A year ago, Matt Libby competed in three events at the NCAA Division III swimming and diving championships. He was the lone representative from Gettysburg (Pa.) College and, frankly, didn’t fare well, his best finish being a 21st in the 200 freestyle.

This year should be different. Not only is Libby, a senior from Freeport (Cheverus), heading back to the national championships March 21-24 at the Indiana Natatorium in Indianapolis, but he’ll be joined by six teammates.

He’ll compete in two individual events – the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle (where he’s seeded 20th in both) – and five relays.

“The schedule is going to be a lot more demanding,” said Libby. “But that’s OK. That’s what we train for. This year is going to be a lot more fun.”

For one thing, he’s not training for the nationals by himself, which he did last year. For another, he feels he’s in a much better place in terms of his training.

Last year he set his training up to peak for the Centennial Conference championships, with the NCAAs as a goal, but not the biggest goal.

“This year we planned it out so that the NCAAs was the end game, whereas last year the conference meet was the end all,” said Libby. “Everything was different this year.”

Gettysburg has long been a Division III power, with 36 conference titles (including this year) on Coach Mike Rawleigh’s resume. When Libby was recruited, it was the only small school he was interested in attending.

And in the end, Libby didn’t want to go to a Division I school and become what he called “a career swimmer.” He wanted someplace where he could get his degree – in Middle Eastern studies – swim, and then get on with his life.

Libby, who holds seven school records, hopes to join the Navy SEALs after he graduates. “Since I was about five or six, that’s what I’ve wanted to do,” he said.

In addition to his individual events, Libby will swim on the following relay teams: 200 medley (seeded 15th), 200 freestyle (ninth), 400 medley (14th), 800 freestyle (13th) and 400 freestyle (14th).

“My plan is to swim as fast as I can,” he said. “The other guys will say that too. But that’s as far as we’ve gone with that.”

GYMNASTICS

University of New Hampshire senior Kate McGeever of Saco (Thornton Academy) scored a 9.525 in the floor exercises of the recent UNH Invitational against Bridgeport, Maryland and Brown. McGeever has had a strong season for the Wildcats, tying for first in floor exercises in a meet at Penn (9.825) and scoring a personal-best 9.9 in that routine in a meet against Pittsburgh. Following that effort, she was named East Atlantic Gymnastics League Specialist of the Week.

HOCKEY

Junior goalie Nick Broadwater of Portland (Deering/Jr. Bruins) led Hobart to the ECAC West championship by stopping 26 shots in a 5-0 win over Neumann. It was his third shutout of the season, and earned Broadwater Most Outstanding Player honors for the tournament. Broadwater is 6-5 with a 2.69 goals-against average for Hobart (16-10-1).

• Senior defenseman Mollie Fitzpatrick of Portland (Cheverus) and senior forward Melissa Rundlett of Saco (Kents Hill) will lead Norwich (25-2-1) into an NCAA Division III quarterfinal against Amherst on Saturday. Rundlett is fourth on the team in scoring with 14 goals and 25 assists. Fitzpatrick has four goals and five assists.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Bentley junior Craig Robinson of Scarborough finished second in the 3,000 meters (8:35.52) in the Northeast-10 Conference championships. He later ran a personal-best 8:32.58 in the 3,000 meters while finishing 12th at the New England championships at Boston University.

• Brandeis senior Lily Parenteau of Scarborough finished fourth in the high jump (1.60 meters) at the University Athletic Association championships.

• Keene (N.H.) State sophomore Ryan Widzgowski of Camden (Camden Hills) finished ninth in the mile (4:19.62) in the Division III New England championships.

• Stonehill freshman Maria Curit of Biddeford had a strong showing in the New England championships. She finished 11th in the long jump (16-10½) and 12th in the 400 (57.78 seconds). Curit provisionally-qualified for the NCAA championships in the 400 with a time of 57.46.

LACROSSE

Senior attack Sam Miller of Yarmouth has five goals and one assist for Hobart (1-1). Miller, who had 26 goals and 30 points as a junior, is a captain for the Statesmen.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Andrew Shaw of Saco (Thornton Academy) became the first Bentley freshman since 1987-88 to score in double figures for the season. Shaw, selected to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie team, averaged 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds.

• Nichols freshman guard Matt Langadas of Casco (Lake Region) received honorable mention honors from the Commonwealth Coast Conference. He averaged 10.1 points and 3.5 rebounds, and his .539 shooting percentage led the Bison (13-14).

Sophomore guard Sam Horning of Falmouth also played for Nichols, averaging 4.8 points.

• Wentworth Institute of Technology sophomore guard Derek Mayo of Casco (Lake Region/Bridgton Academy) received honorable mention honors from the CCC. He averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds, and also led the Leopards (17-11) in assists (3.6) and steals (2.1).

SWIMMING

Indiana University sophomore James Wells of Phippsburg (Morse) took first in the 100-yard backstroke at the Big Ten championships. His time of 46.30 seconds is the fifth fastest in conference history. Wells also finished fifth in the 200 backstroke in 1:43.83 (after setting a personal-best 1:42.92 in the prelims) and swam the anchor on the fifth-place 400 freestyle relay.

Wells has provisionally qualified for the NCAA championships in the 100 and 200 backstroke.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Sloane Sorrell of Berwick (Noble) had a strong junior season for Southern New Hampshire University. She led the Penmen (19-10) in points (15.3), rebounds (8.2) and field-goal percentage (57.6). She eclipsed the 1,000-point barrier in a 66-59 win over Stonehill on Feb. 14 and received second-team honors from the Northeast-10. Her 29 blocked shots were fifth in the league.

• Regis sophomore Claire Ramonas of Portland (Deering) received first-team honors from the New England Collegiate Conference. She led Regis (21-6) in scoring (13.9 points) and rebounding (7.1) and averaged 2.1 assists and 2.4 steals.

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at: mlowe@pressherald.com

Twitter: MikeLowePPH

 

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