By Michael Hoffer
The Greely boys’ swimming and diving team has enjoyed its time at Davan Pool in Westbrook in recent seasons.
Friday night, the Rangers won the north division Southwesterns for the third year in a row, posting 249 points to defeat Deering (210), Cheverus (209) and six other teams, including eighth-place Falmouth (56).
The girls had their turn Saturday. Falmouth scored 247 points, but was second to Cape Elizabeth (276). Greely finished third with 235.5. Two Freeport swimmers managed eight points and came in 10th.
SUBHEAD-Thrice as nice
The Greely boys’ program has become notorious in recent seasons for its bridesmaid status at the Class B state meet, finishing second in five of the past eight years. The Rangers have had no peer at Southwesterns, however. On Friday night, they got the job done for the third straight winter.
While Greely didn’t have any individual event winners, it had depth and put it all together when it counted most.
The Rangers’ lone first-place finish came from its 400 freestyle relay squad. Dan Spencer, Ian Mecray, Patrick Bowden and John Madeira finished in a time of 3 minutes, 29.40 seconds.
Greely was second in the 200 medley relay (Evan Campbell, Mecray, German Mercado and Ethan Geheb; 1:51.08) and third in the 200 freestyle relay (Sean Pinette, Geheb, Kyle Wilson and Mecray; 1:38.63).
The Rangers also got points from their ‘B’ relay teams. In the 200 free, Sam Hodsdon, Nick Rotondi, Kyle Morrison and Ben Weisman were eighth in 1:46.98. Nick Stewart, Peter Pacent, Michael Geissler and Weisman came in eighth in the 400 free (3:59.00). Sam Reed, Weisman, Pinette and Nick Stewart made up a ninth-place medley squad (2:01.70).
Bowden was runner-up in the breaststroke (1:06.11) and third in the 200 free (1:55.17). Madeira was second in the backstroke (58.86 seconds) and third in the 200 individual medley (2:06.68). Spencer finished third in the 100 free (52.03) and was fourth in the 200 free (1:57.99). Wilson placed third in the 500 free (5:27.02) and was fifth in the IM (2:14.57). Campbell finished fifth in the backstroke (1:04.46). Mercado came in seventh in both the 100 butterfly (1:01.51) and breaststroke (1:12.95). Geheb was seventh in the 50 free (24.48). Sam Reed was 10th in the backstroke (1:06.99). Evan Campbell had a 10th-place showing in the IM (2:27.56). Pacent was 10th in the 500 free (6:11.88) and 11th in the 200 free (2:13.25). Pinette placed 11th in the 50 free (26.40). Kevin Thibault came in 11th in the 500 free (6:39.36).
“Although I thought this team had the potential to defend their title, I didn’t have a good read,” said Greely coach Rob Hale. “It hasn’t come together as quickly as it has with prior teams, but the boys rose to the occasion.”
Falmouth’s medley relay team was sixth (Jack Kilbride, Cameron Greenwood, Josh Grassman and Dylan Gillis had a time of 1:59.15). The Yachtsmen were seventh in the 200 free relay (Samuel Bruni, Grassman, Kilbride and Sean Lannon; 1:57.85).
Individually, Greenwood came in sixth in the IM (2:18.22) and was also sixth in the breaststroke (1:10.25). Jamie Ford was eighth in diving (189.60 points).
SUBHEAD-Falmouth tuning up
Falmouth’s girls saw their four-year reign as Class B champions end last year. But this time the Yachtsmen feel confident they’ll restore order.
Saturday, Kristin Jackson won the swimmer of the meet award for the second year in a row, capturing the IM (2:08.69) and breaststroke (1:07.37). She was joined as an event winner by Adrianne Madden, who took the 50 free in a record time of 24.41. Madden was also runner-up in the 100 free (55.72).
Falmouth’s 400 free relay team came in first. Madden, Hayley Couper, Sarah Uminski and Jackson had a time of 3:47.33. The Yachtsmen were third in the 200 free relay (Haley Mucci, Marley Dewey, Grace Nevins and Courtney Greenwood; 1;54.83). Falmouth was fifth in the medley relay (Dewey, Allison Rolfe, Emily Pacetti and Nevins had a time of 2:08.00).
