By Michael Hoffer
Swim teams and individuals from the city of Portland held their own at the north division Southwesterns last weekend at Davan Pool in Westbrook.
In the boys’ meet, held Friday, Greely won its third straight crown, tallying 249 points. Rivals Deering and Cheverus went neck-and-neck for second place, but the Rams ultimately edged the Stags, 210-209.
The girls took center stage Saturday and Cape Elizabeth took top honors with 276 points, beating Falmouth (247) and Greely (235.5). Defending Class B state champion McAuley (191) came in fourth. Deering (105) was sixth and Cheverus (61) placed eighth. Lindsey Macleod represented Waynflete and helped the Flyers to an 11th-place finish with 4 points.
SUBHEAD-Ram tough
Both Deering and Cheverus had their share of highlights in the boys’ meet, but the Rams proved to be one point better.
Deering got victories from E.J. Googins in the 50 freestyle (23.04 seconds) and Brian McRae in diving (321.85 points).
Googins was also runner-up in the 100 free (51.26). Jacob Powers was fourth in the 500 free (5:30.85) and seventh in the 200 individual medley (2:18.56). Noah Major came in fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:00.99). Djordje Mandic placed fifth in both the 100 (52.71) and the 200 free (2:01.59). Max Hudson finished sixth in the 50 free (24.38) and sixth in the fly (1:01.34). Zach Sawyer finished seventh in the 100 backstroke (1:05.51) and ninth in the 200 free (2:06.23). Dominic Montello was eighth in the 50 free (24.56) and 10th in the 100 free (54.96). Corey Delmonte was ninth in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.44) and 12th in the IM (2:29.01). David Wells was 10th in the diving competition (139.00). Tom Beaudoin came in 11th in the fly (1:06.22). Dejan Varagic placed 12th in the 500 free (6:41.50).
The Rams finished second to Westbrook in the 200 freestyle relay (Mandic, Montello, Hudson and Googins had a time of 1:34.90), placed fourth in the 400 free relay (Major, Beaudoin, Powers and Sawyer; 3:51.44) and had a seventh-place showing in the 200 medley relay (Izaak Njaa, Delmonte, Major and Erik Thomas; 2:03.85).
“Our boys did much better than previous years,” said Deering coach Alan Carp. “Brian’s first place in diving put us into the lead where we stayed until the 100 backstroke. We’ve been a team of outstanding sprinters and this year we had the butterfly to help round out our roster.
“I expect us to finish well at states too. Bangor is always the team to beat, but Cheverus has been our biggest challenge of the season.”
Cheverus had three first place finishers. Cal Rohde won the 200 free (1:50.46) and Joe Moreshead took the IM (2:01.49) and the fly (54.57).
Rohde was also second in the 500 free (5:04.11). Cameron Lindsley had a third-place showing in the 50 free (23.73) and a fourth-place finish in the 100 free (52.49). Mark Dumond was third in the fly (1:00.98) and fourth in the breaststroke (1:07.51). Mark Beahm finished seventh in diving (190.70). Chris Gervais was eighth in the fly (1:01.53) and ninth in the IM (2:23.94). Pat Jerome placed 10th in the 50 free (26.20). Lukas Temple was 11th in the breaststroke (1:14.84). Drew Fernandez finished 11th in the IM (2:28.75) and 12th in the breaststroke (1:16.33).
The Stags best relays were the medley, where Gervais, Dumond, Lindsley and Temple were runner-up to Scarborough in 1:48.70, and the 400 free, where Rohde, Beahm, Stephen Ambrose and Moreshead were second to Greely in 3:36.44. Cheverus was also fourth in the 200 free relay (Beahm, Temple, Fernandez and Ambrose; 1:45.59).

“The boys did a great job,” said Stags coach Kevin Haley. “Greely simply had too much depth for us to contend with. Joe was the recipient of the Randy Comeau sportsmanship award before the meet and the the Swimmer of the Meet award afterwards. We should be in the top three at states.”

SUBHEAD-Lions lurk
At the girls’ meet Saturday, McAuley reminded everyone that they’ll once again be a factor in the scramble for a Class B championship.
The Lions received a pair of dominant performances from Kristen Desrosiers, who won both the 200 free (2:08.69) and the 500 free (5:21.43).
Katelyn Desrosiers came in third in the 500 free (5:41.11) and fourth in the IM (2:22.79). Libby Rand was fourth in the fly (1:08.03) and 10th in the IM (2:36.95). Gaby Cloutier finished fourth in the breaststroke (1:13.02)) and 11th in the 200 free (2:14.07). Abby Parker placed fifth in the 100 free (1:00.59) and was seventh in the 50 free (27.54). Laura Duran finished seventh in the fly (1:09.06) and eighth in the backstroke (1:13.68). Michele Girard came in ninth in the 50 free (28.73) and was 11tn in the 100 free (1:04.73).
McAuley came in third in the medley relay (Kristen Desrosiers, Cloutier, Lib Rand and Jessica Murphy had a time of 2:01.94), fifth in the 400 free relay (Parker, Murphy, Katelyn Desrosiers and Emily Gajewski; 4:13.17) and sixth in the 200 free relay (Jen Field, Girard, Kathryn O’Donoghue, and Anna Traugh; 1:59.94).
Deering was led by Kristin Grandonico, who was runner-up to Falmouth’s Adrienne Madden in the 50 free (26.55) and third in the breaststroke (1:12.07). Meghan Hutcherson came in fifth in the backstroke (1:11.27) and eighth in the 500 free (6:01.81). Jami LeRoy was ninth in the 100 free (2:12.90) and ninth in the 500 free (6:02.75). Dali Tauwala had an 11th-place showing in the backstroke (1:16.67). Laura DeWitt finished 12th in the fly (1:17.82).
The Rams medley relay team, consisting of Tauwala, Emily Kelsey, Anna Muri and Kelsey Foster, finished seventh (2:19.20). The 200 free squad (Foster, Bridget Thomas, Emily Johnson and Tauwala) was eighth (2:02.82). The 400 free team (Johnson, Andrea Cuddy, Thomas and DeWitt) placed ninth (4:41.35).
“The girls saw numerous best times,” Carp said. “We finished one place better than last year.I think we have a great chance for a better showing this year at states.”
For Cheverus, Katherine Moreshead placed fifth in the breaststroke (1:16.44) and was 10th in the 500 free (6:02.80). Eda Pellumbi was seventh in the 200 free (2:12.90) and ninth in the fly (1:11.91). Erin Bucci had the eighth-best diving score (177.40). Janna Libby was 10th in the 100 free (1:03.47). Keylin Kerina placed 11th in the IM (2:38.19). Olivia Pickering finished 12th in the backstroke (1:16.96).
The Stags’ medley relay squad (Becca Ward, Moreshead, Pellumbi and Libby) was sixth (2:08.50). Cheverus’ 200 free team (Gwen Beamen, Bucci, Olivia Rogosienski and Kayla Binford) finished ninth (2:03.69).

“The girls did a great job and swam with their hearts and souls,” Haley said. “They are growing and getting much stronger. Our five qualifiers should place well in the finals and consolations at states.”

Macleod’s Waynflete points came in the 100 free, where she was ninth in 1:03.38.
SUBHEAD-States
The Class A and B girls’ state championships are Feb. 16. The Class A girls will be held at at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Class B goes at the University of Maine in Orono.
The boys compete Feb. 17 with Class A at Bowdoin and Class B at UMO.
The New England championships are Feb. 28 at Bates College in Lewiston.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

Deering’s Amy Currie took part in the 100 butterfly at the girls’ north division Southwesterns Saturday in Westbrook.

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