CRMS crowned Busline League boys soccer champions

NORTHPORT — There was supposed to be a glorious final Busline League middle school boys soccer game on Saturday, Oct. 23 on the turf at Point Lookout, but, alas, COVID-19, as it has done so often, reared its ugly head to take away potential positive learning experiences and memories for dozens of young Midcoast student-athletes.

While the girls soccer championship was held — and turned into an exciting 3-2, double-overtime win by No. 1 Camden-Rockport over No. 2 Medomak of Waldoboro — the boys contest never got off the ground.

Camden-Rockport Middle School boys soccer team, 2021 Busline League champions. Photo by Ken Waltz

Ultimately, the boys game between No. 1 Camden-Rockport and No. 2 Medomak was canceled because Medomak needed to implement COVID-19 protocols.

The need to implement COVID-19 safety protocols have affected many schools, athletes and teams throughout Maine this fall and probably will continue to do so in the months ahead. It has caused pauses in schedules and cancellation of events. Unfortunately, in this case, the protocols were needed just before a much-anticipated championship game.

Scene from halftime ceremony honoring the Schooners. Photo by Ken Waltz

The cancellation especially hurt because there was no middle school fall sports in 2020 due to the pandemic. At least in 2021, middle school student-athletes participated in a handful of soccer, field hockey, football, golf and cross-country events.

Thus, Camden-Rockport, as the top seed during the regular season, was ruled the league’s boys soccer champion for 2021. In a brief ceremony at halftime of Saturday’s girls game, the Schooners were presented a plaque.

Scene from halftime ceremony honoring the Schooners. Photo by Ken Waltz

Camden-Rockport, coached by Parker Hackett, includes Liam Andersen, Simon Bishop, Liam Carlson-Nelson, Mason Contakos, Dom Damarecki, Graham Eggena, Jasper Hackett, Carver Heyniger, Brian Leonard, Zachary Mason, Brandon Nelson, Mac Pierce, Luke Tobias and Luke Watkins.

Medomak, coached by Matt Lash, includes Nathan Staples, Zach Curtis, Landon Morrison, Brayden Nadeau, Grady Curtis, L.J. Holub, Landon Starr, Jayden Drost, Dima Cheesman, Aidyn Herring, Luke Cheesman, Mason Nguyen and Josh Stone.

The final regular-season boys soccer standings (records unavailable) were: Camden-Rockport, Medomak, Oceanside of Thomaston, Troy Howard of Belfast, Woolwich and Great Salt Bay of Damariscotta. As top seeds, Camden-Rockport and Medomak received first-round playoff byes.

In the postseason, No. 3 Oceanside beat No. 6 Great Salt Bay 9-1, No. 4 Troy Howard beat No. 5 Woolwich (score unavailable), No. 1 Camden-Rockport beat No. 4 Troy Howard (score unavailable) and No. 2 Medomak beat No. 3 Oceanside 5-2.