GIRLS

1. Brunswick: After falling six points shy of the Class A title last winter, the Dragons appear poised to claim their first state championship since 2001. Juniors Lynsie Russell and Emma Blair and All-American sophomore Caitlin Tycz lead a squad of three dozen that hasn’t lost a dual meet in two years.

2. Cheverus: The defending Class A state champion will be back in the thick of things with seniors Courtney Kane and Hattie Train and sophomores Abby Longstaff, Gabrielle Cholish, Lauren Girard and Carrie Hight along with the influx of seven freshmen.

3. Greely: The Rangers finished third in Class B behind Mt. Desert Island and Cape Elizabeth last winter and are only three years removed from their most recent state title. Seniors Katie Dransfield and Meagan Currie and juniors Hwanhee Park, Katie Bacall and Camilla Civiello and sophomore Lauren Williams lead the way.

4. Deering: The Rams missed a top-three finish in Class A last winter by four points. They will contend once more this season with senior Mary Cala, juniors Kate Pontius and Sofie deOliveira and sophomores Wyeth Spike and Bhavana Scalia-Bruce all having scored at the state meet. There is plenty of depth.

5. Cape Elizabeth: The Class B runner-up and Southwesterns North champion returns a strong senior core of Sadie Stiles, Taylor Herrera, Sierra Bates, Sarah Loring, Michaela Pinette and Arden Wing bolstered by juniors Katie Connelly and Gabby Lawrence and sophomore Rose Baillie. Five freshmen bump the roster up to 43 girls, largest in the state.

BOYS

1. Cheverus: The two-time defending Class A state champion returns plenty of depth for a run at a third straight crown. Senior Tony Penk and juniors Michael O’Donovan, Kevin Kane and Jacob Griffin lead a team of two dozen, strengthened by sophomore Booway Bikales, a transfer from Waynflete, and four freshmen.

2. Morse: The Shipbuilders moved down to Class B last winter and finished second to five-time champion Greely. Coming back for another shot at a title are seniors Wes McKenna and Drew Ceglinski and sophomores Patrick McKenna, Camden Fitzgerald, Tucker Banger, Max Gurney and Cameron Marco.

3. Brunswick: Junior Nate Samson, who won two individual events in Class A, leads the returning group from a squad that placed third in the state behind Cheverus and Bangor. The rest of the nearly two dozen Dragons include seniors Ezra Rogers and Jacob Cost and junior Ben Farrell along with four freshmen.

4. Cape Elizabeth: Third in Class B last winter after dropping from A, the Capers picked up a trio of fast freshmen (Harry Homans, Sam Loring, Andrew Herrera) to go along with returning seniors Reese McFarlane and Griffin Thoreck, junior Alex Mukai and sophomore Kyle Long.

5. Camden Hills: The Windjammers finished a point out of third place in Class B last winter and return a strong core with senior Mark McCluskey and juniors Julian Abaldo and Kyle Crans. Depth could be a problem, however, with only 10 swimmers on the roster.

– Glenn Jordan