Audrey Cohen, Greely junior: A two-time Varsity Maine All-State selection, Cohen won the 100 butterfly in 55.74 seconds and defended her title in the 100 breaststroke, in 1:05.53. She posted the state’s fastest times in four events, and all-time, she ranks first in the breaststroke, fifth in the 200 individual medley, sixth in the butterfly and eighth in the 100 freestyle).
Jillian James, Falmouth sophomore: James won her second straight Class A diving title. Her score of 437.80 points at the Palmer Diving Invitational ranks third in Maine history, behind only Katie Mailman (477.90 in 1998) and Nicola Mancini (448.60 in 2012), both also of Falmouth.
Emily Kennard, Cony sophomore: Kennard won the Class A 100 backstroke in 1:00.94 and the 200 individual medley in 2:14.35. She also anchored the winning 400 free relay. She didn’t lose an individual race all season and qualified for the state meet in all eight events.
Brynn Lavigueur, Brewer freshman: Lavigueur won the Class B 50 free in 23.78 and 100 backstroke in 56.67. The latter marked the fastest in Maine this season by more than three seconds and ranked sixth all-time. She also broke into the state’s top 20 in the 50 free (fifth, at 23.58) and 100 free (ninth, at 52.29).
Brooke Mahoney, Cape Elizabeth junior: Mahoney won the Class B 200 individual medley in 2:06.74 and earned her second straight 100 free title, in 53.17. She also anchored the winning 400 free relay, which posted the fourth-best time (3:38.17) in state history. Her Southwesterns-winning time in the 200 IM (2:06.27) ranks ninth all-time.
Eliza Marco, Morse junior: Marco was Class B runner-up in the 50 free and 100 breaststroke. Her freestyle time of 24.41 was second in the state this winter. Her 1:06.07 clocking in the KVAC championship breaststroke also ranked second in the state this season, and sixth all-time.
Ella Montgomery, Ellsworth sophomore: Montgomery was Class B runner-up in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. Her 59.99 in back was third in the state this winter. She won the PVC butterfly in 57.80, good for 15th on Maine’s all-time list. She also swam on 200 medley (ninth) and 200 free (16th) relays that cracked the top 20 all-time.
Lucy Shaw, Cape Elizabeth sophomore: Shaw won the Class B 200 free in 1:56.16 and was runner-up in the 100 free (53.56) to help the Capers win a fifth straight state title. Her 200 freestyle time was tops in the state this winter. She also swam on state championship relays that ranked fourth (400 free in 3:38.17) and 12th (200 free in 1:40.89) in state history.
Kiera Springer, Ellsworth junior: Springer edged her twin sister and defending state champion, Kaela, to win Class B diving. Her winning point total (399.50) ranks 12th in Maine history. She also swam backstroke on the winning 200 medley relay (whose time of 1:50.75 ranks ninth all-time) and placed second in the 500 free (5:35.16). She is the first athlete selected as both PVC Swimmer and Diver of the Year.
Katrina Waite, Falmouth senior: Waite won the Class A 50 and 100 free and was named Performer of the Meet. Her Southwesterns times in those events (25.24 and 54.82) ranked fifth in the state this season. She plans to continue her swimming career at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Will York, Gorham: In his third year as head coach of Gorham’s 12-year-old program, York guided the Rams to a runner-up finish in Class A, behind only two-time champion Camden Hills. Ranked fourth by seed times, Gorham’s previous best placement had been seventh. York said he tries to promote a culture of team first, because “it makes us better at racing, handling challenging situations, and (it) teaches life values that go longer than just swimming.” York also coaches the boys’ team, which won South Southwesterns and placed sixth in the state meet.
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