With fall sports over, ADs look toward winter seasons

Sat, 11/12/2022 - 8:15am

As Boothbay Region High School Athletic Director Allan Crocker concluded his fall sports report Nov. 8, he remarked, “On Monday, winter sports starts.” Prior to pivoting to the coming season, Crocker recapped the past one. At the Community School District meeting, Crocker reported on the school’s football, field hockey and cross country teams. In field hockey, Boothbay finished 2-12, but still qualified for the Class C South tournament. Crocker said Boothbay lost to eventual state champion Winthrop, but the Seahawks still received recognition. “We lost in the prelims, but won the sportsmanship banner which was pretty cool,” he said. 

On the gridiron, Boothbay finished 2-5 which qualified the team for a playoff berth. Crocker reported Boothbay lost to eventual regional runner-up Dirigo in small conference eight-man football. The cross country teams had a successful season. The boys’ and girls’ teams each won Mountain Valley Conference championships. The boys also finished as regional runner-up. 

For Boothbay Region Elementary School, Athletic Director Dennis Dacus reported about the co-ed soccer team and cross country results. In Busline League action, the soccer team finished third in a six-team league. The Wildcats advanced in the playoffs due to a forfeit and lost to South Bristol in the semi-finals. Boothbay is one of the few field hockey teams in the Busline League. So besides games versus league members Belfast and Camden Hills, the team played Hall-Dale and St. Michaels (Augusta). “The season’s highlight was a 1-0 victory over Belfast which is perennially one of the region’s toughest teams,” he said.

In BRES football, Boothbay finished 4-4 in eight-man league play. In cross country, the roster expanded from five runners in 2021 to 15 in 2022. The team may have more runners next season. Dacus reported there is a consideration to allow fifth graders to join next year. “Several Busline League schools already have fifth graders, so this is something we’re considering,” he said.

Winter sports begins Nov. 21 for high schools and Nov. 14 for middle school. Crocker reported Boothbay will have basketball, indoor track, cheering and a combined swim team with Wiscasset. Dacus reported there are 13 seventh- and eight-grade boys signed up for basketball. He added, nine sixth and seventh grade girls signed up for basketball. No eighth grade girls signed up for basketball. The cheering squad may compete in regional competitions, as the school has bought five mats for this season.

A Boothbay high school Unified Basketball team may compete this winter. Dacus said he is “99.9%” certain Boothbay will have a team. The season would start in late February as the high school season is winding down. He anticipates three home and three away games. “I helped out at Cony with Unified basketball. There is nothing better than seeing a kid make a basket with the crowd clapping and cheering,” he said.