There was a lot more than just basketball playoffs being contested during vacation week.

The state indoor track, swimming and skiing meets were also going on and now it’s time to turn our attention to boys’ hockey, which began its postseason last weekend.

Here’s a glimpse:

Swimming

Cheverus’ boys’ swim team hadn’t won a state title since capturing Class B back in 1979 and had never won in Class A. Now, the Stags have that elusive title. Cheverus posted 372 points last week to outdistance runner-up and perennial champion Bangor (298). Deering (190) was a distant third, while Portland (37) placed 16th.

The Stags were paced by Trebor Lawton, who won the 100 yard butterfly in 51.23 seconds and the 100 backstroke in 52.12. Michael O’Donovan finished second in the 500 free (4 minutes, 49.4 seconds). Cheverus was also runner-up in all three relays. Michael Gordon was third in diving (284.55 points).

“The meet was a great win for the team, more importantly for Cheverus and for all the members since 1979 who tried to dethrone Old Town in Class B, then for many years Bangor,” said Stags coach Kevin Haley. “I’m very proud of this team. They worked very hard throughout the season. All of our kids had their best times by far. It certainly took everyone together to accomplish that goal. The boys swam extremely well in the morning. That’s where the meet is won and lost. In the finals, we were able to move up a few places and secure our relays. They knew what was at stake. This team was the strongest and most deep in Cheverus history. I took them in the gym to show them the banner of 1979. They were locked in as soon as we left campus. They wanted it and they swam and dove their hearts out. I am very proud of this team and very happy for the Cheverus community.”

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Cheverus also won the sportsmanship award.

Deering’s Eric Delmonte was runner-up in the 200 individual medley (1:58.31) and third in the breaststroke (1:00.22). Lucas Adair placed third in the fly (53.78) and sixth in the backstroke (56.23).

Portland’s top finisher was Eric Worden, 11th in the 500 free (5:28.06) and 13th in the 200 free (1:58.04).

In the girls’ meet, won by Cape Elizabeth (282), Deering (248) was a solid third, just 20.5 points behind runner-up Brunswick, Cheverus (199) placed fifth and Portland (27) tied Sanford for 18th.

The Rams, yet again, featured standout Genevieve Worthley, who won the IM (2:05.46) and the breaststroke (1:03.72) and also anchored the champion 400 freestyle relay team (which also included Emma Pontius, Kate Pontius and Sophie deOlivieria). Worthley was named Performer of the Meet for the second year in a row after winning a third straight IM crown and a fourth successive breaststroke state title.

“Both the boys’ and girls’ teams impressed me again this year, exceeding my expectations and their own,” said Deering coach Angie Marcotte. “The teams were energized and enthusiastic, their excitement heightening the anticipation of their swims that much more. Relays were competitive and focused, each swimmer valued their opportunity to contribute to the teams overall standing in the meets. The girls came to support the boys at their meet and vice versa. I can easily say this has been the best team to coach in my four years.”

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For Cheverus, Sarah Nappo won the backstroke (57.4) and came in fourth in the 50 free (25.03). Tessa Lindsley was runner-up in the 100 free (54.44) and third in the 50 free (24.89). Courtney Kane placed third in diving (246.65).

“The girls were amazing,” Haley said. “We had several school records broken. The seven girls that qualified came in fifth (as a team) and we didn’t have an entry in the IM or the fly. That is truly amazing and shows the testament of work ethic that our program has.”

Like the boys, the Stags girls won the sportsmanship award.

In Class B, the Waynflete girls once again turned heads, scoring 223 points to come in fourth (Mt. Desert Island took the top spot with 295.5). McAuley (186) was fifth.

Colby Harvey won the 200 free (1:55.49) and the fly (56.22). The Flyers 200 free relay squad of Amelia Deady, Walker Foehl, Harvey and Ellen Silk was first in 1:40.13 and the 400 relay team of Harvey, Silk, Foehl and Deady won in 3:41.00. Deady was the runner-up in the 100 free (53.92) and the 200 free (1:57.72). Silk placed second in the fly (58.26) and third in the 500 free (5:27.67). Foehl came in third in the backstroke (1:02.72) and was fourth in the 50 free (25.38).

“We swam very well,” said Waynflete coach Jim Harvey. “MDI, Greely and Camden each had three times the number of swimmers at the meet. The quartet of Ellen, Amelia, Walker and Colby won and set meet records in both the 200 Freestyle relay and the 400 Freestyle relay. Colby missed the 200 free meet record by 0.03 seconds, Amelia took over a full second off her best time in the 100 free.”

The Lions featured Katie Call, third in the fly (59.16) and fourth in the IM (2:16.13), Libby Gajewski, fourth in the 200 free (2:02.29) and fourth in the 500 free (5:32.42), and Taylor Church, who was fifth in the backstroke (1:04.75) and sixth in the 500 free (5:37.01).

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In the boys’ meet, won by Greely (303), Waynflete (75) came in 10th. Luke Jeton was second in both the 200 free (1:46.63) and the 500 free (4:57.31).

“We had four guys make individual events at the state meet,” said Harvey. “With just four boys, they finished a very respective 10th out of 26 teams.”

