sam Drew’s walk-off single furnished the game-winner for Machias Savings Bank, who defeated Houlton Farms Dairy, 8-7, for the Houlton Little League town title for the Majors Division.
The Mooers Realty team defeated American Legion, 15-8, for the Houlton Little League town title in the Minors Division.
The Border League All-stars’ winning string in the District 3 9-10-year-old Little League Tournament came to an end as they “ran out of gas” against Bangor West, losing 18-0. Border League finished in the top four of the 16-team tournament.
The Northern Region of Maine Sports Legends selected its Scholar/Athletes for 2013, with Carla Halvorson of Easton and Nicholas Lunn of Hodgdon both set to receive $500 scholarships at the annual banquet at the Alfond Girls and Boys Club.
The 1985 Houlton High School girls basketball team was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in Worcester, Mass.
The Houlton 10-11-year-old All-stars were eliminated from the District 3 Little League Tournament in Glenburn, as they were edged by Bangor East by a run, 6-5.
Ben Corey of Monticello was first in the Street Stocks division during “Speed Weekend” in the County at Spud Speedway.
The Ward family, Kirk and Amy, along with event organizer Kara Wright, race director Chris Rines and race treasurer Rita Gardiner hosted the “Miracle Mile: Makenna and Maggie’s Race for Research.” The race raised well over $5,000, which will go to two worthwhile organizations working to find cures for childrens’ cancers — “Curesearch” and the “Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation.
With 95 bikers, Greater Houlton Christian Academy raised approximately $20,000 during its annual bike-a-thon.
Brian Bell and Gregg Swallow were co-chairs of GHCA’s annual bike-a-thon for the first 15 years. In that time frame, their efforts helped the school raise $350,000 through this one event.
Proceeds of the annual Island Falls Co-Ed Horseshoe Tourney was held as a fundraiser for local causes and local people.
Houlton’s Drew Marino, 13, son of Misty and Tony Marino, finished first in the chipping contest and second overall in the USGA Drive, Chip and Putt Contest held for juniors in Cumberland at the Val Halla Golf Course and advanced to the regional competition in Plymouth, Mass.
The Island Falls Lakes Association (IFLA) sponsored their 10th annual Around the Pond Canoe/Kayak Races at Birch Point Lodge and Campgrounds on Pleasant Lake in Island Falls. Proceeds went to the Southern Aroostook Chapter of Dollars for Scholars.
Tony Marino of Houlton will be replacing coach Joel Trickey for the 2013-14 season for the Houlton-Hodgdon Black Hawks cooperative hockey team.
Cody Tompkins, 19, has been hired to lead the Hodgdon High School girl’s basketball team; a decision that the RSU 70 school board made during their June meeting.
Porter Gervais of Houlton held on to win the 46th Coca-Cola Spudland Open at Presque Isle Country Club.
August:
The division champions for the annual County Open golf tournament held at Houlton Community Golf Course and VaJoWa Golf Club in Island Falls were Cameron Clark, ‘B’ Division; Drew Marino, ‘C’ Division; Evan McCarthy, two-time County Open champion holding the Daniel Tracy Memorial Award; and Lou Ann Dwyer, Ladies Division.
Caribou’s PJ Gorneault was the overall winner of The County Open half-marathon in Island Falls. He ran the 13.1 mile course in a time of 1:09:37 and was closely followed by Caribou runner Spencer McElwain who finished with a time of 1:10:11. In third was Curtis Wheeler of Presque Isle, 1:14:19. The first female to cross the finish line was Gabrielle Wheeler of Presque Isle with a time of 1:29:56, followed by Sarah Mulcahy, Barring Plantation, 1:31:53 and third, Lisa Kingsbury, Hampton, 1:37:15.
Thomas Beckum was the first male and Lauren Hodge the first female to cross the line of the 21st annual Pie Run or Island Falls Summerfest 5K Run/Walk held Aug. 3 in Island Falls. Beckum ran the course in 17.26 and Hodge, 20.27. The first walker to the finish line was Allen Schenk in 30.14 and the first female walker was Gail Davis at 31.03.
The ACI/Central Aroostook High School Homecoming Weekend 5K road race, with Jeff Ashby of Fort Fairfield and Brittany Grass of Blaine winning overall titles. Ashby finished with a time of 19 minutes and 39 seconds, while Grass came in at 24:33.
The annual Maliseet 4-Miler Race was held at the Maliseet Recreation Center. The overall winners of the race, male, Chris Rines, 24:24 and Katrina Bisheimer 29:07. The first walker to finish the 3K walk was Brenda Commander with a time of 42:52.
September:
Paul Suitter participated in the Jimmy Fund Walk on Sept. 8 in Boston. This was Suitter’s second time participating in the walk. He completed his first in 2011.
The Houlton Farms Dairy team was the champion of the Houlton Softball League this season with a 16-2 record. Playing for the team were, Jalen Beers, Chris Irish, Matt Hanning, Tim Irish, Billy Washburn, Megan Hannigan, Jerry Hanning, James Kendall, Jim Gravel, David Cropley, Ryan Beers, Matt Campbell, Jason Clayton, Mitchell Clayton, Mallory Clayton, Evan Clark and Eric Soucy.