Evelyn Perry was runner-up in diving (290.85 points). Uminski was third in both the 100 free (57.77) and the 200 free (2:07.66). Kathryn Goffin placed fifth in the diving (227.20). Greenwood was fifth in the 500 free (5:57.66) and seventh in the IM (2:32.08). Pacetti came in sixth in the fly (1:08.68) and was eighth in the 50 free (27.94). Couper finished eighth in the 200 free (2:12.55). Dewey came in ninth in the backstroke (1:15.23). Rolfe placed 10th in the breaststroke (1:19.16).
The Yachtsmen’s ‘B’ relay team was 12th in the 400 free (Mucci, Rachel Twombly, Kristen Stogsdill and Victoria Sabol; 4:46.37) and 12th in the medley (Stogsdill, Brittany Grover, Twombly and Allison Tietjan; 2:17.90).
“The girls did really well,” said Falmouth coach John Keyes. “We had a lot of good swims. Probably the best Southwesterns we’ve had in awhile. I figured going in that Cape was too deep and they had points in the right places. They’re good.
“States will be interesting. Greely has a lot of kids. MDI is good, Foxcroft Academy has a good team. It’ll probably come down to McAuley, Greely and us again. My goal is to win all three relays. Greely could have the advantage this year.”
Speaking of the Rangers, their girls have been knocking on the door in recent years as well, finishing second four straight years, and five of the past six, at states.
Saturday, Greely was runner-up to Falmouth in the 400 free relay. Maggie Norton, Taylor Roach, Katie Whittum and Sara Schad had a time of 4:01.65. Greely was also second to Cape Elizabeth in the 200 free relay. Megan Stroud, Kristen Berube, Claire Sawyer and Jackie Andrews finished in 1:51.64.
The Rangers were fourth in the medley relay (Stephanie Guidi, Emily Norton, Lizziy Perry and Emily Curato; 2:06.67).
Schad was second in the 200 free (2:04.29) and sixth in the breaststroke (1:16.48). Perry came in third in the fly (1:06.61) and fifth in the IM (2:28.25). Berube came in third in the backstroke (1:09.14) and eighth in the fly (1:09.59). Katie Whittum finished fourth in the backstroke (1:10.96) and eighth in the 100 free (1:01.40). Roach finished fourth in the 200 free (2:09.04) and was fourth in the 100 free (57.83). Andrews placed fifth in the 50 free (27.33) and was seventh in the 500 free (6:00.73). Stroud placed sixth in the 100 free (1:01.08) and was 12th in the 200 free (2:15.28). Guidi placed seventh in the backstroke (1:12.06). Maggie Norton was eighth in the IM (2:33.92). Sawyer finished 10th in the fly (1:13.06). Emily Norton was 12th in the IM (2:38.26) and 12th in the breaststroke (1:20.31).
Greely’s 400 ‘B’ relay team (Emily Curato, Jenna Brink, Guidi and Amanda Stewart) came in eighth (4:27.20). The Rangers ‘B’ squad was 11th in both the medley (Stewart, Allison Hodge, Claire Sawyer and Sarah Howard; 2:16.32) and 200 free (Brink, Howard, Anna Maine and Stewart; 2:03.81) relays.
“As with the boys, the girls realized there is more to racing than just the physical part,” Hale said. “It started to come together for them this weekend. I knew going into the meet that Cape was too deep to catch, but I was hoping to out-battle Falmouth for second. They just out-swam us.”
Freeport’s points came from Kaylon Brown, who was ninth in the breaststroke (1:18.38) and 10th in the 200 free (2:13.63), and Allison Curtis, who placed 12th in the 500 free (6:04.03).
SUBHEAD-States
The Class B girls’ state championship is Feb. 16 at the University of Maine in Orono.
The Class B boys compete on Feb. 17 at UMO.
The New England championships are Feb. 28 at Bates College in Lewiston.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

Falmouth’s Emily Pacetti worked her way toward a sixth-place finish in the 100 butterfly at Saturday’s Southwesterns meet in Westbrook. The Yachtsmen were second to Cape Elizabeth in the team standings. (Jason Veilleux photo)