Alison Rowell and Victoria Stiles each won a pair of individual events Friday to propel South Portland’s girls swim team to their second victory in the past three meets.
The girls topped visiting Westbrook, 111-67, while South Portland’s boys fell to the Blazes, 91-71.
Rowell, a senior, finished first in the 100 butterfly and the 200 individual medley. She was also part of the victorious 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay teams.
Stiles, a sophomore, touched the wall first in the 100 backstroke and 500 freestyle races, and swam a leg of the 200 medley relay.
Sophomore Meghan Gallagher had a good day as well, winning the 100 freestyle, taking second in the 100 backstroke and swimming on both of the winning relays. Junior Becky Braley won the diving competition, while sophomore Molly Bogart topped the field in the 200 freestyle and finished second in the 500 freestyle.
“There are a lot of people doing a super job, and we’re having a great year,” said Bogart. “(Coach Rob Card) really works us hard. We have a lot of new ideas and techniques.”
Card came to South Portland this season after coaching 19 years at Westbrook. He immediately sought to make a few adjustments to the South Portland Municipal Pool so that the Riots could host meets.
“I thought it was important that these kids swim in their home pool,” the coach said. “Let their parents and friends watch.”
Senior Kyle Crozier won a pair of events for the Riots boys team, taking first in the 100 and 200 freestyle races. Will York, a freshman, won the 100 backstroke, while sophomore Joe McGreehan was unopposed in diving.
“We’re still rebuilding,” said senior Jim Robichaud, who finished second in the 100 buttefly and 200 individual medley. “It should be exciting for the next few years.”
Card noted that being the team’s third coach in four years has made the transition difficult for seniors.
“Swimming is a very mental sport. Once you believe in what you’re doing, you can have a lot of success,” he said. “All the kids are swimming pretty well. I’m having a ball and really enjoying it.”
The athletes seem to like the direction of the team as well.
“It’s harder this year, and we’re a lot more motivated,” senior Ashleigh Tatarcyk said. “We’re team-oriented.”
“We have a new coach, which is exciting,” said classmate Alex Legere. “It’s completely different, but it’s a good kind of different.”
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