PI to host state soccer finals
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — When the artificial turf was installed eight years ago at what is now known as the Dr. Gehrig T. Johnson Athletic Complex, one of the hopes for school officials was to eventually be able to host state championship soccer games.
That hope will become a reality this Saturday when the Class C and D girls’ and boys’ games will be played on the stadium field at Presque Isle Middle School.
In 2011, the Maine Principals’ Association put Presque Isle in the rotation to host state games every five years, beginning this fall.
David Wakana, the Caribou High School athletic administrator who is a member of the MPA’s soccer committee, said the discussion to include Aroostook County as a host site began after his school’s girls soccer team played Falmouth for the Class B championship in 2010. The game was designated just four days earlier to be played in Falmouth.
“I felt it was wrong, but the MPA was in a bad spot that year and had no other options,” said Wakana, who joined the soccer committee the following year. “That first year [the committee] addressed the issue and decided that every five years the state games for classes C and D would be played in northern Maine.”
Presque Isle was chosen to host after the MPA required all the state games to be played on turf and the school has the only artificial field north of Hampden.
“After the turf was put in, we expanded the seating capacity [to around 800] and then it was really just getting support from the MPA,” said SAD 1 Athletic Administrator Mark White. “Dave was instrumental in this and I also give credit to [former superintendent] Johnson and [former AD) David Heald for putting it all in motion.”
Having ample parking, good traffic flow, an enclosed area to control admission onto the field, locker rooms, a large concession area and facilities to accomodate the media were also important in being able to host, and White said he feels he and his staff are prepared.
A crew of at least 30 individuals has been assembled by White, which includes site managers, parking attendants, team attendants, game and event workers, timers, announcers and line runners.
“Mark has done a great job getting the community involved, preparing for the event and making sure everything is set,” Wakana said. “I have worked a number of state competitions in many sports and find that the people in northern Maine will do all that is possible to make those participating feel welcome and comfortable and ensure the event is first class.”
The parking lot on the west side of the school will be utilized for fans, with overflow parking also available at nearby Northern Maine Community College, where busses will shuttle individuals to the field.
There will be special parking areas designated for handicapped persons, emergency vehicles, officials, game workers and the media.
The schools actually playing for state titles won’t be finalized until later today after regional championships are decided in the north and south for both divisions and genders.
Monmouth Academy and Waynflete of Portland are facing off for both girls’ and boys’ Class C South titles, while the Richmond girls take on Rangeley and the Richmond boys meet Buckfield for Class D South championships.
In the North, Washington Academy of East Machias and Central of East Corinth are squaring off in the Class C boys’ final, while Orono and Bucksport oppose each other in Class C girls. There is a strong County flavor in the Class D competition, as Madawaska and Ashland meet in D girls and Fort Fairfield and Bangor Christian are the two teams fighting for the D boys’ title.
Saturday’s schedule will have the Class C girls game begin at 10 a.m., followed by Class C boys at 12:30 p.m., Class D girls at 3 p.m. and Class D boys at 5:30 p.m.
Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for students and are available on the day of the game only. Admission is good for all four games.
White said the National Anthem will be played prior to each of the contests. MPA Good Sportsmanship banners will be presented before the Class C games and the Class D games.
Concessions will be provided by the SAD 1 Boosters Club and will include special items such as baked potatoes, ployes and steak in addition to its regular offerings.
The four games can be viewed online at nfhsnetwork.com, with WHOU of Houlton providing the webcast through the National Federation of State High School Association.
