Julia Clukey had barely touched down in Vancouver, and she realized something was different. On one side, there was a customs line for everybody else. On the other side, there was a customs line specifically for athletes competing in the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Travis Lazarczyk
Columnist
Travis Lazarczyk has covered sports for the Portland Press Herald since 2021. A Vermont native, he graduated from the University of Maine in 1995 with a BA in English. After a few years working as a sports information director and in the ski industry, he began his journalism career at the Berlin (N.H.) Reporter in 1999. Prior to joining the Press Herald, Lazarczyk spent 20 years covering sports in central Maine at the Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal. He's been twice honored as the Maine Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
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PRO BASKETBALL: Jones heads to Germany
Josh Jones won’t leave for Germany for two weeks, but he’s already touted on the web site of the SC Rist Wedel basketball club. The site describes Jones as an athletic and versatile wing that can play shooting guard or either forward position.
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HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER: Wolfe takes over Winslow program
WINSLOW — The incoming senior boys soccer players at Winslow High School were eighth graders when Aaron Wolfe became their junior high coach. Now that Wolfe is the boys varsity soccer coach at Winslow, everything has come full circle.
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BABE RUTH BASEBALL: Central Maine teams prep for regionals
Tom Bell and his coaching staff didn’t select the roster for the Central Maine Babe Ruth 13-year old all-stars until July 1. They had eight practices before play in the District 5 tournament began. The fast place didn’t throw the team off. Instead, it may have installed an important sense of urgency.
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TRAVIS LAZARCZYK: Football keeps him going
Jack Brady wanted to be on the East sidelines for Saturday’s Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl. A few months ago, he was all set to be an assistant coach on Dave Hainer’s East staff. Brady coached the Mt. View High School football team to its first winning season and first playoff appearance, and he couldn’t wait to help coach the best high school football players in Maine.
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MAINE SHRINE LOBSTER BOWL: West pulls away to beat East
BIDDEFORD — For four and a half minutes, the East had all the momentum to be found in the 23rd annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl. It took the East just six plays to score the game’s first touchdown. Then, five plays into the West’s first possession, Skowhegan’s Ethan Johnson intercepted a pass, giving the East the ball right back.
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: 23rd annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl kicks off this afternoon
HEBRON — After 23 years, the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl is not only a big fundraiser for Shriner’s Hospitals, it’s a competitive football game. Western Maine dominated the series early, winning the first nine games, but the series is even at five wins each over the last 10 years. Eastern Maine has won four of the last six games, and the last three games were each decided by less than a touchdown.
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MAINE SHRINE LOBSTER BOWL: Johnson a different kind of quarterback, ready to play defense
HEBRON — When the quarterbacks get together in the Hebron Academy dorms at Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl training camp, they share stories. They talk of long passes completed and of memorable touchdown throws.
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MAINE SHRINE LOBSTER BOWL: Pair key to Bears’ success
HEBRON — Every high school football team in the state has a player invited to play in the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl. To have two or even three players invited to play in the annual all-star game to benefit Shriner’s Hospitals says a lot about the state of a school’s football program. Usually, a handful of perennial powers have two or three players represented, while a vast majority of schools send one athlete to the game.
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LOBSTER BOWL NOTEBOOK: Players hit field in preparation for 23rd Lobster Bowl
HEBRON — One of the constants of the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl’s first 22 years is the friendships made when high school rivalries are set aside. As the teams prepare for Saturday’s 23rd game at Hebron Academy, that’s once again the case.