Overall tournament champions and winners of the TD Bank Cup, with the first place low gross, was the three-person team made up of Barry Richardson, Bobby Russell and Bob Bruce with a score of 61. The winners of first low net for the scramble were Jerry York, Fred Putnam and Tom Moakler with a score of 56.7.
The first football game was played on the new Maliseet Field. The Maliseet Tribe, SAD 29 Superintendent Mike Hammer, Principal Marty Bouchard, the School Board and too many people to mention have been instrumental in making this dream a reality. It has been over 50 years since the folks in Houlton have seen a high school football team compete.
A small field of 39 runners toed the line for the annual Caribou Labor Day 8K Road Race, which started and finished at the Caribou High School track and took place Sept. 2. Age division winners were Evan Desmond, 14 and under male; Trevor Levesque, 15-18 male; Marie Beckum, 19-29 female; Chris Rines, 19-29 male; P.J. Gorneault, 30-39 female; Evan Graves, 30-39 male; Angela Ewings, 40-49 female; Jeff Ashby, 40-49 male; Brent Jepson, 60-69 male; and Art Thompson, 70 and over male.
The Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors inducted Murray Putnam of Oakfield, Kathleen Mazzuchelli of Caribou and Ben Paradis of Fort Kent.
Lisa (Collett) Hook, senior vice president at People’s United Bank in Portland, was elected to the board of directors of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, a statewide organization established in 1972.
More than 200 vehicles (193 registered) were displayed around the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum grounds, including the North Country Cruisers’ member cars and the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum equipment, during the annual North Country Cruiser’s Show ‘n Shine event.
Houlton Country Club title winners were Ryan Dee, Junior Champion; Misty Marino, Ladies Champion and Jerry York, Men’s Champion.
The Houlton High School golf team captured the Aroostook League crown.
The Fort Fairfield Tigers won their fifth consecutive Aroostook League golf title, defeating host Central Aroostook by 20 strokes and three other schools by larger margins at Mars Hill Country Club.
Hodgdon took third with a 400 and was led by Ben Tuttle, who qualified individually with a 90. Ashley Wallace has a 98 and will play in the schoolgirl state event.
Southern Aroostook, paced by Parker Walker’s 100, had a team score of 474. Other scores included: Trent Cullinan, 103; Wesley Raymond, 143 and Nate Lilley, 128.
Drivers of 32 vintage autos accelerated the energy level at Merrill Millstream Park during the third annual Cruise-In Labor Day weekend. A record-breaking crowd of 200-plus participants consumed 220 lobsters, eight dozen ears of corn and 140 hotdogs.
Aroostook League all-stars in cross country were determined during a meet involving all Aroostook County schools held at Caribou High School. The first 10 to cross the finish line in both the girls’ and boys’ races were selected as All-Aroostook runners. Those runners, along with their placement and times on the five-kilometer course were, for girls, first, Carsyn Koch of Washburn, 21:05; second, Nerissa Larrabee, Caribou, 21:46; third, Tori Koch, Washburn, 21:49.3; fourth, Rylee Warman, GHCA, 21:49.6; fifth, Robyn Larrabee, Caribou, 22:16; sixth, Mackenzie Worcester, Washburn, 22:38; seventh, Emily Colligan, Presque Isle, 22:39; eighth, Carmen Bragg, Washburn, 22:42; ninth, Mandy Graham, Presque Isle, 22:43; and 10th, Emilia Churchill, Washburn, 22:49.
October:
The Houlton Shiretowners’ golf team is heading to the state team tourney and four members of the squad will also compete in the individual state championships following the qualifying event held at JaTo Highlands in Lincoln. Last year, Houlton claimed the Class C state runner-up trophy. The top individuals for Houlton were Cameron J. Clark, who carded an 80, and Ryan Dee, who posted an 85. Piper Flewelling and Lexi Emerson came in at 106 and 107, respectively, qualified for the schoolgirl state tourney.
The Houlton High School golf team was awarded the Eastern Maine Class C Sportsmanship Banner at the state golf meet at Natanis Golf Club in Vassalboro. The Shiretowners placed third overall, just eight strokes behind Class C champion St. Dom’s, who captured the title with a team score of 329, followed by Winthrop with a 330 and Houlton, 337.
The Maine Basketball Hall of Fame Golf Tournament was held at the Aroostook Valley Country Club in Fort Fairfield. Approximately 140 golfers participated. First-place Net winners with a 17 under par were Frank Dunn, Bruce Sargent, Matt Day and Bert Daniels.
Aroostook League Middle School Cross-country championships were decided at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, with Caribou taking the boys’ team title by scoring 23 points. Presque Isle was second with 52, followed by Greater Houlton Christian Academy with 71 and Union 122 with 92.
