Athletic Director

High School Sports and Community

October 01, 2008

Spring Flings and Upcoming Events
Editor Tom Thelen and Sports Writer Christie Bleck have been so kind as to allow me to start a monthly R&O article in an effort to inform readers about and promote our Portland High School students and athletic teams and other student-orientated happenings. Participation in extra-curricular activities provides unparalleled experiences for our future generations. The life lessons and habits that young adults learn through this participation are immeasurable. We can never promote our students and the value of their high school experiences enough. This goes without saying. What sometimes doesn’t get enough attention is the impact that successful high school teams can have on a community. People of our community use our teams and clubs as groups to rally around, show support for, and identify with. People of our community find pride in being a Portland Raider when watching our students be successful in athletics and other extra-curricular activities. My intentions of writing this article are to both promote our students and their teams and to generate more community pride and excitement where those teams are concerned. I won’t drone on and on writing in a narrative format, but most times will present highlights of the month with bulleted information. I hope you find the article informative and I hope it gives you a sense of pride in our teams and inspires you to get involved by coming out and showing your support.

Highlights of the Spring and Important Upcoming Events:

  • Varity Softball won its 3rd consecutive ICL league title and its 8th of the last 10 years (Districts start here in Portland May 27th) Current record is 24-10, won one tournament and finished runner up in two. JV Softball great season: 25 wins, 5 losses!
  • Track and Field teams qualified one boy (Tom Stornant, pole vault – beat his own school record after recovering from cornea transplant surgery in March) and one girl, (Lindsey Morse, 800 M Run) for the State Championship (Held at Comstock Park May 31st ) 5th straight year the track and field program has qualified at least one individual for the State finals (last year had a State Champion is Sarah Stornant, 1st one in over 20 years)
  • Varsity Tennis qualified for the team State Championship with a third place finish in the Regionals. Individual Regional Champs were 1d. Caleb Carlton and Brett Marlatt, 2d. David Reed and Adam Dumas and 3d. Neale Baldyga and Tristan Ferris. State Championships at Kalamazoo College on Friday, May 30th See if any of the boys can match Jenny Goodman’s state championship in 3s. last fall.
  • Girls golf team shot a 195 vs. St. Louis this season, only 3 strokes off the school record.
  • JV Baseball finished with a 21-1 record! (10-0 in the league) Won both invitationals they entered into (Belding and Portland) avenging their only loss of the season in the Portland Invitational final to Alma, whom they mercied 13-3 and whose record was 17-2. A season like that just doesn’t happen in baseball! Looking forward to good things from them in the future.
  • Girls Varsity Soccer team experienced its most competitive season since becoming a varsity sport. Three of the Portland soccer wins have come by shutout. Seven players have scored goals this season – a team record. Three players have had multiple goal games.
  • 1st Annual Spring Sport Carnival was a success this year, will be back next year April 24th.
  • Male Athlete of the Year: Andrew Pulling, Female Athlete of the Year: Lindsay Seal

As summer fast approaches, here are some important dates to mark down on your calendar and to plan on taking part in as we look forward to next year.

  • July 19, 2003: Portland Athletic Association Golf Outting (contact Wes Davids 647-6885, Harvey Hoskins 647-6848, or Chuck Minkley 647-6706)
  • October 11, 2003: Portland Athletic Association PHS Hall of Fame Dinner (Contact Bobbe Johnson 647-7328)
  • October 25, 2003: Portland Athletic Association “Car Party” Fund Raiser (Contact Eric Eldridge 647-1871)

For Information/Questions on other PAA topics/dates, contact Kevin Veale, AD 647-2983, PAA Pres. David Hoort 647-1848, V.P. Eric Eldridge 647-1871, Treasurer Denise Barnes 647-2273, or Secretary Patty Green 566-1985.