April 22, 2008

ORONO, Maine - Former University of Maine women's basketball coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie and football letter winner Jerry Perkins are among the eight members of the 2008 induction class for the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

Palombo-McCallie, a graduate of Brunswick High School and Northwestern University, compiled a 161-73 record in her eight years as head coach of the Black Bears, including seven-straight 20-win seasons and six trips to the NCAA Tournament. Palombo-McCallie also won four-straight conference championships from 1994-95 through 1997-98. She coached a pair of All-Americans during her time in Orono, including current head coach Cindy Blodgett, a four-time honoree. Palombo-McCallie left Maine following the 1999-2000 season for Michigan State, where she led the Spartans to the 2005 National Championship game, earning AP National Coach-of-the-Year honors. She recently completed her first season as head coach at Duke University.

Perkins was a letter winner for the Black Bears in 1965 and 1966, competing as a member on the 1965 squad that finished 8-2, won the Yankee Conference Championship and played in the Tangerine Bowl on the way to the school's only Lambert Trophy. Following graduation, Perkins embarked on a high school coaching career, distinguishing himself as a wrestling coach at Rumford and Mountain Valley High Schools. Perkins compiled a dual-meet record of 432-73-7, including winning streaks of 57, 47, 39 and 28 matches. His teams won five state championships (1972, 1973, 1974, 1978 and 1981) along with nine state runner-up finishes and 13 regional titles. His teams also finished fourth in the New England championships three times.

The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 1, at the Italian Heritage Club in Portland. Tickets may be purchased by calling 899-0569.