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Best streaks in Maine high school sports? Here are some at the top of the list.
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Best streaks in Maine high school sports? Here are some at the top of the list.

The Valley men’s basketball team takes the court before a home game in 2001 in Bingham. Morning Sentinel file photo

The Skowhegan field hockey team won 22 consecutive Class A North or Class A East championships from 2001-23, a streak that will forever remain among the best streaks in the history of Maine high school sports.

Skowhegan, whose streak ended last week when he fell a 3-0 decision against Brewer in the A North finalHe is far from alone in achieving a mark that may never be replicated. From gyms, pools, diamonds and more, there are a number of programs whose winning streaks or championships are consistent in Maine.

Here’s a look at five of them:

Waynflete boys (2008-present) and Falmouth girls (2008-19) dominate tennis

The most notable championship streak currently belongs to the Waynflete men’s tennis team. The Flyers’ streak of 16 consecutive Class C titles is the longest state championship streak in any Maine high school sport.

“It’s always a looming number at the beginning of the season,” Waynflete’s Jeff Adey, now a senior, said of the run following the Flyers’ most recent state title in June. “During the regular season, you don’t really think about it, but when you get here, that’s when it starts to kick in and you feel it a little bit.”

The Falmouth women’s tennis team dominated much of the same period, winning six straight Class B titles from 2008 to 2013 and then five in a row in Class A from 2014 to 2018 before falling to Scarborough in the 2019 South final. enjoyed a winning streak of 187 matches between 2008 and 2019.

Valley boys basketball sets records for consecutive wins and state championships (1997-2003)

In the years before and after the turn of the century, the Valley men’s basketball team accomplished something that had never been done before or since in Maine history. The Cavaliers won 101 consecutive games from 1997 to 2002 and six straight Class D titles from 1998 to 2003, both state records.

Valley produced countless legendary players during his career, from Brian Andre to Mark Gaudet, Luke Hartwell and Nick Pelotte. The program’s legacy not only manifested itself in the records it set, but also in how it forced its opponents to improve.

Valley brothers Jason and Luke Hartwell celebrate after the Cavs won the 2002 Western Maine Class D championship. Morning Sentinel file photo

“I think they were ahead of their time as far as playing AAU and lifting weights,” Forest Hills coach Anthony Amero said of Valley in an interview in 2021. “We had to push ourselves. If we didn’t do it, we wouldn’t be able to cry for losing.”

Old Town Men’s Swim Team Rules Pool (1985-98)

Maine high school swimming has long been defined by dynasties. The best of the bunch are the Old Town boys, who dominated the sport with 14 consecutive Class B championships in the late 20th century.

Old Town won all 14 state titles under the same head coach, Dave Ploch. Although Cheverus, Belfast and Mount Desert Island tried to defeat Ploch’s team, Old Town’s talent and depth always seemed to win out.

Richmond softball wins 88 consecutive games (2013-17)

There are so many things that can go wrong in a softball game. Maybe the bats get cold; maybe the starting pitcher didn’t give him his best level; maybe the other team’s pitcher couldn’t get hit that day. That’s what makes what the Bobcats accomplished a decade ago even more impressive.

Richmond was undefeated from 2013-15 under Rick Coughlin before assistant Tony Martin took over as head coach in 2016. The Bobcats were once again undefeated Class D state champions that year and maintained their state-record winning streak to the finals. 2017 state championship, where they were defeated 4-0 by Penobscot Valley.

“Those four or five years there were priceless,” Martin said in a 2020 interview. “It took a little while for that to settle. But when you sit back and think about it, it was a huge accomplishment for those kids.”

St. Dom’s Men’s Hockey Advances Unprecedented (1946-57)

Ask the average Maine sports fan what comes to mind when they hear the name “St. Dom’s,” and you’ll probably get the same answer: “Hockey school.” That reputation was born early in school history when the Saints won 12 consecutive state titles.

St. Dom’s teams of the era competed in the US Junior Hockey National Championship in 1953 and 1955, taking the title the following year. Dixfield Academy’s streak-breaking 1958 state championship victory is still considered one of the sport’s biggest upsets.

honorable mention

Camden Hills Women’s Soccer (2016-21): Starting with a 3-1 win over Edward Little on September 23, 2016, the Windjammers have won 71 straight games and four straight Class A titles. Bangor beat Camden Hills 1-0 on September 29, 2021 to break the streak , the longest in Maine football history (boys or girls).

Orono (1977-82) and Marshwood (1983-1987) football: The Red Riots won a state record 48 straight games and five straight Little Ten Conference titles before falling to Stearns in the 1982 LTC final. Marshwood won 47 straight games and four straight Class C crowns before losing the 1987 Western Class B final against Wells.

Mt. Blue Women’s Alpine Skiing (1992-2002): Rick Hardy’s team dominated the track in the late ’90s and early ’00s, winning 11 straight state titles before Leavitt dethroned the Cougars in 2003. Mt. Blue then won eight in a row from 2005 to 2012.