Harold “Hal” Cheney – 1933
Transferred from Easton High School his junior year and played basketball and baseball. He was a member of the 1932 State Championship basketball team and was selected as the All-Aroostook pitcher in 1933 indicative of being the best pitcher in the County. That same year his pitching led the team to the County Championship. He pitched Legion ball for the Presque Isle Midgets from 1931-33 and semi-pro baseball for the Presque Isle Indians from 1933-37, his pitching dominated the Aroostook League, he was named an All-Star each year and the league MVP in 1934. During the 1934 season he demonstrated his brilliance going 15 innings, allowing five hits and striking out 17 hitters. After the eighth inning the big right hander did not allow a hit. He was selected to the All-Star team to play against the Red Sox and Boston Braves in 1935. Was offered a tryout with the Red Sox in 1937 and was placed under contract and sent to the Ohio State League. He played five seasons in the Red Sox organization. In 2001 he was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.
After graduating from Presque Isle he attended Ricker College and Presque Isle Normal School. He operated a farm in Presque Isle from 1946-1965. He has been called the best baseball pitcher ever developed in Aroostook County. Walter Reed Jr. said “his determination and graceful skills, combined with a fierce, competitive spirit, helped him excel in basketball, football and baseball.”
Kim Condon – 1997
Kim participated in varsity cross country earning two letters, varsity soccer earning two letters and also played varsity softball. She excelled in basketball earning EM Tourney honorable mention in 1995; 1996 & 1997 All Tournament selection; 1997 EM Tournament MVP; Big East 1994 honorable mention; 1995, ’96,’97 Big East All Conference; Bangor Daily News Maine All-State 3rd team in 1996; All-State first team in 1997; Miss Maine Basketball 1997; Big East Conference Player of the Year, U.S.A. Today “State of Maine Player of the Year”, Maine Gatorade Player of the Year. Holds the Class A record for most points scored in a State Final – 41. She is also a member of the 1000 point club at Presque Isle High School.
Kim attended Colby College graduating in 2001. She played basketball 2 ½ years as injuries hampered her career. She went on to score 1,000 points and is the 10th leading scorer at Colby. She captained the team during the 2000-01 season and helped lead her team to the ECAC New England Championship. She was named Honorable Mention All-American her freshman year. In 2001 she was the recipient of the Pamela Hoyt-Sanborn Award which is given to a female student/athlete based on inspirational Leadership and Sportsmanship.
Malcolm “Mac” Dempsey - 1942
Mac Dempsey was an outstanding cross-country runner at PIHS during the 1940 and 41 seasons. He led them to the state championship in 1940 and captained the team in 1941.
At the State Meet held at Orono Dempsey established a new course record which stamped him as probably the finest runner ever produced at Presque Isle High School. He knocked slightly more than nine seconds off the previous course record when he completed the 2.5 mile “muddy” course in 12 minutes, 11 seconds.
The Wildcats moved on to the New England Championship Meet held in Durham, New Hampshire. Five runners participated for Presque Isle: Dempsey, Markee, Hallett, Rediker and Smart. Dempsey, listed as the number one schoolboy harrier in the Pine Tree State, was one of the favorites heading into the New England Meet. He was a slightly built runner with great power in the piston-like movement of his legs.
Presque Isle finished third in the New England Meet behind Lasalle Academy of Providence, RI and Gardiner High School of Massachusetts. Dempsey finished fourth in the meet, logging a time of 13 minutes 30 seconds on the 2.6 mile course. The first four runners in the meet, including Dempsey, broke the course record.
The National Interscholastic Cross Country race was held Thanksgiving Day at the Seton Hall College Campus Course in Orange, New Jersey, with over 400 runners participating. Dempsey covered the 2.8 mile course in a fast time of 14 minutes, 52 seconds to capture the National title. He was the first Aroostook boy to win the National Interscholastic championship, bringing his running career to a brilliant conclusion. He was the first Maine runner to win the race since Maurice Toothaker accomplished the feat in 1938. At the time many coaches marveled at Dempsey’s running ability and referred to him as one of the greatest “hill and dalers” in Maine history. The Presque Isle team finished fourth in the National Meet.
