The arrival of February has ushered in the first dose of postseason excitement in Forecaster Country.

Swimming’s South Division Southwesterns, the Southern Maine Activities Association indoor track championships and wrestling’s regionals were all contested over the weekend.

Swimming

Waynflete resurrected its swim program three years ago and has quickly made its mark. Last year, the Flyers girls won the Southwestern title and Saturday, they repeated. Barely. Waynflete tallied 200 points to hold off Massabesic by two.

The Flyers were paced by Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet Ellen Silk, who set a new meet record in winning the 100 butterfly (58.1 seconds). Silk also captured the 200 freestyle (2 minutes, 0.88 seconds). Other winners included Colby Harvey, who set a record in a dominant 200 individual medley victory (2:10.12) and also won the breaststroke (1:09.07), to stay perfect in Southwestern competition, Walker Foehl, who took the 50 free (25.7), and Waynflete’s 200 medley relay (Foehl, Harvey, Silk and Catherine Harwood, 1:59.2).

Foehl finished second in the 100 backstroke (1:04.21). Amelia Deady was runner-up in the 100 free (56.38). Sofia Canning finished fourth in the 500 free (6:08.06). Lucy Weaver was eighth in the 200 free (2:24.81). Waynflete also placed third in the 200 free relay (1;55.2) and fourth in the 400 free relay (4:15.78).

“We had a great performance and snuck out a two-point victory,” said Waynflete coach Jim Harvey. “With the girls only allowed to swim three events, this was a total team victory. The whole team participated. We won several very close races which led us to victory.”

Portland also took part and came in ninth with 80 points. Emily Couture placed fifth in the 500 free (6:16.4) and eighth in the backstroke (1:11.26). Megan Hudson was sixth in the 50 free (28.28) and 10th in the backstroke (1:12.94). Olivia Gilbert finished seventh in the 200 free (2:22.55) and ninth in the 500 free (6:31.01). Lucy Veilleux was seventh in the IM (2:46.81) and 10th in the fly (1:18.32). The Bulldogs were sixth in the 400 free relay (4:20.45), ninth in the medley relay (2:25.07) and 10th in the 200 free relay (2:08.25).

The boys’ title was won by Windham with 214 points, four better than Yarmouth.

Portland (124) was a solid fifth. Zach Roland was runner-up in the IM (2:14.71) and placed third in the breaststroke (1:07.68).

Waynflete (85) placed eighth. Luke Jeton led the way for the Flyers, winning the IM (2:05.23) and the 500 free (4:58.14).

“We had eight boys this year and all contributed,” said Harvey.

Cheverus, Deering and McAuley compete in the North Division Southwesterns Friday (boys) and Saturday (girls) in Westbrook.

The state meets will be held Feb. 18 (Class A boys at Bowdoin College in Brunswick) and 19 (Class A girls at Bowdoin and Class B girls in Orono).

“We are looking forward to the state championships,” said Harvey. “The girls are looking to improve from finishing third the last two years. We did not have any seniors and should be very strong again in several individual races, as well as challenging the state records in the relays. Four boys qualified this year, a first for us, and we look forward to both the relays and individual events. Luke has a good chance for two victories at the meet.”

Indoor track

The SMAA championship track meet was held at the University of Southern Maine Saturday. Cheverus’ boys tallied 165 points, but finished runner-up to perennial powerhouse Scarborough (200). Deering (51) placed seventh. Portland did not score.

The Stags got wins from Jacob Schott in the junior high jump (5 feet, 10 inches), junior triple jump (39-10.25) and junior long jump (19-7.25), Brady Foshay in the senior 800 (2 minutes, 4.42 seconds), James Campbell in the 600 (1:16.74) and the senior 800 (1:33.69) and sprint medley (3:47.07) relays.

Yahya Hussein (junior 800, 2:11.65), Jared Bell (senior shot put, 55-2) and Ricardo Delgado (senior high jump, 6 feet; and senior 55 hurdles, 8.15 seconds) were Deering’s individual champions.

The girls’ competition was won by Thornton Academy with 159.5 points. Cheverus (92) came in fifth, Deering (55) placed sixth, McAuley (14) tied Massabesic for 11th and Portland (12) was 13th.

Milena Opielowski (junior long jump, 16-0.5) and Meredith Willard (senior 55, 7.49) won events for the Stags.

The Rams featured event winners Edie Pallozzi (senior 800, 2:19.5) and Chantrea El (senior 55 hurdles, 9.97).

The Lions were paced by Akech Allolding, who was runner up in the junior shot put (28-9), Rebecca McNamara, third in the senior 55 hurdles (10.8), and Elizabeth Houston, fourth in the pole vault (8 feet).

Portland’s Madison Bolduc was runner-up in the junior triple jump (33-0.75) and fourth in the junior long jump (14-10). Claire Kirby came in second in the senior 55 hurdles (10.06).

The Class A state meet is Feb. 18 at USM. McAuley competes in the Class B meet at Bates College in Lewiston the same day.

Wrestling

City wrestlers competed in the Western A regional Saturday, won by Marshwood with 237.5 points. Portland (58 points) tied Kennebunk for seventh, Deering (33) was ninth and Cheverus (31) came in 10th.

Portland’s Kidayer Ajubyly was the 106-pound champion (beating Massabesic’s Mike Aboud in the final, 6-3). Cheverus’ Iain Whitis fell in the final at 126-pounds (5-0 to Massabesic’s Tyler Everett).

Portland’s Greg Cassella was the consolation champion at 145-pounds, Portland’s Maloclm Henry won the consolation title at 182, Deering’s Nick Darling won the consolation crown at 160 and teammate John Deloach was the consolation winner in the heavyweight class.

The state meet is Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

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

Sidebar Elements

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Waynflete junior Ellen Silk shows her winning form en route to capturing the 100 butterfly at Saturday’s South Division Southwesterns championship meet. Silk and her teammates eked out their second consecutive Southwesterns title.

Waynflete’s Amelia Deady was runner-up in the 100 freestyle and also played a critical role in two relays.

Portland’s Hannah Carlson swims the 100 butterfly.

Portland’s Kiana Aceveda takes part in the 100 freestyle. 

Cheverus’ Brady Foshay (front) and Colin Grove take part in the senior 800 at Saturday’s SMAA championship meet. Foshay finished first and Grove second as the Stags were second to Scarborough in the team standings.

Deering’s Yahye Hussein avoids the distraction of a fallen Scarborough runner and goes on to win the junior 800.

Deering’s Edie Pallozzi has no peer in the senior 800.

Cheverus’ Milena Opielowski takes part in the junior high jump. Opielowski won the junior long jump.

Cheverus’ Parker Montana takes part in the senior 800.

Cheverus’ Eden Monsen takes part in the senior 800.

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