Vote for Maine's greatest high school athlete of all time in 'USA 250' poll

Maine has produced Olympians, MLB, NHL and WNBA athletes, and game-changers for female athletes. 

The athletic landscape is strong, with athletes making a name for themselves across a variety of sports. The question isn’t whether there have been elite athletes from Maine — the question is who stands above all.

Who is the all-time best Maine high school athlete?

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY is launching its 250 for 250 series, looking to answer that question by celebrating the best athletes from each state.

With your votes, five will be selected to represent the athletes who have defined high school sports.

Here are the 12 Maine high school athlete nominees, listed in alphabetical order.

Cindy Blodgett, Girls Basketball, Lawrence High School (Fairfield) 

No basketball player, boy or girl, has scored more points as a Maine high school student than Cindy Blodgett. With 2,596 career points, she was a three-time state Gatorade Player of the Year, won four championships, and went 84-4 over her career at Lawrence. 

Mike Bordick, Baseball, Hampden Academy 

A star baseball player, Hampden Academy named its baseball field in Mike Bordick’s honor. He spent 14 years in the MLB, primarily with the Oakland A’s and the Baltimore Orioles. 

Jack Coombs, Baseball, Football, Track, Boys Tennis, Freeport High School 

An early-century athletic marvel, Jack Coombs starred on the Freeport baseball team. He also played football, track and tennis prior to an MLB career that saw him win three World Series. 

Brian Dumoulin, Boys Hockey, Biddeford High School 

In two seasons of high school hockey, Brian Dumoulin led Biddeford to two championships. He scored 61 points in his undefeated 24-game junior season, according to his Boston College bio, and scored 46 points in 24 games as a sophomore. 

Cooper Flagg, Boys Basketball, Nokomis Regional High School (Newport) 

Cooper Flagg only played his freshman season in Maine, but he did enough to merit a spot on the list. He was the first freshman to be named Maine Gatorade Player of the Year and led Nokomis Regional to its first state championship, averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 3.7 steals and blocks apiece per game. 

Kate Hall, Track and Field, Lake Region High School (Naples) 

Kate Hall’s 22-foot, 5-inch long jump at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in 2015 broke the national record that had stood for 39 years. It made her the No. 6-ranked American female long jumper while still in high school. 

John Huard, Football, Waterville High School 

Prior to becoming the first football player to be inducted into Maine’s Athletic Hall of Fame, and before his four-year NFL career, John Huard was a dominant athlete on Waterville High School’s football team. 

Matt Kinney, Baseball, Boys Golf, Football, Boys Basketball, Bangor High School 

A two-time high school baseball champion, Matt Kinney completed his career with a 24-2 record, according to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. He also won a basketball championship and played football and golf before being drafted into the MLB out of high school. 

Charlotte Pierce, Track and Field, Thornton Academy 

One of the best runners in Maine history, Charlotte Pierce broke records in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter indoor and outdoor runs, and won the championship in the one-mile race. 

Joan Benoit Samuelson, Track and Field, Cape Elizabeth High School 

Joan Benoit Samuelson has been breaking barriers since high school. According to Bowdoin, the only female runner on her team, she won the state championship in the mile race, a precursor to future success, including being the gold medalist in the first Olympic Women’s Marathon and two Boston Marathon victories. 

Christina Strong, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Track and Field, Georges Valley High School 

Christina Strong was an all-around stud of an athlete. As Miss Maine Basketball in 1990, Christina Strong averaged 22 points, nine rebounds, six assists and six steals. There wasn’t a girls soccer team, so she competed on the boys. She ran track, winning the 400-meter hurdle and competing in the Junior Olympics, per the Portland Press Herald. 

Amy Vachon, Girls Basketball, Cony High School (Augusta) 

A two-time player of the year and four-time All-State athlete, Amy Vachon dominated the hardwood at Cony High School. She led the team to two championships over her career, paving the way for a strong playing career at the University of Maine, where she is now the head coach.