Sports in brief . . .

Athlete of the week
    The Varsity Club and Big Cheese Pizza are pleased to congratulate Bennett Cassidy and Sarah Porter for being selected as athletes of the week for the week of May 12-17.     Cassidy pitched the boys’ varsity baseball team to crucial wins over Houlton and John Bapst. During that week, Cassidy had eight hits including a triple and a homerun.
    Porter qualified for the state singles tennis tournament, and will represent Aroostook County as the number-one seed.
PVC track
    The Penobscot Valley Conference Track and Field Championship meet will be held on Saturday, May 31 at 11 a.m. at the Johnson Athletic Complex in Presque Isle. Admission will be charged at the gate at $5 for adults and $3 for students in kindergarten to 12th grade.
Aroostook United Soccer Club
    The Aroostook United Soccer Club boys’ U10 travel team will hold open tryouts on June 11 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Presque Isle High School track located behind the school. Tryouts are open to anyone born between Aug. 1, 1998 and July 31, 2000 in Aroostook County.
Canoe/kayak race
    The Presque Isle and Washburn Rotary Clubs are holding the Aroostook River Fun Run Canoe and Kayak 8-Mile Challenge on Saturday, May 31 to benefit the Wintergreen Art Center. Race day activities begin with a light breakfast at Thomas Brewer Park in Washburn with the race to follow from the boat launch. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race at 10 a.m. The fee is $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $10 for youth. For more information or to register, contact Keith Brown at 455-4717 or Mark Putnam at 764-4471. Registration forms are also available at www.presqueislerotary.org or The Star-Herald office.
Sports History
    As part of Fort Fairfield’s sesquicentennial celebrations this year and Presque Isle’s in 2009, The Star Herald will run photographs and stories about the history of both towns. Any readers with stories, photographs or information in relation to Fort Fairfield or Presque Isle sports should email starherald@nepublish.com with attention sports in the subject line.
MWSC announcements
    The MWSC invites interested athletes (12-years-old and up) and parents to an information session for all programs on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Center.
    County Physical Therapy is offering yoga classes with Sarah Dominick to limber, tone and strengthen the body. Classes are Tuesdays in Presque Isle at 5:30. Cost is $8 per session for non-CPT members and $5 for members. For more information, contact Dominick at 896-3514.
    Several group rides will be held weekly by Mojo’s and the Nordic Heritage Center. Helmets are required. Mondays: women’s no drop road ride for all abilities beginning at 5:30 p.m. from Mojo’s. Mondays: moderate to fast-paced mountain bike ride beginning at 6 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Center. Tuesdays: all abilities no drop mountain bike ride beginning at 6 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Center. Wednesdays: moderate to fast-paced mountain bike ride beginning at 6 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Center. Saturdays: all abilities no drop road ride beginning at 8 a.m. from Mojo’s.
    Weekly spinski group rides will be held in Caribou and Presque Isle. Helmets are required. Tuesdays: moderate to fast-paced beginning at 5:30 p.m. from S.W. Collins in Caribou. Thursdays: moderate to fast-paced beginning at 5:30 p.m. from Mojo’s in Presque Isle.
    Aroostook River paddle nights will be held weekly from Washburn to Presque Isle on Wednesday nights at 5:30 p.m. Paddlers will meet at Perception of Aroostook, 9 Caribou Road, Presque Isle for a two to three hour casual paddle. A kayak shuttle is available for $10, and rentals for $30. For more information, contact Leo Freeman at 764-5506.