Latest class enshrined in PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame
GUILFORD — The history of sports at Piscataquis Community High School, previous area secondary institutions, and the towns making up SAD 4 continues to grow with the third class of the PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame being formally enshrined during an early evening ceremony in the gymnasium on Oct. 2 as part of the school’s annual homecoming festivities.
The PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2021 is comprised of athletes Kamron Kimball, Carla Lemieux, Alex Speed, Kenneth Thomas, and Ryan White, the late Harriet Kronholm as a coach, contributor Gordon Contracting, Inc., and the 1987 Class C champion PCHS field hockey team.
Piscataquis Community Secondary School Athletic Director Joe Gallant told the audience the 2021 class would represent both the previous and current school years. He explained nominees for the hall of fame are sought — those nominated are eligible for enshrinement for up to five years — and forms are reviewed by committee in June. The final decisions are announced leading up to Homecoming.
Gallant said the names of the 2021 class will be added to a list in the lobby that includes those from 2018 and 2019.
PCHS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021— Members of the third PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame class were enshrined during a ceremony at the Guilford school on Oct. 2. The PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2021 is comprised of athletes Kamron Kimball, Carla Lemieux, Alex Speed, Kenneth Thomas, and Ryan White, the late Harriet Kronholm as a coach, contributor Gordon Contracting, Inc., and the 1987 Class C champion PCHS field hockey team.
Jeff Hoak, a 2015 PCHS graduate, introduced the eight members of the PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame class.
The late Kronholm played basketball at Guilford High School in the 1920s before spending more than a half century as a coach at the community’s secondary schools. She later became known as a PCHS superfan, at both home and away games. Kronholm’s niece Tootie Bennett accepted the enshrine plaque on her aunt’s behalf.
Kimball is a 1995 PCHS graduate where he starred on the Pirate soccer, basketball, and baseball teams. Hoak mentioned how Kimball scored 983 points on the court, and likely would have reached the 1,000-point milestone if not for a season-ending injury as a senior. Today Kimball is an owner of Kimball Insurance in Sangerville.
Lemieux ran cross country and outdoor track and played basketball before graduating in 1988. She set school records in both the 1,600 and 3,200, and represented her school and state at national track competitions.
Speed graduated from PCHS in 2015 as the career leader — girls and boys — in goals scored on the soccer field with 81. Speed also played basketball and softball.
Thomas is a 1965 graduate who played basketball and baseball. He scored 1,000 points before the 3-point line was implemented, and got scouted by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ryan White was a basketball and baseball star before graduating in 1998. On the diamond he hit 18 career home runs and drove in more than 90 runs, while also pitching a no-hitter against Greenville.
The 1987 field hockey team claimed the Class C championship. These Pirates finished with a 17-1 record, scored 58 goals, and gave up just six (four in the regular season and two in the four playoff contests).
Gordon Contracting, Inc. of Sangerville is being honored for giving back to the athletics program at PCHS and the larger SAD 4 community.
“Clearly the rich foundation of athletics is alive and well, many years ago and today as well,” PCSS Principal John Keane said to close the ceremony. He mentioned the fact that Kimball’s daughters both scored goals during field hockey and soccer games respectively that afternoon.