The Houlton Shiretowners cross country teams are preparing to launch their 2025 season, bringing together a small but dedicated group of athletes ready to put in the miles, the hard work, and the fun that makes cross country one of the most unique sports offered at Houlton High School.
The season started Aug. 22 in Caribou. The remaining meets are as follows:
Saturday, Sept. 6 – Ellsworth Invitational (12 p.m.)
Saturday, Sept. 13 – Caribou Invitational (12 p.m.)
Friday, Sept. 19 – Presque Isle (4 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Houlton (4 p.m.)
Saturday, Sept. 27 – Sectional Invitational at Old Town (1 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 4 – Festival of Champions at Belfast (11 a.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 11 – Red Riot Challenge at Orono (12 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 18 – PVC Championship at Saxl Park Bangor (12 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 25 – Regional Championship at Belfast (1:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Nov. 1 – State Championship at Augusta (1:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Nov. 8 or 15 – New England Championship, host TBA.
Here are the lineups and key points, according to Coach Chris Rines.
(Courtesy of Chris Rines)
Boys Team
Returners James Brady (Sr), Malachi Witmer (Jr), Brayden Drake (Jr), Shawn Coty (Jr), Nathan Brady (So), Neal McQuarrie (So), and first years Peter Bonaparte (Sr), Logan Witmer (Fr), and Wyatt Quint (Fr).
J Brady has three years of experience at the varsity level and has had strong track and field seasons as well. He has qualified for every state championship he was eligible for and is likely to be the front runner leading the pack again this year. Last year he placed 14th as an individual at the state championships at Twin Brook in Cumberland.
M Witmer is another outstanding runner for the squad and will look to further progress his speed to propel the Shires to many successful races this season. He is coming off a breakout season on the track where he lowered his personal best mile time to 4:44.14 as a sophomore. Last year at states he was our top performer coming in 8th overall place.
Drake returns as one of the top runners in the league and is the defending Houlton Border Bash varsity boy’s race Champion. He raced well in a few events over the summer and is already coming on strong at the start of this season. Brayden was 9th overall at the state championships last year.
Coty’s sophomore cross season was unfortunately cut a bit short last year but after some big gains during the spring track season he is ready to make a splash this season. He is a big time sprinter and his closing speed can hang with the best of them.
N Brady was a freshman standout across the state last season often ranking in the top 10 of all Maine freshmen. At the Festival of Champions meet he took 5th out of 228 freshman in the field which included schools from class A, B, and C, as well as schools from other New England states, and maritime Canada. He was 28th overall in the 2024 state race.
McQuarrie learned a lot in his first year of cross and track and he could be a real threat on the course this year. With no previous experience in long distance versus his counterparts, he made a lot of progress through the season and came on strong during the spring track season. “I can see Neal really stepping up this year and making a huge impact for the team.”
Both Quint and L Witmer have had strong running careers in the middle school ranks of the Aroostook County League. They were a one-two punch for the Eagles, always finishing near the top of the race results. They will complement the Shires’ deep veteran squad and shake up the varsity ranks.
Bonaparte comes to the Shires as a senior with just a single season of track under his belt, he is a quick learner and not afraid of a workout. He will be a strong runner helping us in a lot of races and the team is quite fortunate to have him come out.
“Overall the boys have a strong returning core paired with a couple fresh faces to challenge the makeup of our team,” Hines said.
There are opportunities to win a handful of meets this year and competing at Festival, PVCs, regionals and states is on the table. Last year the boys were PVC and regional runners-up as well as 3rd at states.
Orono looks to be the biggest competition on the boys side, but talented schools in class B like Caribou and John Bapst will help develop the team. Players look forward to locking horns with George Stevens Academy, Sumner and Bucksport from class C, and in the south they will be eyeing Lisbon, Dirigo and Richmond
GirlsTeam
Returners Andrea Ross (Sr), Dalayna Mincey (Jr), Dalylah Mincey (Jr), Kylah Tuttle, and first year (April Mazur).
Ross comes from a line of talented sisters. She has had three previous years of cross and track and will be an instrumental leader for the squad. She may competing for top honors in a few of them. She finished 15th at the state championships last season and was third overall finisher.
Dalayna will see an increased workload this year, likely being the number-two runner at most events. She can stick with the higher end of most races and should be near the front of most packs she is in. She was a 38th place finisher at last year’s state championship.
Dalylah will be in a varsity role this year. She had an incredible season last spring in track and fField and that momentum is sure to transfer over to the fall. “I know she’s ready to step it up and am already excited to cheer her on,” Rines said.
Tuttle was a surprise contributor to the team last year in her freshman season and is looking like she will be again this year. Her work ethic is strong and she has made gains from a year ago. Last year she was 52 overall at the state championships.
Mazur is coming off of a great career in middle school. She has consistently put up great times in both middle school cross country and track. The Shires are fortunate to have her this season and her impact is sure to be felt at the league level.
The girls will be missing some big names on the trails this season but they will bolster a competitive team in that wake, Hines said. While the girls were last year’s PVC and north regional champions, they fell just shy at states, losing the championship by 3 points to Waynflete of Portland.
“I can see us being in the mix at the league and regional level again and I think we will still have a respectable placing at the states as well,” Hines said.
The main competition on the girls side this year will be perennial powerhouse Orono, as well as George Stevens Academy, Narraguagus and Maine Central Institute. Defending state Champions Waynflete and Boothbay/Wiscasset will be C teams from the south to watch.
Assisting Rines this season will be Ellen Dyer and William Janakis.
The Shires are accepting new students. Any students attending Houlton, Hodgdon, Greater Houlton Christian Academy or being homeschooled in those districts are welcome.
Contact Rines at crines@regiontwo.org visit facebook.com/HoultonTrack.
