UMaine Presque Isle names Gary Spinney to 2025 Hall of Fame
Gary Spinney was an outstanding wrestler from 1968 to 1972, compiling a dominant 43–3 individual record for Aroostook State College and the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The University had a successful program during that era despite only forming the team in 1968, Spinney's freshman season.
In 1971-1972, Spinney was voted captain of his wrestling team and he was voted the 1972 UMPI Most Outstanding Wrestler. It was also what Spinney did after his competition days that he is best known for: Spinney got right to work after graduation and started the Wrestling Team Program at Camden-Rockport High School in 1973.
Almost immediately after graduation, Spinney began a long and decorated career in teaching Physical Education in the Rockport Elementary and Camden-Rockport Elementary (SAD 28) schools for 42 years until his retirement in 2014.
Spinney won countless awards, such as the Maine Physical Education Teacher of the Year in 1987, and the 2008 National Jump Rope for Heart Coordinator of the Year award.
Spinney was awarded three Outstanding AHA Volunteer Awards. Spinney also received the AHA Lifetime Achievement Award for raising over $359,000 dollars throughout the course of 16 years for the American Heart Association.
At the Camden-Rockport Middle School he successfully coached numerous girls' basketball and boys' soccer teams to championship seasons.
In 2014, Spinney coached the Camden Hills' Mountain Biking teams at Camden Hills Regional High School to their 16th straight state championship and was inducted into the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame in 2022; the honor is in recognition of Spinney's personal accomplishments as a very successful teacher and coach of high schoolers and youth in the Midcoast.