The Boothbay Y Dolphins swam with all their heart in the 2015 Maine YMCA State Swimming Championships Feb 27-March 1. The Wallace Pool at the University of Maine in Orono saw some sellout sessions and some anxious parents not wishing to miss a moment of the event. Many swimmers saw their personal best times and finishes posted on the board. Good energy always came back to those a little disappointed as all the teammates took good care of each other in the biggest meet of the year.

For the youngest swimmers, in the 8 & Under, Piper Carleton took 3rd in the 25 breaststroke with her best swim of the year. Teammate Catherine Clifford took 5th in both the 25 freestyle and 50 freestyle, improving her times 1.05 seconds in each race. Teammates Suzie Edwards and Hannah Hills had their best swims in the 25 breaststroke and propelled the 100 freestyle relay with Clifford and Carleton to 7th place.

The competition was tough, with over 100 swimmers competing for some single events. For the Girls 9-10, Callan Eason took 7th in the state out of 144 swimmers in the 50 freestyle and 11th in the 100 freestyle with her best times of the year. Eason also took 7th in the 50 backstroke, beating out 95 other swimmers. Arden Carleton had a 10th place finish in the 50 freestyle and was 1.08 seconds faster in her 50 breaststroke. Teammate Madison Phelps joined Carleton in the 50 butterfly and 50 breaststroke while sailing almost 4 seconds faster in her 50 freestyle.

For the Girls 11-12, Ella Yentsch was only .12 seconds away from the lead in her 2nd place finish in the 50 freestyle. Zoe Eason followed up with an 8th place finish in the 50 freestyle and had her best swim in the 100 individual medley. Maren Whitney had her fastest swim in the 50 freestyle by dropping .55 seconds and swam the 50 breaststroke 1.29 seconds faster. Marissa Peters had her personal best times in the 100 individual medley and 50 breaststroke. Meghan Clifford sliced 3.20 seconds for her fastest swim in the 100 individual medley.

Senior Nicole LaBrecque knocked her time down .39 seconds in the 50 freestyle and teammate  Evy Chase nicked .16 seconds for her best swim. In the 100 breaststroke, LaBrecque took 13th place by shaving .81 seconds. Samantha Carter also had her best swim in the 100 breaststroke by shedding .64 seconds. The team scored 20 points in their 200 medley relay with Chase, Carter, LaBrecque and Lincoln Hamblett.

For the 8 & Under Boys, Duncan Hardwick captured 4th by shedding 1.30 seconds in the 25 breaststroke. Teammate Wyatt Lorrain flew to his 5th place finish in the 25 butterfly and wiped 4.51 seconds off his previous best for 5th overall in the 100 individual medley.

For the Boys 9-10, the 50 freestyle saw Marlowe Recoing swim 2.90 seconds faster and Jackson Lorrain .95 seconds faster. Lorrain continued to glide in the 50 breaststroke, some 4.17 seconds faster. Rafael Goldhirsch had his best ever swim in the 50 butterfly by shorting the clock 7.31 seconds. Gryffin Kristan took a solid 5th place finish in the 50 backstroke and 10th overall in the 50 freestyle.

In the Boys 11-12 group, Chris Hamblett, Rowan Kristan, Jameson Labrecque, and Graham Harris landed a solid 6th place finish in the 200 medley relay. Chris Hamblett led the heat all the way in his 200 freestyle for 8th place overall, crushing his previous best time by 10.64 seconds. Kristan took 7th in the 50 freestyle and 4th in the 100 freestyle. Graham Harris ended up with 9th in the 100 freestyle -- a respectable .84 seconds faster. Ethan Barter swam 4.43 seconds faster in his 100 freestyle and over 2 seconds faster in his 50 butterfly. Teammate Lucas Hardwick posted better times with his 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke. Ethan Thompson continued to break his previous best times in the 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, and 100 breaststroke by over 2 seconds in each event. Chris Groneng once again bettered himself in his 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle (-4.45 seconds).

The team looks forward to the end of season party when ribbons and trophies will be awarded. Piper Carleton will continue practicing while she gets ready for the New England Regionals later this month in Boston. The team sends a huge thank you to all the coaches and staff, parents and volunteers who made this season their fastest one.