Malcolm Dempsey was not only a fine athlete but was also a good student. He was a consistent honor student and very active in school activities. He was vice-president of the HI-Y club of which he was a member for three years, treasurer of the student council, member and past president of the FFA, Drama Club, basketball three years, track 3 years, varsity club three years, French Club vice-president. He ran cross country for three years and developed into one of the finest runners in the history of Presque Isle High School.
Robert “Bobby” Duprey – 1961
Bob Duprey was very instrumental in helping a beleaguered PIHS Athletic program into one of prominence which during his senior year compiled a record of 46 wins and 1 loss. He was not only a dedicated and outstanding athlete he was also an outstanding student. He was also a member of the French Club and attended Dirigo Boy’s State.
While at Presque Isle he lettered in varsity baseball 4 years and 3 years varsity basketball; 1959-60: First team All Aroostook, 2nd team All Eastern Maine Tourney, 3rd team All-State in basketball. 1960-61: 2nd team All- Aroostook, 1st team All-Eastern Maine Tournament, 3rd team All-State. Received Herky Adams Memorial Award, which recognized outstanding athletic/scholastic achievement. Played Jr. Legion baseball for three years, winning three division 1 titles and advancing to State play-offs. Started and played in every baseball game for four years. National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Examinations (National Level) 95 Percentile and above.
He continued his fine athletic career at Husson University where he was outstanding in baseball and basketball being inducted into the Husson Sport’s Hall of Fame in 1989.
While attending Husson University he lettered in varsity baseball 4 years and varsity basketball 3 years. Captained the basketball team 1963, 64 & 65; NCC All Conference 1963 &’64; in 1965 was second leading collegiate free throw shooter in the Country (combined NCAA/NAIA) at 91.6%. Hold Husson record for free throw shooting at 91.6%. Career total of 1070 points at Husson. 1989 Inducted into the Husson University Sports Hall of Fame. Played semi-pro basketball for Presque Isle Hummingbirds.
He experienced a great deal of success as an educator teaching in Caribou for 34 years where he taught Business Math, Marketing and was the DECA advisor. He coached JV basketball & baseball for 12 years; Co-director for many road races in Aroostook County.
Wayne Hartford – 1961
Hartford was an exceptional athlete who also excelled in basketball. In 1959 he was All Eastern Maine honorable mention and All Aroostook first team; 1960 – All State second team, All Eastern Maine first team, All Aroostook MVP and first team selection; 1961 – All State first team, All Eastern Maine first team Aroostook County MVP and All Aroostook first team. He also displayed his basketball skills at Husson University, scoring a career 892 points and averaging 12.4 ppg; he was also known for his fierce rebounding skills. He was also captain of the basketball team the 1962-63 and 1965-66 seasons.
Hartford, can legitimately lay claim to being the best Wildcat pitcher over the last 60 years. Hartford began his pitching career in the service club league ball fields of Presque Isle and showed promise of being an outstanding left-handed pitcher in his early years. At the age of 14 and just out of the eighth grade Hartford was selected to play for the Presque Junior Legion team along with friend and classmate, Bob Duprey. Hartford was blessed with a good fastball, a natural screwball and a curve.
His pitching also helped the Presque Isle Junior Legion team to three straight Northern Maine Championships in 1958, 1959 and 1960. In 1959 the local legion nine had an 11-1 record and lost a heartbreaker in the opening round of the State Tournament.
