A member of the Camden Hills football team leaps to intercept a pass that was intended for Waterville’s Sean Walsh, left, during an eight-man league playoff game. Camden Hills won the game, 47-0, in Camden. (photo by Corianna Doucette, Double Exposure Photography)
2025 Augusta Rams, grades 5-6, finished the season unbeaten with a 6-0-1 record. (photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography)
2025 Augusta Rams, grades 3-4. (photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography)
by Mark Huard
Sovie Rau
Sovie Rau, a track and field athlete from Vassalboro, has been invited to compete in the Coast 2 Coast International Track and Field Championships, taking place from July 4 to 6, 2026, at The Gold Coast Performance Center, in Runaway Bay, Australia.
This invitation was earned by Sovie by meeting specific qualifying standards in her track and field events. Sovie is a junior at Erskine Academy, in South China, where she maintains high honors and has won awards in Academic Excellence in English, the Coach’s Award for indoor and outdoor track, and The Don Berry Award for Outstanding Track Athlete at KVAC Championships. Sovie is a Maine’s Top Ten athlete in the 100m, 200m, and 400m sprints.
She volunteers with the Winslow Rec Youth Track and Field program every summer, helping children ages 4-15 explore track and field events.
Sovie’s journey Down Under begins in late June, and includes a week of elite training and competition at The Gold Coast Performance Center. In addition, the athletes will enjoy several group outings and excursions where they will explore the Gold Coast and many aspects of Australian culture. She will compete in a three-day championship meet at the end of her stay.
Sovie will also be competing in USATF (USA Track & Field) Junior Olympics in 2026. She qualified and competed at Junior Olympics Regionals three times, and ran at the 2024 Junior Olympics Nationals in Texas.
To maintain amateur status, Sovie must rely on the generous donations from family, friends, teachers, coaches, neighbors and local businesses to fund her trip.
Anyone wishing to sponsor Sovie’s trip to Australia can do so by going directly to www.coast2coastinternationalathletics.com and click on payments. Make sure to put “Sovie Rau” in the notes section so the money gets posted to her account. All sponsors will be entered into a drawing for one of five $100 VISA gift cards, to be drawn on July 6, 2026, at the Coast 2 Coast Track & Field Banquet. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a significant impact!
Members of the Waterville Youth Football grades 5-6 team going for the tackle at a recent game played on Sunday, October 19, at Reed Field. Waterville’s Attikus Gagnon (24) left, and Jayceon Turbide (30) right, making the tackle. (photo by Corianna Doucette, Central Maine Photography)
Front row, from left to right, Mason Jimenez, Kholton Friend, Jayce Pagliaro-Heath, Dawson Mansfield, Jamison Bean, Asher Mansfield, Griffin Gilley and Craig Preo. Second row, Nathan Withee, Jaxon Coulombe-Davenport, Cameron Ray, Landon Nalley, T.J. Wooten, Isaiah Nelson, Trey Soucy, Liam Soucie, and Jack Gilley. Back, Coach Nate Withee, Matt Gilley. (photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography staff)
Front row, from left to right, Brody Ware, Wyatt Nalley-Dickey, Luna Withee, Jayden Bradley, Cole Bean, and Kayson Glidden. Second row, Owen Stevens, Jayceon Turbide, Nyeim Warren, Attikus Gagnon, Mason Sheets, and Maeson Colon. Third row, Isaac Chase, Luna Lagassie, Abby Sanford, Jaxon Troxell, Quncy Brittingham, Tristan Ware, Isaac Cooley. Back row, Coaches Langston Ware, Sulley Menz, Jamil Brittingham, Jon Turbide, Noah Patnaude and Nate Withee. (photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography staff)
Center, Levi Burgess. Front, from left to right, Zachery Brouillet, Abraham Jones, Steven Hodgdon III, Claire Justard, Barrett Brochu, Paige Theobald, Alice Morrison, Lincoln Nadeau, and Carter Audet. Second row, Colton Souviney, Oliver Sales, Conor McInnis, Lincoln Thibodeau. Back, coaches, Rachel McInnis, Charles Theobald and Ashley Holman Dupuis. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff)
The 2025 annual PAL Senior Football Camp (July 29-31), was held at the Lawrence High School, and led by Lawrence varsity Coach John Hersom and his high school football players. It was organized by PAL football director, Nick Nadeau. Photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography staff
Andrew Smith
Kylie Wolfe
Lillian Warren
Barrett Brochu
Lane Poulin
Taylor Peterson
Ronin Mansfield
