Bailey era at Portland ends

After 26 seasons, Mike Bailey has resigned as the head football coach at Portland High School. Bailey, a Deering High graduate, coached for 35 seasons, 31 at Portland, where he was named head coach in 1986. He compiled a record of 136-106, which includes the 2002 Class A state championship. Bailey, the winningest coach in program history, said on the “Calling All Sports” radio show Monday morning that several factors influenced his decision.

“There were a series of events including the change to one Booster group, Thanksgiving Day (when he took issue with a late Deering touchdown), the direction of the Portland Public Schools and my stubbornness to want things perfect,” Bailey said. “If a relationship’s not healthy, you have to move on. Portland High’s been my life as a coach and teacher for 31 years and will be my life until I retire from teaching in a few years. I’m proud to be the winningest coach in Portland High history, but I’m most proud of affecting lives. I tried to make the students better people and athletes.”

SMCC women keep winning

The good times keep rolling for first-year coach Kendra Reichert and the Southern Maine Community College women’s basketball team. The Seawolves improved to 9-1 (7-0 in the Yankee Small College Conference) with weekend home victories over Unity (80-36) and Vermont Tech (61-31). Freshman Katelyn Benson had 18 points and six rebounds in the win against Unity. Benson had 18 points while Marissa Welch (16 points, 13 rebounds) and Kristan Saavedra (10 points, 11 rebounds) had double-doubles.

The men split over the weekend, beating Paul Smiths College (93-75, behind Josh Mackie’s 30 points) and losing to Vermont Tech (87-61, despite 14 points from Emmanuel Donalson). SMCC is now 5-6 overall (3-4 in conference). The Seawolves were at Nashua CC Wednesday (men only), visit St. Joseph’s Saturday and host rival Central Maine CC Wednesday of next week.

Local soccer standouts honored

The soccer all-state teams were announced Sunday and players from the city were honored. The boys’ Western Maine squad included Cheverus’ Elliot Maker, Portland’s Tim Rovnak and Waynflete’s Peabo Knoth. The girls’ Western Maine team featured Deering’s Alexis Elowitch. Maker was also named All-New England and the Class A boys’ co-Player of the Year (with Windham’s Robby Lentine). Knoth was named the Class C boys’ Player of the Year.

Portland YMCA offering swim assessment

The Greater Portland YMCA Pine Tree Swim Club is holding an open swim assessment and information sessions. FMI, 712-9609, 874-1111, or gsands@maine.rr.com.


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