For the first time in school history, Portland has won a state championship, and athletic director Kevin Veale is hoping it will be the first of many.
The 12-9 victory by the Raiders over the Grand Rapids West Catholic Falcons in the Division 5 state championship football game gave Portland its first state title in any sport. It was an occurrence that many, including Veale, thought could happen.
The school had a state runner-up in golf in the 1970s, Veale said, plus a runner-up in track in the 1960s.
“We’ve been in the semifinals in softball and girls’ basketball twice in the last five years,” he said. “We’ve been to the finals in tennis and girls’ cross country several times.”
In football, prior to this season, Portland had never won a district title.
“We’ve made the playoffs the last 10 years in a row,” Veale said. “Six of those 10 years, we’ve lost to the eventual state champion or state runner-up.”
The school’s state title will have far-reaching benefits, as Veale is concerned. “It goes to show we can get there,” he said. “I think it will grow from here. I don’t think this was a fluke.”
The support of the community for the football team was impressive. “We’re right out of a movie of a stereotypical small town where everybody rallies around everyone else and is very supportive of each other in difficult situations. It’s no surprise the community came out and supported us the way we did,” Veale said. “We always travel very well. It’s a very supportive community.”
Veale said the accomplishments of the football team were of no surprise in some respects.
“This group is one that’s real quiet and not very emotional,” he said. “If you know coaches, that can be a little frustrating in trying to get them fired up. But they come from great families and they’re great kids with great work ethic, so in that way, it’s not surprising.”
Veale has been athletic director for 15 years, and he says that Portland is “a good sports town. We’re won 30 district regional titles spread over six sports in the last 13 years. We’re pretty solid from top to bottom.”