The benevolence of the LTC and its fans as well as the state’s football officials has resulted in an infusion of nearly $9,000 to a fund that hopes to make an ailing player’s dream come true.

The LTC held fundraising activities at each of its first-round playoff games to support the Ricky Gibson Fund. Gibson, a Maranacook of Readfield sophomore football player, was diagnosed this fall with a malignant tumor in his brain stem, and when subsequently approached by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, his wish was to upgrade his school’s football facility with the addition of lights and bleachers.

The cost of such a project has been estimated at $200,000, and the central and eastern Maine football community has been among those active in supporting the fundraising effort.

The LTC’s effort grew out of an idea put forth by Joe Champeon, the father of a Foxcroft Academy football player, and eventually spread throughout the conference schools.

Champeon solicited Dover-Foxcroft area businesses for donations, and additional money was raised through 50-50 raffles or donation jars at each of the six LTC games played on the weekend of Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

The 15-year-old Gibson, now confined to a wheelchair, attended the Foxcroft-Orono game that weekend, and approximately $5,600 was raised for the fund from that contest through individual and businesses, according to Foxcroft athletic administrator Tim Smith.

Donations also were generated from the other LTC games played that weekend: Mattanawcook Academy at Calais-Woodland, Stearns of Millinocket at John Bapst of Bangor, Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield at Bucksport, Mount View of Thorndike at Rockland, and Old Town at Dexter.

In addition, donations totaling $1,147 were presented to Gibson at the Foxcroft-Orono game by Scott Morrill, president of the Bangor chapter of the Maine Association of Football Officials. That money came from an impromptu collection taken at the MAFO’s annual meeting dinner held earlier in the week, as well as the raffling of two tickets to the Clemson-Boston College football game donated by a member of the Bangor chapter, separate donations by the state officials’ association and the Bangor chapter, and two additional donations by individuals.

In addition, the other three chapters of the MAFO, based in Waterville, Augusta, and Portland, have or are expected to make additional donations to the Gibson fund.

For more information on making donations to the Ricky Gibson Fund, contact Linda Smith at 623-3532 or send checks (made payable to Maranacook Education Foundation) to Maranacook Education Foundation, P.O. Box 133, Readfield, ME 04355.

‘Butch’ Shaw awards presented

Ten student-athletes from northern Maine were honored recently as recipients of the annual “Butch” Shaw Award, presented by the Northern Maine Board of Approved Soccer Officials to outstanding soccer players in Aroostook County during the 2008 season.

The award is named in memory of Clyde “Butch” Shaw, an outstanding athlete, coach and official in Aroostook County who passed away in 1985.

The winners were selected by a vote of the Aroostook County soccer coaches.

Boys recipients were the following: Class B: Russ Mortland, Presque Isle; Class C: Shawn Parker, Madawaska; Class D: Bradley Trask, Easton; Marshall Davis, Katahdin of Stacyville, Kurtis Daigle, Wisdom of St. Agatha.

Girls recipients were the following: Class B: Sarah Porter, Presque Isle; Class C: Susan Lavertu, Madawaska; Class D: Courtney Churchill, Fort Fairfield; Melissa Duffy, Katahdin; Brittany Charette, Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook.

Rams poised to contend in ’09

The Bangor boys soccer team’s quest for a second Class A state championship in three years ended suddenly, with Ian Philbrick scoring early in the first overtime to give Scarborough a 1-0 victory over the Rams in Saturday’s final at McMann Field in Bath.

Nine seniors will graduate from that team, including six starters who have been an integral part of the program’s 45-3-3 run since the start of the 2006 campaign.

That group includes forward Johnny Warren (nine goals, five assists this season), midfielders Dan Taft (3-4) and Mack Susi (7-5), defenders Ryan Larochelle (3-7) and Zane Gray (1-2) and sweeper Nate Frazier (0-1), along with reserves Chad Kelley (3-2), Aaron Prusaitis (1-1) and backup goalie Alan Reese.

But coach David Patterson’s club should have the returning strength to remain a contender in Eastern Maine Class A again next fall.

Junior striker Nick George, who led the Rams with 17 goals and eight assists this fall, will return to anchor the offense, along with key reserves Luke Hetterman (11-4), Clark Noonan (11-2) and Philip Frost (10-5). Noonan is a junior this year, while Hetterman and Frost are sophomores.

Junior Cody Cormier, who made a successful return from off-season back woes, will be back to anchor the Rams’ midfield play, along with sophomore Jacques Larochelle, while junior Brandon Landry emerged as one of Bangor’s top midfield reserves this year.

Juniors Colby Treadwell and Kyle Savage will return on defense, as will junior goalie Bud Angst, who had 12 shutouts this fall and had one of his strongest performances of the season in the state championship match.

“I thought he played fabulous, he kept us in the game,” said Patterson of his goalie’s effort against Scarborough. “There was one about five minutes from the half where their kid turned and hit one toward the top corner and Bud pulled off a great save.

“His handle was great all day. I was very, very pleased with what he’s done, not just [Saturday] but all throughout the season. He’s been a rock back there, and we’re very pleased he had a good game.”

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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