Five most dominant high school athletes in Maine history

Cindy Blodgett, Lawrence (Fairfield), 1994
A three-time winner of the Maine Gatorade State Player of the Year honor, Blodgett is the all-time leading basketball scorer in the state — boy or girl — with 2,596 points. She led Lawrence (Fairfield) to an 84-4 record and four state championships during her high school career. At the University of Maine, she was a four-time All-American and led the country in scoring four years in a row. She finished her career at Maine with 3,005 career points. She played four seasons in the WNBA including three with the Sacramento Monarchs.

Jack Coombs, Freeport, 1902
Coombs was a standout pitcher at Freeport before moving on to Colby College where he played baseball, football, track and tennis. He played on three World Series championship teams with the Philadelphia A's and finished a 15-year career with a record of 158-110. He led the American League in wins with 31 in 1910 and 28 in 1911. He also set an AL record for shutouts in a season with 13. He also had 53 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.

Billy Swift, South Portland, 1981
Swift spent 14 years in the Major Leagues after being selected No. 2 overall by the Mariners in the 1984 draft. He went 94-78 as a pitcher and reliever. In 1992, as a starter for the San Francisco Giants, Swift led the National League in ERA. In college, Swift helped lead Maine to the College World Series four times. He is a graduate of South Portland.

Mike Bordick, Hampden Academy, 1984
A standout for the Broncos, the baseball field at the school is now named in his honor. He played at the University of Maine and signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. During a 14-year career, Bordick proved to be one of the game's best defensive shortstop. He set records for error-less games with 110 and error-less chances with 543. He also took over at shortstop for Cal Ripken during his time with the Orioles.

Joan Benoit Samuelson, Cape Elizabeth, 1974
Although she graduated from Cape Elizabeth before Title XI provided more athletic opportunities for women, Benoit ran in college at Bowdoin College where she won the Boston Marathon in 1979 in record time. She went on to win the gold medal in the marathon at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, becoming the first American woman to do so.

Also considered: Edmund Black, Bailey Island, football/track; Chet Bulger, Rumford, football; Bob Legendre, Lewiston, track; Eric Weinrich, Gardiner, ice hockey; John Huard, Waterville, football.