Depleted Panthers led by rookie coach

If rookie head coach Chris Casavant wanted a challenge, he couldn’t have drawn up a much better one.

The latest boys varsity coach at Central Aroostook in Mars Hill inherits a program that lost the kind of concentrated talent that seems to come along only in a lifetime – especially for a Class D school.

Casavant’s Panthers are just one of the many teams in Classes B, C, and D which will be officially opening their seasons today and Saturday.

The Central Aroostook boys will open their season on the road today with a 7 p.m. game at Easton.

In departed graduates Matt Townsend, Mitch Orser and Ben Allen, the Panthers had the kind of scoring punch and athletic ability that would make Class A teams jealous. To say they’ll be hard to replace is a colossal understatement.

Not to mention the fact the Panthers, who enter the 1996-97 season as defending Class D state champions, may as well have a giant “X” painted on their uniforms after having embarrassed and totally dismantled much of the opposition last year.

Factor in Casavant being the third Panthers boys head coach in the last three seasons and, well, it’s a situation a lot of coaches, veterans and first-timers alike, would avoid.

Not Casavant, who’s looking forward to his first season as a varsity boys head coach.

“Very much so. It’s something I’ve looked forward to since my playing finished up,” said the 25-year-old coach. “I don’t feel any pressure at all. The kids have been great and the parents have been very supportive.”

The former Presque Isle High School and University of Maine-Presque Isle player takes over for Jerry Adams, who moved on to take over the reins of the boys program in his hometown of Houlton. “They lost a lot of talent, but they also return some good talent,” said Adams about his former team.

“These kids routinely went up against the best team in Class D last year and one of the best teams in the state during practices and scrimmages, so I think they’re ready to step in and have the light shine on them now,” said Casavant.

“Those kids” start with backcourt duo of Adam Orser and Brandon Bell, who Adams said “could be the best in Class D.”

The other four are 6-foot-4 center Ryan Michaud, forwards Tyler Brewer and Robbie Hill, and senior center Aaron Boyd.

Adams, who says his Shiretowners are “young and hungry” wishes nothing but the best for his former team.

“They cut their teeth on some quality opposition. Those kids deserve to have a great year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Adams’ boys will open the season today at home against Madawaska in a 7 p.m. game.

Besides coping with the before-mentioned problems, Casavant will also have to deal with the pressure of high expectations for the boys team – one of the primary factors contributing to the ouster of former coach Steve Shaw two years ago.