Join us for a look back at sports happenings in central Aroostook County in 2024. From school to community, here are some of the highlights from January to June. Next week we’ll present July through December in Part 2.
January
Representatives of Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954 and Houlton Elks Lodge 835 swept their divisions at the Elks Hoop Shoot Northern District Championships. In the ages 8-9 division, first place went to Myra Mosher of Presque Isle for the girls and Sawyer St. Peter of Caribou. The 12-13 girls champion was Quinn Corrigan of Caribou, while Eli McBreairty of Mapleton took the boys title. For the 10-11 category, Selena Crouse of Blaine won for the girls and Jackson Holdsworth of Caribou won for the boys.
One of northern Maine’s major snowmobile routes is safely passable thanks to a local club and a national grant. The Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club finished rebuilding a bridge on Saturday along ITS 85, one of the state’s major Interconnected Trail System thoroughfares that stretches from Fort Kent to Millinocket.
February
As high school basketball regular season play ended, local squads qualified for the annual tournament. Heading to Bangor were: the Caribou boys and girls; Presque Isle boys and girls; Houlton-Greater Houlton Christian girls; Fort Kent boys and girls; Hodgdon boys and girls; Fort Fairfield boys; Southern Aroostook boys and girls; Wisdom boys and girls; Easton boys and girls; Katahdin boys and girls; Washburn boys; and Ashland boys.
Ron Ericson of Washburn, a beloved educator, administrator, and sports coach, was recognized for his 48 years of service on Friday, Feb. 2 with a placard and a signed basketball from the Washburn boys and girls basketball teams. A celebration at the Washburn District High School gym drew a large turnout.
For the first time in their history, the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races were canceled due to weather. Warm temperatures and melting snow made conditions unsafe.
March
Snowmobile races almost didn’t happen at the second annual SnowBowl because of a muddy Spud Speedway, but organizers Jim Gamage and Troy Haney moved racing activities to the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle. Around 63 Northeast SnoCross snowmobile racers and more than 40 vendors pivoted to the new location to make a successful run.
April
County runners competed at varsity track and field races at Cameron Stadium in Bangor. Schools competing were Fort Fairfield, Fort Kent, Old Town, Piscataquis, Presque Isle, Southern Aroostook, Washburn, host Bangor and the Houlton/Hodgdon/GHCA Shires.
May
SAD 1 directors approved forming a cooperative hockey team for the 2024-25 school year, with students from Caribou, Mars Hill, Fort Kent and St. Agatha joining local players. The move was to allow hockey to continue in the face of projected player shortages.
American golfers were reluctant to play at the Aroostook Valley Country Club, which straddles the Canadian and American border between Fort Fairfield and Four Falls, New Brunswick. Though the border reopened in 2022 following the pandemic, crossing remains a formal process. Americans now have to go through the Canadian port of entry to play the course.
June
Presque Isle High School rising sophomore and tennis player Alice Korzekwa played at the Manchester Athletic Club in Beverly, Massachusetts, in a USTA Level 6 tournament. She came first in her group, beating three girls in a 16 and under bracket.
The Aroostook League announced all-stars in baseball, softball, tennis, track, field and track and field.
