GIRLS

1. Brunswick: The Dragons return six scorers from a team that won the Class A state title and add three talented newcomers (senior Lexi Stevenson, junior Emily Cowan and freshman Alex Morse). Junior Caitlin Tycz (YMCA national champ in 50 butterfly), and seniors Lynsie Russell and Emma Blair (a University of Maine recruit) lead the veterans, with junior Hannah Escoe and sophomores Sophie Blair and Anna Rider providing support.

2. Greely: The Rangers won Class B by half a point last winter over Mt. Desert Island without winning an individual event. Seniors Hwanhee Park, Cat Maker and Katie Bacall, and sophomore Lily Black all posted top-four finishes at the state meet. Seniors Camilla Civiello, Allison Coon and Hannah Butland, junior Lauren Williams and sophomore Madison Rawnsley also scored.

3. Cape Elizabeth: Even though the Capers lost a ton to graduation from last year’s third-place team in Class B, they have a horde of speedy freshmen, including Hope Campbell, Olivia Tighe, Maddie Culkin, Jade Lindenau, Zahra Freedman, Alicia Lawrence and Kate Friberg. Seniors Lexie Bakke, Katie Connolly, Phoebe Coburn and junior Rose Baillie provide veteran leadership.

4. Cheverus: From a team that finished second in both Class A (to Brunswick) and North Southwesterns (to Greely), Cheverus returns five state meet scorers (juniors Abby Longstaff, Gabby Cholish, Nina Greenwood and Lauren Girard, and sophomore Sophia Kruse). Promising freshmen Caroline Arpin and Patsy Ciampi, and diving transfer Bella White, a junior from Wells, will help.

5. Kennebunk: After placing third in Class A last winter, the Rams move to Class B with much of the team intact. Seniors Marshall Lowery (Class A record-holder in backstroke) and Fiona Harms welcome freshman sisters Caroline Lowery and Isabel Harms to a deep roster that includes state meet scorers Renee Nichols, Britta Brown, Sydney Macedo, Julia Milligan, Olivia McLean and Emma Patterson.

BOYS

1. Cheverus: A fourth straight Class A state title seems an appropriate way for the Stags to bid adieu to an outstanding senior class that includes three swimmers going on to collegiate careers: Michael O’Donovan and Kevin Kane (Marist) and Jacob Griffin (Providence). Other returning state meet scorers are senior Thomas Nappo, juniors Gus Anderson, Raymond Le, Shane Moore and Ben Tompkins, and sophomore Ben Adams.

2. Cape Elizabeth: The defending Class B state champ lost 500 free and 200 IM winner Harry Homans to a Philadelphia prep school but remains the team to beat. Seniors Alex Mukai, R.J. Sarka, Tommy Brett and Stephen Bennett, juniors Kyle Long, Connor Thoreck and Owen Thoreck, and sophomore Sam Loring all contributed to the team title. Promising freshmen include Rohan Freedman, Matthew Yim and Oliver Kraft.

3. Brunswick: The Dragons finished second to Cheverus by 100 points last winter and standout Jacob Cost now swims for Wheaton. Still, senior Nate Samson (headed to Florida State) leads a capable group that includes seniors Ben Farrell and Rene Yost, juniors Henry Raker, Edward Capoldo, Christopher Roderick and Seth White, sophomores Brian Hess and Andrew Samson, and freshman Matt Yost.

4. Morse: The Shipbuilders return six scorers from a team that, if not for a DQ in the 200 free relay, would have challenged Cape Elizabeth for the Class B title instead of fading second. Juniors Tucker Banger, Cameron Marco, Camden Fitzgerald, Max Gurney and Patrick McKenna lead with sophomore Ben Willertz. Freshmen Brandon Johnson and Dominic Marco will help.

5. Falmouth: Six swimmers and one diver return from the team that placed fourth in Class A last winter. Seniors Winslow Robinson, Nathan Ryder and Logan Herodes, juniors Hyun Lee and Connor Perron, and sophomore Griffin Conley (sixth in diving) will get a boost from Cheverus transfer Booway Bikales, a junior who placed sixth (200 free) and seventh (500 free) at the state meet.

– Glenn Jordan

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