Texas implemented random steroid testing at the start of the 2007-2008 school year, starting the nation's largest steroid testing program (in one of the nation's largest states, go figure).

But according to an Associated Press report from earlier this week, only two Texas high school athletes tested positive, from a pool of more than 10,000 students who were tested.

Four tests came back unresolved and three students refused to be tested, according to figures released by the University Interscholastic League. One athlete left the testing area without cause or approval, and 18 missed the mandatory testing without an excused absence.

How many high school sports participants there are in Texas (population 23,904,380, according to a 2007 U.S. Census estimate)? According to the National Federation of State High School Sports Associations, Texas led the nation in high school sports participation during the 2006-2007 school year, with 296,027 girls and 467,940 boys.

We've all been feeling the economic strain, whether it's $4-a-gallon gas, higher costs of home energy or the stagnant housing market. Sports Illustrated examined an issue that's facing school districts nationwide: the economic health of high school athletic programs.

The widespread power outages that hit Maine earlier this week? A pair of area hockey teams were affected by it, as well.

The Greely hockey team will face Yarmouth at 3:30 p.m. today in a Western Class B game at the Travis Roy Arena in Yarmouth. The game was rescheduled from Thursday after power outages hit Yarmouth.

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George Mendros, a track coach at Thornton Academy, gave a little more perspective on Becky O'Brien's state-best mark of 50 feet, 6 inches in the girls shot put.

"When Jane Woodhead (of Lewiston) was around in the 1980s, I thought the marks would last forever," Mendros said. "They lasted 20 years. The next best underclassmen is at 36 feet. For someone to improve three feet in a year is impressive."

Woodhead set the state indoor girls shot put record of 44-6 in 1986, before O'Brien set a new mark of 44-11.5 last year.

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Just a couple numbers to chew on going into the weekend:

8 - number of high school basketball games at the Portland Expo in the next 36 hours. The Expo hosts the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Western Class A and B boys and girls basketball tournaments.

15 - penalties called in the Biddeford hockey team's 5-1 win Wednesday against Thornton Academy.

The Maine Class A Coaches Association released this week's Class A ice hockey top-ten poll:

1. Biddeford
2. Kennebunk
3. Lewiston
4. Falmouth
5. Brewer
6. Thornton Academy
7. Waterville
8. St. Dominic
9. Portland
10. Brunswick

Others receiving votes: Bangor, Bonny Eagle, GNG-Poland, Scarborough, Lawrence

Today not only is the first day of the National Letter of Intent spring signing period, but it's also Feb. 6, officially recognized as National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Recognition of National Girls and Women in Sports Day began in 1987, honors female athletic achievement and recognizes the participation of girls and women in athletics. The inaugural celebration was founded by the Women's Sports Foundation in honor of U.S. Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman, who died of Marfan syndrome the previous year.

Some food for thought. According to the Women's Sports Foundation, girls who participate in sports:

- learn how to take risks and be aggressive

- have greater confidence in their physical and social selves than those who do not participate

- develop leadership skills

- and learn the importance of setting goals and thinking strategically.

"By the Numbers" has temporarily been relocated to the blog.

1 - loss each for the Cheverus and Thornton Academy boys basketball teams. Thornton handed Cheverus its first loss Tuesday.

9 - consecutive wins for the Marshwood girls basketball team, which started the season 2-5.

11 - wins for the Brunswick girls basketball team, fourth in this week’s Eastern A Heal points.

16 - goals given up this season by the Biddeford hockey team, which has scored 57 goals.

40 - points (24 goals, 16 assists) for Deering hockey player Nick Bartlett, Class A’s second-leading scorer behind Brewer’s Dylan Fitzpatrick (23-18).

The Maine Class A Coaches Association released this week's Class A ice hockey top-ten poll:

1. Biddeford
2. Lewiston
3. Kennebunk
4. Falmouth
5. Thornton Academy
6. Brewer
7. Waterville
8. St. Dominic
9. Brunswick
10. Portland

Others receiving votes: Bonny Eagle, Gray-New Gloucester/Poland, Deering

Bangor hockey coach Ted Taylor and the Rams took the 2-hour trip down Interstate 95 Saturday to face Cheverus in one of its crossover games. Long trips are nothing new to the Rams, whose schedule includes games against Edward Little at Ingersoll Arena in Auburn, against Brunswick at Bowdoin College's Dayton Arena, against Lewiston and St. Dominic at the Colisee in Lewiston and against Cony at the Kennebec Ice Arena in Hallowell.

"Historically, we do better on the road," said Taylor, whose team left Bangor at noon for a 5 p.m. faceoff in Portland.

The average distance of a road trip for the Rams is about 80 miles, with the shortest trip across the Penobscot River to face rival Brewer. Remind me to check out Presque Isle and Houlton's trip logs sometime.

Check your calendars, kids. The start time of Saturday's Biddeford-Portland hockey game at the Portland Ice Arena has been rescheduled to 8:10 p.m.

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Two Fitzpatrick Trophy facts, in preparation for Sunday's presentation of the honor, which goes to the state's top senior football player:

Before previous Fitzpatrick Trophy winners presented the award, presenters included former state governors, New England Patriots, a University of Maine chancellor and former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell. You might be familiar with some of Mitchell's recent work regarding Major League Baseball, but also his work as the chairman of historic peace negotiations in Northern Ireland in 1998.

1996 was the first year that players from all three classifications could be considered for the award. Since then, only two winners have come from Classes B and C - the late Lee St. Hilaire of Winthrop in 2001 and Nick Tymoczko of Bucksport in 2004.

Poland’s Nick Williams has been named the state’s Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, and is part of the inaugural Gatorade State Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year class.

Williams is a finalist for the Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year award, which will be announced later this month. Williams was the Class B champion and was named to the Maine Sunday Telegram’s All-State boys cross country team.

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The starting time of the Fitzpatrick Trophy banquet has been rescheduled to noon on Jan. 20 at the Holiday Inn By The Bay in Portland.

Patriots fans, you're in luck. There might be an AFC championship game worth watching later that afternoon if the Pats can get past Jacksonville this weekend.

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The Maine Class A Coaches Association released its Class A ice hockey top-ten poll this afternoon:

1. Biddeford
2. Lewiston
3. Falmouth
4. Kennebunk
5. Thornton Academy
6. Waterville
7. Brewer
8. Portland
9. Brunswick
10. St. Dominic

Others receiving votes: Scarborough, Messalonskee, Lawrence

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In Florida, Brandon High School's record of 459 dual meet wins ended Saturday when South Dade defeated Brandon 32-28 in the finals of the Jim Graves "Beat The Streak" tournament.

Brandon's winning ways stretched back to 1973 and included 18 state team championships.

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To keep up with what's going on in Maine high school wrestling, go to www.mawaonline.org, the Web site of the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance.