Our History:
The Portland Porpoise Swim Club (PPSC) was formed by the City of Portland Recreation Department in the fall of 1989, as a program within the Aquatics Division, and joined the Maine Swimming LSC. Years later it become a private swim club run by a committed and energetic parent board. In late 2022, PPSC formed a partnership with the Gator Swim Club and joined the New England Swimming LSC to provide more opportunities for our swimmers. Maine Gators is run by our head coach of 15+ years, Matt Baxter, along with an volunteer board of parents who run the Maine Gators Booster Club.
For over 30 years, we have aimed to provide not only the most extensive competitive programming in the area but one that offers a foundation of success for every child -- both in and out of the water. Please read our vision and mission.
Our Programming:
Our youngest swimmers learn basic movements in the water such as body position and essential elements of legally performing the four competitive strokes, and enjoy the fun of team membership. Developing positive social skills, good sportsmanship, and fostering a love of swimming are a few of the intangible skills learned in this group as well. Once these skills become honed, they then begin to compete in local competitions.
From this point our swimmers then transition into a more competitive group where they learn to apply the basic skills accrued at the initial level of the club. Swimmers in this second tier of Maine Gators begin to master the skills of all four competitive strokes, body position, and pace clock utilization.
After successfully completing the initial levels of the program, the swimmer then moves into the upper levels of the program that demand a heavier practice workload that is designed to prepare them to compete at local and statewide levels, and beyond. Swimmers in this group focus on developing a level of aerobic fitness that will prepare them for continued progress and success at the highest levels of the club.
Our elite groups focus on racing strategy, training ownership, and advanced training techniques. These groups are designed for the committed, older, and mature athletes that seek to take their level of personal competition to their highest level possible. This may mean swimming for their high school team or preparing to compete at the regional, collegiate, national and international level. Every year, most of our swimmers head to college on athletic and academic scholarships. One of our former swimmers even went to the Olympics! Three-time Olympian Ian Crocker grew up swimming with the Porpoises and still holds numerous team and Maine Swimming records.
To learn more about our programming by age groups, visit our Training Group page.
If you have questions about joining Maine Gators, please contact Head Coach Matt Baxter.
