Huskies’ football team
in midst of challenging season
The Aroostook Huskies high school football team will limp to the conclusion of their 11th season in a few short weeks. Thus far, the team has dropped contests to Houlton High School, Milo, Hodgdon, Madawaska and the Houlton JV, as well as forfeiting a contest to Central Maine.
Contributed photo
HUSKIES — Members of the Aroostook Huskies’ high school football team are, in front, Leo the team mascot. Middle row, from left, Dustin DeMerchant of Caribou, Andrew DeChaine of Limestone, Brad McMann of Fort Fairfield, Jacob Burby of Caribou, Lewis Amero of Westfield, Colin Murray of Plaster Rock, New Brunsick, Wyatt Kennedy of Presque Isle and Cody Kennedy of Presque Isle. Back, coach Stu Wyckoff, Victor Negron of Limestone, Josh Prestwood of Caribou, Brandon Levesque of Caribou, Kevin Bither of New Sweden, Colton Conley of Caribou, Evan Leach of Presque Isle, assistant coach Cody Flannery and coach Taylor DeFelice. Absent when photo was taken were Lucas Doucette, Josh Fortin, James Wilson and Dillon Cosgro, all of Caribou.
Injuries account for much of the misery, according to coach Stuart Wyckoff, beginning with the loss of a junior quarterback Colin Murray of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick to a knee injury in the opening game.
This bad break was followed by concussions to Colton Conley and Josh Prestwood of Caribou, causing two of the team’s biggest players to miss significant chunks of the season. In addition, the Huskies’ largest player, Brandon Levesque of Caribou, has been sidelined most of the year with painful shin splints. Wyatt Kennedy of Presque Isle had badly bruised ribs and missed half the season and Lucas Doucette of Caribou was out most of the year following a broken hand suffered in a freakish non-football injury.
Brad McMann of Fort Fairfield relocated to the southern part of the state, furthering weakening the team’s depth. Two players decided early in the year that football was not for them and one player left the team for disciplinary reasons.
“It has been a year of real ups and downs,” Wyckoff said. “Losing so many players really has hurt our chances to be competitive, which is disappointing. However, the players we do have are a great bunch of kids who go out every week trying hard to excel.
Wyckoff said Lewis Amero, a team captain from Westfield, has really stepped up in a leadership role and has improved greatly as a football player. Cody Kennedy of Presque Isle has done an excellent job running the ball for the Huskies and Dillon Cosgro of Caribou, who moved to the area from Bangor, has proven to be a punter with the potential to play in college.
Both Kevin Bither of New Sweden and Victor Negron of Limestone are new to football and, while still learning the game, have shown glimpses of the promise they have to be outstanding players in years to come. Dustin DeMerchant of Caribou has played solidly and continues to progress as a player. Finally, Andrew DeChaine of Limestone and Evan Leach of Presque Isle have demonsrated tremendous courage and determination in getting out on the field week after week against much larger and stronger opponents.
“Every team we have faced this season has been bigger, older and deeper,” Wyckoff said. “Despite these challenges, the core group has played with heart and determination. Opposing coaches have consistently given the feedback that they were impressed with the grit and guts the kids displayed from start to finish, regardless of the score.”
With 12 players returning next season, combined with 14 new players from this season’s undefeated Junior Huskies team slated to join this crew, the veteran coach said the future looks bright.
Taylor DeFelice, the current assistant coach being groomed to become the head coach in 2015, observed, “We might be too young to win it all next season, but we will be competitive. The future is looking good for the Huskies,” he said.