Jamie Millar, along with his sisters Beth and Mary, will be making five scholarships available for Mites hockey players ages 4-8.
Houlton and Hodgdon male and female golfers competed in the state high school individual golf meet at Natanis Golf Club. Houlton’s Ryan Dee and Cameron J. Clark both finished in the top 10 with a score of 79 each. Hodgdon’s Ben Tuttle finished the day with an 88. Houlton’s Lexi Emerson just missed out on the top 13, finishing 13th with a score of 102, while Hodgdon’s Ashley Wallace placed 19th with a 111.
Greater Houlton Christian Academy’s Rylee Warman turned in a time of 21:09.25 breaking into the top 10 with a seventh-place finish in the Eastern Maine Class C Cross-Country Championships in Belfast.
No. 7 Central Aroostook (8-7 overall) withstood a second-half flurry from No. 10 Southern Aroostook to come away with a 3-2 victory in Eastern Class D preliminary girls soccer playoff game.
The No. 5 Southern Aroostook Warriors were upset by No. 12 Fort Fairfield, 2-1, in an Eastern Maine Class D soccer preliminary game played in Dyer Brook.
It took an overtime to determine a winner in the Eastern Maine Class C preliminary game between No. 8 Houlton and visiting No. 9 Penquis. The Shires won 1-0 on Connor Grant’s goal, set up by Gage Hunt.
November:
The Augusta Elks Lodge 964 hosted the State Soccer Shoot-out and Houlton’s Cameron Callnan won his age division to advance to the New England competition. Callnan won the under 12 boys competition.
Greater Houlton Christian Academy freshman Rylee Warman turned in a stellar cross-country season, finishing 13th in the Class C States with a time of 22:10.56 in Cumberland.
The No. 3 Fort Kent Warriors upset No. 2 Houlton on their home field, 3-0 in the Class C girls soccer semifinals.
Hopes of a deep run into the Class C boys soccer playoffs for the Shiretowners ended in Madawaska, as the Owls shut out the Houlton boys, 3-0.
The Greater Houlton Christian Academy cross-country team finished its season on Oct. 26, as they competed in the Eastern Maine Regionals in Belfast, while teammate Rylee Warman completed her season at the State Meet. Running for the Academy were Rachel Potter, Caitlin Miles, Rylee Ethan Jacques, Sam Carmichael and Josh Winslow. The team was coached by Angie Ewings and Micah Wiley.
The first-ever Bill Weber Welcome Back weekend was a complete success. The Millar Civic Center staff and members of the Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association teamed up for the event.
Mikealah Tracy of Houlton and now a student at the University of Maine-Presque Isle was named to the 2013 Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) Women’s Soccer All-Freshman Team.
Houlton Elementary School has been working to install a basketball court on the playground. Lori Weston, Rotary Club president, presented PTO president Charity Cyr and students with a check toward that goal.
Brigitte Pratt and Olivia McNally are the captains of the University of Maine at Presque Isle women’s basketball team.
Former Houlton resident Paula Young Lee wrote a memoir about her childhood in Maine entitled “Deer Hunting in Paris: A Memoir of God, Guns, and Game Meat.” This “hilarious” book follows the author as she runs away from marriage, going around the world and ending up back in Maine again, where she learns to hunt.
Houlton High School has new cheerleading coaches in Renae Foley and Michelle Sullivan.
December:
The Aroostook Musterds Running Club held its annual awards banquet on Nov. 16 at the Northeastland Hotel, marking the 31st time area runners have been recognized for County Challenge Series accomplishments. Participation awards were earned by 19 runners, including Jeff Ashby, the only runner to complete all seven races, as well as Chris Rines, Thomas Beckum, Tyler Strid and Kim Wright (six races); Leo Kashian, Brent Bailey and Craig Dubay (five races); and P.J. Gorneault, Spencer McElwain, Evan Graves, Tyler Levesque, Steve Desmond, Jeff Irving, Ron Losieniecki, Shawn Laferriere, Mike Saucier, Angela Ewings and Rene Gorneault (four races). Women’s age group winners were: 30-39, Rene Gorneault; 40-49, Ewings; and 50-59, Wright. Men’s winners were: 15 and under: first, Strid; and second, Levesque; 19-29: first, Rines; second, McElwain; 30-39: first, Beckum; second, Graves; third, Desmond; 40-49: first, Ashby; second, Irving; and third, Rob Losieniecki; 50-59: first, Kashian; and second, Bailey. The series women’s winner was Wright, who resides in Mapleton and totaled 50 points for her first title. She was 23 points better than Ewings for the top spot. Gorneault, of Caribou, earned his third championship on the strength of four victories. McElwain was second, only four points back, with the difference being his second-place finishes to Gorneault in their two head-to-head encounters. Andres Fleury of Caribou earned the prestigious Runner of the Year award.
Aroostook County Tourism (ACT) and the Aroostook Chambers of Commerce recommend picking up the 2014-15 snowmobile trail map hot off the presses to get a better sense of how impressive the trail system is in northern Maine.