Indoor track

Cheverus and Deering also turned heads at the Class A state track meet.

The Stags boys finished four points behind Scarborough for second place. Deering (17) placed 11th. Portland didn’t score.

Cheverus won both the 800 (James Campbell, Brady Foshay, Jake Dixon, Jackson McMann, 1 minute, 32.96 seconds) and the 3,200 (Elijah Yeboah, Colin Grove, Campbell, Foshay, 8:13.85) relays, setting a new record in the former. Foshay also took the 800 (1:57.47). The Stags pushed Scarborough, but the Red Storm turned late pole vault points into the difference.

“That meet was unbelievable,” said Cheverus coach Steve Virgilio. “It was exciting, it was fun, as much fun as we’ve had all season, even if the ending wasn’t as we planned. It unfolded in a way that no one could predict. We did everything we could to win. There was no failure. (Scarborough) simply won it. It was one of the greatest events and greatest group efforts I’ve ever been a part of.”

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Deering’s Jared Bell took the shot put with a top throw of 56 feet, 00.25 inches.

On the girls’ side, Bangor was the champion with 70.5 points. Cheverus (41) came in fourth, Deering (25) was seventh and Portland (4) tied Hampden Academy for 16th.

The Stags got a win from Kiera Murray in the two-mile (11:35.01).

“The girls were near flawless, as they recorded 11 of 15 personal bests,” Virgilio said.

Deering placed Edie Pallozzi (800, 2:17.27, a new state record) and Alexis Elowitch (shot put, 35-4) on the winner’s podium.

“I’m very pleased with our finish at states,” said Rams coach Kevin Campbell. “Having two state champions on our team is a nice statement of our program. Coming from the fourth seed to win the shot put championship was a real boost for Alexis. She had her best throws of the season just when she needed them the most. Edie ran the perfect race in her 800. She hit her splits and then used her strength to pull away from the rest of the field to win.”

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Portland’s points came from Madison Bolduc, fourth in the triple jump (33-1.5).

In Class B, McAuley had 2 points to tie North Yarmouth Academy for 24th in the girls’ meet (won by Waterville with 112). Elsa Curran was sixth in the shot put (31-00.75).

Skiing

The Portland girls’ Nordic team was dreaming of a first ever state title last week, but the Bulldogs finished second to Falmouth. Abby Popenoe was second in the freestyle (15 minutes, 6.9 seconds) and third in the classic (17:04.9). Sadie Sarvis placed ninth in the classic (18:42.2) and Lizzy Landry was 10th in the freestyle (16:42.8).

In boys’ competition, won by Falmouth, Portland placed fifth and Deering sixth. Portland’s Ben Allen was second in the freestyle (12:21.9) and seventh in the classic (14:52.8) and Kuba Chandler of Deering was fourth in the freestyle (12:39.6) and fifth in the classic (14:40).

No city teams scored on the Alpine side, but Deering’s Kevin Goldberg placed fifth in the slalom (a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 25.37 seconds) and 14th in the boys’ giant slalom (2:41.2). Cheverus’ Hanna Sonesson finished 36th in the girls’ GS (2:09.47) and teammate Lizzie Fossett was 39th in the slalom (2:05.25).

In Class C, the Waynflete boys were seventh and the girls 10th. The boys were paced by Dylan Kingsbury (sixth in the freestyle, 14:44.2 and 14th in the classic, 18:31.4). The girls featured Marijke Rowse (22nd in the freestyle, 20:05.6; 23rd in the classic, 23:24.7).

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Waynflete didn’t score as a team in Alpine, but Louis Frumer won the slalom (1:33.05) and came in third in the GS (1:29.34).

Hockey

Cheverus and the Portland/Deering co-op squad will compete in the boys’ hockey playoffs.

The Stags finished 12-6, good for the No. 4 spot in Western Class A, after closing with a 9-2 home win over Windham and a 5-3 home loss to top-ranked Scarborough. Cheverus hosts No. 5 Thornton Academy (8-9-1), the two-time defending Class A state champion, Wednesday at 4:10 p.m., at the Portland Ice Arena. The Stags won both meetings, 6-2 and 3-2, in the regular season. The teams last met in the playoffs in the 2003 quarterfinals (10-0 Cheverus victory).

A win Wednesday will likely send the Stags to Lewiston to face No. 1 Scarborough (17-1) in the semifinals Saturday.

Portland/Deering wound up sixth in the region at 14-4 after a 6-2 victory at Gorham and a 3-1 home triumph over Bonny Eagle to close. The Bulldogs visited No. 3 Gorham (11-6-1) in the quarterfinals Tuesday. Portland lost, 6-5, at the Rams back on Jan. 19. The Bulldogs are in the postseason for the first time in three years.

If Portland sprung the upset, it would meet No. 2 Falmouth (14-3-1) in Saturday’s semifinals.

The regional final is Tuesday of next week and the state game is Saturday, March 9. Those rounds will be contested at the Colisee in Lewiston.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Sidebar Elements


McAuley’s Elizabeth Houston competes in the pole vault at last week’s Class B state indoor track and field meet. Houston did not score. The Lions tied for 24th as a team.


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