By Liz Pimentel
RANGELEY — An army of frogs invaded Rangeley’s annual Blueberry Festival on Aug. 15. “Army” is the term for a group of frogs, and it accurately describes the 36 frogs and one toad that took part in the Frog and Toad Jumping Contest at the festival – the most contenders in a single contest since 2000 (when we started keeping records).
The army drew an audience of more than 100, who generously donated to the Festival’s cause – the support of nonacademic activities for Rangeley students.
The jumpers were judged on the best of three jumps.
MEDIUM — First place and Best Overall, Aiden Tully, 10, and his frog Double A, who jumped a whopping 43 ½ inches. Tied for second were Elliot Snow, 8, and frog Dirty, and Eamon Mather, 8, and Jumper, with 33-inch leaps. Third was Gage Olson, 6, and Prince, 32 ½ inches.
LARGE — First place Silvi Emami-Greifendorf, 9, and River Tale, 39 ½ inches, second place, Lucy Greene, 12, and Sassafrass, 37 ½ inches; third, Gavin White, 14, and Hoppy, 36½ inch leap.
SMALL — First place, Chase Blumenfeld, 10, and Fred, 19 ¼ -inch jump; second, Savannah Colbert, 13, and Salami, the only toad, who, at 1 inch, was also the tiniest contestant, 18 inches; third, Henry Emerson, 7, and Sara, 17 inches.
OTHER PRIZES:
Large Prettiest — Dart, entered by Caroline Scharpf, 11; Angriest — Lucky, Connor Bythrow; Best Squeeler — Frogzilla, Jack Bishop; Leechiest — Bull, Caleb Thompson, 9, Bull also won for biggest entrant at 6 ¼ inches; Highest Jump — Frogalina, Skylar Thompson, 5; Best Escape — Artist to Billy Bob Joe, Tessa Wiser, 10; Frog with Best Catcher, Cornelius Frog and Gabrielle Reynolds, 21, who caught him in mid-air.
Medium Jumpiest — Mooselook Green Legs, Emil Nieser, 7; Fastest — Bob, Andrew MacKenzie, 8; Spunkiest — Freddy, Hallie Wiser, 7; Most Energetic — Edward, Corin Boyd, 8; Most Rambunctious — Seabiscuit, Lillian Boyd, 6; Most Pensive — Todd, Tessa Wiser, 10; Craziest — Phat, Violet Perona, 6, Most Royal — Farkle, Libby Whidden, 12; Plumpest — Bessy, Seth Whidden, 14; Best Climber, Weekem, Brendan Marcotte, 11; Yellow Belly — Jumbo, Cody Marcotte, 9; Bicolor Prize — Jaimie, Dustin Knowns, 5; Prettiest Eyes — Bella, Lena Kaufmann, 8; Darkest Green — Albert, Asher, 8, and Aiden Tully, 10; Most Zigzaggy Jumps — Spunky, Olivia Clark, 11; Coldest — Frosty, Asher Clark, 8; Slipperiest — Slippery, Vanessa Colbert, 10.
Small Shyest — Cutie Pie, Allie MacKenzie, 10; Mr. Congeniality, Tommy, Michelle Cerminara, 8; Most Stage Fright — Zoomer, Olivia Heatley, 7.
Books, Lines and Thinkers, Ecopelagicon, Mr. Sweet Tooth, and Pine Tree Frosty provided the prizes. Brent Quimby and Patty Ellis supplied buckets and nets for catching the amphibians. Andy and Dick Hall, along with this writer, were judges. Catcher Bridget Smith did an outstanding job of returning the amphibians to their owners if they leaped out of bounds. Many donors gave to the Booster Fund.
TOP PHOTO: PHOTOS: Frogs pose with their trainers. (Dick Hall photo)