It did not take long for Hartford to become a significant member of the PIHS pitching staff during his freshman year. He concluded his first year on varsity with a 4-1 record and threw a no-hitter the last game of the year against Houlton at Mackin Field. In 1959 his sophomore year he again recorded a 4-1 record and while he pitched brilliantly, the Wildcats finished second in the Aroostook League. During the 1960 campaign the Wildcats won the County championship with Hartford leading the pitching corps with a 5-0 record and an era of less the 2.00. The hard throwing lefty struck out 10 or more in all of his starts. The Wildcats again won the 1961 County Championship behind a pitching staff head by Hartford. Entering his final season Hartford was considered one of the best high-school pitchers in Maine. During his high school career he averaged 13 strikeouts per game, recorded a 2.21 lifetime era and a record of 19-2.
During the summers of 1960 and 1961 Hartford pitched semi-pro baseball for the Houlton Collegians in the Maine – New Brunswick League. Hartford was also the winning pitcher in the annual Maine-New Brunswick League All-Star game held at Grand Falls.
In 1963 Hartford joined the pitching staff of Husson University after spending one year at MCI. Hartford’s name is still etched in the Husson baseball record book. He holds the record for most wins for a pitcher in a career, 22; tied for most wins by a pitcher in a season, 8; most strikeouts by a pitcher in a game, 21; and was second with most strikeouts by a pitcher in a season with 121. He also had eight career shutouts. During his four years at Husson, Hartford helped lead the school to two Northeast College Conference Championships in 1964 and 1966 and also pitched a complete game no-hitter versus Thomas College.
Hartford also pitched in the Penquis semi-pro league in the mid 1960’s, hurling for Lamoine and Mattawamkeag. It was customary for Hartford to pitch the first weekend game on Saturday in Lamoine,, and on his Sunday return trip to Presque Isle, he would hurl for Mattawamkeag.
Hartford was offered a Class D contract to sign with Boston Red Sox; however he decided not to pursue a professional baseball career.
Hubert “Billy” Shaw - 1932
Hubert S. “Billy” Shaw was an outstanding student athlete a P.I.H.S. He participated in track and football for two years and baseball four years. He was outstanding baseball, playing an excellent defensive second base and his team’s offensive catalyst. He developed a reputation as a dangerous and timely hitter. He continued his outstanding baseball play in Junior American Legion Baseball performing for the Presque Isle Midgets.
He entered Bowdoin in the fall of 1932. While there he played halfback on the football team for two years and was a four member of the baseball team, serving as captain his senior year. During the summer of his college years he played for the Presque Isle Indians in the semi-pro Aroostook League. He was rewarded for his excellent play by being selected as one of th players in the state to play against the Boston Red Sox in Bangor in 1935, and was also one of the Aroostook All-Stars who played against the Boston Braves that same summer in Houlton. Shaw had a lifetime batting average of well over .300 and was selected to the Aroostook League All-Stars four times.
In the summer of 1936 he was invited to Baltimore to try out for the U.S. Olympic team. He was selected to the team and was their starting first baseman.
On August 12, 1936, the largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Europe or the United States, numbering close to 100,000, jammed Olympic Stadium in Berlin to watch two American amateur teams play a demonstration game. The left handed hitting Shaw has the distinction of hitting the first homerun in Olympic play when he struck for an inside the park homerun in the first inning. After returning home from the Olympics he continued to play for the Presque Isle Indians.
He received a Master of Arts Degree in Biology in 1937 from Harvard University. He continued to play semi-pro baseball for St. Albans of the Northern League which was comprised of teams for Vermont and New York.
Shaw taught at St. Albans School in Washington D.C., was the Director of Admissions for 20 years at Bowdoin College and was the Chief of Policy and Regulations for the Federal Student Aid Programs in Department of Education.
Shaw was recently inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.
Byron “Barney” Smith - 1965
Barney was an outstanding multi-sport athlete participating in cross-country, basketball, baseball and track and earning 13 letters which may be the most ever earned at P.I.H.S. He was a 1000 point scorer in basketball and was All-State Honorable Mention in 1964 and All-State Second Team in 1965. He averaged 24 ppg his senior year and 29.5 ppg during the Eastern Maine Class “A” Tournament for which he was named the MVP. Many of the top coaches of that era acclaimed Byron “Barney” Smith among the all-time greats of Eastern Maine tournament play.
