ELLA TYCZ of Brunswick, here swimming in the 200 individual medley, competed for the Dragons at the State Class A Girls Swimming Championships at Bowdoin College on Tuesday. Brunswick had a solid showing, taking second to Cony. Tycz earned points in the 200 IM, finishing in 14th place in a time of 2:33.60. For story details, turn to B1.
Several state records fell during the State Class B Girls Swimming Championship at the University of Maine on Monday.
In the end, Morse, the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference champions, finished second to Cape Elizabeth, with the Capers picking up a whopping 440 points to the Shipbuilders’ 265. Greely (222.50) was third, Mount Desert Island (204.50) fourth and Belfast (195) fifth.
“Once the psych sheets came out, we expected to get second, so we set our goals to win two relays, which we came very close, and did set a state record in the 200 free relay,” said Morse coach Todd Marco.
In what was expected to be a battle between Morse and Cape in the 200-yard freestyle relay, the Shipbuilders came out on top, with the record swim of 1:37.62 turned in by Ella Martin, Olivia Harper, Haily Harper and Ann Tolan. Cape was a distance second, ending more than six seconds behind.
Olivia Harper broke a state mark in the 100 backstroke, touching in 56.25.
“We had goals to have best times across the board, which we did, and having Olivia go for the state record in the 100 back, which she did break by almost half a second, we accomplished those goals,” said Marco.
Tolan won the 50 free, while the Shipbuilders foursome of Olivia Harper, Haily Harper, Tolan and Martin were second to Cape in the 200 medley relay in 1:48.65. The Shipbuilders also broke the state mark in the close race, with Cape establishing a record in 1:48.61, just four one-hundredths of a second ahead of Morse, which touched in 1:48.65.
“Ann has brought great enthusiasm to the team for the last four years and holds the team record in every event except two, has the state record for the 50 free and is a member of the 200- free relay state record,” said Marco.
Martin had a solid meet, taking third in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free. Haily Harper was fourth in the 100 breaststroke and seventh in the 200 IM, while Brittany Kaler claimed sixth in both the 100 fly and 100 back.
Other scorers for Morse were Leah Totman (11th, 100 breast; 15th 200 IM), Laney Schultz (12th, 100 fly; 11th, 100 breast) and the 400 freestyle relay squad of Kaler, Emma Warner, Schultz and Emily Martin that claimed 11th.
Cape Elizabeth won four individual events, including two each from Emily Ecker and Olivia Tighe, who set a state mark in the 500 free.
Lydia DaCorte of MDI won the 200 IM, Emma Patterson of Kennebunk the 1- meter diving competition and Ana Neff-Jendrasko of the Maine Girls Academy the 100 breaststroke.
Marco returns a large portion of this year’s team.
“Out of the 11 girls we brought to states we lose Ann and Brittany, so we still have a very good group of swimmers and we look forward to another very successful year next year,” said the coach.
As for Marco, who completed his 25th year leading the Shipbuilders, “This was the most exciting year for me on the girls and boys side.”
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