Page 18 - Newsletter_Spring_2022

Houlton School District to Introduce

Lacrosse to Aroostook County

By Joseph Cyr ’89 - Assistant Editor and Senior Reporter of the County Newspapers

HOULTON, Maine Club Moose got its start
— Two new club sports thanks, in part, to the Bill
will make their debuts at Belichick Foundation.
Houlton Middle-High That foundation awarded
School this spring. a grant for 24 sets of
player equipment, worth
Following unanimous more than $7,000, to the
approval by the RSU 29 Northern Maine Lacrosse
school board, boys and Club. The equipment
girls lacrosse and a unified included sticks, helmets, HOULTON, Maine -- Lacrosse will make its debut as a club sport at
basketball team, which shoulder pads, elbow pads Houlton Middle-High School the spring. The RSU 29 school board
combines students with and gloves. unanimously approved the measure Feb. 7 following a presentation
by Ken Ervin (pictured far left) of the Northern Maine Lacrosse Club.
special needs alongside (Photo courtesy of Ken Ervin)
other athletes, will be “We are excited to be
added to the spring sports able to offer some more more than 60 boys and have around 15 athletes
schedule as club sports. activities to our students girls in grades 3-11 playing participating.
who are not currently active lacrosse.
As club sports, none of in sports during this time The Northern Maine
the programs will affect of year,” Solomon said. “It is a dream to be at this Moose have traditionally
current varsity sports at the “We have a group of boys point today,” Ervin said. used the football field
high school. Any student and girls that are not doing “I never played the sport, at the Maliseet Sports
who participates in lacrosse tennis, baseball, softball or but as you all know, when Complex for its home
may also compete on the track, but they are playing you have children who love games and practices. The
baseball, softball, tennis lacrosse. Giving those a sport, you try to make closest opponent is in the
or track and field varsity students opportunities to it work. I think this is a Bangor area.
teams for Houlton. be active and part of our great opportunity for the Lacrosse will provide all
Boys and girls high school great athletic tradition players in high school, as of its own transportation,
well as those growing up to
lacrosse will run alongside in Houlton is what is continue playing.” while the unified basketball
the traditional spring sports important.” teams will use a bus to
of baseball, softball, tennis “Back in 2017, this started He added that 90 percent transport, with funds
and track and field. as a promise to my oldest of those who played last coming from Special

The Northern Maine children to start a sport spring did not play any Olympics.
other sport.
Lacrosse Club, known as that didn’t exist up here Superintendent Lyons
the “Most Northeastern (in Aroostook County),” Ervin said the lacrosse noted there would be no
Lacrosse program in the Ervin said during Monday’s group hopes to receive cost to RSU 29 in their
USA,” was established in meeting. “We started similar approval from the current form as club sports.
2017 by Houlton resident out in 2017 with 20 SAD 70 school board However, if the lacrosse
Ken Ervin. players (each). We have at their next meeting programs should continue
shown steady growth in
Interest in lacrosse has player development and Monday, Feb. 14 to allow to thrive, the district would
Hodgdon students to play
need to make a decision at
grown steadily since participation.” as well. Solomon said he a later date on whether to
its introduction to the expects both the boys and add lacrosse as an official
Houlton area. The In 2021, the Northern girls high school squads to high school sport.
Northern Maine Lacrosse Maine Lacrosse Club had
PAGE 18 www.houltonalumni.com