In baseball he was a four year starter and hit over .400 for three seasons. In track he won the County titles in the 100 and 220 yard dashes and shares the County record for the 100 meter.
Smith attended Duke University and as a walk-on made the Duke Freshman basketball team where he received considerable playing time. He also played two years as the starting second baseman for the Duke Blue Devils and was one of their leading hitters. During his tenure at Duke he was scouted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ron Staples - 1954
Staples was an outstanding baseball player for the Wildcats, helping his team to a 54-12 record in his four year career. As a sophomore he hit 10 homeruns in 16 games with 38 rbi and a batting average of .369. The Wildcats advanced to the Eastern Maine finals twice and the State Championship once with Staples. In track, he won the discus at the 1954 State meet and was third in the javelin. He also played on the varsity basketball team.
While still in high school the semi-pro Presque Isle Indians added him to their roster and he helped spark them to the Maine-New Brunswick championship.
He went to Colby College in the fall of 1954, where head coach John Winkin named him is starting catcher his sophomore year. Staples hit .338, with four homeruns and 16 rbi while throwing out 14 would be base stealers. The Mules and Staples were considered the number one collegiate baseball team in New England. He continued to play semi-pro ball, in 1957 for the Indians he hit .415 and was the MVP in the prestigious North East Invitational Tournament. Following the tournament Red Sox scout Larry Goodall signed him to a professional contract. He played five years in the Red Sox organization earning All-Star catcher status two of those years. Staples was recently inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.
Ralph Sweetser - 1932
Sweetser played varsity basketball and track at P.I.H.S. and received three varsity letter in each sport. He led the 1931 and 1932 basketball teams to the Eastern Maine championship game and the State title in 1932. He was named to the All-Tournament teams in 1931 and 1932. He was named All-Aroostook for three consecutive years 1930, ’31 and ’32. He was considered the finest big man in Eastern Maine and led the Wildcats to a win over the UMO frosh.
In track, Sweetser placed first in the shot put and second in the discus in the 1930 County meet. He set a state record for the shot put in 1931 and also won the discus, was third in the broad jump and tied for fourth in the high jump. At the 1932 County meet, he was first in the hammer throw, discus and shot put and tied for first in the broad jump and second in the javelin. At one time he held the County record in the shot put, discus and high jump and the Maine shot put and discus titles. He is still the County record holder in the shot put, a record that has stood for 78 years.
After graduating from high school Sweetser attended one year of college at Bridgton Academy. He was a standout there averaging 13 ppg despite playing on knee and ankle injuries. After this season Sweetser returned to the family farm on the Reach Rd in Presque Isle.
In his later years Ralph became an outstanding golfer competing in golf tournaments locally and statewide. He won the men’s Senior Championship, the 9th Annual Woodsman Open in 1982 and set a record for low gross.
Bill Hanscom – Coach Retired 1957
Hanscom was a longtime baseball and basketball coach at P.I.H.S., guiding the boy’s basketball squad for 26 years and a 369-188 record. He coached Presque Isle to the State Championship in 1932 and also collected two Eastern Maine Crowns; three Eastern Maine Runners-up trophies, 16 Eastern Maine tourney appearances and 13 Aroostook League championships.
In baseball, Hanscom tallied a 236-148 record, collecting Aroostook League titles in 1932, 1938, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952 and 1953. His squads won the Eastern Maine Championship in 1951 and were runner-up in 1953 and 1954.
He also coached football in the Aroostook Football League, collecting a championship in 1930 and co-champion titles in 1931 and 1932.
Hanscom was considered one of the finest coaches in the State and was held in the same esteem as Red Barry and George Wentworth.