As a high school diver in the late 1970s, Kevin Wright couldn’t be touched. Honored many times over as a Bangor High star, Wright went on to success in college and as the head diving coach at Texas A&M University.

Even though Wright is now coaching the Aggies thousands of miles away, his name still resonates in his home state. Many of Wright’s marks still stand in Maine record books, and now Wright is a member of the Maine Swimming Hall of Fame.

Wright was recently inducted into the Maine Swimming Hall of Fame along with former longtime Cape Elizabeth coach Don Richards and former Greely of Cumberland Center star Rob Sommer.

The ceremony took place in Portland earlier this month.

“It was really an honor,” said Wright, who first heard he was under consideration for the Hall of Fame when longtime Bangor High coach Phil Emery called Wright to get some biographical information.

“I miss Maine and it was a good opportunity to go back, get a lobster, see Portland,” Wright said.

Wright was a three-time diving All-American and state diving champion while at Bangor High and still holds the state record for most total points in a six-dive format. His 342.40 is also a Bangor High and Husson College pool record.

He earned a scholarship to dive for the successful program at Ohio State University, where he was an All-American and finished third in the 1980 NCAA championships. After transferring to the University of Maine Wright set records on 1-meter and 3-meter boards. Those marks still stand.

Wright is in his 10th season as the Texas A&M head coach. He’s been named Big 12 Diving Coach of the Year five times and has coached 26 All-Americans.

Wright, who didn’t get a chance to come to Bangor for this trip, said the best part of the event was that several members of his family showed up unexpectedly.

“It was really a nice surprise,” he said. “I didn’t know so many of them were going to be there.”

Wright cited Emery, former Bangor High star and UMaine coach Roy Warren, and former age-group diving coach Rick Miller as his Maine influences.

Richards coached the Capers from 1961-91 and racked up a dual-meet record of 727-86-3. His girls teams won 286 dual meets in a row from 1968-86 and won 11 straight state championships, 15 state runner-up titles and 20 Southwestern Maine league crowns. Richards, who also coached at Tampa Preparatory School in Florida, was named the Maine Swimming Coach of the Year eight times.

Emery was the presenter for both Wright and Richards.

Sommer, a Cumberland native and 1980 Greely graduate, was a junior national qualifier and four-time state champion. He still holds Greely records in three events. Sommer attended Williams College, where he was an All-American and Division III national champion in three events. He was also an All-New England water polo player at Williams.

Owls playing indoors

Last week’s run of wet weather forced the Madawaska tennis teams to get creative.

The Owls recently put down lines in the town’s multi-purpose center and have played several matches indoors.

“We’ve had so much rain that it’s been hard to get our matches in,” said Allen Guerrette, who coaches both Madawaska’s boys and girls tennis teams.

There are three courts available with a surface similar to tar, Guerrette added. The building is close to the school.

Other teams have been forced to play in the facility, too. One day last week, after Madawaska wrapped up a sweep against Van Buren, the Van Buren and Fort Kent teams played their matches.

Guerrette said there is a tennis bubble facility across the St. John River in Edmunston, New Brunswick, and the Owls use that bubble for preseason. But the facility is too busy with the Canadian teams to squeeze in the Madawaska programs.

Calling all skateboard designers

It’s not exactly a high school sport, but teens who think they have what it takes to design the best skateboard can enter the Deck Design Contest, which is sponsored by the Milk Mustache Got Milk? Campaign, pro skateboarder and X-Games champion Bob Burnquist, and TransWorld Skateboarding Magazine.

One grand-prize winner will have their award-winning skateboard produced and get to skate with Burnquist at his backyard skate park in San Diego.

Entries will be judged by the staff of TransWorld Skateboarding Magazine and the team behind the Milk Mustache ads. Judges will consider originality and creativity of the deck design. The deadline is Aug. 31.

For more information and to enter the contest go to www.whymilk.com.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600, or jbloch@bangordailynews.net