Mike Mandell

Staff Writer

Mike Mandell came to the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel in April 2022 after spending five and a half years with The Ellsworth American in Hancock County, Maine. He came to Maine out of college after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism in 2016. He spent 2015 as the Mizzou football beat writer for the Columbia Missourian after previously covering high school sports and Mizzou women’s basketball for the newspaper. He lives just outside of downtown Waterville, less than a mile from the Morning Sentinel newsroom.

Indoor Track, Sports, Varsity Maine

Meet the 2025-26 Varsity Maine All-State boys indoor track team

by Mike Mandell April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

The state featured some remarkable runners, jumpers and hurdlers this winter.

Indoor Track, Sports, Varsity Maine

Meet the 2025-26 Sun Journal All-Region boys indoor track team

by Mike Mandell April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Lewiston athletes have a strong presence on the list of the winter’s best from the Sun Journal coverage area.

Football, Sports, Varsity Maine

The 2026 Maine high school football schedule is out. Here are 5 takeaways.

by Mike Mandell March 30, 2026March 31, 2026

A few things stand out from the recently released 11-man schedules for this fall.

Football, Sports, Varsity Maine

The Maine high school football landscape is changing again. Here are 4 teams that are on the move.

by Mike Mandell March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

The eight-man ranks are gaining new members, but also losing a team, while Class C is adopting a nine-game regular-season schedule.

Boys Basketball, Sports, Varsity Maine

Meet the 2025-26 Sun Journal All-Region boys basketball team

by Mike Mandell March 26, 2026March 26, 2026

Players from 10 teams make up this list of the area’s best.

Maine colleges, Sports

Colby men’s basketball coach Sean Rutigliano leaving for Kansas State assistant job

by Mike Mandell March 25, 2026March 26, 2026

Rutigliano, who went 16-9 in his one season at Colby, reunites with former Belmont coach Casey Alexander.

Baseball, Boys Lacrosse, Softball, Sports, Varsity Maine

The Maine spring sports season is under way. Here’s what we learned on Day 1

by Cooper Sullivan, Mike Mandell and Jimmy James March 23, 2026March 24, 2026

Monmouth baseball gets an interesting mix of faces on the first day of practices for pitchers and catchers; Lewiston softball looks to progress further; and boys lacrosse goalies get started.