(Ed. Note: We recapped the basketball season last week)

Mother Nature was kind to us this winter. The local sports action was a pleasure as well.

Forecaster Country athletes turned heads on the ice, wrestling mat, track, slopes, trails and in the pool.

Before we move on to what might actually be an early spring, here’s one last look back at and tribute to the stars of winter.

Winter 2011-12 individual champions

Indoor track

Alexis Dickinson, Brunswick, Class A girls’ 55
Alex Nichols, Brunswick, Class A boys’ 400
McKenzie Gary, Mt. Ararat, Class A boys’ long jump

Skiing

Emma Wood, Mt. Ararat, Class A girls’ Nordic freestyle

Swimming

Joey Blair, Brunswick, Class A boys’ 100 butterfly
Jessica Russell, Brunswick, Class A girls’ 500 freestyle
Jessica Russell, Brunswick, Class A girls’ 100 backstroke
Celia Ouellette, Mt. Ararat, Class A girls’ 50 freestyle
Celia Ouellette, Mt. Ararat, Class A girls’ 100 freestyle

Wrestling

Jared Jensen, Brunswick, Class A, 152-pounds
Wyatt Brackett, Morse, Class B, 145-pounds
Gary Stevens, Morse, Class B, 126-pounds

Top Five Stories:

5) Brunswick boys’ hockey makes playoffs

The Brunswick boys’ hockey team locked up a postseason berth with a win at Poland/Gray-New Gloucester in the regular season. The Dragons earned the No. 7 seed and went to second-ranked Bangor for the quarterfinals. There, Brunswick’s season ended at 7-11-1 with a 4-1 setback.

4) Three wrestling crowns

Morse produced a pair of Class B individual wrestling champions this winter, Wyatt Brackett at 145-pounds and Gary Stevens (126). They were joined by Brunswick’s Jared Jensen, who won the Class A 152-pound title.

3) Strong track season

Brunswick and Mt. Ararat’s boys’ indoor track teams tied for third place at the Class A state meet. Alex Nichols of the Dragons was the 400 champion. McKenzie Gary of the Eagles won the long jump. Mt. Ararat had the best local finish on the girls’ side, coming in fourth. The lone local champion was Brunswick’s Alexis Dickinson (55).

2) Good times in the pool

All three local schools performed very well at the state championships, with three individuals winning titles. Brunswick’s Joey Blair won the boys’ 100 butterfly. On the girls’ side, both Brunswick’s Jessica Russell (500 freestyle and 100 backstroke) and Mt. Ararat’s Celia Ouellette (50 and 100 freestyle) were multiple winners.

1) Brunswick girls’ hockey reaches final four

The Brunswick girls’ hockey team only to Greely (twice) and Cheverus during the regular season and wound up with the top seed for the East Region playoffs. The Dragons broke open a close game with five third period goals en route to a 6-1 victory over Yarmouth in the semifinals, then ran into their nemesis again in the regional final, losing to eventual champion Greely, 7-2, to finish the year 15-4-1.

Sidebar Elements

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Brunswick’s Jessica Russell was a state champion this winter.

Ben Webber and the Hyde track team made noise while competing against Western Maine Conference foes.

Ben Bishop and the Mt. Ararat boys’ hockey team won five games this season and just missed the playoffs.

Rachel Moroney and the Brunswick girls’ hockey team made it all the way to the East Region Final this winter.

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