The New England YMCA Championships took place March 15-16 and 22-23 in Cambridge, Mass., and six Dolphins swimmers qualified and competed.

Gryffin Kristan, age 8, broke two long held team records. Gryffin broke the 8 and under boys record in the 25 backstroke, swimming a blistering 18.78 seconds (old record 18.97) and placed ninth overall in the event. In the 25 breaststroke he demolished the old record 21.21 which was a 21-year-old record. The Boothbay Region YMCA's and Gryffin's new record is 20.93, fast enough for third overall at New England Championships. As a team of one, Boothbay was the second highest Maine YMCA team and placed 22nd out of 47 YMCA teams from all over New England.

Callan Eason, age 8, had two personal best times and 14th place finishes. She dropped .9 seconds off her 25 backstroke for a new best time of 19.70. In the 50 freestyle, Callan dropped .71 seconds off her overall YMCA State Championship finish with a 36.18. Her first 25 freestyle in her 50 freestyle was 17.10, which is the qualifying time for the 25 freestyle for New Englands. As a Boothbay team of one, we placed and amazing 28th out of 49 YMCAs. She is looking forward to racing the 25 butterfly and 25 freestyle at our Family, Alumni and Friends Fun Meet Saturday, March 29.

Congratulations to Ben Pearce, Lucas Hardwick, Jameson Labreque, and Chris Hamblett for qualifying and competing in the very competitive 9-10 boys New England YMCA Championships. Jameson Labreque started the meet off with a personal best time of 37.67 in the 50 butterfly. The 200 medley relay team of Pearce, Hardwick, Labreque and Hamblett placed 20th. Ben Pearce had a 24th and 25th place finish in the 50 backstroke and 50 freestyle. Jameson Labreque placed 21st in the 50 breaststroke. Chris Hamblett, recovering from the flu, placed 32nd and 38th in the 50 and 100 freestyle, respectively. Lucas Hardwick led off the 200 freestyle relay with a personal best 50 freestyle time and was followed by Labreque, Pearce and Hamblett placing 20th.