From left to right: Lori Hegarty, Jenna Garnsey, Olivia Tremblay, Isabella Tremblay, Ella Tederous, Katelyn Gray, Laurie Gaudreau, Lilly Ouellette, Corinna Tremblay and Eryn Chretien perform the “Ballet” routine as the Maine Attraction Water Ski Show Team competed at the Eastern Regional Tournament the last weekend of July. (PAUL AUGER/Contributed Photo)

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The only team of its type in the state made quite the splash at a recent regional competition. 

The Maine Attraction Water Ski Show Team performed their 2019 Wild Wild West show at the Oxbow site in Northampton, Massachusetts, and placed second at the Eastern Regional Tournament held during the last weekend of July. 

Members of the Maine Attractions execute an Opening Pyramid at the Eastern Regional Tournament in Massachusetts. Bottom row: Carl Bathke, Ryan Pepin, Blaine Jack, Zac Tremblay, Zac Lemlin, Andrew Auger, Middle Row: Taylor Tovey, Olivia Tremblay, Eryn Chretien and Lilly Ouellette. Top row: Madeline Gendreau and Ella Tederous. (PAUL AUGER/Contributed Photo)

The Sanford-based performers were also awarded the bid for the 2020 Eastern Regional Competition, a three-day event that the Maine Attractions have already circled on next year’s calendar. 

“The team enjoys the competition but more so the camaraderie of the fellow skiers from New England,” said team member Lori Hegarty. “As we anticipate hosting in 2020, we are hoping to ‘wow’ the other teams with the amount of support that we receive when it comes to our performances.” 

Katelyn Gray directed the Maine Attraction’s routine at the Eastern Regional Tournament. The team’s announcers and sound technicians, Val Lemlin, Peter Landry and Erin Fraser, won the “Sound Award.” Gray, Lori Hegarty and Isabella Trembley each placed first in their Individual Swivel Ski Category’s, Open, 360 and 180, respectively. 

 The team competes annually at the Eastern Region Show Ski Tournament, finishing first in 2017 and second last year. 

The Maine Attraction Water Ski Show Team has already set its goals and started practicing on the water for the 2020 Eastern Regional Competition. In January, said Lori Hegarty, they’ll work indoors, building pyramids and rehearsing stage bows and dances, among other aquatic inspirations. 

Hundreds of skiers and support staff are expected to come to Sanford for the competition, which is scheduled for July 24-26, 2020. 

Pony Girls Lori Hegarty, left, Jenna Garnsey, center, and Corinna Tremblay at the Eastern Regional Tournament. (PAUL AUGER/Contributed Photo)

Mark Hegarty, who co-founded the Maine Attraction with Lori Hegarty in 1989, said the last time a water event of this size – the Eastern Regional 3-Event Tournament – came to Sanford was in 1993. That lasted an entire week. Mark Hegarty noted that the town’s economy saw a boost during the event, and out-of-area competitors loved the location, as well as the friendly people in the community. 

Sarah Ouellette and Jason Tremblay will serve as co-directors of the three-day weekend contest, and they have started to organize committees to make the experience as smooth as possible in the hope of replicating the success of past events in Sanford.  

“It is very exciting to see this level of competition come to this area,” Lori Hegarty said. “(We’re) hoping to reinvigorate a sport that thrived so healthy in this area in the 1960s and 1970s.” 

The Maine Attraction Water Ski Show Team’s next performance is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Number One Pond, Sanford. The family-oriented organization has entertained crowds for more than 20 years. More information on the team can be found online at www.maineattractionwaterski.com. 

All three of Lori and Mark Hegarty’s children ski in the show and the grandchildren aren’t too far away from joining the ranks. The family’s youngest son, Peter, is back home from waterskiing professionally and he plans to join the Maine Attraction on the water at Tuesday’s show.  

“It keeps me young,” Lori Hegarty said. “(We are) very proud of all of the team members as so many have taken on new roles and responsibilities these last couple of team-building years. Mark anticipates a team that will thrive … for years to come.”