The Boothbay Region Special Olympic athletes traveled to Husson University in Bangor for the Central Maine Soccer Skills and Tournament October 3. The weather was great for the event.

Ethan Carlson, participating in Motor Activities Training did Goal Kicking and Throw-Ins. He competed with athletes from Northern and Southern Maine as well. He received a gold medal and said he was shocked and pleased.

The skills competition was led by Grace Giles with a silver medal. There was a three-way tie for bronze between Matthew Hyson, who reported that the “skills were easy,” Cameron Serino and Vincent Giles. They led the 11-and-under skills competition in dribbling, passing and scoring.

Throughout the day, the student teams and the adult teams played 6-A-Side competition. Boothbay played game one with the new Oceanside (former Rockland High and Georges Valley). In game one, with “diving Danny Miller” in the goal, Oceanside was hard pressed to find a hole and deliver a successful goal.

Thomas Wilcox led the scoring action the entire tournament. Deshawn Averill, “the Beast,” was able to help Boothbay gain possession of he ball. Blake Smith came off the bench to fill in for absent player, Amber Hyson, and did a great job in the offense position. Stephen Reed played center. Valerie Giles played offense bringing the ball into a long awaited goal set up and Logan Posey swept the goal area many times. Boothbay won by the score of 3-2.

In game two, it was much the same with high action, good teamwork and Thomas Wilcox was the leading scorer again. Boothbay won, 3-0.

The adults played game one against the Navigators Team A and it was a very fun game to watch. Joey Ranco and Ronda LeConte scored for Boothbay while Matt Farnham tended the goal. Danny Miller, the swing player, and Donny Dunning completed the offense. The Navigators' goalie, Todd Morin, was tough but was out of the goal a little too much when Boothbay sent the first score in. Boothbay won game one, 4-0.

In game two, Boothbay adults played the tournament champions, Penobscot. They had a very hard time even after replacing Matt Farnham in the goal and adding him to the offense. Chris Oster led the Penobscot offense. Boothbay lost game two, 8-0.

In game three, Boothbay faced the Navigators team B, which had former teammate Brenda LeConte. It was a tough game as well. Boothbay lost, 3-0. The B team had a powerhouse of players. Joey Ranco was able to break through but we couldn’t deliver the goals.

When the tournament was over, the Boothbay adults were still able to bring home the bronze medal.

Kasey Graves was the official scorekeeper.

Boothbay had partners Sinead Miller, Cormac Miller, Shawn Simmons, Lisa Pawlowski, Christy Tozier and Maddy Faulkingham helping at the event.